I am a Relaxation Therapist, Massage Therapist and Reflexologist. I am self-employed and work from my home.. I offer relaxation workshops. I am located in South Minneapolis. Other services include (relaxation parties(for women only,) relaxation 1/2 hour sessions for the younger ages 4-17 with parents in the sessions. Aromatherapyn relaxing nutrition.
?I found the words of Mr. Barnes were so very helpful! Thank you so much. I think we as therapist often get caught up in our own way of doing things we forget about the significance of MFR. I personally know it is ground moving?But you just get into a groove of treatment and the most obvious things seem to pass you by. THANK YOU so much John.? Jasmine Kinney // May 6th 2009 at 3:05 pm
In my Myofascial Release seminars, one of my goals is to help therapists move beyond ?consensus consciousness?, our normal waking consciousness, or the linear, intellectual aspect. This level of consciousness is the equivalent of a ?trance state? where we tend to function on automatic reactions.
As the therapist and client move into the healing consciousness, amazing changes can occur.In scientific terms, this level of consciousness is called the hypnagogic state. This is the state when you are just about to fall asleep or just awakening, when you are mentally clear, having a sense of flowing coupled with an ?open focus?.This ?healing zone?, when utilizing the Myofascial Release approach, allows for deep, authentic healing and growth.
The Massage Magazine has kindly asked me to write monthly articles on the internet version of their magazine, where I will expand on these thoughts in more detail.My articles will be called, ?Therapeutic Insight: The Myofascial Perspective? and the first one began running this month.You can access my first ?Therapeutic Insight? article at the following link:
I just read an interesting post on MSN Health about smell and depression. In particular, the article mentioned citrus scents as being uplifting but then went on to suggest you purchase Calvin Klein or Armani citrus colognes.
These types of articles really get to me because they are so off the mark. Most cologne does not contain natural scents and are actually toxic pollutants. If you look at the list of ingredients – such as Diethyl Phthalate, a solvent which is a carcinogen, mimics hormones thus blocking receptor sites from real hormone acceptance, and can cause disruptions to the Central Nervous System, how could you ever recommend someone use it for depression? This is just one of the ingredients – imagine the synergistic soup when you combine all the other synthetic fragrances and solvents.
It’s great to get on the Aromatherapy bandwagon. But first let’s get a grasp on what aromatherapy really is before we go endorsing products that supposedly are healing or helpful. True Aromatherapy can only be achieved when the “therapy” outweighs the “aroma”. What this means is that you have to start from the point of using pure, unadulterated, unaltered, unrefined, meticulously sourced, grown, and processed plant material.
It is true that citrus scents are wonderful for depression. But in fact citrus scents are not distilled like essential oils, but pressed from the rind. What if you press a lemon that was grown with pesticides, near a highway with toxic emissions, or watered with fluoridated and other toxic water borne substances? Is this therapeutic?
So, if you buy your citrus scent from a vendor that cannot tell you how it was grown, picked, and processed would you still think it contains all of the therapeutics inherent in the nature giving plant? You cannot assume this to be true.
To be educated on anything that you are going to use with an expected therapeutic intent is the best thing you can do for yourself, and if you use oils on others, for your clients. Ask the questions of the suppliers. Demand the highest quality and only purchase the highest quality. Some oils are labeled therapeutic-grade but are in fact perfume grade. There are no labeling laws in the US so suppliers can call their oil grade anything they want.
That $9.00 bottle of lavender is cheaper than a true therapeutic-grade lavender for a reason. It’s time to find out why.
Cerebral lateralization has been a hot topic in neuroscience for centuries. How does it apply to body patterns we see in clinic, i.e., does right motor dominance cause hypertonicity in highly innervated tissues such as iliopsoas, rotatores, multifidi, scalenes, suboccipitals? Recall that the 11th cranial nerve innervates the upper traps and SCM. Do you look for and/or expect to see certain repeated structural patterns possibly due to motor dominance?
My infatuation with form began when I was a child and still is a constant wonder and focus in my work as a CranioSacral Therapy practitioner.
My parents owned a small Chinese antique store in Washington, D.C. A tiny repair room crammed full of damaged objects was in the back of the store. Stuff was everywhere: broken statuary made of porcelain, wood or bronze; stained or ripped paintings; tattered silk robes; fragments of jade; pieces of carved ivory, and dented cloisonné vessels. The floor was taken up with pieces of teak furniture and two huge ceramic foo-dogs so large they loomed over me.
I spent hours with these things. Their shape, color, and texture carried me into a realm of wondering. When I held the woman carved of ivory, I wondered about her, not in a specific way like who carved her or what happened to her. I wasn’t trying to create anything, I’d just wonder and wait… accepting anything that arose in my mind’s eye.
Before I knew it her missing hand would spring forth with its delicately pointing finger, or her smooth face would glisten suddenly, as if illuminated by the moon, pastel colors of pale green and poppy yellow emerging upon her gown. I’d pay close attention and hear stories murmered by water flowing over creek stones. At times her voice whispered sounds that I didn’t understand, yet somehow I felt better, as though wrapped in a warm blanket.
Eventually I became an artist making imagined things into objects drawn and sculpted. Yet something was lacking. I didn?t understand what it was until I began to learn and use CranioSacral Therapy. Then I realized what was missing, it was life?s motion.
Movement characterizes life. While practicing CranioSacral Therapy I am awe struck when feeling the life force within each cell which can be expressed as blood coursing within our vessels, oxygen filling our lungs, nerves conveying information, or particles entering and leaving our cells. This majestic motion is the way form makes itself known to me.
So when I work with clients, a state of wonder permeates each second of time. I feel the human being is majestic and our life force unfathomable, yet somehow palpable. I marvel at the depth of motion within each cell and I wonder and wait. As I wait images arise of cells moving freely, fluids energizing and vibrant. Other images may emerge of brain parts twisted, membrane coiled or stuck, nerves stressed, or vessels congested. I may see the entire body crumpled by a snagged string of fascia. A large part of my work is to gently support shapes as they shift and untangle.
I am constantly amazed how form is a gateway into the ordinary, the extraordinary, the glorious and the therapeutic.
Aromatherapy is an age old practice. The research we see now coming out about aromatherapy is to verify what users of Aromatherapy already know – it works.
We live in an age of Science as Religion. In the past the healer’s were the Shaman’s, Priests, and Elders. These healer’s had a spiritual connection that enabled them to connect to the healing power of Source Energy, God, Omnipresent Power or whatever else you call the power behind your breath.
Now we get all excited when a study comes out that verifies lavender is relaxing. OK – we already know this. What has happened here? The pharmaceutical companies have hijacked healing and today’s doctors have no sense of the spiritual root of illness. Yes, some of the pharmaceutical products may be helpful but they are so harmful that studies need to be done to ascertain side effects – a funny term in my opinion because they are all DIRECT effects – so everyone feels safe about having their liver impacted to help alleviate their acne.
I refuse to buy into this mentality. When people ask me how it works I ask them how does your skin heal when you have a cut? Yes, there are the mechanics of the body we can see with the white blood cells but what is powering that process?
So what makes lavender relaxing, orange calming and helichrisum healing? It is no different. Do I need scientific studies to tell me so? I’m sure you can guess the answer.
I am a self confessed science nerd who loves to think things through and then I am just as likely to go with my feelings as my mind. For the big decisions, it is my feeling. My journey has been one of exploring the body, body awareness and body knowledge and gradually making my way back to the science nerd in me and discovering the integrated thoughts and feelings of a 48 year old man. A graduate of the Biology program at Carleton University in Ottawa in 1982, I continued for a year in English and wrote myself into the Creative Writing Program at the Banff School of Fine Arts for the summer of 1983. During the summer I fell in love with a massage therapist, or maybe is was massage therapy or the lifestyle/world- and self-view of a massage therapist. In any case, it wasn?t reciprocated in a romantic way (an example of that massage therapist having competent boundaries!), but I did go on to Calgary to study where she had studied. The rest is history; or rather my story and I will be sharing more of it in this blog!
There is something big happening at the National Certification Board: THEY ARE LISTENING!
I caused a little uproar earlier this year when I scooped their announcement on this blog about the membership organization the NCB was planning to launch. The response to that announcement wasn’t very cordial on any front; everyone from the certificants to the other professional associations spoke out about it, and I am glad to say that the plan is on hold, according to their press release of Oct. 20. Ditching it before they spend a huge pile of money on it seems like the best course of action, in my opinion.
According to Paul Lindamood, CEO of the NCBTMB, the decision was based on “input from the profession.” That is the second time in a week that phrase has been put forth by the NCB, the first being when the announcement was made that the unpopular decision to require proctors for home-study and distance education classes was being rescinded, at least temporarily, until the issue could be revisited.
I’ve been slamming the NCB pretty hard in the past couple of years, and one of my most vocal complaints has been that they don’t listen and they don’t respond. If nothing else, these two announcements are evidence that they have come to the painful conclusion that they need to wake up and smell the coffee. I made a personal promise to Mr. Lindamood that I would spread the good news when I thought there was something good to spread, and I’m as good as my word, so here it is.
I applaud every one who contacted the NCB to express an opinion, and I urge you to keep doing it. I think they may have seen the light at the end of the tunnel and realized it was the headlight of an oncoming train. It has seemed for quite some time that they were just going to crash and burn, which would be a sad end to what was formerly a pillar of the profession.
When the NCB screws up, I report that. I don’t get any kind of pleasure out of doing so; I just think the stakeholders have a right to know. And when I see the evidence that they’re paying attention to us and trying to do better, I’m fair enough to report that, too. Let’s hope this is a good sign of better days to come.
Mothers control 85% of the household income in the US, and their buying power tops $2.1 trillion annually, according to a special report by Marketing Sherpa. There are approximately 75 million moms in the US alone.
Match these statistics to the fact that women are the primary healthcare decision makers in the US, and you?ve got an audience you should be talking to about your massage therapy business.
No matter what type of massage you do, rehab to stress reduction, it?s important to know that mothers control a large percentage of the clients you see. As a mother myself I know this is true. From dental appointments to acupuncture treatments, to the massages we get on the weekends, the approval runs through me. My husband jokingly says he has to ?check with corporate? before making a decision on some things, our healthcare tops this list.
What do these statistics mean to you and how should it affect the marketing you do?
Moms are everywhere
For starters, regardless of what niche you?ve chosen, understand you are marketing to moms. Moms work, moms are athletes, moms plan the vacations?so whether speaking at a corporate health fair, or training a group of athletes on injury prevention ? chances are you?re talking to a mom.
And according to Marketing Sherpa, one of the most important things you can do to connect with moms is build a relationship with them. An example given in a recent report discusses a tactic whirlpool has used for the past three years; running programs that have nothing to do with appliances.
According to the Marketing Sherpa article, ?Whirlpool has been doing weekly podcasts ?The American Family?, for three years. The podcasts get 25,000 to 40,000 monthly downloads? says Audrey Reed-Granger, Director Marketing and Pr, Mass Brands. ?The content includes interviews with experts on topics such as shaken baby syndrome, workplace bullying, traveling with kids, and weight loss and management.? (Notice how many of these are health-related. Moms are actively searching for health information, both online and off)
As a healthcare marketer it’s important you know moms are busy, digitally savvy, and are online daily. Moms often feel overwhelmed and look for healthcare services that not only keep their families healthy, but make parenting easier and enrich the lives of their children.
How can you apply this information to your practice? Let?s take a look at what works when reaching out to the mom market?
Home parties (think of ?girls night out? at your practice or a massage party at someone?s house). Moms want to learn, have fun, and be social. Parties are a great way to meet several of these needs.
Blogging ? studies show that 53% of moms are bloggers. Do you blog? Do you use key words when you blog so your practice is found in the search engines?
Podcasts ? moms can learn about caring for their family while exercising, cooking dinner, or gardening. Busy moms often don?t have time to read, but they can download information to their mp3 players and multitask.
Email ? Moms are active, informed online users. They are, however, not intrigued by cutesy graphics or long-winded offers. Ezines can be a great way to keep busy moms informed without wasting their time. Ensure your information gets straight to the point and includes high-resolution graphics.
Discounts go a long way with moms. Show the discounted price, not just the percent off. We don?t want to figure it out, but we love a good sale!
Odds are a large percentage of the decision making in your client base comes from mothers. Are you incorporating their wants and needs into your marketing? Are you connecting with them in a manner they relate to?
If you?d like help connecting with the moms in your community, call us at 303-460-0285 and inquire about your new media marketing package.
I’ve found many workshop participants are uncomfortable performing hands-on abdominal work, i.e., pelvic and respiratory diaphragm releases and sometimes even superficial belly techniques. This seems particularly true when working with pregnant clients/patients.
Do you feel belly-work is under-emphasized in massage trainings? Does the area hold too much emotion or possibly too intimate for some? I’ve written a short e-newsletter & posted a video showing some basic useful structural integration techniques @ http://erikdalton.com/NewslettersOnline/Sept_09_Newsletter.htm
Full Body Presence is here – the books are in and ready to go! One reason I self-published is that I wanted to have this book and its wisdom in the hands of as many people as possible as we go into the last month of this election process. Please help me do this. It is more important than ever before in our lives that each one of us make an intelligent choice, informed by our full body wisdom in the next election. It is not only vital for us as individual citizens here in the United States, it has become clear that our choice will affect the rest of the world. If you are not registered to vote and you still can do so in your state ? do it now. We are long beyond the point of saying, ?My vote does not matter.? Everyone?s vote matters. (See chapter 10 of the book.)
In the growing turbulence and divisiveness in our country it is easy to sink into fear and hopelessness. When our leaders or leaders-to-be are caught in blame and personal attack rather than rising to finding the solutions we need to grow and return to prosperity, it can be disheartening. However, after an initial period of complete frustration with the deception I was seeing on the political scene, I have realized that those of us who have refined our capacity for clear discernment, who are not swayed by glib answers and personal attack ads, have a responsibility to step fully into our integrity, into our power, into our full body presence and be a source of clarity and strength for those around us.
The major issue when we hit those places of fear in ourselves is to remember to connect to our deepest wisdom, and ground ourselves. Use whatever spiritual practices you know to fill up with life-giving energy so that you can change the resonance of fear in your body, to a resonance of life-giving sensation – of fullness – which always helps you choose more wisely in any given crisis situation such as the time of unknown outcomes that we all face right now. When we are full, we can experience the present moment with clarity and determination.
This is vitally important. The outcome of this election will affect many generations to come ? our children and our children?s children?reflect on how your choice will affect everyone – from the economic situation to our moral authority in the world; from women?s freedom and equality, to better healthcare and every child?s right to a full education; all the way to honoring the heart of the Constitution ? look under the charisma and personalities of each candidate and see what each one stands for and whether their record reflects their current position. Does it spell integrity?
Listen and look at each of the candidates from your full body presence. Use your discernment. What does your heart tell you? Does your head agree with your heart? What does your gut tell you? When you walk in your world and watch how the candidates are conducting themselves, think of how you want your president and vice president to represent you in the world. That?s how you can expect to be treated by them. Notice, do they talk down to people? Do they try to sway you with fear tactics? Or do they speak to you and call for your intelligence and courage, to correct the inequities we are currently experiencing in our nation? Do they honor and support each person?s right to their own views and truths which is fundamental to our Constitutional rights as Americans? Do they make personal attacks on their opponents in order to derail the more important issues at hand? Or, do they address these issues cleanly and directly so we can make intelligent choices based on what we see/hear/feel/sense in their presence? We know that when someone hides behind personal attack what is left is the shell of a bully, not a clear message we can hear and make a decision from.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, it is vital that you search out the truth as you read the paper, the internet, and watch the debates. As I look at this election, gathering data from all sides, I am struck by the twisting of the facts and mis-information being billed as the truth. Seek out multiple sources. Listen to the news stations on all sides of the issues, not just the ones on the far right or left. Those on both the far right and the far left throw out stuff that is pure hogwash at times.
In my opinion one of the best places to ferret out the real issues, and where the candidates stand on them, is the nationally televised debates. Make time to watch them. They are geared to be neutral ground for our citizens to be able to see and hear the truth from each candidate. And as you watch and listen, ground yourself and stay full energetically, so that your entire body?s navigational system for wisdom is operational.
And, vote. You can make a difference. If you need help getting the skills to be able to listen to your deepest wisdom in this way, Full Body Presence can help you gain these skills quickly and easily. I have worked tirelessly for the last year to have this book available at this time. Help me get it out there to those who need it. These are exciting times ? the ability to be fully in your body and able to clearly discern what is for the highest good is what makes these times exciting rather than scary. And, enjoy!
P.S. I have done a short video clip on how to drop quickly into your body for clear discernment of the candidates. It will be coming up in the next few blogs – watch for it!
