Acceptance Like a Mother

I love the acceptance massage services offer.  You don't have to look good, you don't have to be skinny, you don't have to be anything that you aren't.

It's nice if you're healthy and clean, of course, but if you have tight muscles and pain, I see it as a opportunity to do some good.  I feel that I can make a difference in your life even in a small way.

When big people come to me, I think about the hard time they probably have because there is so much pressure to be in shape.  People feel that they will not be liked or respected if their outward appearance doesn't measure up.

I think the way to help these people is to show them that you do care about and respect them.
Then when they choose to make steps to being healthier, it is for themselves.  Instead of the negative feeling that they have to do it in order for others to feel good about them, it is for the positive purpose of making themselves feel good.

When I massage a big person, I want them to feel safe.  I want them to feel that I love their body and that it is just as extraordinary as every body.  I want to make them feel accepted and cared for.

Again, with the mother thing.

I am such a mother.  I want to be a mother to everyone I meet.

A Motherly Attitude

I've been considering what mindset I need to have in my career when working with people.  I am the kind of person who worries about what others are thinking.  I tend to lose myself by giving way to what I think they're thinking.
I forget the truth about who I am.

I've realized that ultimately, we all want the same thing:  to be cared about.
To me, the ultimate picture of caring is a mother.  I want to be a mother one day and I feel that I have a good bit to go on since I've been around a lot of good moms and kids.

My own mother is a great caregiver!

Mothers do what is best for those under their care.  A mother doesn't think about herself.
She's not trying to impress anyone.  She listens, is accepting, caring, fearless.

So I've decided the mindset I will have in my massage career is that of a mother.
I will listen to and take care of people.

Meet My New Best Friend!

You may not believe this, but for over a year I have been using the office's antibacterial soap to wash off the oily jojoba lotion I use for massage. Well, it doesn't cut it, so I said enough is enough!

I bought a small bottle of this stuff which is so tried and true!  Sure, it will probably dry me out just as the antibacterial soap did but it will take off all the oil and any odors.

My timing was perfect, too, because shortly after buying it, the Dr. and the Mrs. needed to get rid of some yellow jackets right outside the office.

They asked if they could use my detergent.  I said "sure thing, but you owe me $50 because it's like gold" - just kidding!

Just Wee-wax

If there's one thing I have learned in life, it is to relax.  Ever since I was a child, I have struggled with anxiety.  Between 4 and 8 years old, I went through a phase of being sneaky and lying to my parents.  My conscience would kill me and after I got over the phase, I was extra careful to never do it again.  I watched everything I did, thought and said so carefully that I was consumed by the fear of doing something "bad".

At age ten I was talking with my parents and our pastor about it.  My pastor told me over and over "Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry."  It was such a relief to just be told that none of it mattered.  Really?  I don't have to worry?  Slowly I got more and more free.  There were times I thought I could fly because my mind wasn't all wrapped up in whether I was behaving.  I was living my life and enjoying it.

Every now and then for years afterwards, I would fall back into the anxiety and worry.  Just thinking about the awful feelings could bring on an anxiety attack (which for me was muscular spasm and feeling like I had forgotten how to breath).

This is how I got out of it:  I observed myself when I was feeling good and relaxed and realized that there was a definite pattern of breathing that my body took on. I could apply that later to stop an anxiety attack.  Thinking good thoughts helped too.

Once I heard a story about some commander or general in war times whose secret to success in battle was to relax by doing breathing exercises.

I believe that the bottom line of success in business, in emergencies and in everyday life is to relax.  You've heard the phrase "keep calm and carry on". Well, when dealing with people some of us get anxious about what they're thinking but the truth is, if we don't worry and just do what we think is best, everything will turn out okay.

In massage this is a main theme of mine.  I received a massage from someone who told me
"I do (therapeutic) massage, not relaxing massage." Her massage was definitely not very relaxing.  It was very quickly executed - not too pleasant.

I do therapeutic massage and to me, going slowly is key whether you're doing light or deep work.  Number one:  you can't alter the soft tissues of the body by speed-skiing over them. Number two:  you aren't going to help a body at all if it is not relaxed and compliant.  People trust you more if you go slowly.  It gives them time to request changes to your technique.  It opens the door to communication.  It helps them feel more in control.  Always let the client be in control (within reason).

We're all too stressed these days.  Stress is the antagonist of life and can cause quick health decline. We all need to relax more and massage is a great way to do that.  I am so glad to do something that helps the world relax.

Why Massage?

One day someone may ask,
"What inspired you to be a massage therapist?"

What will I answer?

I inherited a love and curiosity for science and biology from my father.  Natural health was a big part of my life from birth.  Though I was the third child in my family, I was the first home-birth.  I never had shots and I don't remember ever going to the doctor.  When we were sick, mom would give us herbs, garlic, vitamin C, lots of water, rest and soup.

I was so intrigued by natural health I was in a class called "Body Life" at age 9.  I soaked it all up and would tell mom that my little brother needed to drink more water and less juice.

While some kids were earning pocket change doing chores and selling lemonade, I was walking around our friendly Tennessee neighborhood giving foot massages to grownups for a dollar.  Everyone remarked on how strong and talented I was.  My dad would tell me how to massage the sore spots on his back and many of my "customers" gave me ideas like how to massage the hands.  One friend gave me books on reflexology and told me all about it.

Meanwhile I was growing up, learning to cook, clean and sew.  I loved anything artistic or musical.  I sang and sang and learned guitar.  When a kid learns something new it is exciting and they feel they could do it all the time and never get tired of it.  This was how I felt about baking and cleaning.

My kids books would say
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"  They listed some of the typical things:  firefighter, doctor, teacher.  I wanted to be a veterinarian, then a baker, then a hairstylist, then a janitor.  I thought about it a lot.

When I got older I was in "Health Club". About 60 kids and I were in competition eating vegetables and avoiding junk food for about 60 days, if I remember correctly.
It was fun and challenging.  The guy who won had run around the neighborhood asking for heads of lettuce and devouring them without bothering to cut them up into salad.  I wasn't that committed!

Eventually, around junior-high or high school, I realized massage therapy was the thing for me.  It was what I had done since I was eight-years-old.  I never got tired of making others feel better.  In high school we were encouraged to think about and study the field of interest we were considering for a career.

I began to research massage and was encouraged to take classes on anatomy and physiology, which I did with increasing interest.

I learned about high blood pressure and how massage can help that.  Many people I know suffer from this including my mom. I found out how stress could lead to other health problems and if massage could help prevent that, that's what i wanted to do.

So these are the reasons I chose massage therapy:

1. It is a natural, safe service that greatly benefits all.
2. It is tried and true for thousands of years and will not likely go out of style.
3. It pays well.
4. It is a career that often has a good work environment.
5. It is portable and versatile in so many ways.

The Deep Philosophy of Massage

Big bodies,
Small bodies
White bodies,
Tall bodies,

Fit bodies,
Fat bodies,
Tanned bodies,
Black bodies,

Quiet bodies,
Shy bodies,
Tattooed bodies,
Dry bodies,

Thin bodies,
Peeling bodies,
Smooth bodies,
Healing bodies,

Young bodies,
Police bodies,
Warm bodies,
Mommies bodies,

Amish bodies,
Old bodies,
Abused bodies,
Bold bodies,

Cold bodies,
Fragile bodies,
Hairy ones, it's true,
Agile bodies.
Perfumed bodies and smelly bodies too.

Clean the Dirt!

Cleaning your massage table is a good idea and it's simple.  You want to make sure it's clean for everyone.  Everyone has body oils, germy breath, oily makeup, etc.  I always use massage table linens and launder them after one use - I hope that's what everyone does.  Not that it will kill anyone to use the same sheets as someone else, but most Americans will agree it's pleasanter and safer not to.

"I majored in Massage Therapy and minored in Laundry."

 

So after a massage and you remove the sheets for washing, it's time to clean the table itself.  

Probably the main thing to disinfect would be the face rest because the face is oily and your client was breathing right there for 30-60 minutes or so.  SO, get rid of the germs. 

I just use a misting bottle, from the hair-care area of the supermarket.   I fill it with about 1 part isopropyl alcohol and two parts water.  I just mist a little of this over my table focusing on the spots I think need it most.  Then I use a paper towel to wipe it and my bolster (which is just vinyl without a fabric cover) and my lotion dispenser, bottle, holster thing.  

Think about where the germs are.  If you press your lotion pump, touch a person, and then press your lotion pump again, there will be germs on there and you'll pass them to the next person.  Just a thought.