Monday, August 29, 2011

Dust Bowl

Today I was doing a little bit of housekeeping at my massage clinic....meaning I dusted and vacuumed my treatment room and the reception area.  Since I had a little extra time before my next client, I decided to check on Hubby's room.  OH. MY. GOD.  I cannot begin to tell you how yucky his room was.  I mean I know that we keep the lights down low as a rule, which easily conceals dirt.....but man oh man was his room in need of a scouring!  I dusted and ran for my life in fear of what else might be lurking in those dark corners. 

My goals are to be neat, organized, tidy and uncluttered.  Hubby?  Not so much.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Carnival Cruise Spa

Recently I took my second cruise and this time I decided to visit the spa.  When I arrived on the ship I took a guided tour of the spa and met several of the employees who gave mini speeches about some of the spa treatments that were available.  They offered teeth whitening, seaweed wraps, facials, haircuts and styling, massage, manicures, pedicures and weight loss techniques.  I knew that I wanted to get a massage but I was also open to other services.

The prices of their services were somewhat inflated as most vacation spots tend to be, but since this was not my first cruise I was aware that prices were discounted on port days and I opted to wait a few days before I booked my appointment.  Hubby also decided to visit the spa with me and although we booked our appointments at the same time, the staff was absolutely bewildered when we told them that we did not want to do the couples package.  Relaxation is best served solo in my opinion.

My selection was Spatopia.  This consisted of an exfoliation, hot stone back massage, pressure point foot massage, scalp massage and facial.  The cost was $139 for 75 minutes.  This was the discounted price.  My therapist was a lovely young lady from Capetown South Africa.  She trained at "university" for two years and had been working on-board for an extended period of time.  When she found out what I did for a living she jokingly said "Oh great!  You will be judging me the whole time."  Throughout the session she asked me lots of questions about my practice and work and I asked her similar questions.  I found out that she and her fellow co-workers worked 12-14 hours per day and on slow days they did 4 massages and on busier days could see up to 9 clients.  Knowing this I was relatively sure that my appointment was not going to be great.

Tracey started with the exfoliation.  This consisted of a very coarse brush going up and down my body.  I was expecting a nice scrub and gentle rinse.  Surprise!  After this brief form of torture she gave me the hot stone back massage.  To her credit she gave me a nice relaxing massage despite the fact that she only used her forearms.  Poor Tracey explained that she did so many treatments that her wrists and hands were always sore and she could not use them during massages anymore.  The pressure point foot massage came next and it lasted about 2 minutes.....blink and you might miss it!  She did a very quick facial and scalp massage simultaneously.  This was nothing special but it wasn't bad either.  On a scale from 1 to 10, I would rate my spa visit a 6. 

Hubby got the exfoliation which he was quick to say "hurt" and a massage.  His cost was $129.  He told his therapist that he was stiff around his scapula and she focused her attention there.....and only there.  At around the 30-minute mark he had to ask her to massage other areas as she had over-worked the area and it was even more irritated that when he arrived.  His therapist also complained about her hands and apologized for not being able to give a better massage.  Hubby ended his treatment by showing her some stretches for her hands.  He was not happy with his session.

The atmosphere was very professional and the treatment rooms were nicely equipped.  The prices were not great but were on par with other spas located in vacation spots.  The staff was hard-working and friendly but were simply working too many hours and their aches and pains took away from their performance.  I left feeling very sorry for the staff and being very thankful that I was not working in such harsh conditions.  But I have to admit when Tracey told me that she got to see new places, didn't have to cook or clean....I was a tad jealous for a minute or two.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Massage Therapist Attractiveness

When I select a massage therapist for my own treatment I look for a couple of traits.  One is they must be able to give me deep pressure and the second must-have trait is a good personality.  Then call me a snob, but I like a tastefully decorated office and a non-smoker.  I am not saying this is what everyone should look for in a therapist but for my optimal massage, those are my personal preferences.  So in this line of thinking I had to ask myself what it is in ME that attracts my client base.

I have often told others that if you have good hands and an ounce of personality then you cannot fail at this job.  To a certain degree I still believe this.  I mean honestly how many people do you know that despise getting a massage?  Typically if something feels good and it makes you healthier, consumers will try it out.  In fact, a survey compiled by the AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) revealed 1 in 4 patients that sought treatment for pain had tried massage therapy at least one time in that year.  Patients that received regular massage therapy was around 12% overall.  That is a big pool of bodies.  So with a little creative marketing and some good word of mouth, you should be able to drive some people through your front door. 

So once you get them in the front door, how do you make them want to come back?  Obviously you need to do a massage to their satisfaction, but what else can you do to make yourself and your practice their number one choice for their massage needs?  One of the first chances to make a good impression is the office setting.  For my own clinic I tried to make it a place that looked inviting and professional, but not too clinical and rigid.  I went with neutral/earth tones with a hint of Asian flair.  When it came to giving my massage table a special  little perk I added memory foam toppers and heated fleece table covers.  I finished the table with flannel sheets.  All of these extras are small things that I hope make the difference between my clinic and some of the other massage offices.

But the eye candy does not stop at your office decor.  How you present yourself matters too.  You only get one chance to make a good first impression so I try to project a confident, intelligent, and compassionate demeanor.  I make eye contact when I introduce myself and go over their intake form.  It is a pet peeve of mine when someone cannot communicate with intelligence so I try to make sure I use correct grammar and  speak about massage in terms that the client can understand without having a medical degree.  When I name a muscle I explain where it is in their body and what movement(s) it is responsible for.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to telling someone their muscles are not in their happy place or that something is jacked up, but I do not lead with this jargon--it is for after I have assured the client that I know how to do my job.

Looks are important too.  Would you want someone massaging you if they had dirty fingernails?  Were sweating profusely?  Wearing a halter top and hot pants?  Okay maybe some folks WOULD like that, but that is not the kind of massage image I want to project.  Hubby wears scrubs to enhance his professional look.  When we work corporate or charity events we wear matching polo shirts with our company name embroidered on the chest.  Clean, well-groomed and unwrinkled goes a long way with me and I can only assume it is important to the clientele who I want to attract.

So I have covered the office appearance and the therapist looks, but what else is attractive to potential clients?  I tend to think it is personality.  If you meet two professionals and each is equally qualified in their field, but one is not friendly or unwilling to engage in conversation and the other is warm and happy to discuss your concerns at length, which person are you more likely to bond with?   I think it is the friendlier, warm fuzzy person and that is why I try to connect with each and every client that I come in contact with.  Do I make connections with everyone that walks through my clinic door?  No.  If it is meant to be, it happens.  If not, I tell people with sincere honesty "I might not be the therapist for you." 

Since laws of attraction are not precise and do not always adhere to science, I can only begin to make an educated guess as to what makes my practice enticing.  My theory is like attracts like.  So I will not be waving my fingers over bodies and removing negative energy.  I will not be wearing sleeveless tops and letting my armpits get bushy-haired and back to nature.  I will not be chanting or offering prayers over clients.  What I will be doing is giving the client a professional atmosphere, a good massage and a massage therapist that tries to meet both their physical and emotional needs.  If that client returns I will assume I did something right!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Bahamas Cruise

As luck would have it we had fantastic weather for our journey.  We only had a couple hours of rain on the last day of our cruise, otherwise it was sunny and lovely--despite it being hurricane season.  We learned that there were several tropical storms all around us but our crew was able to navigate around them.  The only effects we saw of the storms was one day of 5 foot swells.  This was the day I donned the motion sickness patch and spent a lot of time reclining while my poor mother got intimately acquainted with the loo.

We were also pleasantly surprised with a beautiful full moon for several nights.  There really is something magical in standing on the top deck of a ship and watching the moonlight ripple over the waves.  Admiring the constellations without anything marring your view is an amazing experience as well.  Of course when you do not have good sea legs the whole looking up and keeping your balance thing can be a bit difficult......

Trip Recap:

Day One:  One piece of luggage was lost.  Hubby and I rummaged through hundreds of suitcases to find ours.  Vacation is underway!  I won a medallion for my uber nerdiness knowledge of random trivia.

Day Two:  Maid knocks two times and tries to enter our cabin without waiting to see if we are inside.  I yell at her to let her know we are indisposed.....meaning I am freshly showered and seated at the vanity in all my naked splendor.  Maid still pushes on the door.  I jump up to stop her, get tangled in my blow dryer cord, launch myself across the room and face plant.  I went to the ship infirmary for bandages and neosporin.  My bandaged leg looked fantastic with my dress at elegant dining night.

Day Three:  Toured Nassau with a guide named Dr. Peepers.

Day Four:  Floated for two hours in the ocean at a private island.  Visited the spa and got a hot stone back massage, facial, foot and scalp massage.  I also got an exfoliation that consisted of a wire brush scouring my body.....this sucked out loud by the way.

Day Five:  Choppy water drove me to motion sickness meds.  The meds left me stoned and oh so sleepy.  I went into to Grand Turk and ate at Jimmy Buffet's restaurant and returned to the ship for a nap.  I felt like an old lady.

Day Six:  Relaxed.  Unwound.  Won $10 in the casino.  Reflected that even though I had a few rough patches, this really was a nice trip.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Bahama Mama

I will be on a cruise and enjoying my time away from the office!  Cross your fingers there is no bad weather as it is hurricane season......  See you on the 22nd!

Massage Blessing

When my client, who was lying on my massage table, said "What a blessing!", I just thought she was really enjoying her massage.  Then she went on to clarify her statement.  She said "I hate to say it but it is true.  It was such a blessing that my old therapist went out of business....otherwise I never would have found you!". 

I love my job!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Quote of the Day

It's crazy how you can go months or years without seeing or speaking to someone yet they still manage to drift into your thoughts almost daily.....or having starring roles in your dreams. ~KB

Monday, August 8, 2011

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Kettlebell Injuries

Over the last few years, the workout world has been taken by storm with kettlebell (KB) training.  Some claim that KB training is an aerobic exercise, while others claim it builds muscular strength and conditions you.  A 2010 study published by the American Council on Exercise found strong scientific support for the high intensity KB routines producing aerobic benefits and burning approximately 400 calories--all in a 20-minute workout.  Clearly kettlebells can produce benefits but they are not without potential negative effects.

In my opinion, what is not made clear is KB training is a workout more appropriate for athletes who are not at the beginning of their fitness plans.  It is not my intention to come on here and say that KB is the devil and nobody in their right mind should ever try this training, but I would strongly encourage those interested in this training to start with a certified fitness trainer supervising their efforts as the risk of injury is high.  In fact one article I read suggested that 1 in 6 KB users will sustain injuries that can leave them unable to workout for one or more weeks, with the most common cause of injury resulting from improper lifting techniques.

Some of the common injures associated with KB training are:

  • Hyperlordosis (over arching the back) during overhead lifts can pinch and compress the lower spine
  • Impingement syndrome
  • Rotator cuff injury
  • Hyperextensions
  • Dislocations
  • Tearing of skin on hands
  • Bruising and pain to forearms and wrists
  • Knee pain 
  • Back and shoulder strain
KB training requires strength and coordination.  The exercises involve multiple joints and many muscle groups working together so proper technique is extremely necessary in preventing injuries.  Kettlebellwall.com and complete-strengthtraining.com are a couple of the sites I found when researching KB training.  On those websites I found articles titled "Kettlebell Swings and Back Pain", "KB Without Spine Injury" and "Prevent Common Kettlebell Injuries".  Mind you these are sites that are promoting this fitness plan.



Complete-strengthtraining.com posted these tips to reduce the possibility of  injury:

  • Warm up well before you start lifting.
  • Weights should be challenging but not too heavy.  This is one of the biggest mistakes in KB training.  Weights that are too heavy can easily get out of your control and throw off the center of gravity.
  • Start with a lower weight KB to learn and master the proper body mechanics.
  • Be sure to have good posture and alignment.  No twisting or contorting the body to lift heavier weights.
  • Slowly work up to heavier weights.
  • If you lose control of the KB--get out of the way and let it fly.
  • If you feel any sharp pains, stop immediately.

As with any exercise program you should consult with your physician to determine if this regime is appropriate for you.  It is also recommended that you select a personal trainer that has certification in this specific modality.

I wrote this to give you some facts about this controversial fitness routine.  I have had more than one client sustain injuries associated with their KB training, and while any exercise program can cause pain and injury I tend to not trust this method.  These are just my thoughts on KB training and opinions are like assholes, everybody has one and most people think theirs doesn't stink.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Victoria's Secret

Sometimes you get really comfortable with your clients and you share intimate things.  I have several clients that talk very freely with me and vice versa.  One such fellow was in my office recently and shared that his teenage son was more than elated when the Victoria's Secret Catalog arrived.....well, for the visual aids, if you will.  Neither he nor his wife were freaked out about the whole incident, in fact they took it in stride as good parents should--with humor.

I laughed with my client and shared my own version of sons and underwear models.  When I realized that my oldest son was enjoying the female form, it was because I discovered many weeks worth of the underwear ads from the Sunday newspaper shoved between his mattress and box springs.  Who knew all those Sears and Playtex ads were so sexy?  Big boring white bras and girdles on older women, really?  I guess when you are 13 years old and have a limited pool of underwear models, anything could be considered attractive.  At least that was what I hoped was the case--finding out that he was turned on by grannies and said granny panties was more than I could bear.

After I confiscated all the underwear ads, I shared my discovery with my husband and we had a chuckle.  We never broached this subject with our son and he never mentioned that his hidden stash had disappeared.  Several days later my Victoria's Secret Catalog arrived in the mail and my husband promptly placed it in my son's hands and said "This came for you today, enjoy." 

I assumed he had things well in hand....

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

TV and Massage

So I was doing an out-call and my client wanted to watch TV while I was massaging him.  Like all good men, he was masterful with the remote control.  My client first stopped on The Travel Channel which is a relatively safe choice.......usually.  But as luck would have it, the sites that the show was focusing on was for the best fertility rites.  That's right, people make voyages all over the world to get "help" with conception.  Sooooo, you wanna talk about some interesting art?  Every time I glanced at the television screen there was a 6 foot tall sculpture of a phallus, complete with the dangling bits, or some large breasted and round-bellied woman chiseled out of a boulder.  Several people were rubbing these sculptures in hopes that they would get pregnant.  I am pretty sure my cheeks were red a few times but I just kept rubbing and trying to stifle my laughter.

The next television selection was The Animal Planet.  Another fairly safe choice......usually.  But this particular episode focused on animal mating rituals.  I got to see monkey love, a snake ball aka orgy, and turtles doing it as only turtles can.  I saw a polar bear's girlie bits and  I saw a male elephant shoot a load of semen that could easily have turned a blue SUV into a white one.   Suffice it to say that I was more than enlightened by the end of that show.

Now I am no prude and at no time did I feel like my client was trying to be inappropriate, but I can honestly say this was one of the more colorful and hilariously uncomfortable massage sessions I have ever been part of.