"... 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

My pains bigger than your pain...

READ THIS!
This is a really good blog post at DEAR THYROID^TM . I think everyone should read it, especially my massage therapy students, other massage therapy students and other health industry people.

A person’s pain is their pain. It is NOT our place to quantify, qualify, criticize, or even analyze it. Our job is to help alleviate it and to comfort.

All too often, those with chronic illness are belittled because of their discomfort.

Read it... Please.

The Tao of Learning

From The Tao of Learning

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!

VROOOM...

Spent the weekend teaching Motorcycle Safety!

p

sent from my iphone

Accolades...

WOW! I received this email today (names have been changed to protect... yada yada):

Morning Peg,
I wanted to let you and "Jim" know I successfully took the written motorcycle test at the DMV yesterday morning ( Monday). I am now a licensed motorcyclist in the great state of Virginia. As soon as I got home from there I completed a pre-inspection of my bike to make sure it has been staying worthy since I purchased it 3 months ago, back on April 8th. For the first time I went out for a short pleasant ride to celebrate and I don't think there could have been anything in this world that could take the smile off of my face from waiting soooooo long! I about tripled my mileage on the odometer. I am up to 18 miles now.WOW... the early break-in is 50 for my Sportster and then next step is 500. Guess the town where I live is going to see a lot more of me now.
I want to thank both you and Jim for the outstanding work you both did helping not only myself but all who were in your class. You both are "TOP GUN" in my book. My exact thoughts are even if I had not passed the course, the hands on training and instructions were priceless and well taught by the best people around!
Again, I wish to thank you both and want you all to know you have helped set in
stone the basic tools I need to be a good and safe motorcyclist.


"Vinny"

P.S.

Please forward this message on to "Jim".

Gee, I guess the class went better than I thought! I feel GREAT!

Updates... motorcycles and massage

Whew.... busy weekend. I taught a motorcycle class and it was pretty good. But most of the students had a real fear of MOVING, more than 2 mph that is. Geez. Did you know that motorcycles don't like going slooooow? Nope, they sure don't... they tend to fall over when they go slow. Gravity... it's the LAW! Ah well, all but two students passed and the two that didn't were greatly improved by the end of the weekend. I hope they come back and take the class again.

A while ago I was whining (yes... WHINING) and then I forgot to update you. My Spa Night on Thursday was wonderful. I think he removed every hair on my body... well, not the ones on my head. And then the massage! Ah, it was fabulous!

I had gotten some bad news earlier in the day and I was feelin' pretty damned bad. But the massage made me feel much better. He virtually massaged my cares away.
... the man is a virtuoso, a true savant.

Safety Weekend

I taught another Motorcycle Safety class this past weekend. Wow, I'd have to say this was the BEST class I've ever taught. Only one student had a motorcycle endorsement on his driver's license. The rest had varying degrees of riding experience from "owns a bike and riding now" (yes, without a license) to "never been on a bike". They all did wonderfully. This is the kind of class you dream about. Everyone (students AND coaches) had a fun time. We even lucked out with the weather. It was calling for rain all weekend and we never got a drop.

We tried out a new range shirt this weekend too (I know you're all just dying to know this). Our company (MSCV inc.) bought us shirts from Sahalie.com. The shirt is great.
It's called the Soltex Shirt (here's the woman's shirt) and it's made with a tightly woven fabric that blocks 95-99% of UVA and UVB rays. It has a large vented back which lets excess heat and humidity escape instantly, a TriFold collar unfolds for added coverage over the back of your neck, then folds down and tucks away when you don't need it. If you have a job (or hobby) that keeps you out in the sun and heat, this is the perfect shirt.

while on my steel steed

alone on the winding road

you're riding my thoughts

~

WANNA LEARN TO RIDE?

So, you think you’d like to learn to ride a motorcycle? Well, you’re in luck… ‘cause I know just what you need to do. First thing to do is go to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s website and find a program in your area. Just click on your state and then use the contact info for the program near you. While you are at MSF’s site, there are some other fun things to do. There’s a RiderCourse Interactive Tour and there’s even a quiz/game called Motorcycle Challenge. Give it a try and see how much you know about riding. There is also a MSF Store where you can purchase stuff.
If you're in the State of Virginia, you can go to www.learn2ride.com and if you're in the Richmond/Petersburg/Chesterfield area you can go to www.mscv.org and sign up for a class.

Motorcycle Classes

I taught my first class of the season this past weekend. Saturday was cold... but Sunday was glorious! Had a good class. Two students dropped out on Saturday... guess it just wasn't for them. After all, motorcycling isn't for everyone. They have my utmost respect for giving it a try. The rest of the students passed their Skill Evaluation and are now eligible to get their Motorcycle Operators endorsement. I hope they take my advice and practice (a lot) before heading out on the highways and by-ways. The BRC (Basic Rider Course) is, after all, a beginning. It doesn't mean they are seasoned riders.

new season begins

squeeze and ease, pick your feet up

is it autumn yet?

Motorcycle Safety

(or Motorcycle Risk Management... right Bruce?)

When asked why I decided to teach Motorcycle Safety, I usually say that Kerry talked me into it, “so blame him”. He is an instructor I've known for years.
Kerry had tried for a long time to get me to take the MSF Certified prep course. I had every intention of doing it but in 2000 I had "MY" motorcycle crash. It wasn't the typical crash either... no, nothing ordinary for me. Single vehicle (me) crash... I was turning onto a road out in Charles City County, VA. Obviously, an oil tanker truck had just been through the intersection and left a path of FRESH oil. I hit the oil and started a low side slide. Now, if I'd maintained that low side... I would have gotten some road rash but probably would have been otherwise okay. No, as I left the oil and acquired "good" pavement the bike straightened momentarily, I thought "aha, I'm gonna make it" Alas no. That entire thought process must have lasted... oh.... 2/10 of a second? The bike high-sided.

For those of you who aren't familiar with that terminology, we describe bike crashes thus:
Low Side - the bike goes down on the inside (side closest to the ground), it slides and you slide after it.
High-Side - bike violently slams down on the outside (the high side), THROWS you off and then chases you down the road. Trust me... if you have to crash at all, try to go with the low side.

Slam me down it did!
When I realized I was down, I remembered traffic was coming in the distance. I popped into a sitting position (must have looked like Wile E. Coyote); saw that they were NOT going to run me over and I fell back again. In the meantime, my hubby had made his way back to me and a cardiac tech (traveling home presumably) had stopped to help. Shortly after, a Virginia State Trooper came along. After looking over the scene and speaking with my husband, he came over to me. Looming over me (still flat on my back with the Cardiac Tech yelling to any and all “don’t move her, don’t move her”, the rescue squad had not yet arrived) the Trooper says, “Welp, there’s not a damned thing you coulda done”. Thanks very much!
Turns out, I broke my left elbow and my right collarbone… ouch!

Long story short… about a year later I take the course and start my career as a Motorcycle Safety Instructor (now we’re referred to as RiderCoaches) with the Virginia Rider Training Program. And in 2003, I became a staff member (my cards say Administrative/Marketing Assistant... so there!) with the Motorcycle Safety Center of Virginia, Inc. which now administers the program for the Central Virginia area.