Another Side of Me as an MT

Since I was age 14, I’ve been employed. Luckily I was never without a a job in between. I’ve met so many people along the way and learned lots. But I was never truly happy with what I was doing.

In a previous post, I mentioned that when deciding on colleges, I wanted to go to school for Therapeutic Massage but my mother talked me out of it. Her reasons were: “There’s no money it in.” and “People can’t afford to pay for massage so you won’t have steady income.” Of course those were areas of concern for me and I knew I couldn’t afford massages on a regular basis so it made sense. I had originally signed up at school for my teaching license but I realized how much my heart wasn’t in that job. I worked in a classroom for almost 13 years and couldn’t wait for an outlet. When I switched my major over to Art/Photography it was a relief to find the material to actually be of interest to me and make me WANT to learn more. After I graduated I began my own local photo business where I offered to travel to people’s homes or place of interest. I still enjoy doing this to this day. However, cameras have become so user-friendly now that even the photographer’s job has started to die out.

Even as I hold onto my photography career because it is my escape from the world, I still had the desire to treat people. I’ve worked as a teacher, an advocate, and a case manager. All of those jobs play a role of helping people in one way or another. That, has always been a strong suit for me because it is mentally rewarding. However, between my mother, school, and my jobs I felt as if I continued to drift down the same ole path of life and my jobs have always been very stressful. The scenery was repetitive to me and I needed a change.

At 30 years old, very little income, and extremely unhappy with my still-current job, I decided to suck it up and go back to school with a “I’m going to do what I want to do!” attitude. It was time for me to stop doing what was expected of me and start doing what was meant for me. The Therapeutic Massage Program has taken over my life for the past 8 months. I have continued to work my full-time job, and take a full course load each semester including this summer. Its been very hard work but I enjoy mainly the clinic time spent working on clients and learning new techniques. There are days I feel like a kid because I can’t wait to come home from class and show someone what I just learned.

Just like when I was in Art classes, I have the thirst to learn more about Massage. There are so many modalities and techniques and most therapist specialize in one or a few but I want to learn them all first then choose which I will mainly offer in my career. Part of obtaining a license after graduating is to submit proof of 24 CEU’s every 2 years. Some may look at this and say, “More money I have to spend on education.” but I am actually quite excited and look forward to continuing my education as a Massage Therapist.

Since making the decision to enter the massage world, I’ve found myself to be much happier. I can’t wait to get out of work to go to class because it’s my happy place. I never knew I’d be looking at it in that perspective. I’m myself; relaxed, calm, and stress-free when I’m there. It’s been a worry-free work environment and that’s exactly where I want to be. I’ve noticed that my eating and sleeping habits have been better and I have more of a desire to go outside and start running. I believe the environment we set for our clients is also meant for us, the therapists, and in turn does the mind and body wonders.

One thing leads to another and knowing that my heart and my head was always trying to pull me in this direction, I’ve now figured out why. There was another side of me, as an MT.

It’s Time…

In a program that is driven to teach us essentials in the therapeutic massage field, it is time to wrap up my current existence as a student.

The week I have so eagerly awaited is just around the corner. Instructors prepare us for getting our documentation gathered for the end of the summer program so we can send it off to the MA Board of Registration of Massage Therapy and become licensed MTs! This all takes place in just 3 weeks! How quickly that will come and go…

So why am I biting the nails that I don’t even have? Why do I feel so all over the place when in previous weeks I felt so cool, calm and collected? Nerves, of course!

I’m super excited, which isn’t a bad thing however, I should probably get over the shrieking and jittery bouncing around before I start massaging someone as a PROFESSIONAL.

HA! I like the sound of that word.

You are Important

I began this blog at the start of my Therapeutic Massage program. I’m more than half way done and looking forward to start a career as an LMT! I’ve learned so much, and accomplished even more. Most importantly, I’m learning a lot about myself.

As a massage therapist, there is a lot of assessing and interviewing of the client/s because this info is all important to know how to help those we treat.

I know how trying to juggle a full-time job, part-time job and school are exhausting and stressful in many ways, but I had no idea it was written all over my body. Classmates practiced massaging on one another, and instructors used students for demos this past semester. We all learned the specific issues we may have not known before about ourselves. For example, my body mechanics weren’t 100%; mainly my shoulders were raised and I’d hunch over a lot. During a demo an instructor used me for, she paused and said “Oh my woman! Get your shoulders out of your ears!” She later told me she could feel the stress in my neck, shoulders and upper back. I don’t do any heavy lifting for work so how could this be? The more we learned how the different effects stress can have on one’s body, I realized my shoulders are where I hold all of my stress and it has nothing to do with physical work in my case. By the end of the demo massage I already felt loosened and more relaxed and it was just a demo!

We are taught about self-care so that we don’t injure ourselves in this line of work. Knowing where one needs the care is the first step. Then figuring out what the causes/s may be is next. Self-care and learning to cope with the cause in a healthier pursuit are the remaining. I’m a big believer in taking care of yourself before you can care for someone else.

YOU ARE IMPORTANT! Don’t let yourself slip through the cracks because you are too busy, or oblivious to what’s happening to your body! The mind and body work together and are the only two things to carry you through life.

Today my class assignment was about body movement therapy and what ways it can heal.

It all started in the 1900s by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais and was turned into the Feldenkrais methods of therapy through movement that make one aware of their own mobility. Others created ways to make one aware of their emotions through mobility and expressive movement. Those methods included: breathing, walking, climbing, singing, working, and dancing.

Today, some of these methods are more commonly known as, dance therapy, yoga, Tai Chi, Rolfing rhythms, Pilates and other exercise. They are being used in rehabs and in everyday health care facilities.

The body is known to have a correlation between physical and emotion sense, therefore movement flows between the two. The movement helps the body connect with physical, emotional, mental and spiritual self-awareness/well-being.

Movement therapy is used to treat a variety of different  issues including but not limited to: stress, anxiety, breathing, lack of well-being, PTSD, eating disorders, spinal disorders, depression and so on.

To learn more about the benefits and success stories of those who have utilized Movement Therapy, visit the website I’ve attached. The videos are very interesting!

http://www.movementtherapyfoundation.org/MOVEMENT_THERAPY/TYPES_OF_MOVEMENT_THERAPY.html

Use of Essential Oils in a Massage

Whether you have gone for a massage or not, you may know that most therapists use some type of aromatherapy. The scent of different herbs and plants are used in adjunct with massage and sometimes are in the essential oils that the therapist applies to the person’s skin to avoid friction during a massaging. The aromas are picked up through the nose and then into the brain’s limbic system that controls various body functions such as emotion and memory.

Essential oils are known to warm, nourish and moisturize the skin. They can stimulate, intensify and relax the brain. Some oils have a calming effect and others have an energizing effect. Some help relieve depression, stress and anxiety. There are essential oils that can help clear sinuses, stimulate immune systems, and promote sleep. The benefits go on and on.

Massage Therapists may use certain types of essential oils according to their client’s needs. Most common oils used are, lavender, almond, grape seed, sunflower oils, jojoba, tea tree, eucalyptus and rosemary. Some of the essential oils used are combined in order to work together toward a specific treatment for example, in an online website I read that celery seed, myrtle and rosemary were mixed at certain percents then diluted, to use along with massage to treat sciatica and other pain. To read more about the benefits of essential oils, visit the link below:

http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=13329&catid=3&title=treat-sciatica-with-massage-and-essential-oils

How Healing Touch Can Benefit You Through Creating a Sense of Well-Being

In this day and age, you may at times wonder if you are where you’re supposed to be. Are you happy with your job? Family? Success? Etc. Or have you just settled with what you have and wish you had done something different? It is natural as humans to ponder about what could have been, typically we should snap out of it and appreciate all that we have and everyone around us however, that is not always the case. Unfortunately, learning to be happy with ourselves is the first step before we opening our eyes to our surroundings. In this case I’m referring to learning how to come to and balance a sense of well-being with the help of energy.

Healing Touch is a energy therapy used to help boost your body’s natural ability to heal the body, mind, emotions, and spirit, through the use of hands . It can be used for pain management, stress and anxiety reductions, relaxation, improve your mood, and much more. In my blog today I focus more on the benefits of using Healing Touch to create a sense of Well-being. After researching this topic and finding quite the interest in it, this is what I was able to put together for easy reading:

-Healing touch therapy is a 40-60 session and several sessions are needed for complete treatment.

-The initial session starts off with questions about the individual’s emotional, mental and physical history. The individual lays on a massage table, the provider gently holds his/her hands on or above the person throughout the session to produce energy flow.

-Results from a variety of different reports: Healing touch has been known to be, warm, peaceful, relaxing, nurturing

-It is non-invasive, non-toxic, effective and economical.

The therapists and the individuals who worked together, using the Healing Touch method to help balance or find a sense of well-being, were able to identify behavior patterns, negative perceptions, and other lifestyle concepts that individuals were experiencing. These things were holding the individuals back from living a more happily and full-filled life. The therapists then could progressively work with the individual on positive energy and outcomes were improved spirituality.

I have linked below if you are interested in finding out more:

http://www.qualitylifecounseling.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=185&Itemid=391

http://www.healingtouchprogram.com/about/what-is-healing-touch#expect

http://www.healingtouchinternational.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=240

When Massage just isn’t enough for your pain

Alternative treatment may be suggested by your massage therapist upon services depending on your pain symptoms. Some to think about are: chiropractic, cranial sacral therapy and osteopathic. All focus on healing the body through touch instead of through conventional medicine. Learn more, specifically about the osteopathic approach and benefits here:

http://www.communitycare.com/HealthInformation/osteopathic_medicine_manipulative_treatment.asp

http://www.communitycare.com/HealthInformation/osteopathic_medicine_manipulative_treatment.asp

Mind and Body: Learning What comes first

This week it is brought to our attention in class that although diet, exercise, and seeing a physician regularly are still very important in staying healthy, it isn’t always the only way to solve all of our problem/s. It is usual that one’s medical and mental diagnosis come from the lack of a healthy mind. Stress is a common factor and one that I personally struggle to cope with, on a daily basis. I am not happy with my current employment and am working on financial hardships. I also don’t have the best relationship with my mother whom most of us like to rely on the most for support. With these three effected areas, it is tough to escape knowing that none of them can just go away or be fixed by going to the doctor.

 

A healthy mind comes from having good relationships, spirituality, creativeness, intimacy, environmental, financial, etc. But we may have to work on getting ourselves to that place. In the meanwhile, someone such as myself who needs to cope with the everyday stress until I can become healthy within mind and body, I’ve looked more in depth into meditation which was suggested in our assignment.

 

I have never meditated until today and not sure I got the full affect the first time around with all the noise in the house but I am willing to continue to utilize the technique and learn more about it. There is mediation to relax the mind and the muscle and some that are to work on both. When looking for how to get into it and the breathing, I found this instruction below:

 

Meditating is a great way to relax your mind, and you can meditate almost anywhere and at any time. Just pick a quiet place where you can sit on level ground and close your eyes. Cross your legs and keep your hands on your lap. Focus on inhaling and exhaling, and let your body be governed by your breath. Keep as still as possible and avoid fidgeting.

• Be aware of what you can’t control. Focus and absorb the smells and sounds around you.
• Clear your mind. Don’t think about how much work you have left to do, or about what you’re going to make for dinner. Just focus on clearing your mind and managing your breath.
• Relax every part of your body. You can focus on one part of your body at a time until you feel that every part of you is loose and relaxed.

Beginnings

Hello,

My name is Brittany and I am a first year student in the Therapeutic Massage Program. I’m enjoying every last minute of the Intro course I’m in right now and can’t wait for whats to come in my next semester. I’m eager to start massaging! Eeek!

I knew massage was a great way to relax and a lot of people like to get them while on vacations and what not, but I had no idea all the great health benefits that came along with receiving massages on a regular basis. I too, have recently been getting massaged and have been feeling great. I’m currently looking to try meditation as another relaxation source. I have tried yoga but have little to no flexibility therefore, focused so much on getting the moves right that I failed to relax at all.

Massage is so peaceful and makes me feel physically better the next day. I look forward to the day I open the door to my own business and can make others feel better too.