Knitting in the Shadows

Massage - How Do We Know What's Real?

(Cross posted with my Massage Therapy Site)

I belong to some discussion groups populated by massage therapists from all around the country (and even some international voices).  Lately, a theme has cropped up among our various discussion threads.  People seem to be asking what makes a given therapy or modality "real" or "valid."

Almost everyone seems to accept that so called standard massage therapy is "real."  The results we see are readily connected to things we've studied in physiology and anatomy.  And there is all sorts of scientific evidence (in the form studies published in "respected" journals) that supports the argument that manual manipulation of the tissues can relieve pain and reduce stress.    But things get confusing beyond that point, and even that simple assumption has been called into question by at least one study.

This brings to light two issues:  1) What makes a study one that we can rely on? and 2) What about the many things we still don't KNOW how work?  Do we need scientific proof before we can accept something as valid?

The first question is trickier than you might think.  Folks will tell you that for a scientific study ascertaining, proving, or disproving the effectiveness of any therapy to be valid, it must have controls, including "participants" who do not receive any treatment, and those who receive a similar treatment (whose efficacy I suppose ought to be known), along with those who receive the studied treatment.  In addition, to be statistically significant, a study must be fairly large.  It must not only be reproducible, it's likely that it needs to have been reproduced before it'll have any gravitas.  Additionally, it's unlikely that a study will be considered to be valid if the recipients only receive one session of anything... As you can well imagine, that costs money.

Looking into the fields of massage and body work, there's not a lot of money to fund studies that the scientific community (including doctors and other health care providers and insurance companies) are likely to accept as valid and reliable.  The Federal Government (bestower of many many grants for healthcare studies) is not out there offering millions to prove or disprove the efficacy of one type of massage for treating a specific problem, much less to prove or disprove the efficacy of any given modality over all.

What this boils down to is that there aren't very many studies for us to lean on when we try to establish a given massage or bodywork modality as "real".

It gets trickier when we realize that for a great deal of what we do as massage therapists, the medical scientists don't have real answers either.  We just aren't there yet.

For example, we don't REALLY know what causes muscle pain.  Sure, there are theories, but nothing that has been studied well enough for us to be sure.  For years, folks thought that lactic acid build up in the muscle fibers causes muscle pain; that's since been proven to be false. It's possible that muscle soreness stems from micro-tears in the muscle fibers; or perhaps its irritated nerve endings (there are nerve endings both in the belly of the muscle and at it's ends); or maybe it's really the fascia (tissue that surrounds all the muscles in your body) or nerves in the fascia.  Those are all theories.  They're all worth study.  But none have been studied well enough to let us be SURE.

Why?  Because, quite frankly, the inner workings of muscles are almost as mysterious to us as the inner workings of the mind and brain.  We're still learning.

And this doesn't get us into the thorny issues of things like trigger points, fibromyalgia, postural deviations, chronic pain,  ...  etc. etc.  It doesn't even come close to why one person will find 5 pounds of pressure to be as if a gnat landed on them, while another will feel like you're trying to push therm through the table.

If we don't know the mechanics of muscle pain, how can we know whether a treatment is valid?  (I guess that question applies as much to the pharmaceutical treatments as it does to "manual therapies).  For some, the answer is quite simply "does it work for me?"  The more we learn about the human body, and the infinite ways in which my body, for all our shared genes, is not the same as your body, the more I believe that is the right answer; part of what makes ANY treatment valid is how it actually affects EACH individual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perception - Cross Post

Perception is an interesting thing.  As a Massage Therapist, and Bodywork provider, I am increasingly aware of the differences in perceptions that people have about what I do.  And I notice that people’s perceptions of what massage therapists do, affects their perception of our professionalism, and that affects how they treat us.

These perceptions are guided, at least in part, by a number of things.  But in the end, it seems to boil down to this:

Folks tend to see Massage and Bodywork in one of three ways:

• Massage is part of preventive healthcare and/or health maintenance
• Massage is part of reactive healthcare (used to fix a problem)
• Massage is a luxury

Sometimes, folks also see that Massage (as part of healthcare) can be beneficial for conditions unrelated to muscle responses (including depression, anxiety, asthma, headaches … etc. etc.).  And sometimes, people still see massage therapy as something …. slightly ... turpitudinous.

How do people come have one opinion over the other?

Some of it is likely to be prior experience and background.  We can’t change that.

But other things come into play.

Media.

How massage therapy is portrayed in movies and on television shows colors our views about massage therapy.  Unfortunately, it’s rarely shown as part of healthcare; it’s mostly shown as something available to those mysteriously wealthy people who don’t appear to have jobs, and if they do, those jobs clearly do not pay for the wardrobes and cars and vacations they have.  That can be changed, but it will take a lot of time before the folks who make movies start showing preventive healthcare as part of the story line.

Location

Yep, just like the old Realtor’s say, location is important.  It impacts people’s perceptions.

When massage therapists are found mostly in salons and spas, folks tend to think of them as luxuries.

When massage therapists are found mostly in Chiropractors’ offices, folks tend to think of them as related to healthcare, but only to the extent that they think of Chiropractic care as healthcare and not some bizarre charlatan’s trick – and only to the extent that the care is related to backs.

When massage therapists are found connected or adjacent to Physical Therapist’s offices, folks tend to think of massage as related to healthcare, but only to the extent that they are involved with fixing something that has gone wrong.  Massage can help you recover faster from knee surgery, but not keep you healthy.

When massage therapists are found in strip malls, people tend to get … inappropriate ideas about massage.

How people perceive massage and bodywork affects how they perceive massage therapists.

If they perceive massage as part of healthcare, then they perceive massage therapists as professionals.  They also perceive us as having real training – knowing about physiology and anatomy.  And they value our work.

But if they perceive massage as a luxury…. They tend to have less respect for therapists.  They don’t think of our training as having been rigorous.  And some still forget that there are boundaries they ought not cross.

Perceptions are strong, and they change our behavior.  But knowledge can change perceptions.

This means that one of my jobs as a massage therapist is to educate my clients and those people with whom I come in contact.

Education

But … when healthcare providers start recommending massage to their patients, those patients begin to see that massage and body work can be part of overall healthcare.  Luckily, more and more healthcare providers are beginning to discover that massage and other bodywork can be hugely beneficial to overall healthcare.  This is especially true today, when people are being asked to do so much more each day, with slowly decreasing resources.  People are working longer hours, and processing more and more information daily; and thus more and more people are suffering stress.  And stress can lead to all kinds of illnesses and all sorts of pain.

When stress leads to pain, current medical practices seem to be to medicate it.  Pain killers and muscle relaxants may temporarily relieve the backaches and headaches and sore necks.  But they don’t cure the problem.  Massage, on the other hand, can relieve the intermediate cause of the pain (by softening over tight muscles, and eliminating “knots”.  And, while massage can’t eliminate the root source of the problem (high stress jobs without job security, increasing bills, less time for self, etc.), massage can give the body a chance to escape from the perpetual fight or flight responses that those high stress jobs impose.

Unfortunately, one massage will not resolve months or years of stressful living.

However, regular massage can dramatically reduce the impact of the high stress lifestyle.  In so doing, massage can reduce the likelihood that a given person will experience some of the more debilitating stress-induced conditions.  And, it can help alleviate a lot of the pain from the medical conditions linked to stress, including depression, anxiety, headaches, even asthma.  Massage can also alleviate some of the discomfort associated with other conditions (even things like COPD, if the proper techniques are used by a well-trained therapist).  Massage and bodywork can be extraordinarily helpful in places you wouldn’t expect them to be (like addiction recovery).

Sure, massage is a treat.  Anything that feels good is a treat.  And things that let you feel good afterwards (even if they don’t feel great at the time, as is the case with certain therapeutic massage techniques) can also be treats.  But massage and body work are also great preventive medicine. (kind of like fresh fruit -- a treat that keeps you healthy).

How people perceive massage and bodywork affects how they perceive massage therapists.

If they perceive massage as part of healthcare, then they perceive massage therapists as professionals.  They also perceive us as having real training – knowing about physiology and anatomy.  And they value our work.

But if they perceive massage as a luxury…. They tend to have less respect for therapists.  They don’t think of our training as having been rigorous.  And some still forget that there are boundaries they ought not cross.

Perceptions are strong, and they change our behavior.  But knowledge can change perceptions.

This means that one of my jobs as a massage therapist is to educate my clients and those people with whom I come in contact.  (Guess what -- you are among the people with whom I come in contact ....)

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

While I'm not going to get into political issues, I'm pretty sure that we can all agree that sexual assault is a bad thing, and that it ought to be stopped.  We can likely also all agree that victims of sexual assault should not be denied services they need just because they can't afford them.

It's all very good to be aware -- but it's also very important to take action.  We should be talking to our children, reporting things we see, and encouraging victims to seek help and to report what has happened to them.

I got to thinking -- what can I do to make a difference?  How can I help?  And, more significantly, what can I, as a massage therapist, do?  And, how can I encourage others to help?

Here's what I'm doing:  Throughout the month of April, I will donate a portion of my massage fees to our local Rape Crisis Center.  This center provides counseling services, and crisis services, but also provides all sorts of education services that help teach young people (from kindergarten up) about ways to avoid sexual assault - both to avoid becoming a victim, and to re-think their actions so that they're less likely to be perpetrators.  They do phenomenal work on a shoe-string budget.

What will you do?

That's entirely up to you, but if you're in my area, one thing you can do is spoil yourself

-
By getting a massage, you can help support those who work tirelessly to prevent sexual assault, and to offer help to it's victims!

At this point you may be asking why I'm writing about Sexual Assault Awareness on a Knitting Blog?  Well,perhaps it's because I'm a massage therapist, and it's relevant.  There are still countless people who don't recognize massage as healthcare, but instead think of massage therapists as people to whom they can make inappropriate propositions.

Perhaps it's because a couple of months ago, a new-to-me male client tried to expose himself to me by "adjusting" the sheet that draped him so that he could "feel the air on his skin".  I was strong enough to draw the line, replace the sheet, and let him know that un-draping himself was not acceptable.  I was okay.  I was able to think fast on my feet and defend my boundaries without freaking out .... and without letting him push me past my comfort zone.

But

Not every young massage therapist would have been.

Even worse, he had already pushed the line when his only feedback included remarking on how good the massage felt only when I worked on or near his glutes.  I have no idea how far he would have pushed things if I had not been able to define my boundaries firmly and promptly.

In this case, I was able to define my boundaries, and finish the massage.  Afterwards, I told him that I was "sure" he hadn't "intended to do anything inappropriate", it had made me uncomfortable that he only expressed appreciation for my work when I was working on his glutes, and that it not only made me uncomfortable but that it violated professional standards for him to attempt to remove the draping required by my state license.  He was polite.  I was polite.  Face was saved by all -- but he's never come back for another massage (which is okay by me).

I consider myself lucky.  The result could have been very different.  He could just as easily have continued "adjusting" his sheet.  (I would have left the massage room and told him to get dressed).  He could have grabbed my hands and tried to place them in inappropriate places.  I've heard stories about massage therapists who have experienced that and worse.

THAT is why I'm writing about Sexual Assault Awareness Month on this blog.

As long as people think of massage as a prelude to, or a substitute for, sexual activity -- and are willing to push boundaries this way, massage therapists are at risk.  And the people who are willing to push that boundary are more likely than others to try to push other boundaries -- touching their therapists, or ....

What will YOU do?

Positive Energy

Today's blog topic comes from a request from my Facebook Friends.

Yesterday,I posted to Facebook that I was "Looking forward to a day of positive energy all around me. Hoping I can resist all the temptation that will be there."

Folks asked for a bit of explanation, and even specifically requested a blog post.  SO...

After too much time in the house, I thought I'd put in a bit of positive spin before the final entry of the saga of the cleaners.

What WAS I doing?  Well, I was working!  I spent the day at a Psychic & Health Fair, where various folks come to let people have 15 minute samples of interesting services.  Those services range from Foot Massage (by me) to Reiki, Reflexology, Tarot Readings and Psychic Readings.  There was even a woman who does Stone Readings.

I offer brief tasters of services* that people may never have experienced, as well as more basic things that folks seem to forget to take time for.  A fifteen minute session is long enough to get an idea of whether you might like a full session, long enough to actually do some good, but doesn't represent a large investment of time or money for the curious.

Okay, but was does that have to do with positive energy and temptation?

Well, to start with, it''s fun. I get a chance to meet a bunch of people, and often have the chance to introduce someone to a new modality.  Generally, people are happy to have found something new that leaves them feeling better than they did when they came in.  I love seeing someone who was tense, or stressed, or nervous get up from my table relaxed, at ease, at peace, smiling.  That's a positive energy boost right there. (How often do you get THAT as an attorney? - I get that almost every time I see a client.)

Additionally, everyone who works these fairs tends to come in in a positive frame of mind.  They're all people whose company I have come to enjoy a great deal.  When we're not busy, we sit and visit and remind each other of the abundance of goodness in the world -- no one whines!  And if someone does have an issue, the others listen, and offer new positive perspectives.  But NO ONE WHINES.  Even if we spend three hours with no business, we take it as a blessing to be able to rest and socialize for a while. When one of us is busy, we are all happy about it. 

Even if I don't actually wind up 'working'  I am sustained by these days, surrounded by others who work in the broadly defined field of folks who help others.  That's another big part of the positive energy.

The temptation?  Well, these Fairs are held in a lovely local shop.  The proprietress offers books on interesting topics (many of which aren't always available at your local national-chain-bookstore). She makes her own incense, and since I love the way the shop smells, I'm usually tempted to buy more incense so my house can have a similar yummy background smell.  She stocks polished stones, and jewelry, and candles, and tarot decks, and all sorts of lovely stuff that it -- well -- tempting.

Among the more expensive things that tempt me there are large polished stones like ...

  Large fluorite stones - I just love the way they look and feel.

 

and selenite rods that make wonderful massage tools.

Despite a strong temptation for an expensive labradorite stone that was shaped in a way that would have made an awesome massage tool, I was strong.  So strong that I actually put it in the hands of a customer, who bought it.

 

 

* At the Fairs, I offer 15 minute sessions in Reiki, Reflexology, Structural Energy Balancing, Mini Relaxation Massages (for the Fairs, I offer Foot Massage, Hand & Arm Massage, and Face or Face & Head Massage, all of which are really relaxing), and Chakra Balancing.  I will also do a bit of therapeutic massage if someone has an issue they'd like addressed.

Massage with Balance

Despite all the cleaning and organizing around here, I actually do get out of the closets.  

I've been enjoying being a Licensed Massage Therapist this month.  I spend quite a bit of time in this room ...

There on the wall you see my muscle chart, and my certificates demonstrating that I've graduated from massage school, passed my certification exams, received my license, and am qualified as a Reiki Practitioner.

I've been putting all those certifications and licenses and such to good use, doing what I'd hoped I'd be doing:

I've been giving Therapeutic Massages focusing on very small areas as I work with clients who are also going through post-surgical physical therapy. 

I've been giving Therapeutic Massages, focusing on larger areas of the body and on it's integration as a whole, working with clients who had issues that were starting to be troublesome, but hadn't graduated to needing physical therapists or surgeons.

I've been giving Relaxation Massages to folks who just want to de-stress and unclench.

And I've been giving Reiki sessions.

And... as of January 15, I've been practicing the wonderful skills I learned at my first Continuing Education Course.  I spent two weekends learning the Core elements of Zero Balancing. Zero Balancing is a Structural Energy technique that works with bone energy... releasing held tension, and yielding relaxation, and a sense of integration -- also better posture. Oh, and pain reduction.

Over on this wall, you see my lovely bone chart.  Before the Zero Balancing class, I looked at it as a source of information about where the muscles attach.  Now, I also see it as a guide to the deepest tissues of the body, and an opportunity to look more closely at how joints connect.

In some ways, I'm blessed to be a beginning therapist as I start this new course of study.  It means I have enough time to practice the new stuff without reducing my ability to meet my current clients' needs.  But I'm also blessed to have a growing number of clients to support my continuing studies.

I'm so very glad that I am working in a field where learning more is just plain fun, and I truly enjoy what I do. 

 

Sunday Satisfaction -- on Eleven

Progress is being made all over the place.

Alas, I can't SHOW you any of it.  Words will have to do. <grin>

First, I'm pleased to announce that the State has come through, and I'm not a fully licensed massage therapist.  This is wonderful -- but has been eating into my knitting time.

Despite being distracted by giving massages to clients, I've made progress on all sorts of holiday related fronts.

1.  I've finished and mailed the gift project using these yarns:

and .

(and I have some left, just in case I decide to make something more).

2.  I finished and mailed the gift project using this yarn:

3.  I finished the gift project using these yarns:

and . 

Alas, I sent it off to its recipient without photographing it.  :-(

4.  I finished the gift project using these yarns:

and

5.  I took my family to do this

and mustered two gifts for others out of the process.

6. I cleaned the first floor of my house, and got all the pretty candles set out.

7.  I wrote the family Holiday Newsletter -- and got it approved by the GolfPro for dissemination.

8.  I found, purchased, made personal notes in, signed, stamped and mailed the Holiday Cards.

9.  I found, and purchased, the required annual ornaments for the girls.

10. I hosted a lovely party to celebrate the Solstice (and the fact that the end of the Mayan Calendar did not, in fact, coincide with the End of the World).  AND, got it all cleaned up after....

11.  I've started the last required knitting gift project, using this:

and and possibly .

There are now rumors afoot that I may add to the holiday gift knitting with two additional small projects.  Only one need be done by Tuesday.  (Alas, I fear it really wants to be done by Monday night.)

I will now return to knitting....

 

Zero. Who knew it would be so good?

A couple of weeks ago, the Divine though Blogless Elizabeth and I were working on making her next sweater fit HER.  Exactly HER.  She had gone to this amazing class, and wanted to put what she learned to good use.  She knew that I knew how to do a lot of the things she'd learned about, so she wrangled me in to be her step by step guru as we applied the lovely stuff from her class.

The first thing I did to help her solidify what she'd learned was to have her teach me.  (Yes, I know, I did already know a lot of what she was teaching me, but the goal here was less to have me learn and more to have her know that she knows what she'd learned, and to identify where she was still a bit fuzzy).

Step one was to take my picture to see what my body shape really is.

 

The first thing I noticed that my body is TWISTED! 

One should be able to draw a set of parallel lines from the shoulders down and find that one's hips are both either at the line, inside the line or outside the line.  Mine didn't work this way.  As you can see, one hip is notably outside the line, and the other is....inside the line.  That's not the way it's supposed to be.

We tried the photography thing again.... and I consciously tried to square my body. 

The result was the same.

We went on with our project anyway, since, unlike this post, it wasn't about my body; it was about making her sweater fit her body.

However, two days later I had the opportunity to go in for a Zero Balancing Treatment.  Zero Balancing is an interesting blend of body work and energy work in which the practitioner affects your body's alignment by gently inviting the bones to shift to the place they want to be.  In contrast, a chiropractor moves your bones to be closer to their best place.  Zero Balancing is soothing, relaxing, subtle, and amazingly effective.

Alas, I wasn't able to get a good picture until a week after my treatment, and my body has shifted a bit back towards the twisted place it was, but even a week later, I can still see a significant difference in the twistedness.

Note, for example, that my shoulders are square here (they were not in the picture above).  Also, both hips are outside the lines -- admittedly, the left is still a bit farther, but it's much better.

Zero balancing.  One treatment.  Awesome.

I'm saving these pictures so we can look again after the next one (there WILL be more). 

 

Ten on Tuesday - Personal Progress, On Multiple Fronts

There are a number of blog meme-things out there called Ten on Tuesday.  Typically, someone decides what sorts of things those ten will be (ten favorite restaurants; ten things in your refrigerator; ten books you've read this year... something like that).  I've decided to do my very own Ten on Tuesday:  Ten things I've accomplished in the past week.

1. Last weekend I survived another birthday.  It was low key, and wonderful.  I accomplished one thing: I finished knitting the Climbing Cables Socks.

2. Yesterday, I soaked the Climbing Cables Socks.  They're drying now, but have promised to come out for a photo shoot in the very near future.

3.  I lured both Golf Pro and the Ball in Chain Socks out into the light of day for a photo shoot.

Alas, I was unable to lure the camera battery into participating, so I had to make do with the camera in my phone.  I'll try again when I've got a better camera.

4. I completed the last step for my application for the Massage License.  All forms have been filled out, and signed and sealed by the appropriate parties.  I have had my fingerprints taken via the LiveScan method, and released to the department the results of their criminal background check.  I have ordered the transcript from the school (we will not grumble that I'd already sent one to the testing folks, the State evidently needs its own copy).  I've written the check, written the cover letter, gotten copies of everything, printed the label, stuffed the envelope.  This afternoon, I'll be taking it all to the post office. (And then I'll resume fretting over whether I sent it in too early -- too early means that I have to write that check again in December)

5. I finished drafting and proofing the written part of a pattern for which I'd only finished off the charts. AND, I sent the written directions to a tester.  I'd already had the charts tested, so I know the design works -- now we see if my transcription from charts to words works.  I know that it's important to have a written version of the pattern, but I do not enjoy creating them.  This is likely to mean that several patterns will continue in limbo, published as chart only designs, because there's not much return on the time investment to fix them.

6. I updated a five year old pattern to clear up an error someone found.  I'm sad that there was an error, especially that it was still there after all this time.  I'm thrilled that someone bought the pattern, and that she then followed up with a question so I could fix the pattern.

7.  I cast on for a new mitt design for Book Worm. (I'm also pondering another mitt design for both girls.  I'm pondering that one enough that it's invading my dreams).

8. I successfully cleaned and treated a nasty cut that Kitty got while playing about in a local stream (one which runs through town, and has gone through varous phases of being clean and being polluted over the years).  Even so, it was a dirty cut, and we wound up in the doctor's office the next morning getting it looked at -- antibiotics are now on board. The doc said I did a good job with it, which is comforting.  I can now add "capable of performing decent first aid" to my list of attributes.

9. I tracked down Golf Pro's great grandfather in a recent genealogical hunt at our local library.  Alas, his father's family was in Canada, where the census information does not go back very far.  

10. In my newly rediscovered relaxation time, I've watched enough TV that my DVR is no longer at risk of running out of room to record new things.  I've also been reading non-massage related things at a rate that actually meant I'd run out of novels to read from the library! (I promptly fixed that, but it's been well over a year since my shelf was not full of things that I'd renewed AGAIN because I hadn't finished reading them.

The best thing about Ten on Tuesday lists like this is how good you feel, realizing that you've NOT in fact wasted a week.  Yep, I actually got stuff DONE!

Certified - Part IIIB (The NCETMB)

My wonderful Study Buddy and I enjoyed a pleasant (free) breakfast.  We were there at the tail end of breakfast hour, but there was plenty of food.  What was missing were crowds.  We were fine with that.

After breakfast, we went upstairs to pack up the room.  A room which contained what I fondly referred to as our Security Blanket:

2 copies of Mosby's Book, and 1 each of the Orthopedic Assessment Book, the Beck Book (Massage Therapy), the Business book, Trail Guides to the Body, Bodywork (a book about massage modalities), a review book from the library.  Also, our notes from various classes and about 300 note cards that I'd written up while studying.

We loaded up the cart, and while I checked out of the hotel (precisely at the 11:00 check out time), Study Buddy loaded up the car.  Despite having just eaten, we wound up going to Starbucks to sit and relax and try not to study any more.  We were far too early to go to the test center.  Finally, at about 12:15, we headed over to take our NCETMBs.

Again, I handed over my Drivers License, signed the electronic key pad, had them scan my palm, got my picture taken, put all my stuff in the locker, and was escorted to the testing room.  Again, I had my palm scanned.  Again the person signed me into the test.

The NCETMB has a longer section reminding me not to share any specifics about the test.

So 160 questions, 160 minutes.

Again, some were easy, some were challenging, and some touched things I just plain hadn't learned (damn those reflexes).  This time, Ayurveda was only a glimmer in the test, but Chinese Medicine took up the slack.  I think there might have been more physiology/  anatomy/kinesiology and less assessment, but I'm not sure.  This time I was aware of the possibility of flagging questions for myself to go back to look at.  So I did that on questions for which I wasn't totally confident of my answer.  Upon completing it, I had plenty of time, so I reviewed the flagged questions, cleared several and then did it again.  Then, again, I reviewed my answer to EVERY question -- and found one of those stupid ones where you know the right answer but mark the wrong one.  Finally, I had to admit I could do no more.  I ended the test and raised my hand.

Again I was escorted from the room, and had my palm scanned to confirm that it really was me who took the test.  Again I fetched my things from the locker. And again they handed me papers with my results.

Again, they tell you your score, and the passing score, but not the total possible scores.

Again, I passed.

I was sure I'd be elated.  But frankly, I was just tired.  I went to the break room to wait for Study Buddy, who had started a bit later than I (weird schedules there).  I turned on my phone and posted to Facebook.  I texted home, and the Director of my massage program.  And flipped through a mindless magazine until she was done.  I was too fried even to knit.

It took until we got all the way home for the elation to kick in.  Happy Dancing around the kitchen ensued.

Now... there is but one more hoop to leap through before I'll be a licensed Massage Therapist!

I have to get myself fingerprinted, and have a background check submitted to the State, along with my written application.

This Thanksgiving, I will be giving Thanks for my brand new shiny license!

Certified - Part IIIA (The MBLEx Test)

Friday morning, after a fitful sleep, I rose at 6:30 a.m. to see that it was bleak and raning outside.

Yes, I really did get up at 6:30.

I showered, dressed, put on some make up so I'd not look half dead (they take your picture!) and reviewed the contents of my reticule (and yes, I was carrying what amounts to a reticule, and not a purse, because you're pretty much not allowed to take ANYTHING into the test.)

Drivers License: check

Passport (the MBLEx, which I took at 8:00, requires TWO photo IDS): check

Credit Card (just in case): check

Reservation sheet (again, just in case): check

Socks to knit (in case there is waiting involved): check

Car Keys (pause, grab from Study Buddy's purse, since she graciously let me take her car): check

Water Bottle (not IN the reticule..): check

Room Key: check.

Phone: check

Deep breath.  It was 7:06.  I let Study Buddy sleep, grabbed by jacket, and let my self out of the room.

Downstairs, they had free hot breakfast.  I didn't really have time for much, but I snagged a cup of coffee, a 1/4 bowl of oatmeal, and about 1/4 of a scrambled egg.  Some fuel was needed, but I had neither the time nor the stomach for a real breakfast.  At 7:17, I left the building.

Upon arrival at the testing center, I was given a written set of instructions, reminding me of stuff I'd already been told about what could and could not go into the testing rooms.  This list includes the obvious (notes, study guides, computers, cell phones, weapons (!)), and the not so obvious (pens, pencils, paper (unless provided by the center), watches, large pendants, bracelets, large earrings, food or drink of any kind, ear plugs (unless provided by the center).

I re-read the list, and knit on my sock as I watched as others were checked in.  Then it was my turn.  I showed my drivers license and my passport.  He kept my license, but returned my passport to me.  I signed my name on an electronic signature pad -- with no screen.  I then had to let them take a palm vein scan with a machine that looks like this:

Evidently, this is more effective than a finger print scanner.

So, once my palm was scanned, I sat down and had my picture taken.  Then, a charming young lady came up.  The fellow at the desk handed her my Drivers License, and she escorted me to a locker, into which I put everything I'd brought with me - coat, reticule, water bottle (after taking a healthy swig).  She asked me to empty my pockets.  We locked the locker, and I took the key.  We then walked to the back of the office, where she again scanned my palm - to "open" my test.

She escorted me into the testing room, where there were 15 desks, each with cubicle like walls to the edge of the desk, kind of like these:

On each desk was a computer, a mouse, a mousepad, and a keyboard, a set of noice cancelling ear muffs.  She reminded me that if, at any time, I wanted to leave the room, I should raise my hand.  She would come get me, and escort me out (and back in again if appropriate).  She signed me into the computer, had me confirm the spelling of my name, placed my Drivers License on the desk in front of me, and left me to the test.

The first thing they have you do is take a wee survey, asking your age and gender, and asking why you chose to take the MBLEx.  Then, they require you to agree that you will not disclose the exact content of the test, nor any specific questions to anyone on pain of various bad things.  Thus, what you'll see here about the test itself is pretty vague.

125 multiple choice questions.

Some were easy.  Some were challenging.  Some touched on things I could only guess at, since they dealt with things we'd never discussed in our classes (only some of which were related to Ayurveda -- others included the different kinds of reflexes we have).  Some let me know that I really should have looked more closely at that Assessment Book, but luckily for me addressed conditions that I was able to dredge up enough memory that I think I got them right. Some had pictures related to specific pathologies for us to identify.

The rumor had been that this test would be the easier of the two.  It was shorter.  And it didn't ask me any Chinese Medicine questions (which isn't to say that there aren't any, just that my draw from the huge pool of questions didn't get them).  It did ask more about Ayurveda than I'd expected.  I'm not sure whether it was easier or harder.  After all, there is the question of whether my brain is as functional at 8:00 a.m. as it is at 1:00 p.m. (I'd say unlikely).

Either way, I finished the test.  I went back and reviewed every answer (I had the time left to do it, and in the last day or so I'd been marking wrong answers on practice tests even though I KNEW the right ones).  I corrected one answer.  Perhaps later I'll go look to see whether I should have.  Then I admitted I was done, ended the test, and raised my hand.

The lovely lady came to get me, escorted me back out of the room, where I had to again have my palm scanned to "close" the test.  I walked back to the front of the office, fetched my things out of my locker, and was given the printed result of my MBLEx Exam.

I passed.  (Oddly, they tell you what your score is, what a passing score is, but not what a perfect score would have been, so you've no idea really what your score means other than whether you passed).

Phew.  The afternoon's test is less scary now.

I returned to the hotel, and met Study Buddy for breakfast.

Certified - Part II (The Exam Preparation)

Long ago, I studied for the Bar Exam.  That exam condenses three years of learning into one giant super-final exam.  It covers Torts,  Constitutional Law (including stuff like the 4th amendment rights to protect the accused in a criminal case), Federal Jurisdiction (including some civil procedure), Property Law, and Wills.  When you study for that exam, you tend to take a big course that lasts 6- 8 weeks and has you in class three hours a day five days a week.  You're supposed to study the rest of the time.

Having a course that provides a review of all of these areas really helps.  You get a professor up there lecturing on the outlines of stuff you'll need to know to take your exam.  For massage, we get review books, but no instructors.  We have to be our OWN review course instructors.  While it's true, we only have one year of study (compared to three in law school), we cover a lot of material.  Allow me to repeat that list for you:

• Anatomy
• Physiology (including cell chemistry)
       -- these two areas covered by structure and function
• Kinesiology
• Pathology
• Orthopedic Assessment
• Massage Application including physiologic and psychologic effects of specific strokes
• Benefits and Effects of various massage modalities
• Contraindications to massage and/or specific strokes or modalities
• Treatment Planning
• Business (including taxes)
• Charting
• Basics of Asian Bodywork including Chinese Medicine, Tui Na, Ayurveda, Shiatsu
• Ethics and Professionalism.
• Regulations, Licensing.
• History of Massage, including identifying WHO devloped specific modalities.

I started back at Anatomy & Physiology, which was for me, the beginning, and read (and took notes on) my text book, on chapter at a time.  When I got to the Integumentary System, I began alternating reading a chapter of Anatomy/Physiology with the corresponding chapter on Pathology.  When I got to Bones and Muscles, I began mixing in chapters of the book on Orthopedic Assessment.

Why?

 I figured that doing this would both refresh my recollection for the stuff I had covered over a year ago AND help integrate my understanding of both the anatomy/physiology and the pathology.  I intentionally put things together in an order that DIFFERED from the way we learned it in school.  Instead of reviewing all of anatomy/physiology and then all of pathology, I tied the subjects together by system. It's called layering, and is supposed to help build memory more effectively. If I had it to do over (which, thankfully, I do not), I would have spent more time with the section of our Massage textbook that our instructors skipped completely.  (It covers anatomy/physiology very briefly in one long chapter).  Once I discovered that chapter, I began reading that section as an overview before reading the Anatomy/Physiology textbook.

I had one review book that was graciously provided to us by our Director. I also checked out some review books from the library.  I took scads of practice tests.  After a chapter in Pathology, I did all the silly exercises they had on the accompanying disc (quizlets, a jeopardy type game, hangman).  Again, this layered the memory, made me use it in different ways, and let me know what I hadn't gotten this time.

After a couple of weeks of that, I started meeting with a study buddy -- at first once a week, then twice, and then daily in the last days before the exam.

If I had to do it over, I'd start the review book earlier.  That book provided an overview of the systems that would have been good to have in recent reading memory when I went back to the text book.  It also pitched things in ways that tied them to massage therapy well.  (We relied heavily on Mosby's book, which seemed at times to be pitched for medical massage, and thus was a bit more intense).  This meant that we were preparing for something that was likely to be harder than the exam we actually faced.

The one thing we did not have was any decent text covering, or even outlining, the Asian/Eastern massage stuff.  While our coursework included a section on Chinese Medicine, we learned nothing at all about Ayurveda, and very little about Shiatsu.  Luckily, for everything but Ayurveda, I figured that out early on, and began geting books from the library that would help.

Yes, that means I pretty much devoted six weeks to studying all the time.  I still took time out for knit night, but I didn't start watching ANY TV again until this last week.  This last week, I put in 7 hours or more a day studying for the Board Exams.  By the end of the day, my brain was mush, so I started watching TV with Bookworm again.

Friday was the big day.

Thursday morning, we studied by taking practice tests, and going over missed questions with each other.  Thursday afternoon we drove to the nearest testing center city (about two hours), my buddy driving, and me "grading" and reviewing aloud the last sections of our last practice test. The timing was perfect, and we finished up about 1/2 hour before arriving. and checked into our hotel.

We then promptly drove to the testing center itself, learning the route ahead of time.  We went into the building to find the very room.  We went INTO the room, and greeted the person there.  We asked questions about how the process would work in the morning, and how early we should arrive.  (He was delightful).

Secure in our knowledge of the location and procedure, we returned to the hotel, and took a brief walk around it, enjoying the breezy 82 degree weather before settling down for a last bit of review.

Two hours later we went down for dinner.  By 9:00, we quit studying, and relaxed -- me updating the blog and then reading.  My first test was at 8:00 a.m. the next day.

 

Certified - Part I (The Schooling)

In August 2011, I embarked on a new path.  I took my first class in Massage Therapy on Monday, August 22.  Since then I've studied a lot, and learned a lot, and given a lot of practice massages. 

The first semester was tough, since I had to relearn how to be a student -- and since I hadn't taken the two non-Massage classes the summer before.  To be fair, I hadn't known I would be going to massage school in time to get into those classes during the summer before -- and one of them had been cancelled anyway. But still, it was challenging taking two different anatomy classes simultaneously.  (In my dreams at the beginning, they'd over lap each other  - in reality, they did that for about one week).

The second semester's class load was lighter, but they made up for it by introducing clinicals (wherein we gave three massages back to back to members of the public - a test to see if we could do it, and practice for working in the real world), and Community Outreach obligations (wherein we took massage chairs out into the world and gave free chair massages to spread the joy).  The first day of clinicals I came home so exhausted I could barely eat dinner.  The second day was much better, and by the third shift, it was almost easy.  Except for the studying and stuffing my brain with all the pathology information.

The summer "semester" was intense, with classes feeding information to us like drinking water from a fire hose.  In the midst of the flood, we continued with clinicals and community outreach, and I tested myself by doing added shifts in the clinical tour -- thus learning how I'd stand up to giving six massages in a day (As with the first round, the first day I worked two shifts, I was exhausted, but the second day was not bad).

In August 2012, I graduated from massage school, took a couple weeks off to breathe, and began to study in earnest.  I set myself the goal of re-reading all of my textbooks AND going through two prep guides.  Looming before me <queue ominous music> was <ominous music, mezzo forte> the NCETMB, <fade ominous music to mezzo piano> the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. <end ominous music>.  That's one of the lovely tests that one has to take to be licensed as a professional Massage Therapist here.  There is an alternative test -  <queue ominous music, mezzo piano> the MBLEx <fade ominous music to piano)>, the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam. <end ominous music>.  I chose to take both.

WHY?

Well, the States continue be all shifty about which exam is going to be THE national exam.  Some states take one, some states take the other, some states take BOTH, and a few hold outs don't take either, because they have their own.  MY state currently takes either (or both, depending on how you look at it).  -- The rules say:

"The applicant has successfully completed an approved massage therapy program in accordance with Section 1284.20 and passed the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork's (NCBTMB) examination or the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)."

So.  I figured that as long as there are two certification bodies, and I live in a state that has been known to get a bit excited with professional regulation rules (like abruptly raising all sorts of license fees that last time we were in a budget crunch), I wanted to be SURE that I had whichever certification they changed their mind to require.  Additionally, certification by both organizations means that should we up and move when the girls have graduated high school, I won't discover that I have the wrong certification for some future state.  (That prospect looked probabe a few years ago, but is looking less and less likely as time goes on).

I also figured that if I took both tests back to back, I'd only have to do the massive study push once.  After all, they cover the same material (mostly), just in slightly different ratios.  So... I studied.

Hmm?  What was on these exams?  Well, astounding as it may seem, these exams covered:

• Anatomy
• Physiology (including cell chemistry)
       -- these two areas covered by structure and function
• Kinesiology
• Pathology
• Orthopedic Assessment
• Massage Application including physiologic and psychologic effects of specific strokes
• Benefits and Effects of various massage modalities
• Treatment Planning
• Business (including taxes)
• Charting
• Basics of Asian Bodywork including Chinese Medicine, Tui Na, Ayurveda, Shiatsu
• Ethics and Professionalism.
• Regulations, Licensing.
• History of Massage, including identifying WHO devloped specific modalities.

Just in case any of my classmates decide to read this, I'll share my study plan in the next installment.

At Long Last ... Socks!

Note to self:  When you have a deadline for a big project that uses 80% of your brain power for 80% of your waking hours, do not plan to whip up a pair of socks on short order until that project is DONE.

Last night, I finished the Ball in Chain Socks.

No, really.  See ... here's a cast off cuff:

This color is close to the actual socks.  For reasons I cannot figure out (possibly because that 80% brain power project isn't quite done yet), the other pictures' colors are WAY off.

Without further ado, may I present, Ball in Chain...

This is not the money shot.  Not even a well modeled shot -- just the sock lying casually across the arm of a chair.  I've promised the sock that it will get a much better photo shoot this weekend.

Why wait?

Well, last night I finished the sock.

Tonight I finished the studying.

Tomorrow morning, I take the EXAM!   

The next time we cross paths, I'll either be a nationally certified massage therapist, or a sniveling weeping, teeth gnashing, hair rending pile of dismay.  I choose to believe it will be the former.

And the interviews continue ... Grape Seed

Saturday, I traded massages with one of my almost classmates from Massage School.  I was in the "Day Class" and she was in the "Night Class" (they also met on Saturday mornings...).

She agreed to be my guinea pig for the grape seed oil. 

Grape seed oil.... that's a lot of seeds for oil.  I mean with apricot pits, we know they're pretty big. But grape seeds?  wow.  SO tiny.  (If I see celery seed oil as an option out there, I may just freak out).

I googled grape seed oil, to see what I could learn.

Wikipedia tells me that it is a by-product of wine making; that it is higher in linoleic acid than many other carrier oils (oils used, for example, to "carry" essential aromatherapy oils - which are too strong to use undiluted); and that it's sometimes used as a shaving lubricant. They don't tell me much about how it's made. (They also tell me it's good for cooking and has a high smoke-point, but that's not why I'm here).

Other googling tells me that one uses an  oil expeller, but I didn't dig hard enough to find out how those work. There is also, evidently a chemical method out there.  I got enough to know that I'm unlikely to be making my own grape seed oil any time soon -- and that many wineries actually do make their own.

Anyway, I gave my friend a massage with the grape seed oil.  It's thicker than the Apricot Seed, but not as thick as the jojoba. That thickness meant that it was a bit slicker, and thus better for gliding strokes than the apricot, but not as good for deeper work.  Of course, as with all oils, some of that depends simply on how much you use.

It's clear that I'll have to do an oil-off once I've tried them all once.  I'm ranking them, sort of.  But in the end, I'll have to retry them all to compare the ones I've liked with each other KNOWING what I thought of the others.

Oil Interviews Continue

Monday, I interviewed a new oil: Apricot Kernel oil.  As it happens, I have this oil from two different sources.  One vial comes from WellSpring (whom I mentioned here, in my first oil interview post).  The other comes from our local whole foods co-op (and no, I don't mean Whole Foods the chain, just a local co-op that sells whole foods).

I tried the local sourced oil first.  I found that I liked it much better to work with than the jojoba oil.  Much lighter, and yet fully lubricating to the skin.  Though it seemed to soak in and be absorbed by my client's skin fairly quickly, I found that it continued to allow sufficient glide for me to give a good massage without any pulling.

I did note that the oil on my client's back had been all but fully absorbed in the time it took me to massage her legs, and have her turn over.  It was no longer possible to work under her body (thus revisiting some of the tight shoulder muscles) without applying more oil.  This is a good and not so good thing.  It means that the oil is being absorbed happily by her skin, and will not leave her feeling greasy; but it means I have to use a bit more for certain techniques.  On the whole, I find it a good thing.

Yesterday, I followed up by using the Apricot Kernel Oil I'd gotten from WellSpring.  I was particularly interested in comparing these two oils, since the main difference was source, and not substance.

I found the WellSpring oil to be much the same as the oil from the local purveyor.  Again, light touch, easy absorption, but good lubrication.  I particularly like that it's not so slippery that you can't get any traction, but it's slippery enough for long smooth strokes.  The main difference in my experience was in the bottle caps!  And that -- is fully controllable by me.  After all, once I'm really working, I'll be buying oil by the quart to dispense into whatever working container I choose, not by the 2 oz bottle.

If feels good to make progress.  Of the collection of eleven massage oil/lotion options in my massage room (okay, thirteen if we count things for which I have multiple sources for the same single element oil), I've ruled one out completely, found one severely wanting, and liked two (three if you count double sourcing).

Meanwhile, I'm still studying furiously.  I'm simultaneously amazed by how much I've learned about anatomy, physiology and pathology -- and stunned by how much we didn't cover thoroughly (or at all), that I'm having to learn for the exam.  This week, I'm trying to cram into my full brain the names of each of the bones in our wrists and ankles.  Evidently, it is insufficient to just know that they are carpal and tarsal bones.  On the other hand, I'm guessing that, exam review book aside, we don't really need to be able to identify all of the tubercles, lines, ridges, crests, condyles, fossas etc. on every bone. But I'm trying to make sure that I'll at least recognize them as such if they show up on the test.

Interviewing

Most folks who finish a course of study that was designed to prepare them for a new career wind up interviewing for jobs somewhere near the time of their graduation.  But that's not what this post is about. (Yes, I have done some interviewing, but that's not the point).

I'm interviewing oils.

Why, you might ask?

Well, I'm looking forward to starting a career that requires me to USE massage oil.  Clearly, if I have to use massage oil, I'm going to have to purchase massage oil.  I got to avoid that issue throughout the learning process, since our school provided massage oil for us.  But now... well, I've got about three massages worth of their oil in my massage oil bottle, and at least five massages lined up to do in the next few weeks.

As with so many things in this world, massage oils are NOT all the same.  And, as with so many things in this world, there are more kinds of oils and oil blends suitable for massage than anyone not in the industry is likely to imagine.  Having sampled a couple of other oils over the past year, I have realized that as grateful as I am to the school for having provided it all this time, I don't really like their oil (which is more like a gel than an oil).  I'm not positive, but I think they use this(Biotone Massage Gel).

So, before I go out ordering a gallon of massage oil, I thought I'd best do a bit of research. Thus: I'm interviewing oils.  And lotions - since one can use either as a lubricant for the skin during massage.

The first new oil I tried was one that came free with my table:  TheraPro Swedish Effleurage Oil.  I like fairly well.  It's lighter than the school's gel/oil, which means that it feels less greasy on the skin when you're done.  Of course, it is also easier to get too much oil when you're not used to it. One of my clients has specifically indicated that she likes it much better than the school's oil. 

I've also had the opportunity to try some oils used by other therapists when I trade massages with them.  Among these was a scented lotion that seemed to come in "flavors" I didn't like much.  Using the lotion was okay, though it was awkward for me to work with the lotion tube instead of my usual pump. My client was happy with the lotion, but I didn't like the way it felt on my hands afterwards.  I'll be unlikely to choose that lotion for my own use. 

Currently in my massage room waiting for my personal assessment are ten additional oils -- I was able to order a lovely sampler pack from WellSpring that included three blends A Swedish Blend, a Deep Tissue Blend, and one in the middle that they call Balanced Blend Massage Oil;  and six single oil options Golden Jojoba Massage Oil (Conventional), (Sweet Almond Massage Oil,  Apricot Kernel Massage Oil,  Avocado Massage Oil,  Fractionated Coconut Massage Oil, and  Grape Seed Massage Oil. I also have some other Apricot Kernel oil that I got last term from the local Health Food Coop, and some Sweet Almond Oil.  Also in the house is some Safflower Oil, which I've heard makes a great massage oil. 

See... I told you the variety was rather staggering.  And you can bet that every company makes at least a few blends.  We haven't even begun to entertain the ones with scents.

Today, I tried the Golden Jojoba oil.  According to WellSpring's site, Golden Jojoba oil

"(pronounced ho-ho-ba) is actually not oil but is a liquid plant-based wax that is similar in chemical composition to sebum, the oil our sebaceous glands secrete that lubricates our skin and hair. This unique chemical composition means Jojoba Massage Oil seldom causes allergic reactions, making it a great substitute for nut based oils if nut allergies are a concern. Our Organic Jojoba Oil and Non-Organic Jojoba Oil are both rich in nutrients such as vitamin E, B complex vitamins, and the minerals silicon, chromium, copper and zinc, has anti-inflammatory properties, and are suitable for all types of skin. Pure Jojoba Oil also has antimicrobial properties and fights bacterial and fungal infections, which may be due to its high iodine content. It is deeply moisturizing, and absorbs quickly without leaving an oily residue."

I found it thicker than other oils I've used, and yet runnier than the gel from school.  My client has fairly dry skin, and this absorbed very quickly, which meant that I had to use quite a bit more than I would have of the gel I've used in the past.  It was fine -- but did not make me say "THIS!!! This is the oil of my dreams!"   I'll keep trying until I find it (or them).

Of course, how it feels to my hands and to my client's skin, is not the only consideration.  Ease of laundering is also a consideration.  If it's too hard to get the oil out of the sheets, one has to both use laundry soap that's not hypoallergenic.  Even that is not enough ... eventually, the oil that lingers in the sheets after laundering eventually begins to smell bad, and you have to just abandon the sheets altogether.

I anticipate that I'll wind up with a variety of oils, each of which works best with different clients. 

 

Now What?

A week ago, I took my last exam in Massage School.

Monday, I was busy, and thus didn't mind that I didn't have class.  And Tuesday, my wonderful Mother arrived, so I've been delightedly busy with her ...

But ...

Sunday I graduate -- with the whole ceremony, and people sitting in chairs watching me and my classmates walk across the front of the room and get a wonderful piece of paper that says I'm a Certified Massage Therapist.

And then ....

....

....

And then, I study for an exam that I'm pretty confident I'll pass, and I wait to find out when I can take the exam.

And I wait for that day to arrive, so I can take tthe exam.

And I wait for the timing to be right to apply for my license (too early, and I'll have to pay my license fee again six weeks after I get it ).

And I wait for the State to give me my license.

That's a bit more than three months worth of waiting.

But oddly, what I really want to do is go to class.  There is so very much left to learn.

If times were different, and the world was different... I'd sign up right now to study Shiatsu -- which, when done right, is another year of massage therapy training.  But there are little things that stop me -- like the fact that the nearest place to do that is 150 miles away, and there are family members who have been so very patient while I've worked hard and had so little time for them, oh, and money (school is a pricey adventure).

So now, I'm poring over the various options for continuing education options that are either shorter than a full year, or closer, or can be done at least partly on-line.  I just can't quit learning while I wait the next three months until I can actually give massages professionally.

Back to the Muscles - Where it Gets Personal

For the past nine months, I've been studying the body and muscles and how the muscles connect to the bones and all that good stuff.  I've learned the names of enough muscles that I don't feel like counting them right now, and have discovered that I still have many more to learn if I want to know them all. 

I've learned where and how those muscles attach to the bones they move.  And I've learned what these muscles do.  All of that through books, or generic exercises in the classroom.  Lately, I've started a project with a classmate in which we're going back through the old muscle book and learning to palpate each muscle.  It's really helping me learn them. 

Recently, things have gotten much more personal, and I've skipped ahead from the shoulders (where we had started) to the legs (but no palpation is involved just yet):

It all started when Golf Pro was lured onto a softball team in a league for guys over 50.  He's in better shape than most 40 year olds, still runs regularly, and used to play baseball and softball before he focused in on golf.  He'd actually been pretty much of a star on his High School baseball team, and played on work related softball teams when he was a young'un fresh out of college. Thus, joining a bunch of guys for softball twice a week seemed like a reasonable and fun thing to do.

He no longer thinks so.  Evidently, senior softball is a dangerous sport -- one that has been particularly unkind to Golf Pro's Quadriceps Tendon.

Let's pause, for a moment and take a wee look at the quads and their tendon (with thanks to Floota.com for this image.)

As you can see, the Rectus Femoris transitions from a nice red muscle to a nice white tendon, which then attaches to the Patella (or knee cap).  You can also see that it spreads a bit to either side of the patella, and extends beyond it.  Here's another view of that tendon.  (with a nod to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, from which this image comes).  You will note that it passes over the patella, and continues on to hook into the Tibia (shinbone).

That second attachment is what enables you to straighten your leg.

Thanks to an unlucky step in a softball game, Golf Pro managed to tear that tendon.  Completely.

(Thanks again Ortho Guys).

The first thing this means is pain.  Lots of PAIN.  The next thing it means, once you've gotten over the pain, and very impressive swelling around the knee that is your body's attempt to protect you, is that you can no longer straighten your leg.  (Oh yes, and more pain). 

After several days of hoping that this pain was just a strain, he went to see the Ortho Guys at our local clinic.  While I may complain and fret about the billing side of this clinic, it's awfully hard not to shout kudos from the rooftops to the rest of the gang.  Golf Pro arrived at 9:15 a.m. for an x-ray, preparatory to a 9:45 doctor's appointment.  They swiftly diagnosed the problem, scheduled him for surgery, sent him over to the other building, where they prepped him, and operated. He was awake and able to talk to me on the phone by 2:30 and I was able to pick him up from the surgi-center and get him home and installed in his recliner (with extra pillows to elevate and cushion his splinted leg) before 5:00 p.m. That's five hours from diagnosis to end of surgical repair in a NON-Emergency situation.  I'm impressed.

I was also pleased with the doc, who explained the whole surgical process to me.  I won't bore you with it, but suffice it to say that drills were involved.

Recovery involves doing wee exercises that sound silly, but which keep you from having blood clots (which I for one count as a good thing).  It looks like this:

Why do that?  Well, doing that moves the venous blood from your feet, up your leg and well into the venous system.  Your blood pressure only moves it as far as your capillaries -- your muscles movement is actually what moves it from the capillaries back to the heart.  If you're not walking (which, um, one doesn't do for a while after this kind of knee surgery), you don't have much muscle movement.  This at least works the muscles in your calf.

But that gets into a different physiology lesson.... we'll keep that for later. 

Once the stitches come out, I should be able to help with massage ....

What is in a name?

In almost everyone's life, sooner or later, there comes a time when you are called upon to name something or someone.  Sometimes it's easy.  Sometimes it's not.

Bookworm went through a phase once where she named everything.  Sure, every kid names his or her stuffed toys, but she named instruments (not that uncommon), note books, iPods, pencils, .... everything.  (She did not, alas, offer up a name for the house.  I'm fond of named houses.... but that's not the point here.)  Naming came easily to her.  I envy her so.

Naming is not my forte.  When I named my daughters, I first spent hours (I could have earned a degree had I spent that time differently, I'm sure) poring over name books -- tasting them, feeling them roll across my tongue, chasing down their origins and meanings, putting them in combinations -- testing the combinations for sound and mood and definitions....  And in the end, I narrowed the names down to several, and waited for my daughters to "tell" me what their names were.

When new cats come into the house, I look at them, and contemplate the names that resonate with their appearances, but generally wait until their personality is clear before naming them.  I also listen to the cats.  They too "tell" me what their names are.  With the more recently adopted cats, I first listened to see if they were at home with the names they came with -- they were, and so we did not re-name them.

I am now faced with a new naming challenge.  

When I first started massage school, I figured out (even before the first day of class) what I wanted to name my future massage business.  But then, when we all dashed out and got free business cards to hand out at Community Outreach events (so that we could drum up "business" for the free massages we give as homework), I found that one of my classmates had also come up with that name.  She put hers on her cards.

I pouted for a minute, but figured that this meant one of two things:  we are destined to become business partners, or I'm destined to choose a different name for my massage business.  Either way, I had plenty of time.

Time's up.

Our new class is on business -- how to build a massage business.  While part of it is things like taxes and leases and financial statements, part of it is creating forms and pricing your work.  The forms themselves are easy for me.  But at the top of every form, in the middle of every business card, is one consistent thing that I suddenly find very challenging:  A business name.

Naming criteria may have something to do with this.  For a child, one wants a name that is not too pompous and cumbersome for a toddler or child, but not too babyish or wispy for a professional adult, while avoiding formidability.  It needs to last.  Depending on your preferences, it either needs to be happily abbreviated into nick-names that aren't offensive or belittling, or it needs to avoid lending itself to abbreviation.  It ought also to fit the child (like you can figure that out after 12 hours of labor when the child in question is seven and a half pounds of sleep or hunger).

For a pet, the criteria vary a bit depending on whether this pet is a free roaming creature or a caged creature.  With the caged animal, you needn't worry quite as much about whether when you call out this name across the yard/field/house the name is distinct enough to be recognizable.  Shouting out "Agamemnon Come..."  not nearly as effective as calling for "Rex".  Of course, this name should also fit the animal, but that tends to be easier when we do the naming (for all but pedigreed show critters/horses that tends to be 6-8 weeks, when they've starting coming into their personalities).

For a business, on the other hand, the name should be simple, memorable, and informative.  It should avoid weird impressions (especially in massage - one does not want to give the impression, ever, that one is offering services that are illegal in most states).  While it is true, now that I've looked at it a few times, National Fish Therapeutic Massage is a memorable name -- it's memorable mostly because one spends a while wondering what on earth Fish have to do with massage, and not because it seems relevant.).  They say that you should avoid using your name if you're a woman, just so that the creeps out there don't decide that the feminine name sounds alluring... or the strong professional name identifies a dominatrix.

So.  I'm back to naming my business.  I want to convey a tad more than just Therapeutic Massage since I will be doing energy work as well as standard Swedish stuff.  I'm already certified in Reiki (and am planning to get the next certification level soon), so I need to avoid a name that sounds too clinical, and yet I also need to avoid a name that sounds too "new agey".   I do relaxation massage, but I also do deeper tissue specific work.  (Is anyone surprised that I'll have a complex blend? Me either). 

So, here I am.... overthinking things to death, contemplating using other languages (like that will be comprehensible to the English speaking population that will represent 90% of my clients), and poking around in all sorts of places looking for the right name.  Meanwhile, my family keeps making wholly inappropriate suggestions, just to see me puff up and get all pompous about the importance of avoiding suggestive names.

What is in a name?  While it may be true that the rose would smell as sweet no matter what name we give it, the rose's name doesn't have to tell people who don't know who or what it is what it does.  And the rose's name need not inspire new clientele to trust it enough to risk the cost of a massage, while subtly and quietly telling those in search of an erotic massage that it's a complete waste of time to call.

Massage Modalities, a Preview of Energy Work

I started this post about ten days ago, after a nifty sequence of topics in our Massage Modalities class. I've been fussing with it ever since.  Suddenly, I feel like I can neither do good research, nor good reportiing, nor good blog writing, but I'm going to give it a go anyway.

First, we learned a little bit about Polarity Therapy.

Then, we had a bit of a introduction to Zero Balancing.

And most recently, we learned about Hot Stone Massage Therapy.

And because my brain works that way, I found something that seems to tie them together.

Polarity Therapy is primarily an energy technique.  Zero Balancing is a wonderous blend of energy work, and deep tissue work that focuses on effecting what I think of as involuntary joints (not so much the elbow, where pretty much every move it makes is involuntary, but the sacral joints, and the intervertebral joints, and the joints between you ribs and your spine).  And while you may not think of it this way, even Hot Stone Massage uses energy -- the energy held in the bones of the earth.

According to the folks who do Polarity Therapy, "energy fields and currents exist everywhere in nature. Polarity Therapy asserts that the flow and balance of energy in the human body is the foundation of good health. In the Polarity model, health is experienced when: energy systems function in their natural state, and energy flows smoothly without significant blockage or fixation.  When energy is unbalanced, blocked or fixed due to stress or other factors, pain and disease arise.... Polarity Therapy seeks to find the blockages and release energy to normal flow patterns, and to maintain the Energy Field in an open, flexible condition."**

I know that I don't yet know enough about any of these things to write reliably on them my self, so I'm sharing some quotes from others' work:

"Zero Balancing focuses primarily on key joints of our skeleton that conduct and balance forces of gravity, posture and movement. By addressing the deepest and densest tissues of the body along with soft tissue and energy fields, Zero Balancing helps to clear blocks in the body’s energy flow, amplify vitality and contribute to better postural alignment. A Zero Balancing session leaves you with a wonderful feeling of inner harmony and organization."*  (And yes, I've had the chance to experience a zero balancing treatment.  It does leave you feeling more connected with yourself. Even two weeks later, I can feel the difference in the way I hold myself -- my body is more aligned than it used to be.)

Hot Stone Massage  connects "the flow or paths of energy together in order to rebalance the physical body, emotional mind and spirit as one."***  In addition to warming muscles to allow for easier release of tension, the heat works to "open energy pathways" and to energize chakras.^ Additionally, the stones themselves hold their own energy - and over time they seem to hold more and more. I'd have been skeptical about this, had I not felt a real difference today in class when we were learning and practicing how to use the stones. 

Among the things one experiences during a hot stone massage, is having small warm stones placed bewteen your toes (thin little things).  Since we didn't have enough stones for everyone in the class to have a whole set to work with, only one of my feet got to experience the toe warming stones. The warmth felt nice of course, but I found that I could feel a difference that I can only describe as an energetic one between the leg and foot with the stones and the one without.

 Who knew?

I've been very interested in energetic work all along - heck I came into the massage program having already become a Level I Reiki "Master." (I really don't think one masters the Reiki energy -- one merely invites it, like a guide, and facilitates its flow, but the Reiki world refers to it as Mastery).  I had expected that there would always be a bit of "energy work" in my massage -- in any massage really.  But I had not expected to find so much energy work that really works with the bones of the body or the earth.

....

An awesome blogger would have some pithy conclusion here.  This blogger does not.  This blogger's brain is full of studying for the Pathology Final, and is being distracted by wishing she could just put a hold on all that long enough to spend the weekend on a suddenly available seminar on hot stone massage, having received an unexpected gift of the full hot stone "kit" from a secret benefactor.  This blogger is hoping that by sharing this, she'll be able to let it go long enough to go re-learn all that stuff from the first half of the semester (like the differences between Myesthenia Gravis, and Multiple Sclerosis, and Muscular Dystrophy, and ALS -- all of which are real and important and jumbled in my brain).

 

* from http://www.zerobalancing.com/

** from http://www.polaritytherapy.org/index.php

*** from http://winchester-holistics.co.uk/treatments-available/about-hot-stones-massage/

^ from http://ezinearticles.com/?Hot-Stone-Massages-and-Chakra-Energy&id=4352923

100!

I have the coolest homework assignments.

Every week, I have to give at least two massages.

Every week, I have to use my skills, and the love in my hands, to give two (or more) people relief from pain, a sense of peace, ease from stress.

Darn.

I think that's so cool!  (and when I graduate, and get my license, I'll be able to do that every day).

I think it's so cool, that I almost always give more than two of these home-work massages each week.

Today, I gave my 100th homework massage since I started the massage program.

I have learned so many wonderful things -- in class, following up on lessons by watching videos on the same modality, and by paying very close attention every time I get a massage from someone new (especially a new professional).

Today, my "client" came to me with pain in her low back, and her feet, and her neck, and her chest muscles.  She left, with happy, happy feet, a soothed low back, and an open feeling in her chest muscles. And it was my hands that made that happen!  I still find that pretty amazing.

and yet -- find it as natural as rainwater.

 

In Which My House Feels Like A Day Spa

When I got up Sunday morning, my plan included studying for Monday's Pathology exam, possibly paying bills, reading, and giving one homework massage.

Instead, I took Bookworm to the store to get supplies to repair a hair disaster, and spent the next couple of hours carefully re-bleaching her hair, in preparation for re-coloring her hair. 

Bookworm is very grateful that my camera when on strike today.  Otherwise, you'd see photos of the hair disaster (in which her hair color ranged from the dark mahogany/burgundy brown she'd last died it, through various shades of fox, dark strawberry blond, butterscotch, platinum blonde, wheat, apricot, ....

While it could have been VERY COOL, the color ranges weren't in interesting natural looking streaks.... they were more.... spotted.  Like someone took the fur colors of a red fox or red panda, and used the patterns of, say an ocelot.  In short... NOT good.

There would also be pictures of the process, with her hair mostly pinned up, and some foil wrapped, to show you just how small the sections were that I worked with, so that I'd bleach the brown parts, and lighten the darker foxy colors, without over bleaching the honey and platinum.....

Of course, there are also no pictures of the almost finished results -- the bleaching is done, and her hair looks pretty good -- sort of strawberry blond.  But we're going to even it out a little better with a round of blonde dye after it's had a chance to breathe from two days in a row of bleaching.

For the record -- I'm actually opposed to my high school aged daughter dyeing her hair.  I'm even more opposed to her doing it in ways that require bleaching.  But -- the whole thing started months and months ago when she slipped out to Walgreens and spent her own money on hair dye.  She surprised me with the new color - fait accompli.  And luckily, it actually looked quite good.  I decided that this was a battle I was not going to win.

However, after this weekend's mishap, she and I had a chat about intense color changed (especially ones invovling bleach. Next time, she's going to buy the product from the beauty supply shop, not Walgreen's, and she's going to have ME help her for things more complex than simple coloring.  Kitty meant well, but she's never had it done, much less watched it being done, and thus didn't quite know how to tackle the job.

By the time stage one of hair repair was done, it was time for me to give a massage.  (Day spa time... get your hair colored (or trimmed), and a massage.  I can even paint your tonails, though I'm no pro at the whole pedicure thing. (snicker).

I closed the day giving a massage to Golf Pro, who was long overdue.

I finally got to the pathology book at about 11:30 p.m.  Color me grateful that the exam wasn't until 2:00 p.m.

I'm hoping that the camera and I get back on good terms so I can show you the new BookWorm.  It looks great, even if I do keep having to do double takes.  (It's a pretty drastic change).

I ran away from home --

Monday, I boarded a train, and ran away from home....

sort of. 

It's not like everyone at home didn't know I was going, and where I was going. ...

And what was I doing?  HOMEWORK!

No, seriously.  I went up to Oak Park to complete a homework assignment.

Among the homework assignments we have each semester is to get a massage from a massage therapist who did not graduate from our program.  AND... this semester, we have to get a massage from a person of the opposite gender of the person we got a massage from last semester.  So, having cast my eye around town, and having discovered that all the female massage therapists I'd heard good things about actually did graduate from our program, I conceived a plan -- to go back to Oak Park (from whence we came ten years ago), and get a massage from the woman who was my initial inspiration to go into massage school in the first place.

It was such a good idea! 

I rode the train up, relaxing.  And then I walked from Union Station to the Ogilvie Transportation Center (a whopping two blocks), and found that my timing was perfect -- I boarded the METRA train about two minutes before it left the station.  When I arrived, it was a bit misty (having rained while I was riding the METRA), but I walked through the old area, enjoying recognizing old places -- and loving seeing this:

and this:

Honest -- I wasn't in Britain... I was in Oak Park, but there it was, none-the-less.

Okay, fine... you want proof?

 

Unity Temple (yes, it's Frank Lloyd Wright -- and yes, he built it to be a church in the first place).

I just love his style --

(And why exactly did I just NOT SEE this all the time I lived there -- I'd have joined in a heart beat).

I went out to dinner with wonderful friends, at a delightful little restaurant in Evanston called Trattoria D.O.C.  I'm a little appalled by how much I ate, but DAMN that steak was good!

I stayed in the Write Inn -- a nifty old place, that houses the oldest elevator in town.  And pet friendly even.  See --

Just outside the kitchen door.

Alas, old also means old HVAC systems.  Even though I arrived on the night in which the Equinox happened, it was HOT!  And the hotel system, which they claim is a water system, takes three days to switch over from heating to cooling.  Thus, they had no means to effectively cool the building.  They gave me a fan, which was both loud and ineffectual.    I slept poorly.

But breakfast at Hemmingway's was lovely.

And after breakfast, I walked down Oak Park Avenue to get my massage.

It was SO worth it!  It was wonderful to see her again.  And... her massage (though different) was every bit as wonderful as it used to be.  I learned a yummy new stroke from her.  And.... tee hee ... she learned one from me (because we traded!). 

Not only that, but I found the wonderful place where folks like me should retire.  My wonderful therapist works in the Oak Park Arms (a retirement center).  I was actually compelled to take a picture in the hall that leads to the Massage Therapy center:

Yes, ladies and gentlemen -- this is a WEAVING ROOM!  there is also a Needlework room.  Who knows what else is in there!

On the way home, I noticed these decorations on St. Edmund's church -

I've never seen those before -- here's a closer look...

If anyone knows what these are, and what they signify, I'd love to know.

I spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out in the gorgeous weather, sitting in the shade on a bench in Scoville Park, reading Hunger Games.

My day ended with the arrival of my family, who picked me up, and took me to dinner at my favorite Oak Park restaurant -- The Marion Street Grille.  The frog legs are as wonderful as ever.

All in all, I say that my Equinox was glorious.  A perfect balance. 

Magic Muscles

As you know, I'm studying to be a massage therapist.

My family is being supportive in new and special ways.  Golf Pro and I moved our guest room out of the guest room, and hauled the queen bed, box spring, mattress etc. upstairs to a room that used to be home only to the family computers and a sofa-bed.  That room will, eventually, get put together so it can be used as a guest room.

We then moved one of the desks downstairs, where it occupies a very small part of the room we emptied. Whatever am I up to?

why creating a space where I can give massages without discommoding my whole family, that's what!

The massage table is now positioned diagonally, giving me plenty of room to work all the way around it.  I pulled in a music making machine so that I can play what we call "massage music" while I work.

And I put a mini-poster on the wall.  It's 3-D, and lets us see more clearly the way the muscles layer.

 

 

Of course, this poster is part of my new fascination with muscles.  I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that, haivng studied anatomy and physiology and pathology etc., I'd start wanting muscle posters on my walls.  This fascination evidently means that I'm good at doing "specific" work in massage (or so my "clients" (volunteers who let me give them massages so I can learn how to do it better).  I gave a massage to a Licensed Massage Therapist recently, who told me that she could tell that I really know the origins, insertions, and functions of the muscles I'm working on.  How cool is that?

And I've suddenly become enchanted with a new muscle:

 

The Deltoid

It's a busy muscle the Deltoid.  Since it wraps all the way around the top of the humerus (upper arm bone), it's invovled in raising your arm in front of you, and to the side, and... behind you.  It's also involved in rotating your upper arm, and crossing it in front of you.  A busy muscle, and one I've been neglecting for some time.  But Friday, while giving a massage, I rediscovered it.  I'm not sure what it was about this client's shoulder, but I'm pretty sure I'll be giving fuller attention to that muscle from now on.

 

 

Here we go again

I have not fallen off the earth.

I have changed, life has changed, but things are good and getting better.

We had a bit of a challenge over the past few months; one that I'm not going to blog about, but we're over the hump and back in the swing.

The following has NOT changed:

I still knit -- a lot.  I still take the sock in progress everywhere (okay, I've got two: one is complicated, one is plain). 

I still design stuff - I'm working on an afghan design in Shadow Knitting (finally).

I still have two lovely daughters who surprise, delight, frustrate, and inspire me daily.

Golf Pro still plays golf  (duh).

I'm still in the Massage Program, learning things at an insane rate. Last semester, it was Anatomy, and Physiology, and more Anatomy.    Learning about the human body and the way it works was so awesome.  That knowing about these things enables me to heal someone's pain is just plain magic. 

This semester it's Pathology.  Now I'm learning about the many ways the human body can break down or be sick.  It was overwhelming at first... and now it just makes me grateful... oh so very grateful that we have so much health in our house and family.  Sure, we have health challenges, but some of the diseases and conditions I'm reading about are more than a little overwhelming.  I'm so grateful that I'm learning things that will let me help people who have them, and I'm equally grateful that we don't right now.

So, I'm charging up my camera battery, and getting ready to take some more pictures of pretty yarn being turned into pretty socks and other things....