The Code of Granny

When I was a child I was the pickiest, most finicky eater on Earth.  My grandmother, God love her, was the best cook EVER and she loved to spoil her grandkids.....meaning she played short-order cook when we were lucky enough to spend a night at her house.  Granny told me that she didn't mind cooking things for me, but I should not expect everyone to cater to me.  Then she told me that when she was a little girl, her mother had "spanked her behind" for telling their hostess that she didn't like a dish that she had prepared and how it was considered horrible manners to not eat what was served to you.  I took this wisdom (what I like to refer to as The Code of Granny) to heart but knew that was only a rule for other places I visited--certainly not at Granny's house.  Even when I was an adult I could still call my grandmother and say I was free for the evening and would love to come for supper.  Then of course I placed my order for one of my favorite meals and  magically upon my arrival,  I was served my custom-made gourmet delight.

  **Disclaimer:  Proper manners, according to The Code of Granny, dictates that you will probably not want to do as I did and invite yourself for dinner**

Over the years I followed this chapter of The Code of Granny with the utmost sincerity.  I was forced to endure many hardships.  Brussell sprouts, broccoli, oysters....  Watching your mother eat escargot is something nobody should ever have to witness.  Calf fries were served to me in disguise.  They were breaded and fried to look like skinless chicken breasts, then carefully concealed in white gravy.  After a few bites, Granny revealed her trickery and cackled.  I felt like Snow White after the old hag tricked her into eating the poison apple.

When I had children of my own, I made them disciples of The Code of Granny too.  They ate what was put in front them and were taught to say "please" and "thank you" and for the most part they made me proud.  Ah, but the honesty of children can sometimes be seen as something less than perfect.  Like the birthday party when my 5 year old opened a present and declared that the overalls he had just received were for babies and he was not a baby and was not going to wear said baby clothes.  After apologizing profusely to the gifter, my husband and I gave the boy a lecture on what his proper response should have been.....according to The Code of Granny.  His dad told him how rude he was and how he had hurt the woman's feelings and in the future if he opened a box that was full of dog poo, he should say "Thank you and that's just what I wanted".  Like me, the child took these words of wisdom to heart and in turn gave us a funny Christmas story we like to share with others.

Christmas arrived about 6 months after the birthday faux pas.   My mother had bought the child a miniature UK basketball and goal.  Finding a box large enough to fit these items in proved to be a tad difficult so Mom opted to wrap them in a box that had originally contained a round spice rack.  We all watched as the kids tore into their packages and expressed their appreciation.   Then came my son's turn to open his present from his Nana.  He tore the wrapping paper off and looked at the box displaying a picture of a spice rack and promptly exclaimed  "A spice rack!  And I've been wanting one of those!".  I smiled with great pride as I knew The Code of Granny was still going strong.

Dual Relationships

When I was attending massage therapy school I resented having to take Ethics as part of my required courses.  To me, it seemed that if you tried to live your life morally as an upstanding person, then a course on this subject was a waste of time.  On days that ethics was taught, I generally opted to take a mental health day and spend my time elsewhere.  On the few days that I did attend class, I sometimes engaged my instructor in a debate on what really was or was not unethical.  If I was required to be there, I figured I might as well make class time interesting and entertaining.

I think it was safe to say we all agreed that having sexual relationships with clients was definitely unethical.  We all agreed that advertising you were skilled/trained in modalities that you were not adequately trained to perform was also on the no-no list.  Dual relationships were not so black and white to me and I could not help but question how being friendly with my clients was such a bad thing.  The instructor was adamant in her belief that therapist/client friendships were unacceptable, but then she slipped up and revealed that one of her clients had given her a car.  Now I am not a rocket surgeon, but I was pretty sure that my client bringing me a bag of fudge was not remotely close to my instructor getting a car....from her non-friend.  So the great debate was on and it eventually boiled down to her being frustrated and telling me how I ran my practice was up to me.


When I began working my clinical hours at massage school, I decided to test my theory on client friendships. I started out by not talking to anyone unless they initiated the conversation.  I noticed that the clients generally liked their massage but they did not feel a great need to re-book with me.  The clients that I conversed with and showed a genuine interest in, requested me again for their massage appointments.  The fact that I had intimate conversations and connections with clients did not seem unethical and more importantly, it seemed right.  I shared my belief with a fellow student and friend. Several weeks later, my friend commented that she had taken my advice and became friends with some of her clients and it was the best advice she had received as many of her clients were requesting her multiple times too.

Five years later, I still believe in being friends with my clients.  Friends are loyal.  Loyal friends/clients will return to you and they will give you great word of mouth with their friends and relatives.  My business is successful largely due to my "unethical" relationships.  But I still didn't get a car.......

Deja Vu

This weekend one of my quasi  hippie gal pals and I ventured out into the blizzard to attend a mystical paranormal fair.  On my way there I couldn't help but wonder if these mystics, who were so in touch with the unknown, could have planned the event on a day without a snow advisory.  I also had to chuckle when my friend's husband asked if we had ever questioned why we had never heard about a psychic picking the winning lottery numbers.  So, yeah, I knew the odds of us receiving some mystical revelation was slim to none, but I figured it would be an interesting outing nonetheless.

After paying a $5 entry fee and receiving a pamphlet outlining the ESP du jour, our great adventure began.  The receptionist told us that if we were unsure what therapy or reading we wanted to experience, we should roam the hallways until we felt "called" to a particular person.  Our mystical offerings to choose from were:  past lives and tarot readings, crystal therapies, ghost hunters, mediums, dowsing, clairvoyants, color therapy,  and energy and chakra balancing.  My friend opted for the life path tarot reading and  I felt "called" to the clairvoyant/color therapist.  Unfortunately my mystic had what sounded like a major bad mojo conference going down behind Curtain Number 2 so I had to wait for another psychic to reach out and touch me.  When I didn't get a "calling" I simply chose to try the same reader that my friend had visited.

As I waited for my friend's reading to end, curiosity got the better of me and I eavesdropped on her conversation.....okay not in the sense of it being an illegal wiretap, but I figured if they really were concerned about their psychic secrets getting overheard then they probably should have a real door for privacy instead of a curtain they picked up at Wal-mart.  A great deal of information was shared  between my friend and the reader. In fact, it seemed that my friend had hit the mother lode of fortune telling, so I began to eagerly anticipate what my reading might reveal.

Finally my turn rolled around and I entered the room with both skepticism and excitement.  The skeptic in me refused to let me tell the reader anything important about my life, so I only offered her my name and the name of my business.  After briefly holding my hands, she shuffled her tarot cards and began to read my life path.  With only the information that I gave her, she "saw" a great betrayal that would come to light in 1 or 2 days, a mental illness in my family,  and that my business was going to prosper.  She said yoga was going to become an important part of my business (which we just added 3 weeks ago) and she saw a publication that was going to add to my success.  (For arguments sake lets say she saw my blog)  My reading was quicker than my friend's and I left feeling like I had just blown $15 because I thought the reader was off her rocker about the betrayal -and- anyone with half a brain could guess yoga and massage would partner up successfully. 

Two days after my reading and a great betrayal later, I have to say that I am a believer.  Now if I can find a credible voodoo doll maker........

Quote of the Day

Unlike opportunity, temptation will usually knock more than once.

Peppermint

Aromatherapy is a relatively inexpensive complementary alternative medicine and it is a terrific addition to massage therapy sessions.  Unless my clients suffer from allergies or request unscented lubrication, I consistently add essential oils into my massage oil mixtures and strategically place drops of essential oils around the massage table for a double dose of aromatherapy.  I use many different essential oils but I would have to say that my favorite is peppermint oil due to its many health benefits.

Peppermint, sometimes termed the world's oldest medicine, has been found in Egyptian tombs dating as far back as 1000 BC, and while peppermint has had many applications over the years,  it is probably best known for its medicinal uses.  Unlike many other essential oils, studies conducted by the scientific community have proved there are numerous health benefits attached to peppermint oil.  Indigestion, respiratory problems, headaches, sinus congestion, muscle aches and pain, asthma, and toothaches are only some of the symptoms that can be treated with peppermint oil.  The minty aroma of peppermint is both refreshing and stimulating and has shown effectiveness in treating nervous tension and anxiety.

Below you will find a few home remedies that I have tried.  Please feel free to send me your recipes for essential oils and I hope you enjoy mine.

Indigestion:  Put a few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water and drink it after a meal to help with digestion.  ***For those that suffer from heartburn, please consult your physician before you try this because peppermint is carminative.  Carminatives combat flatulence and have been shown to decrease lower esophageal pressure, which on the other hand increases the risk of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or 'heartburn'.

Colic:   Put a piece of peppermint candy in a bottle of water to help with cramps associated with gas pain.

Headaches:  Apply peppermint oil in a diluted form directly on the forehead and temples.  For those that do not have sensitive skin, you might be able to apply the oil undiluted.  Lavender oil is another essential oil that I use to treat headaches.  Place a few drops on your fingertips and massage it into the base of the skull.

Sinus Congestion:  1)Put a few drops of peppermint  in Vick's Vaporub and massage the mixture into the soles of the feet.  Cover the feet with white cotton socks and go to sleep.  2)Put a few drops of peppermint on a warm, steamy washcloth and then cover your face with the cloth.  Inhale deeply for temporary relief of sinus congestion.  3)Place a few drops of peppermint on a tissue and put the tissue in your pillowcase.  This is not only treating sinus problems, it is also a great sleep aid.  4)Combine peppermint and eucalyptus oils and place a few drops on a tissue.  Place the tissue over your nose and mouth and inhale for temporary relief.

Martha Stewart She Ain't

The holiday season is always a hectic time of the year, but in a crazy good way.  Families and friends come together for good food and fellowship.  In most families there is one person that embraces the spirit of the holidays and pulls everything together, and in my family it was my maternal grandmother.  She absolutely loved this time of year.  Besides coordinating family dinners, she decorated her home the nth degree, made candies and cookies, and her Christmas cards were in the mail before December arrived.  Martha Stewart?  She was amateur status and Granny was a pro. 

When I was a kid I had no idea how much time and energy, not to mention money, went into planning a big family shindig.  It was only after I was married and decided to have a dinner party of my own, that I realized how daunting this task could be.  When I told my grandmother that I was planning on having my parents and in-laws over for dinner, she decided I needed her assistance.  When she asked me what was on the menu, I rattled off a list of dishes without hesitation.  "No fruit or jello salad?" she asked.  It was then that she gave me her recipe for Sunshine Salad and informed me that no dinner was complete without a jello salad.  She reviewed my menu a second time, then told me that I had too much starch and not enough green veggies.  After adding a green bean casserole, nixing a potato dish and getting the menu cleared by Granny,  I made my way back to the grocery to get Sunshine Salad ingredients.

Now came the preparation.  Since I had never cooked more than 1 or 2 dishes at a time for our family dinners, it never occurred to me that I would not have enough casserole dishes or pots and pans to cook 10 dishes simultaneously.   So I called my grandmother and told her my dilemma.  She rummaged through her cabinets and brought over some of her older cookware with a promise that we would go shopping for casserole dishes of my own.  She re-evaluated my supplies and on her way out the door she expressed her displeasure with my Tupperware deviled egg holder and my cheap napkins.  I didn't think anyone would say "That was one fine meal.....except for the napkins" but just to be on safe side......I dashed off to the store for better napkins.  After my third and final shopping trip, I was ready to put the finishing touches on my dinner.

My home was decorated.   My feast looked like a Norman Rockwell print had come to life.   My family was amazed that I, formerly known as the person most likely to burn a salad, had managed to finesse my first dinner party.  I told everyone it was no effort at all and it didn't take a rocket scientist to read and follow a recipe.  Of course when they found the giblets and turkey neck still tucked inside my bird and one of my pumpkin pies had a piece of wax paper cooked under the pie filling....they knew I was no Martha Stewart. 

Have a Great Thanksgiving!

Working Out

When I became a massage therapist, I became a fitness consultant by osmosis.  So in my role of fitness/health guru,  I advised countless clients that they needed to stretch more and encouraged them to try yoga to increase their flexibility.   I was always admonishing clients for not properly hydrating or not listening to their bodies.  I asked my clients to invest in their futures by making healthier lifestyle choices.  On the outside I simply radiated health and fitness in my every breath.  On the inside I knew that I was merely talking the talk but not walking the walk, so my  Jimmeny Cricket voice began whispering "Hypocrite".   It was only when Jimmeny started yelling that I decided to heed my own advice.

About three months ago,  I began working out with a personal trainer.  Mind you, the original goal was not to get in shape and be healthier, but to look good for my son's upcoming wedding.  I could  have listed at least 10 different reasons on why doing yoga and Pilates was important, but in the end my vanity was the greatest motivator.   I began working out once a week and my inner voice backed off a bit.  The voice still occasionally  reminded me that I was not truly focusing on my health as much as I needed to be, since I was more concerned with the number on my scales and how my clothes were fitting than how my body actually felt. 

So I started working out two days a week and an odd thing happened...... I actually began to enjoy physical exercise.   (Though I will have to say that first abdominal crunch session was not  particularly a rockin' good time!)  I enjoyed my exercise routine so much that I offered a group yoga class at my office this week so I could share my excitement with others.  Stretching. Flexibility. Hydration.  All those benefits I once only spoke about were now part of my fitness plan.  No more talking the talk, I was walking the walk.

But if that fricking cricket starts making noise again, I might have to get out the Raid.

Why I Became a Therapist

I have been asked numerous times about what made me choose massage therapy for my career path.  My dad likes to tell everyone that when I was a child and was not feeling well, he would rub my back with alcohol or Vick's Salve, and due to this early life experience he undoubtedly shaped me into the massage therapist that I am today.  My mom would probably tell you that I took some of the holistic healing advice that her mother handed down to me and expounded on it.  Both explanations have some validity, and while they may have aided in my career decision, I think it was ultimately my own experiences with giving and receiving massage that made me want to study this natural healing in depth.

I started getting massage for chronic neck pain when I was in my 20's.  I sustained an injury while working at a hospital so it was easy for my boss to get me a prescription for physical therapy,  and since the co-payment was waived, I was able to get my therapy for free.  It only took one visit for me to appreciate how wonderful my body felt and to know that twice weekly visits were going to be heavenly.  At the end of three months my body felt terrific and I was a confirmed massage junkie.

Knowing that my massage monster would be needing a fix, I began researching massage therapy and read everything I could get my hands on that would teach me how to perform this healing art.  Twenty years ago this information was not as easy to locate as it is today, but I managed to find some interesting books and articles that taught me the basic massage strokes and some easy points of reflexology.  I then practiced massage on my husband and children and found I could relax them to the point of putting them to sleep, and I massaged myself when I got migraine headaches and found that I was able to reduce my pain considerably. So after two years of studying on my own and experimenting on my family and friends, I decided to enroll in massage therapy school and see if I could earn a living doing something healthy and enjoyable.

Five years and many satisfied clients later tells me that this was one of the best decisions I ever made.  But if you talk to my dad.....tell him it was all his doing.

Quote of the Day

Two things are infinite:  the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.~Albert Einstein

De-stress Yourself

People that do not get regular massage will sometimes tell me that they think massage is an extravagance or that it falls into the discretionary income category.  It is my job as a massage therapist to help educate the masses as to all the healthful benefits that massage therapy offers, but in today's tough economic times, this can sometimes prove to be a hard sell.  I like to suggest massage become part of their health maintenance program, like an extension to their already working out and eating healthier, massage should be an investment in their future well-being.

There is an overwhelming assumption that relaxation is the only benefit one gets from a massage.  For the sake of a good argument,  lets assume that relaxation truly was the only benefit.  Is it a crime to relax?  The answer to this question is "No",  but it is not uncommon for clients to utter feelings of guilt for daring to take an hour out of their week just for some much needed downtime and relaxation.  I have to wonder when it became acceptable for stress to be considered the norm and relaxation was relegated to that one or two weeks of vacation time that we all look forward to.  Stress-related illness is a serious problem in our society and a great many that are seeking help so that they can function in their daily routines are being treated with prescription medications.   As a massage therapist, I am in a unique position to offer a natural alternative to stress relief.

Clinical studies have shown that subjects who received massage therapy regularly have a lower level of cortisol than subjects who did not receive massage.  Cortisol is a stress hormone and it is one of the contributors to belly fat.  Hear that ladies?  Regular massage can minimalize our body's production of this hormone, which can in turn help us from adding more fat to our bellies.   This reason alone should sell most of us on why getting a massage is important!  If we factor in that massage therapy can improve circulation, decrease headaches, speed up the healing process for over-worked muscles, reduce pain, etc, then it becomes a matter of how could anyone not want to experience a massage.

Is massage a stress reliever?  Absolutely!  Can your life be changed drastically for the better after only one massage?  Probably not, but there is always the possibility that if you are willing to commit to 60 minutes of relaxation, you might just be surprised at what else massage can do for you.

Life Was Good

When clients find out that my husband is also a massage therapist they automatically assume that I am the luckiest woman on the planet...what with all those free massages I must get.  Well let me set the record straight on that one.

When I was first learning massage therapy and needed extra practice, Hubby would gladly hop up on my massage table and subject himself to being massaged.  Then early on in my massage career I would cheerfully offer to massage him when he came home from work with a stiff neck and sore hands.  Hubby used to tell everyone that he was the luckiest man in town.  Life. Was. Good.

Skip to Hubby going to massage therapy school.  He would ask me if I wanted a massage and I would run to get on the massage table.  We shared techniques and traded massage secrets.  We were always giving massages or getting massages.  Life. Was. Good.

Now lets jump ahead to when we both were striving to be successful massage therapists.  Both of us were doing several massages daily and most of our clients requested deep tissue/therapeutic massage.  Tight muscles, sore hands and a lot of upper body tension were all signs that we were working hard.  Despite all the hard work, we still devoted a great deal of energy and compassion for our clients and each other.  When the alarm clock went off early Monday morning, we jumped out of bed and looked forward to our workday.  Life. Was. Good.

We now arrive at 2010.  Both of us are doing several massages daily and most of our clients ask if we can upgrade their sessions to include a steamroller and/or jackhammer for their extra tight spots.  The signs of our hard work are seen in our granite-like upper back and shoulder muscles, in knuckles that pop like bubblegum, and in forearms that give Popeye a good run for the money.  Despite all the hard work, we still devote a great deal of energy and compassion for our clients....  When the alarm goes off we gently drag our sore behinds out of bed and look forward to another day of hard work.  I mention that my neck is stiff, Hubby says "Join the club".  Hubby tells me that he could really use a massage and I reply "Get in line".  We  dig out the heating pad and take some Ibuprofen, then we reminisce of times when massages flowed like milk and honey.  You know, when life was good?

No Talk Zone

When I was attending massage therapy school we were told a good rule of thumb was to not talk to the person you were massaging unless they talked to you first.  After all the clients are there to relax, and most people prefer quiet to noisy if they are trying to get their mellow on.  For the most part I tend to follow this guideline with new clients, but for some unknown reason I seem to attract clients that like to chat while they get their bodywork.  Now for anyone that knows me, they know that I have never been a believer or follower of the Silence is Golden way of thinking so being quiet can be tough for me sometimes.  Not like you probably think though.  I can totally respect someone needing a little bit of down time and I have no problem letting my mouth go on vacation for an hour or so while I give a massage.  My problem arises when the client broaches those subjects that I was always told you should never discuss with business associates or clients.  You know the ones your grandparents and parents handed down to you?  Religion.  Politics.  Money.  Those were like the 3 Deadly Sins of work-related discussions.  And really I only have trouble buttoning my lip with 2 of the 3 as I have no money and have no qualms about telling anyone that I am on a budget.  Let me hit the lottery and see how quiet I am!

So that leads us to religion and politics.  Big taboo times two.  Thankfully,  I have some well-read and educated clients that engage me in thought-provoking conversations and occasionally they bring these topics up and ask my opinion.  Like this last month which led up to the local elections or two years ago around the presidential election, or the recent declaration, by the Louisville Southern Baptist Seminary President, that "yoga could be dangerous to Christians' faith".  I have lots of thoughts about politics and I read political blogs on a regular basis, but I have found it best to lay up short when it comes to sharing your political views.  The most common answer I give is "I think most of them are crooks and I vote for the candidate that I think will do the best job, irregardless of their party affiliations."  Other than that, I might offer a "hmm" or "I can see how you would feel that way" to dodge the bullet.

Religion is tougher.  I was raised Southern Baptist and was drug into church every time the doors were open, but I have experienced religious teachings in churches that were Catholic, Mormon, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal, and I have read up on several other religious groups and philosophies as well as atheism.  I know a little bit about several Western religious denominations and I know just about nil on Eastern religions, so I dance around this subject as if I was barefoot, trying to dash across a bed of hot coals to freedom.  What I do share is that I am a spiritual person and that I have found most religions have some things I can appreciate and some things I do not agree with.  I will sometimes point out that some of the more uptight over-the-top evangelicals who bomb abortion clinics are really no different than some of the radical extremists that we consider terrorists.  I usually try not to linger on this subject anymore than I absolutely have to because it is so very personal and from past experience I have seen a light and friendly chat go south in a hurry.  

We can still choose to share intimate parts of our lives with our massage clients without baring our souls.  Facebook much?  But I also think there are degrees of disclosure and faith and politics are my two hot topics that I keep to myself.  Is privacy the best policy?  In my case, it is.  

Halloween 2010

Remember when we were kids and we could not wait for Halloween to arrive?  The anticipation of all that glorious candy?  The sugar rushes that would drive our parents bonkers?  Running to a neighbor's house for homemade popcorn balls and cookies?  Ending the night by trading out your less desirable treats to your younger sibling who was not as candy savvy as you?  Those were the good ole days.

Deciding on the costume was oh so important back then.  My family was not big into buying the plastic mask/costume ensemble for two reasons.....they just were not cool enough and it was impossible to let your inner Halloween star shine when you were one of ten identically dressed Cinderellas.  (Although my dad would probably argue that it being a waste of money was the reason we skipped the Ben Franklin Halloween aisle.)  So most years we dug through boxes of old clothes, ransacked my mom's cosmetics,  and dyed sheets for our costumes.  Sometimes the results were spectacular....sometimes you just donned the thing to get free candy.  But in any case, your costume was unique,  it was your own personal work of art, and you did not feel bad if you didn't get the fancy store bought costume like some of the other kids had.

I miss the days of not having to worry if your child's costume was politically correct or offensive.  Remember dressing up as a hobo?  You have to wonder if  the reason this costume is extinct is because the PC name for hobo is "homeless" and with our dreadful economy this is no longer a funny outfit.  Same thing goes for dressing up as cowboys and Native Americans--just doesn't have the same ring to it but by golly it is PC!  What boggles the mind is why we are so steadfast in keeping up morally upstanding appearances for the kids, when a great many adult costumes seem to promote overt sexuality and most definitely are not PC.  Flirty Sailor or Naughty Nurse anyone?   Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against losing yourself in a fantasy and channeling your inner prostitute or sexy alter ego for fun, but I long for the days when kids were free to roam their neighborhoods unsupervised with or without a mask, sticking out their pillowcase and shouting "Trick or Treat" then running home to watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.  Ahhhh, those really were the good ole days.

Two Words: It hurts

Whenever I work with clients that have psoas issues, I tend to flash back to the scene in Braveheart when the English are torturing William Wallace by ripping his intestines out.  If you think I am exaggerating with this comparison, then you probably have never had this muscle massaged.  Two words: It. Hurts.

The psoas (pronounced Sew Az) is located deep in the abdomen, beneath the abdominal contents....which probably explains why one of my text books says it "may be challenging to palpate" this muscle.  Really?  Ya think?   When I used to teach abdominal massage, I brought donuts to the classroom so I could make nice before I watched the students writhe in pain and utter words that would make a sailor blush.  I also offered the disclaimer that if they wanted to keep clients, then they should never, ever work on the psoas on the first massage appointment.

The job of the psoas is to flex the hip and help stabilize the low back.  Many times when I work with clients that are complaining of severe lower back pain or chronic lower back problems, I will suggest the psoas stretch.  I launch a sales pitch that any plaid-jacket wearing, greasy haired, used car salesman would envy and since most clients will try anything if they think it will make their pain go away, I can usually sell them on the idea that a little pain now might mean a lot less pain later.  A great number of clients that have allowed me to do this massage have seen positive results almost immediately.

So the next time you find yourself in my lobby, waiting for your massage appointment, and you hear a loud voice complaining about how something hurts....please don't automatically assume that I am working on a psoas--the client might have been in pain before he/she came to see me!

Quote

Massage is kinda like pizza.  Even when it's bad, it's still pretty good. ~KB

Nature Retreat

My husband and I took an overnight trip to Cumberland Falls in hopes of getting a glimpse of the moonbow.  For those of you unfamiliar with this phenomenon of nature (one of the slogans I saw at the park), let me just say that it is simply beautiful.  Most of us have seen a rainbow appear when the sun shines into misting water...well, the moonbow is the nocturnal version.  Unfortunately for us, this event cannot be photographed unless you have a tripod and a fancy doodad camera that can slow the shutter speed to 400ish.  Sooooo I hope you folks enjoy the cheap I-am-a-rank-amateur-photographer shot!

Belly Flop

From time to time I am asked to do abdominal massage.  This can be a great treatment for a multitude of reasons, but most times this work is associated with abdominal cramps and moving things along the (using medical terminology here) poopus chuteus.  My first request for this kind of bodywork came when I was still a student working on my clinical hours.  A nice man came in one evening and during the intake interview he told me that he was recently diagnosed with acid reflux and  he wondered if there was any kind of massage for the stomach that might help him.  I explained to him that since I was a student, I was not skilled enough to give him a truly specific abdominal massage but that I was willing to give him a tummy massage with some of the basic massage strokes.  The client decided he wanted me to include the abdominal work in his massage.  The silence was deafening until after I completed the abdominal massage, then the client looked up at me and said "Well, I can see why my dog likes it."  I left that massage not knowing whether I should be flattered or worried!

Hocus Poke Us

Today I saw a charming 74-year old gentleman who told me his right shoulder was sore and it was probably a result of his "poling".  Poling, he explained, is when you take a small boat out and rather than using oars or a motor, you use a pole to push off and navigate your craft through swamps.  Besides the poling injury, he was also battling what he described as a "summer cold", which meant several times I had to stop massaging and fetch tissues.  When I started to massage the back of his head, I told him that my work should help his sinuses.  Almost immediately he shouted "I'll be damned! My right nostril is open!"  After a few more minutes of neck and head work, I moved to his injured shoulder and told him that the massage might be painful at times but I felt like I could help him.  He allowed me to work on his arm and shoulder joint even though it was a bit painful.  I was able to get him some relief and to show him how successful his treatment was, I had him extend and flex his arm to test his range of motion.  After a couple of minutes of him waving his arm and being amazed at there not being any pain, he looked up at me and asked how I had fixed him.   I wiggled my fingers and jokingly said "Magic Hands".  The smile left his face and his eyes got big and with all seriousness he said "ARE YOU A WITCH?"