Tune Up

So yesterday I received what my dear friend April refers to as a "Tune Up". I was overdue by a very long shot.

Allow me to explain.

Immediately after graduating from massage school, I dove straight into working. I was hungry for experience, and even hungrier for income. A majority of my focus over the last year has been on work, work, and more work. I've come a long way for sure, but I've been neglecting something, or I should say someONE a little too much. I've been neglecting ME. More precisely, I've neglected my spirit. Now, that's not to say I've neglected my soul. I've certainly been in tune with what I need to do, and how to spend time with my family and with my Brian. But I haven't been doing things often enough to edify my spiritual side.

While going through the massage program, I was learning about Eastern bodywork and philosophies. I had been giving and receiving this type of bodywork on a regular basis, but then stopped after I graduated.

Well, it has caught up with me. In a big way.

I had been feeling that disconnect for quite a while. An imbalance. And it all came to a head over the last few days. A series of small events occurred, and I could no longer ignore that the universe, and my spirit were telling me something.

Enter, April.

April is very dear to me. We were Comrades in Massage school, and now we are both Teaching Assistants there...but more than that, we are friends. Yesterday I met with April, and she asked me what was going on. I attempted to tell her how I was feeling, but couldn't quite succeed without the tears falling. I told her how I just felt imbalanced. I could just FEEL all the bottled up "junk" I had inside me.

After talking for a bit, she and I settled on a session of Acupressure*, with a Chakra alignment**

.....a "Tune-Up".

Bingo! Perfect.

Before we began, April asked me to select crystals from her collection, so that she could include them in the session. Interestingly enough, I had selected the same type of crystals I used to carry around with me when I was younger.

Tiger's eye.

Amethyst.

Green Aventurine.

Smoky Quartz.

Malachite.

"We are old friends", I told April. Funny how we naturally regress when in need of comfort.

I relaxed into the massage table, closed my eyes, taking several deep breaths.

April proceeded to gently surround me with the crystals I'd selected.

What happened over the next hour was.....emotional, to say the least.

I felt my body melt.

I never once opened my eyes.

I knew I was in a safe place to battle out my little demons I'd been carrying and I struggled with my body to release them. They were those self-depleting thoughts and feelings. You know the ones. They can be a cancer....locking in, then spreading, and eventually seeping in to all you do.

Well, I came head to head with each of them.

I cried them out.

And with each gradual purge, I welcomed cleansing breath.

As the session came to a close, I felt RELIEF.

April and I exchanged our experience with the session, and there's no way to really go into that kind of depth...but it was beneficial for us both.

Later, I went home and slept. Ah, blissful sleep. When I woke, I felt lighter. I felt balanced.

I rummaged through some of my old things, and found that little pouch I used to wear in High School. I used it to carry my crystals or stones in it, as little reminders of the types of energy I needed for the day. I grabbed my amethyst, popped it in, and around my neck it went. At bedtime, I placed it under my pillow....and slept like a baby.

Today, I've been reflecting on that session, and I probably will for a while. One thing I know for sure is, I will not allow myself to go that long without acknowledging my spirit, and feeding it what it needs.

*http://www.acupressure.com/

**http://www.healinggateways.com/ChakraBalancing.shtml

Me.... L.M.T.

Yes. I'm here. I know it's been awhile...but I have good reason!

I returned from Australia in August, and dove straight into work. I started my new position at Arizona School of Massage Therapy (ASMT) as a "T.A." (Teaching Assistant to you lay-folk), and I love it. It's not the dream job in terms of income, but it's a dream to be teaching others a craft I fell in love with. It's been almost two years since I first step foot in that building, searching for a new career. It was symbolic of the fresh start I was looking for after my divorce. I had divorced not just my husband, but also a previous career that was inevitably toxic for me.

A few months of turmoil had been passing by, and I woke up one day, literally inspired to research the field of Massage. It had been something I was interested in for years. I had an old friend who attended the same school, but in Utah. After finishing the program, She came home to Arizona and moved in with my roommates and I for a month or so, until she could find a place of her own. During this short time, she shared with me what she had learned in the program. Free massages notwithstanding, I was fascinated. The variety of knowledge learned was astounding to me, just to be a MASSAGE THERAPIST??? Practical techniques, Eastern and Western philosophies, Anatomy and Physiology, Professional Development and Business practices, Thai-Chi, and many more subjects. I was especially interested in the fact that this friend of mine had so many options available to her. She could work in world-class spas, cruise lines, wellness/healthcare clinics, work with sports teams, or more interesting to me, own her own private practice. I was impressed by her motivation, and somewhat envious of the interesting things she had learned.

I did not however, decide that was my path at that time. I had already begun my journey to attain my Bachelors degree in Art History, and I was very determined to get that....so I continued on.

Anyhow, that was over 15 years ago, my introduction to Massage Therapy. Now, I am almost a full year into my Massage Career, and it's been a great ride. I feel empowered. I love the ability to market my skills as a Therapist however I please. I've been working part-time at The Healing Joint, working with an awesome Chiropractor, and high caliber Massage Therapists. I've learned many things, and have enjoyed a career that is fulfilling, helps others, and has a minimal stress level at best...(very important to me.) AND, as mentioned above, I began working at ASMT last August. It's an honor to me, to have been selected to assist in educating many others who walk into that building for the same or similar reasons I did. SEEKERS OF CHANGE and growth. I don't know where my career with ASMT will take me, but I do know for a certainty I am headed in the right direction.

As I write this, I happened to open my desk drawer for a pen, and caught a glimpse of a letter. This letter, I will always keep. In many ways it means more to me than my ASMT Massage Certificate.

Our class had been asked by our Professional Development instructor (The wonderful Mr. John Sanders---a plug to the man!) to write letters to ourselves, to be returned to us at the end of the program. I want to share it here....

9.23.09

Dear Amy,

CONGRATULATIONS! You made it. YAAAY!

It's been a long seven months, and an even longer year and a half. You've made some tough choices---some good, and some bad. Now, you are exactly where you want to be. How exciting is it, that now you have a purpose and a direction?!

Going to massage school is one of the best choices you've made. You followed your heart and intuition. You made INCREDIBLE friends---some who will forever remain in your life, and others who will drift off onto their own path.

You persevered, you pushed through. There were moments that were tough, times you thought you'd failed---but you learned how to calm yourself and tell yourself to step back and look at the bigger picture.

You reached out to others, and made yourself available to help where needed. You stepped out of your comfort zone---and went after a job you weren't even yet qualified for.

You came to know and understand yourself better...and as a result have a greater respect for yourself.

You helped yourself heal and learned how to forgive yourself.

You've become a better mother, friend, lover, and business owner...BECAUSE you've learned to respect yourself.

AMY---you CAN do it. You CAN succeed. You KNOW how to push through. You WILL go forward. You will be successful AND you will live your life with JOY.

Love yourself.

Be kind to yourself.

BE YOU.

Love,

Me. L.M.T.

:)

ps. You ROCK!

Always have.

Always will.

How To Be A Good Client

One word.

RELAX!

I can't tell you how many clients I've seen recently, (probably 8 out of 10), who come in for a session and cannot relax to save their lives. I know these are stressful times for us all, and I understand that our schedules tend to keep us away from things that are good for us....but for heaven's sake....PLEASE RELAX! You are visiting me for a reason, and it is for your health. Stress, injury, pain, discomfort...are all major complaints of clients I see. They want a massage to "take the pain away". Well, I am more than happy to do that. I WANT to do that. It's what I do, and frankly, I'm good at it. So, please let me do my job, but more importantly, allow yourself to do your part to acheive the best results from your session.

Need pointers? Here's a list....

1. Stop talking. If you need to chat for a minute, I understand, especially if massage is new to you. Please know that it's OK not to talk, in fact, it helps me to have it quiet, so I can better focus on how your body is responding to the work I'm trying to do.


2. Release the tension. Yes, that's my job, but you need to let go...literally. You must consciously release the tension of holding your muscles tight. I try to tell my clients to think of when a child goes "limp-noodle" on you---such as when you try to carry a two-year old, and they are throwing a fit because they don't want to be held, so they go completely limp, and slide through your arm like a sieve. Yep, like that. LET GO.


3. Ask Questions + Give Pointers. I know I said no talking, but what I meant was no chatting. Please ask me questions about what I'm doing, why that hurts, or what that bump is. More than likely, I will know the answer, and if I don't, I will get back to you with one. Also, don't be afraid to give me pointers...go ahead and tell me to linger in an area that feels like it needs more work. I won't know how something feels to you, unless you tell me.


4. Do your homework! Any good therapist will give you what we call "homework". Anything from "Drink lots of water today" (my personal favorite), or assigning specific stretches to do. There's a reason we ask you to do this, and it is for your own benefit and progression away from pain and discomfort.


5. Book your next appointment right away. I know what you are thinking....that I say that for my own benefit. And that is partially true. ;-) But it's more for you. You will walk out of the session, relaxed, and not wanting to commit to anything but some leisure time, and maybe a nap. You'll put off making the appointment...then before you know it, weeks have gone by, and the pain, stress, and tension are still there. Book it! You can always cancel it later. (24 hour notice is preferable.)


6. Continually strive for a healthy YOU. Noone is perfect, and we should never beat ourselves up for falling short. Just love yourself for what you can do, and keep going.

For a healthier you, try some of these. They aren't rocket science, but sometimes it's nice to get reminders:

• DRINK WATER. Soda depleats your body of vital nutrients and moisture.


• MEDITATE. I don't always have time for it, so I incorporate it into my bath/shower time. A few minutes with my eyes closed in silence, I relax into the heat of the water, and open my mind to my thoughts.


• STRETCH. Take a few minutes to stretch. The easiest time is in the evening in front of the TV. You may as well make that time productive.


• GO VEGGIE. If there's too much meat in your diet, then pick at least one day a week when all meals are vegetarian. Then, as time goes on, try to incorporate more veggie meals per week. You don't have to give up meat completely, but mixing it up will give you a more varied diet and better mix of nutrients.


• LAUGH. That one's self explainatory. Enjoy life, and all it's pleasures. This one happens to be free of charge, always makes you look good, tends to be contagious (in a good way), and is completely healthy for you.

To book a massage with Amy Marvin, please call:

480.495.3270