Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Fri, Aug 13, 2010 @ 02:00 PM
By Liz Hoffmaster, LMT, MTI
Learn how to breathe with ease - it can decrease head, neck and TMJ pain and tension, and reduce stress.
We breathe 15,000 to 30,000 times a day. The question is,"how are we doing this"? Many people complain of neck and shoulder tension. ("It's where I carry my stress.") Many of these also clench or grind their teeth and are prone to headaches and upper body tension. This group tends to inhale with tense neck, jaw and shoulder muscles using what is called a "high chest breath", with abdominals sucked up and in. Every breath begins and ends just below the ribs. Upon inhalation the abdominals are sucked up and in by the diaphragm, so it is not efficiently available as the primary breathing muscle it is. In addition, muscles designed to turn the neck, move the shoulders and chew are partially "switched on" while breathing. This in turn stiffens and reduces neck and shoulder motion. I call this Respiratory Microtrauma.
It is a recipe for increased stress, anxiety, shortness of breath and muscles that never seem to feel relaxed and pain free. A tense head and neck tense the whole body. So learning how to breathe with ease can have benefits from the head to toe.
What is correct breathing? Requirements can vary for different sporting activities, singers, Yogis, Martial Arts practitioners, etc, but it is clear there is a basic, efficient breath that is helpful to learn, and one that few people seem to be aware of.
Normal, activity based and relaxed breathing have the following characteristics:
- There is no effort with inhalation or exhalation.
- Air passage is soundless, through the nose & with no throat noises.
- Exhalation is soft and effortless, longer than inhale & with a pause at the end for 1-3 seconds.
- In the pause notice every muscle in the body can relax.
- On inhalation the abdomen rises slightly, there is expansion in the low back, lateral chest wall & front & back of chest. Inhalation is like a wave moving up the whole torso, from South to North & with East/ West circumferential expansion.
- During inhalation the neck, shoulders and jaw are very soft and loose and it is helpful to gently move the head & neck from side to side to assist the looseness.
- At the beginning of exhalation the abdomen falls slightly followed by relaxing ribs & the circumferential torso empties from South to North.
- The jaw, neck, shoulders and ribs continue to be very soft and relaxed.
- This is diaphragmatic, circumferential breathing and, at its best, the jaw, neck and shoulder muscles remain loose and soft throughout the breath cycle.
How does breath impact your bodywork? Share your comments and thoughts with fellow massage therapists in the field below. Want to learn more about breath? Take Breath Awareness: You Breathe, Your Client Breaths with Liz Hoffmaster.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 @ 11:30
By Tara White, LMT, MTI
In preparing for my latest workshop, TLC Massage Therapist Retreat, I've been pondering my own relationship with self care. Something I have observed in myself and other massage therapists is that we are very adept at caring for others but have a tendency to ignore our own needs.
Your Instrument
One perspective that I have used to keep myself mindful of my own needs and on the straight and narrow as far as doing what I know I should is to recall what my stage movement professor at the University of Houston said. "Your body is your instrument and you must care for that instrument so that it will be there for you." This is just as true of massage therapists as it is for performers.
For performers, he meant receiving bodywork. Ironically, that is what led me to my true love, massage therapy. For massage therapists, that does mean receiving bodywork but it also involves the daily habits of caring for our bodies - diet, exercise, etc. - and specifically caring for our hands. So many careers in body work have been shortened by poor biomechanics and hand care. It can be difficult to remember to take the time to do a few simple stretches between clients or to use a different tool (fingers, supported knuckle) when your thumbs are feeling worn out but these are the things that mark the difference between a career in massage that lasts 10 years and a career that lasts a lifetime.
Retreat and Learn
In the Massage Therapist Retreat, I intend to explore simple solutions to the biomechanical problems that plague our profession. One thing I have learned in offering home programs to my clients is that if a program is too complex or takes too long, folks just won't do it. I'm no different. So I hope to send people home with some ideas for a short routine they can do between clients.
One of the benefits of being a massage therapist is that we know all sorts of wonderful tricks to relieve muscle pain like hydrotherapy and massage itself. I frequently laugh at myself when I realize I could be using these things on myself but haven't! This workshop will explore how we can use the tools of our trade for our own benefit. We will play with hydrotherapy, self massage and, of course, a massage routine for arms and hands that can be used with other therapists or on clients.
Throughout my career, each time I've sustained an injury it has been almost like gaining a new specialty. I have shared the methods that assisted my recovery with my clients with great confidence because I know how effective they are. The ergonomics of massage therapy leave us vulnerable to many of the same repetitive use injuries that people who work with computers fall prey to. Our explorations of self care offer us the opportunity to help our clients in their own search for wellness. They look to us not only as facilitators of their own healing but as examples for healthy living. So take care of yourself!
The TLC Retreat for Massage Therapists is a massage continuing education class held annually at Lauterstein-Conway Massage School. Register online now.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Fri, Apr 23, 2010 @ 09:00
Shaken by a Blindfolded Massage and a Trip to the Grocery Store, Part Three
By Hjalmar Perez, January 2010 Intensive Massage School Student (See Part Two.)
Back on to the HEB story: I must confess that I have been to this 'new' HEB five times since the first time and for my benefit (or detriment?), my filters have already started adjusting to the new way things are at this HEB. Before long, the filters will have adapted I am sure I will be able to zip through it in the most efficient way to collect all the products that I know (think) that I need. All along ignoring all the other aisles that I perceive to offer no value to me and challenging me to seek the next new experience that will continue to challenge my 'new' (old?) filters.
This brings me to the blindfolded massage led by Cindy last week. The experience was simply A M A Z I N G. It undoubtedly threw my filters for a spin and gave me the opportunity to explore massage from a different totally perspective. For one thing, I have a new appreciation for bony landmarks! It also allowed me to share with my fellow partner in a different but still very supportive level. The session ended on a high note when my brain made me aware that towards the end, the music playing in the room was no longer the typical music we were accustomed to but instead, it was guitar music. I guess the feeling of newness coming from delivering a blindfolded massage allowed my brain to question whether the music was truly coming from a CD (as it always had been up to now) and made me register that David L. was actually playing for us as we delivered our massages. Great way to cap off a great new experience!
The Takeaway
So, what is the takeaway from all this? Well, as John Schreiber writes on his book "Touching the Mountain", we must continue to "remain a beginner." We must remain open to new input and to seek new opportunities to expose ourselves to new concepts and ideas in order to keep our filters from becoming stale. This applies even as we go through massage therapy school. Maybe it means being open to working with those we are not very comfortable with, or maybe it means asking questions and then truly listening. There is always the possibility that this will help us discover new sources of inspiration and growth that we may not have considered before.
Interested in experiencing massage in an entirely new way? Lauterstein-Conway Massage School is enrolling for two of its upcoming professional massage training classes!
Not to start massage school? Try our new, free Informal Massage Classes.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Thu, Feb 11, 2010 @ 10:00
Interview courtesy of Heartland
Randy Cummins has had a private massage therapy practice in Chicago, Illinois for over 20 years, and has taught massage continuing education workshops at Lauterstein-Conway Massage School for nearly as long.
His expertise, humor and perspective have helped thousands of massage school students and practicing massage therapists access the deepest principles of massage therapy.
Part One of this interview discusses the emergence of the massage movement in Chicago, and also Randy's story - how he came to massage therapy (3:56). Culture and history of bodywork come up, too (7:47).
In Part Two, Randy Cummins talks about the types of massage (0:41-3:05, throughout) and the importance of the individual and massage therapy treatment (3:06).
Part Three talks about how to organize a massage therapy session depending on the day, the client and the evolution of the "place" the client and therapist are in. Whether it is changing the music, actively listening or working instinctively, every massage session is different. (0:00-3:00). Catch a mention of David Lauterstein, too! (4:50).
Bliss out.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Thu, Feb 04, 2010 @ 01:00 PM
In April 2009, Lauterstein-Conway held one of it's popular Massage School Previews in which people interested in a career in massage therapy visit the school to receive free info, chair massage and mini-massage classes as well as have a Q&A luncheon with a panel of TLCschool's esteemed alumni.
Interested in massage therapy as a career? Would like to attend a School Preview? Get the upcoming dates!
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Mon, Feb 01, 2010 @ 04:00 PM
By Dara Allen-Trainer, TLCschool Retail Manager and Customer Service Specialist
30% off Relaxation & Wellness CD’s, 30% off Biotone Aromatherapy Essential Oils, 30% off Ancient Medicine & Touch Posters
Are you a massage therapist? Do you have a friend or family member who is a massage therapist? Are you a student at TLC? Do you know someone who needs to relax and rejuvenate? Looking for the perfect gift for a loved one? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then our massage supplies sale will benefit you!
TLCschool Store has a variety of massage supplies and relaxation gifts that promote a healthy lifestyle or a massage clinic.
WELLNESS & RELAXATION CDs...30% off!
Many physicians & healers consider sound therapy one of the most profound healing modalities. As a result, several health spas and doctor clinics, interested in extending music therapy, are providing relaxation music to help with their client's health & well-being.
The great thing about relaxation music CDs is that, regardless of your location, popping in your favorite CD will immediately bring calm. You can listen to your relaxation music in your car, calming yourself before (or after) a tough day at work, you can listen to your relaxation music at work to help keep your stress level in check, and you can listen to relaxation music while at home, dealing with the day-to-day issues life brings our way. In other words, anywhere you go, your ability to put relaxation music CDs to work for you follows!
Therapeutic Neck Pillows $12.00
When used 20 minutes each day, these pillows help to restore the natural neck curve. Pillows that support the neck maintain the proper cervical curve; providing a deep area for the head to rest and a supportive area to keep the neck in alignment. The comfort and wellness of your neck will not only allow for more proper sleep, but relieves headaches, back pain, neck tension, soreness and stress.
Neck pillows are used to help maintain the normal anterior curve of the cervical spine during rest by giving great support. They can also be used under the back or the knees. Perfect for travel and support during daily activities such as watching television or reading.
Wonderful for relaxation segments in yoga programs, especially for people with neck issues.
Herbal Silk Eye Pillows $12.00
Quiet your mind and relax your entire body with a herbal silk eye pillow. Made from 100% silk and handmade in Austin, these aromatherapy eye pillows contain: flax seed - cooling effect, rosemary - used to relieve mental fatigue, analgesic, stimulant, anti-rheumatic rose oil - relaxant, antispasmodic mint - refresher lavendar oil- anti-depressant relieves nervous tension, restorative. Perfect for relaxing eyes during massages and spa treatments. Ideal for meditation, headache relief and promoting restful deep sleep. Fantastic for travel. Soothes headaches, tired eyes and promotes restful deep sleep.
*For spa use place a tissue between the client's eyes and the eye pillow for hygienic purposes.
Hand-woven Blankets $15.00
These soft hand-woven blankets have a wonderful striped design and are intended for use in yoga and massage. The bright, beautiful blankets are made from a blend of cotton and acrylic to resist mildew, retain integrity and can safely be machine washed.
Whether you are in need of added comfort in reclining, restorative & meditative positions or extra support in seated & kneeling poses, these blankets provide additional cushioning needed in your regular Yoga practice.
Also great for use on the massage table, these blankets provide warmth, weight and coziness to massage clients. Available in an array of soothing colors!
*By their handmade nature, each will vary slightly.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Mon, Jan 25, 2010 @ 11:26
By Belinda Mendoza, local feng shui consultant
When it comes to creating a professional massage space that promotes well-being and relaxation, most massage therapists have a good idea what it takes. Gentle music, for example, contributes to making a client feel calm and nurtured. But there are also commonly overlooked details, such as the angle of a massage table, that have a great impact on a client's experience.
According to feng shui, the ancient art and science of placement and space planning, can also have a dramatic effect on a massage therapist's feelings, not to mention his or her professional reputation and monetary success.
For the last 3,500 years, the Chinese have used feng shui - literally "wind and water" - to harmonize environments by balancing the flow of universal life energy, known as chi. Feng shui is a method for seeing life in a holistic way and trying to recreate that symbolically within one's home or healing environment.
To achieve this end, feng shui practitioners work to balance the opposing energies of yin and yang. Yin elements are receptive, cold, and soft, while yang is active, hot, and compact. Feng shui also draws on the five elements of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood in order to mindfully organize your environment so that it fully supports you in your life.
Key Feng Shui Design Tips For Success
From the moment a client gets out of the car, you want them to realize they are entering a nurturing environment. To initiate this feeling, feng shui wisdom suggests you start by making sure your name and address are clearly visible, you have a plant outside your door, and the entry is unobstructed, warmly lit, and inviting.
Next, if you have a long hallway leading to your office or perhaps to your practice rooms, it may create too much energy or "racing chi." In order to slow down that energy, consider adding rounded tables, plants, or pictures.
In a [wellness] practice, you want to have soft edges, nothing sharp or pointed because you are dealing with people who are vulnerable and need to be treated gently. This tip might translate into soft, fluffy waiting room chairs and gentle lighting. You'll want to keep the waiting room free from clutter, but be sure to adorn it with appealing artwork, a few healthy plants, and ideally the element of water, such as a bubbling fountain.
In fact, if placed in the southeast or "money" corner of your space, water is thought to bring good luck in the area of finances.
The colors you choose for your walls can make a huge impact on how clients experience your space and that, too, may ultimately contribute to the financial success of your business. For both the waiting area and practice rooms, choose colors that are soft, such as skin tones or perhaps muted shades of green, since this color is associated with healing, growth, and new energy. Be sure to keep practice rooms a comfortable temperature, warmly lit, and well laid out.
Having a client's head right near the door does not impart them with a feeling of safety. You also don't them in the 'death position' with the feet facing directly out the door. Often times putting the table at an angle and using a screen near the door can give your client a very needed sense of comfort and power.
Add shiny, metal touches to your administrative area to increase precision, and use natural candles or sparkle lights to conjure up the notion of enlightenment associated with the element of fire.
While many of these recommendations may seem fairly intuitive, it is often difficult to see one's own environment with fresh eyes. Therefore, having the help of a feng shui practitioner can make all the difference. By using their heightened intuition along with either a special compass or an energetic map known as the bagua, a practitioner can pinpoint the exact energies of a specific practice space. Paying attention to these details will ultimately help the massage therapist achieve the most enlightened intention for his or her practice - a feat that will benefit both therapist and client.
Belinda Mendoza is the Owner and Director of Operations for Design For Energy, an Austin-based feng shui consulting firm. She has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and Practitioner since 1996.
Design for Energy specializes in Feng Shui for Green Design, Feng Shui for Real Estate, Feng Shui for Commercial Properties and Feng Shui for Space Clearing.
Check out Design For Energy's eNewsletter The Art of Harmonious Living and the Red Program for discounts on their consultations and more.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Wed, Jan 20, 2010 @ 10:00
By Laura Allen, LBMT, Guest BloggerThe cheapest massage clients you can get are the ones you already have! Marketing to existing clients doesn’t cost you anything other than a little time and the occasional postage stamp.
1. The Monday Morning Scheduling Blitz
On Monday morning, I send out an email to our client list that goes something like this: “Good morning! Just letting you know that we have appointments available at 3pm and 5 pm Wednesday afternoon, a 9am available on Thursday, and a noon appointment available on Friday. It’s time to schedule a massage!”
You don’t even have to list every opening you have. If you list just a few, people will get the idea that you’re almost filled for the week and call immediately. Those usual procrastinators who call at the last minute trying to get in will get the point that they may not get that appointment if they don’t call right now. The phone literally starts ringing within moments.
2. Host an Informative Seminar or Support Group
You know which of your clients is living with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or other conditions. Hosting a short educational seminar or a regular support group will bring them in the door, and most times they’ll make an appointment since they’re already there.
3. The Power of the Handwritten Note
In this age of Internet, e-mailing and texting seem to be the most common forms of communications. However, people still enjoy receiving a handwritten note, and it’s a tiny bit of extra effort that can go a long way. I keep a box of beautiful blank note cards that I can use to say thank you, express sympathy, congratulate someone on a milestone or accomplishment. Keep it short and sweet: “Dear Dr. Coyne, I read in the paper that you have retired. Delivering 10,000 babies certainly is something to be proud of. Congratulations, and I hope to see you soon.” When I send someone a handwritten note, they’re usually so pleased by the effort they’ll call to thank me and end up making an appointment.
4. Reward Clients Periodically
When a client turns out to be a faithful customer who schedules regularly and refers other people, I occasionally send a “Certificate of Appreciation” good for a free hour of massage. I don’t publicize this, and it isn’t any kind of package deal. It’s a reward for helping me build my business, and the client is always thrilled to receive an unexpected gift.
5. The Almighty Mailing List
There’s no point in having one unless you use it! Of course, e-mail is the cheapest and quickest way to go. I don’t bombard my clients with e-mail; people hate that and they’ll delete you for doing it. I send out a newsletter once per month, and I’ll send out an e-mail to announce a special or an event, like an open house or a special on hot stone massage. Never abuse your mailing list; no matter how cute, funny, or profound you think it is, do not send out forwards, jokes, and so forth. And don’t forget to have an “unsubscribe” statement so that people can opt out.
Laura Allen is the author of One Year to a Successful Massage Therapy Practice (LWW, 2008) and Plain & Simple Guide to Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Examinations (2nd ed, LWW, 2009). She is a regular contributor to Massage Magazine and Massage & Bodywork and a blogger on massagemag.com and massagetoday.com
ABMP is offering a webinar featuring Laura and more tips on marketing on Tuesday, January 26. Reserve your seat at the webinar.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Mon, Jan 18, 2010 @ 02:59 PM
Over the weekend, Lauterstein-Conway Massage School Facebook page added several fans, which resulted in a spike in wonderful wall posts.
Thank you and welcome to those of you who became fans and added content to our page via your wall posts. We'd love to continue to grow our online community, so please encourage your massage-loving friends and family to become fans, too!
(Don't forget if you have something really nice to say, there is also a review capability on our fan page. We don't want your wonderful posts to just get lost on the wall!)
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Fri, Dec 04, 2009 @ 02:55 PM
By David Lauterstein
What are you aiming for when you massage someone? What have you missed when you finish a session a bit frustrated?
I, like you, aim for the best possible experience for both receiver and giver. I want to feel great about the session and I want my client to say, "Wow!" about how good they feel.
Giving a Good Massage: Five Barriers
• Anger - Getting angry at not having the answers sometimes. And getting frustrated that clients often don't take the ball and run with it - for instance, not doing home exercises, not losing weight they need to, or not seeing the connection of their body tension to their mental or emotional tension.
• Fear - Being afraid that you are not a good therapist. Being afraid that you are not touching the person in the most effective manner. Being afraid the client is not enjoying or fully benefiting from your work.
• Lack of confidence - Feeling shaky about your skills.
• Negative self-talk - Telling yourself you're no good.
• Egotism - Telling yourself you're hot stuff - when you're just another struggling human; being self-centered instead of client-centered.
The difference between a good and a bad massage can be a function of how you handle these five things. We know it - massage is a job for the mind and emotion as well as the hands.
I coined the term "psycho-mechanics" to go beyond body mechanics and explore more deeply what we do with our mind and our emotions when we massage somebody. How can you successfully address anger, fear, lack of confidence, negative self-talk and egotism?
Giving a Good Massage: Opportunities for Meditation
I think the key is remembering that each session is an opportunity for meditation.
• When you are centered on touching your client, frustration just gets in the way.
• When you cultivate a peaceful feeling in your massage, mostly fear seems out of place. Or you will experience a lively fear, like an alert animal, curious and watchful for the small and large signs of healing as you work.
• Confidence comes with compassion for you. You are not perfect - acknowledge the sincerity of your efforts and know that more learning is naturally challenging. But you wouldn't have even thought of being a massage therapist if deep down you didn't believe that your touch felt good and that you had something to good to give to people through your hands, heart, mind and spirit.
• Negative self- talk. Stop it. Putting yourself down never accomplishes anything good. Anytime negative self-talk arises gently push it aside or, if you prefer, slice it off at its roots and throw it away! If you are telling yourself the client is not enjoying your work, reality test - ask the client for feedback and course-correct if necessary - without blame.
• Egotism - the massage is not about you; it is work dedicated to your client's enhanced well-being.
The more we explore these facets of our work, the more we experience that each session is a meditation. Then, when we see 5 clients a day, we get to meditate five times a day.
How many professions can say that? That's why massage therapists who practice meditatively usually get healthier and healthier as they practice!
Happy Meditating and Massaging!