?Ms. N? received ?unsolicited mail? from my franchise company (to her it was JUNK MAIL) and wanted to know how we got her address.    I know this because she was kind enough to call me.

I LISTENED to Ms. N?.as a fellow massage therapist and gentle spirit I could tell she was passionate and I really appreciated her taking the time to talk to me.  I told her that our franchise sales department got the names but I was pretty sure it was from one of two national massage associations and that I would find out and get back to her. 

SHE SPOKE passionately ??.she could have easily just ?complained? to anyone that would listen and nothing would have been resolved.   What I liked about Ms. N is that although she was VERY PASSIONATE about not wanting unsolicited mail and upset about someone giving her name and address, she was professional, courteous and followed the Four Agreements (excellent read—if you don?t have it, I would highly recommend it)!    

THINKING and ACTING?. I am a consultant to the company that has franchised my business model and I own three franchises personally.  Ms. N.?s passion ignited something inside me??.so I started thinking, what can I do personally and in business to impact our environment?

Ms. N…….you REALLY made me think!  As a business consultant how can I impact our environment and how can the company franchising this business model also impact our environment. 

OUR MARKETING DEPARTMENT was already ahead of me?.they recently  signed a contract for our business cards and brochures which will all be printed on recycled paper. 

OUR MASSAGE STUDIOS are virtually paperless.  There is one intake form completed by clients that is then shredded and recycled. 

FILTERED WATER is provided for our employees (to decrease production of individual water bottles).   What I also realized after talking with Ms. N is that I too get JUNK MAIL?.often from the same companies over and over.  All I have done to this point is throw it away?..but now (thanks to Ms. N), I will call these companies and asked to removed from their mailing list.  

SO CHEERS TO AN EMPOWERED AMAZING WOMAN who will SPEAK HER TRUTH!!!

Normal tongue structure and function are crucial during fundamental activities such as chewing, sucking, swallowing, breathing and speaking. Dysfunction of these activities can occur when either the form or position of the tongue is disturbed, if structures attaching to the tongue are compromised, or when the tongue?s sensory or motor nerve pathways are stressed. CranioSacral Therapy can help the body form balanced free motion of the tongue by decreasing dysfunctional biomechanical or neurological strain upon it.

The tongue is suspended from the cranium, soft palate, mandible, and hyoid bone by way of the tongue?s extrinsic muscles. A constant give-and-take relationship exists between these structures such that the tongue affects them and, in turn, they affect the tongue. We can think of it as a kinetic chain of reciprocal influence.

Conditions can arise that challenge the smooth operation of one or more components within the tongue’s kinetic chain. This may lead to dysfunction involving activities in which the tongue is directly involved such as swallowing and speech, or activities that do not directly engage the tongue such as balance or rib-cage motion. Visceral function can even be altered.

When a person?s tongue is unable to function properly the consequences for the individual can be heart wrenchingly difficult. Working with the tongue, its associated structures and the body as a whole, may help alleviate dysfunctional biomechanical strain in such a way that the tongue can establish optimal position, movement and function.

Please look for Tad?s upcoming article on the tongue in the Massage Magazine?s online ?Techniques? section, <http://www.massagemag.com/Resources/massage-techniques/>

As a massage therapist we are forced to make decisions every day. Really, as human beings we make decisions every day. Ranging from what to make for dinner, to who you should hire to fill a new position, the consequences of our decisions can be long lasting. Making decisions feels very permanent with far reaching effects which causes us to over-think, rather than make the right decision.

This is why many people hesitate and second guess themselves when the time comes to make a decision. When it comes to making the decision they start to think about how they will implement their decision and what could happen if they make a particular decision.

Before they decide, they run through their head how they will implement their decision, what it?s going to cost them, what will happen if they fail?.all the reasons they shouldn?t make a decision.

I would like to suggest a different process to use when making a decision. I was taught this technique from David Neagle and it works very well.  

First make the decision. Put the ?how am I going to make this happen? aside. Don?t think about what others are going to say or think ? put your energy into making the right decision for you. If you need $20,000 to invest in your business, but you have terrible credit and nothing in your accounts receivables, you may start thinking about why you can?t get $20,000.

What I am asking you to do, before you think about how or why, is to make the decision to move your business forward. Make the decision that you are going to manifest $20,000. Just make the decision you are going to do it and nothing else.

Once you?ve made the decision (whatever it is) write it down on a piece of paper. Draw a line down the center of the paper. On the left column write down these words ?Why I can?t?. On the right column write down ?How I can?. Cross off ?Why I can?t? with a big X. You are done with that column. Why I can?t is no longer an option for you. You?ve made the decision to manifest $20,000. The Universe will bring it to you once you make the decision.

Now write down every single thing you can think of for ?How I can?. EVERYTHING; even if it seems crazy and impossible. Once you?ve written everything down, methodically exhaust every item on the list. Somewhere on that list is the solution to making your decision a reality.

It may be that one of the items you wrote down leads you to something else, which makes your decision a reality. The answer is somewhere on that list.

The key is to make the decision without thinking about the how. The universe will make the how happen. Your job is to go through that list tirelessly until you find what you are looking for. In this case it?s raise $20,000.

Here?s an example:

Decision:    raise    $20,000  

      Why I can?t      How I can

                                    Loan from bank
                                    Money from mom
                                    Sell 30 ebooks
                                    Gain 25 new clients
                                    Ask friends
                                    Have a sale
                                    Partner with Marathon
                                    Etc.

Try it. See if it works for you.

About the author

Founder of A Marketing Connection and The Copywriting Institute, Kelly Robbins, MA, is an award winning author, copywriter and healthcare marketing coach/consultant. Kelly is a blogger for both ChiroEco and MassageMagazine and is the author of Marketing 101: Why Successful Alternative Healthcare Practitioners Specialize as well as co-author of The Practice Evolution Success Kit. She also publishes The Healthcare Marketing Connection, a free e-zine on healthcare marketing tips. Contact Kelly to receive her free report, ?5 Critical Mistakes Healthcare Marketers Make that Lose Sales and Plummet Profits? at www.AMarketingConnection.com or 303-460-0285.

Dear Jasmine,

            Thank you for your response.  

?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:

http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=6745&catid=62&title=therapeutic-insight-the-myofascial-release-perspective

            Your questions and insights will be answered on my blog.  I look forward to interacting with you as we move into this exciting new world of healthcare. 

Sincerely,

            John

Starting a business is really challenging for many reasons,. Somethings can be avoidedn but one thing you will always need for any business is customers. Not just any customers, you want to attract the right customers. Some people might confuse massage therapist for (lack of a better word) “prostitutes”". Please keep in mind that you are educated, you spent your hard earned money to get that education, along with your time to become a proffesional, don’t let anyone insult you and your proffesion. One thing that is really important to me in my practice is proper draping. I tell all potential clients that I use proper draping, and some people become clients and others don’t. If they decide not to get a massage from me because I drape, I don’t take it personally, its their loss, and I don’t want them as clinets anyways. For those people that do become clients, I find that they really appreciate the draping. It makes them feel safe that they are in the hands of a proffesional.

Bee Healthy. Bee Happy. Bee Well…

Food addictions often begin as addictions to sugar.  In fact, alcohol addictions are sugar addictions.  Of course, there are also addictions to salt and fat.  In fact, it’s a constant desire for sugar, salt and fat, that keeps people eating without ever achieving a feeling of satisfaction.

The food addict?s insatiable diet is never satisfied because the body is constantly out of balance.  Unfortunately, by eating more sugar, salt and fat, the addiction only gets worse and the imbalances grow more pronounced.

The trick is to replace all the sugary, salty and fatty foods with healthy, whole foods.  When the food addict begins eating a more balanced diet including plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, the body begins to achieve homeostasis and cravings disappear.

Sugar is one of the most powerfully addicting substances in our food supply. Since it is in so many products, most people don?t know how to avoid it.  The consumer must be diligent, and look for healthy alternatives like stevia.  Stevia is actually 300 times sweeter than sugar, yet helps individuals to maintain normal blood sugar levels without the constant spikes and crashes.

For more information about stevia, read these articles:

Stevia is a Sugar Free Sweetener That is Naturally Healthy

Stevia Sweetener Is Hundreds of Times Sweeter Than Sugar and Healthier

Stevia Sweetener is the Natural Alternative to Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners

Dear Christina,

    Thank you for your response to my blog, ?Pouring water on a stone.?

?Thank you John for explaining this idea in such a clear way. In my practice many individuals are still somewhat dehydrated, but I also serve individuals who are properly hydrated, physically active, eating well and have no medical conditions that should be causing chronic pain. I have sometimes found it challenging to explain why they could be doing all of these things yet their bodies may still need another level of release. Thank you for giving the words to explain this dynamic.? Christina Gibbs // Apr 25th 2009 at 4:24 pm

    I thought I would expand my thoughts on water absorption and the importance of the proper viscosity of fascial system’s ground substance.  There are so many nutritional theories that are logical and well intended, but produce only limited or short term results.  I believe that this is because of the misunderstood view of the important role of the fascial system in cellular hydration, nutrition, and elimination of toxins! 

   We have over one trillion cells in our body that undergo approximately 100,000 interactions per second!  Recent research has demonstrated that the external and internal environment of every cell is the fascial systems fibrous network and ground substance which should be somewhere between a gelatinous to a fluid state. 

   Physical and/or emotional trauma, or thwarted inflammatory responses tend to dehydrate the fluidity of the fascia’s ground substance, turning it into the equivalent viscosity of glue or solid like a stone. As I said in my last blog, “Pouring water on a stone”, as the cellular environment, the fascial system, hardens it produces crushing pressure on the cells and blocks the flow of water, nutrition, oxygen, hormones, and/or medicine into the cell?s interior.  These fascial restrictions also block the excretion of toxins from the cell. 

   If  the fascial system is restricted, it doesn’t matter what you put in your mouth, it isn’t getting to the cellular level, where you need it the most!

    Our fascial system’s ground substance is the transport medium of our mind/body complex.  Myofascial Release helps us to re-hydrate that which has solidified to enhance physiological and cellular functioning and health.

Sincerely,

This was something I just wrote for my website, thought I would share with you all……

Did you know that getting massages is great way to stay warm, healthy and happy this winter?

Massage techniques can improve circulation, massage moves the blood around your whole body making you feel warm. Also with the warm hands of your therapist moving along your body it can really relax your muscles and make you feel so warm and cozy! Do you know that you lose most of your body heat from the top of your head? Usually in the winter I like to spend some extra time on my clients scalp to really warm them up, along with a nice blanket that is really comforting. You will feel like a child being tucked in on a snowy winter night! So this winter before cranking the heat up, cuddle up with a special someone or your favorite blanket and just give your toes, fingers and scalp a nice massage!

Are you looking to maintain your healthy lifestyle you worked hard for even  in the winter, when it seems to get harder to acomplish your health goals?  With all the holiday parties, and cooking you will be doing this winter, as well as the natural cycle of your body craving those crazy carbs when you get a cold chill, massage is a great way to boost your metabolism as well as fight cellulite. So if you are feely guilty about that extra cookie or glass of eggnog, get a massage, not only will it help you forget about the previous snacks,  but it will help you feel fit and light on your feet again!

Have these cold, dark months got you down?Are you stressed by the snow, hoidays, lack of sun and anything else that  can the best of you this winter? Don?t stress, massage can help to beat those winter blues.  There is nothing better for yourself than to get a massage. With the smell of fresh lavendar in the air, some relaxing music for you, you get to just close your eyes and a nice therapist will take care and nurture you, you will feel the stress sweeping out of your body. When the massage is through you will feel, relaxed, motivated, and refreshed, as well as happy, and ready to handle whatever life may hand you next!

Massage is a very healthy way to lose those winter blues. Stay warm, healthy and happy this winter with the power of massage, let Bee Well do something nice for you!

MASSAGE TIP #2: when you get cold this winter, give your feet, hands and scalp a nice relaxing massage!  

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!

I can be reached through my website http://www.massagetherapypractice.com or directly by e-mail at alexander2000@sympatico.ca

     Water is a vital part of living things, especially the human being. The following facts from my rebounding seminar may be of interest to you.             

             ?Over 70% of total body weight is water.  Most people know that blood, lymph, urine,  sweat, and tears are mostly water.  The lungs are 90% water, the brain is 76% water, and even the bones are 25% water.

             ?67% of the water in the body is inside the cell (i.e. the intracellular fluid).  The other 33% lies outside the cells in the extracellular fluid that flows through the fascia?s extracellular matrix.?

       Scientific research on the fascial system was done on cadavers. As we all know cadavers are brittle, so the only focus was on the three dimensional fibrous network and no attention was paid to the fluidity of the body. The fascial system is the container of the fluid and the transport medium of the fluid and all that lies within.

      I would like to quote from the 40 years of research done in Germany. ?The Extracellular Matrix and the Ground Regulation? by Alfred Pischinger is a fascinating book full of information about the importance and functions of the fascia?s extracellular matrix.  The following quotes are by Dr. James Oschman who wrote the foreword:

           ?The ground substance gel is composed of water, proteoglycans and related molecules with strong collagen fibers embedded within it.?

             ?Recent research also has demonstrated that the matrix components are actually semi- conducting liquid crystals, materials known to have a variety of remarkable properties for  transmissions, storage and processing of  information.?

              ?Simply stated, every function and every process of the human body involves the fascia?s matrix in one way or another. The reason for this is every cell in the body  is nourished by the fascia?s extracellular matrix and all waste products of the cellular metabolism likewise pass through the ground substance which is the actual milieu. The matrix is also the terrain in which all immune responses and tissue repair processes take place.?

    These 40 years of research have helped to explain why Myofascial Release is so extraordinarily effective.  This is an exciting time to be a Myofascial Release therapist.  Join us to be part of this important revolution in healthcare!

John