Scan me...

"... but I'm just not Getting it!"

I believe that learning massage is akin to something of a spiritual journey. And my best advice is "Relax and Let it Happen".

This is especially true when learning the aspects of Myofascial Release. MFR is a SLOW and sometimes seemingly boring process to allow the body to 'unwind' fascially. Sometimes it takes a lot of concentration and patience to actually FEEL the process. Most of the time, it's best to just Trust yourself and your intentions and let the process work.

Believe me, I had a hard time trusting myself and allowing things to just work... in the beginning. And there are times still when I get frustrated and impatient. But I have to 'step back' and take a breath. I think to myself, what's the problem, Peg? Is the body not responding on Your schedule? They seldom do, you know. Just do what you know to do, do the work and Trust that the body will do ITS job.

Bodies want to be well. We just nudge them along a bit.
Homeostasis is a state of balance in the body and it's where the body wants to be.

I say over and over, intention means so much... intention is Everything. Norman Vincent Peale called it The Power of Positive Thinking.
With intention, all the forces of the universe can align to make even the most impossible, possible.

Our intention, as massage therapists, is for the Highest Good for our clients.

With that intent always present in our minds... HOW can we go wrong?
Relax... let it happen.



In regards to Myofascial Release and other techniques that affect the connective tissue of our bodies, Gil Hedley has a wonderful video about, what he calls, "The Fuzz".

If you want some great insight into your our bodies stiffness, aches and pains, please watch it:
http://www.gilhedley.com/ghvideo.php



"Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer."
— William S. Burroughs

Artistic Awesomeness...

This piece of ART is by Danny Grant, a friend of mine.
And he GAVE ME A PRINT!!! It will be framed and on my wall in a matter of days!
For the uninitiated, it depicts the interior of the anterior lower leg. It will be a tattoo for one of my favorite people (not to mention, one of my favorite students... shhhh, don't tell her).


For more wonderful pieces and info on his work... check out Danny Grant's site at:

http://www.madebygrant.com/

Awesome birthday present!

Om Leaf

Take a look at more of Ann's work here:

www.dreamspiralart.com

www.dreamspiralart.etsy.com

Ann is one of our students at the Massage School.

Nurturing the Mother Certification...

FINALLY! I didn't think this certification would EVER arrive!

Nurturing the Mother is a peri-natal massage certification from Claire Marie Miller Seminars, Inc. in Chapel Hill, NC.

the process of healing...

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu

Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

Okay, here's to steppin' real soon!! I can't wait. The surgeon, Dr. Weiss, says he will let me put weight on my leg at my next appointment. That will be February 9th. I sure hope he tells me I can drive 'cause I'm down right Stir Crazy!

Xrays January 8th, 2009

11 days after surgery (including lovely colors from bruising and cellucitis).

view of leg today, January 26, 2009
Looks really good, don't ya think?

I'm very pleased with the progress. There is a significant amount of adhesion going on under those scars and I'm working on releasing those. It's do-it-now with some discomfort or wait and do it later with LOTS of discomfort and hard work. The major effect of the adhesions right now is a difficulty in Eversion.

There is a lot of metal in that leg now (as you can see in the xrays). That doesn't bother me as long as it stays and my body doesn't give me trouble with it. I do not plan to be cut into ever again if I can help it. I may have some hiccups if and when I ever fly on commercial air lines.

My recovery has seemed very slow. Time is relative, I guess. I'm just bored and frustrated that I can't be out doing the things I love... well, not yet. In actuality, I believe recovery has been pretty rapid. I have, historically healed rather slowly, something I get from my mother. But this time it seems my body is cooperating nicely. I believe I can attribute that to my change in lifestyle, activities and attitude. My career change and my entry into the world of alternative medicine has been good for me in SO MANY ways. This recovery process is just another example of that.

Once again, I thank my lucky stars for finding my way to that world.
And in "Lucky Stars" I mean, my BEST BUDDY - C who inspired me, mentored me, and told me the BEST (ONLY) school to attend and My teacher/employer/FRIEND - Pam who has taught me everything she knows, groomed me to be a great therapist and teacher and who has been a terrific friend and confidante.
I love you guys more than I can express!

do you ever feel invisible?

1. my best friend is in pain... real emotional pain.
2. and I can't help, I so want to help... I love him so very much.
3. I have a career (finally) that I love ... Massage.
4. I have lots of massage clients (lots for a part time job) and I'm thrilled.
5. I have many new friends/colleagues, and that warms my soul.
6. I feel several connections/friendships slipping away, is it something I've done or not done?
7. I have 3 more years at the 'day job', I can retire at 50!
8. I start as Teaching Assistant at the massage school in September... I love teaching, I'm so excited.
9. I start as the TEACHER at the massage school in about a year, I'm excited (and a little scared).
10. I still love teaching folks to ride motorcycles, but it takes A LOT out of me.
11. I feel I've let my Fwed down.
12. I'm empathic, sometimes that's good, sometimes NOT
13. I miss my love... I'm lonely at times.
14. I love easing pain. I want to help everyone.
15. I want to learn everything!
16. I'm up, then I'm down, then back up... I'm tired.

Maybe I just WANT to be invisible... hmmm, sometimes.

The Buddha said,

"No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”

Need to live by that one!

Monday is "Data-dump" day...

(...or perhaps it's just "Information Overload")

My weekend was both wonderful and disappointing! Story of my life... (see Dichotomy entry), nothing is ever cut and dried in Peg's life. It's always "this and that", "either/or", "asi asi" but never just plain GOOD.

On Saturday, I spent the morning at the Clinic/Institute because the current 6 Month Massage Class was graduating and I wanted to help out. I feel somewhat responsible, although I really didn't have anything to do with THIS class. I do help out with the current 12 Month (evening) class and I've been tutoring one of the students in Anatomy & Physiology.
I've been offered a teaching position for the future! I will begin as a Teaching Assistant as I'm "groomed" to take over some of the classes, probably 2009 or so. It seems that Pam (owner/ Head Instructor) wants to have a LIFE... go figure.
I'm very excited about this!

After graduation, I stopped by the motorcycle range and visited with my Fwed for a little bit. We thrusted and parried... employing our usual ammunition: sexual innuendo! I SO enjoy our jousts! Then I headed to Starbucks to hang with my buddy grodge (AKA The Scholar). Haven't sat around 'bucks in quite a while... it was nice to have some down time. Later, he followed me over to my new digs and we watched a movie together.

In an attempt to help some of the students with class assignments that are... shall we say, Down to the Wire, I had made arrangements for a couple of them to come over on Sunday.
I was disappointed... yet again.
Funny how I'm always thinking I should DO what I say I will do... bad habit that!
I didn't leave the house in anticipation of these events... there WERE things I could have been doing. Not that I wanted to, mind you, but I could have. None the less, I guess I should thank them... in a way. Other than doing some laundry and vacuuming the floors (not a real task, as I have a Roomba) I relaxed and got some needed rest. I awoke this morning feeling nice and refreshed.

So, there was good and there was not-so-good this past weekend. Was there Bad, you ask (you did ask didn't you?)? Well, pervading my restful weekend, there was the fact that I had not heard from someone who is very important to me...

Letter to my love:

First, I want to say Thanks, Dear for responding this morning!

I have a really hard time not taking your silences personally.

I also have a hard time deciding whether I should tell you what I'm feeling. I think sometimes that it will make things worse and that it might make you more distant. I'm not sure if it makes things harder for you or if it makes you aware just how much I care for you.

I spent days leaving you alone, trying not to bother you, giving you "space". And it was agony, mostly because I spent it hoping that you would take the initiative and say something to me... call me, email me, whatever.
I didn't keep quiet to test you in any way, I just thought perhaps you needed me to leave you alone... but I wanted to feel missed. In the end, I did what I always do... contact YOU.

I felt guilty because I've been thinking of myself... I DO get to think of myself some don't I?? I spend so much time thinking of others... I wanted something for me. I wanted YOU.

I foresee it getting even harder... as my time gets taken up even more with duties and clients.
And I see you getting mired more and more in your... tasks, your chores... your withdrawal!
I'm frightened that you will get to a point where you won't even want to TRY anymore... try to see me... or anyone else for that matter. Will you stop wanting me? I'm scared that you already have.

Anatomy Trains...

I spent the past weekend in NOVA... the Herndon/Reston area actually... at AKS Massage School. We were in a class on Tom Myers' Anatomy Trains.

Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians is a revolution in Soft-Tissue Patterning. Anatomy Trains provides a precise map of the 'anatomy of connection' -
the whole-body fascial and myofascial linkages, leading to holistic strategies for health professionals, movement teachers, and athletes to resolve complex postural and movement patterns.

Fascia, Tensegrity, Structural Integration, posture, "Spatial Medicine"...
what a fascinating class!

and last but not least...

I received my license from Virginia Board of Nursing last Friday!
So I'm legal! Did I tell you that my teacher (and owner of the school) hired me as a Therapist at the Clinic at the Institute??? I've had two clients already.

Now I just need to retire from my day job!!!

4 years, 0 months, 0 weeks, 2 days, 22 hours..... but who's counting?!

Hallelujah! Eureka! and Hot Damn!

Got my "official" report from NCBTMB (and sometimes Y) and Thomson Prometric of my performance on the National Certification Exam. They break it down between the 6 general knowledge content areas:
1. General Knowledge of Body Systems
2. Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology
3. Pathology
4. Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Assessment
5. Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Application
6. Professional Standards, Ethics, Business and Legal Practices

I made "HIGH" in all 6 categories!!!!!
Yes, Yes, Yes!
Ouch, I think I just hurt my arm... patting myself on my back... hehe
I think I need a massage.

I passed!

I passed the NCBTMB National Certification Exam yesterday morning. YES!
160 questions. When I started and saw the first few questions, I thought I was screwed! Holy Shit, what is this stuff???

It did get a little better though. Obviously, since I passed. And that's all they tell you when you finish... you passed or you didn't pass. I'm supposed to get an "official" report telling me if I scored High, Middle or Low and the areas I need to work on.

Wow! I'm so sorry...

It's been quite a while hasn't it? I've really been neglecting you.

Between finishing school, taking my final exams and dealing with my friend's depression and pain... life has been pretty full.

But the good news is, I got a 92 on my final and I graduated last Saturday! Yes!

I got the highest grade point average! Yes, I'm a happy camper.

Today I've been filling out online applications to take the National Certification Exam. Notarize this, photograph that and Pay Us... Whew, This is getting expensive! And after passing the Nat. Cert., I have to pay the Board of Nursing here in Virginia.

Continuing Education...

I'm in a weekend seminar, Medical Intuition Level I with Kim Seer.

MEDICAL INTUITIVE TRAINING
A practical hands-on series that provides skills you can use
immediately. Learn proven techniques on how to see into the physical body and its systems with incredible accuracy.
Find out with pinpoint precision what is causing the body’s imbalance. Learn specific methods and techniques to rectify illness and disease.
Hands-on experience overseen by highly trained Instructors.
Receive feedback on your accuracy.
Learn practical tools for the expansion of your intuition.
Advance your healing work to a higher level.
This training blends well with all modalities. No prior experience necessary.

I'll let you know what I think when the weekend is over.

So, where are all those volunteers?

I've got to have 6 more guinea pigs... uh... I mean practice clients by July 1st. Where'd they all go?????

right place, right time...

"In the infinity of life where I am,
all is perfect, whole and complete.
I no longer choose to believe in old limitations and lack.
I now choose to begin to see myself
as the Universe sees me -- perfect, whole and complete.
The truth of my Being is that I was created
perfect, whole and complete.
I will always be perfect, whole and complete.
I now choose to live my life from this understanding.

I am in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing.
All is well in my world."

You Can Heal Your Life

by Louise L. Hay

The Client as Teacher...

After having completed 1000 massage sessions, the massage professional begins to own the information learned in school. After 5000 massage sessions, the massage professional has enough experience to begin to trust the process of massage. After 10,000 massages, the massage therapist allows the massage to happen. A master of massage has learned to respect the client and follow the client's lead. This takes years of practice.

from Mosby's Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage by Sandy Fritz

I've done about 35 massages so far.....

has she lost ALL her marbles?

(and after re-reading these disjointed ramblings... I think maybe I have!)

TODAY, it's so very unreal. The TERROR at Virginia Tech yesterday still rocks my world!

Okay, at the risk of sounding very Woohoo, "Out There"...

I'm coming to some rather interesting (shall I say, weird?) realizations about myself of late.
I'm not even sure I can articulate them properly yet. There is one word resonating in my head.

EMPATHIC

And more specifically - Physical Oneness: feeling what is physically going on in another person's body in one's own body

It seems that I tend to take on some of a person's pain when I'm in contact with them. I've been presented with more and more evidence of this, but is it my imagination?

I keep asking that. I just don't know. When it comes to all the "metaphysical" stuff... I've always come up short. I just didn't FEEL it. So, is it wishful thinking? I don't think so, but I'm still openly skeptical.

It's so strange how life works, how things come to be. I have to wonder if (when?) I would have seen these things in myself if I had not taken this path. And that PATH! How life brought me here... and the people who led me here... it's all so amazing.

I know I've said it before, but I'll keep saying it. Coming to school... to all my new sisters/friends... it's the BEST thing that I have ever done for myself.

To help others is the ultimate goal... but I never dreamed how much it would help ME.

So... back to yesterday's events:
I have been out of sorts since Friday evening. Really, oddly "out of sorts",

"Not Right", "Funky".

I thought it was just because I massaged a client that evening who was having a real hard time of it (emotionally)... couldn't lie still, couldn't relax, very WIRED.

Yesterday I chatted with a good friend and she was describing feelings she had been having and that they were the same feelings she had just before Columbine...
It's all too weird for me... but there it is!

WHAT have I been feeling? I don't know... but I know that right now I'm feeling incredible feelings of hurt, bewilderment and GREAT relief.

The relief is due to the fact that OUR GIRL, Jackie is okay. Jackie is the daughter of very good friends and fellow club members. We (the so called Clique) all feel like we've helped to raise her and we were all so very proud when she was accepted at Virginia Tech. And she's OKAY. She called her parents yesterday morning and I got an email from her last night.

We can't wait to "wrap our arms" around her.

...fertile virgin?

Mnemonic - a memory aid. "One common mnemonic for remembering lists consists of an easily remembered word, phrase, or rhyme whose first letters are associated with the list items."

While taking a class which requires lots of memorization... one might make up poems or such to remember a list of things. We had several mnemonics to remember lists in our Anatomy and Physiology class.

One mnemonic was:

"Oh, oh, oh... to touch a fertile virgin; gives virgin some happiness"

for the 12 Cranial Nerves:

I - Olfactory (Sensory)

II- Optic (Sensory)

III - Oculomotor (Motor)

IV- Trochlear (Motor)

V - Trigeminal (both)

VI - Abducens (Motor)

VII - Facial (both)

VIII - Vestibulocochlear(Sensory)

IX - Glossopharyngeal (both)

X - Vagus (both)

XI - Spinal Accessory (Motor)

XII - Hypoglossal (Motor)

The mnemonic for their functions was:

"Some say marry money but my brother says big boobs matter more"

We're learning some Eastern Philosophy now and I'm trying to come up with a mnemonic for the 12 main Meridians (acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu, etc).

The Main Meridians are:

1) Lung 2) Lg. Intestine 3) Stomach 4) Spleen 5) Heart 6) Sm. Intestine 7) Bladder 8) Kidney 9) Pericardium 10) Triple Heater 11) Gall bladder 12) Liver

My mnemonic so far is:

"Luke likes stopping speeders. He silently blames kids, people traversing garish lives. "

This used the first two letters of each word. Can you come up with another one for me??

The more risque the better. I'll bet Ct4s can come up with a great one!!

Anatomy & Physiology update...

Hey! I got a 100 on my A & P final exam!! WooHoo!

Now, Anatomy & Physiology class is over.... Yippee... I have my Wednesday evenings back again.
Of course, Massage classes are still going on. I'm half way through, but Massage is infinitely more interesting than Anatomy. Okay, maybe Anatomy isn't Uninteresting... but it is less exciting than Massage Class.

There was extra credit on the exam... draw a diagram of the heart and label the chambers, valves, etc and illustrate with arrows the flow of blood through the heart.
I drew an awesome heart, it was gorgeous... maybe I can scan it for you. I'm sure you're looking forward to THAT... haha

Well, I'm hitting the sack... maybe I can sleep without dreaming of muscle sarcomeres, cell mitochondria and various bones of the hand (ie. scaphoid, lunate, triquetral, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate).
Here's a good quiz website for A & P.