When a client should cancel an appointment and flu shots...

10-17-2018

The day of your massage has finally arrived and are are more the ready to slip away from the craziness of the world into the little cocoon in my studio.  The only problem is that you have come down with something: a cough, cold, fever or other contagious issue.  You really want the body work but are not sure you should keep the appointment.

Any of these mentioned illnesses are reason to cancel and reschedule your appointment.  Coughs and colds are not pleasant to deal with on the table for both the client and the therapist.  As a therapist, it is really hard to massage someone who is constantly coughing or needing to blow their nose.  More importantly, while I clean my table and replace massage sheets between clients, a client's constant coughing can spread germs to both myself and future clients.  The same can be said for any contagious disease.  Today, I had a client rebook due to developing Pink Eye.  While some see this perhaps as a small issue, it is highly contagious.  I am thankful that she took the initiative to rebook and not expose me or other clients to this issue.

I live in a county that has a high percentage of people who chose to not vaccinate.  This is something I choose to do.  As a bodywork, it is important for me to protect myself from various illnesses as well as protect my clients as well.  I also chose to get a flu shot each year.  The Flu, along with many other ailments, are generally contagious prior to symptoms appearing.  Because of this, it is important for me to not only protect myself, but lessen the chance that I pass something on to someone else.  It is a two way street.  If you are not feeling your best, or feel like you are coming down with a cold or the flu, a massage will not work to your benefit anyway.  Sometimes they can spur the onset and actually make you feel worse.  The best thing to do is to go home and rest and push fluids.

(knock, knock) That's me knocking on wood and hoping I have not invited the crude to my doorstop.

May you all stay well this fall and winter.

Jen

Biking Across Kansas and other things

October 9, 2018

This past June, I spent my 6th year providing bodywork for Biking Across Kansas (BAK).  THIS was exactly why I went in to bodywork - to provide massage therapy for athletes.

Providing bodywork for events like BAK is exhausting, yet rewarding work.  The days are long and jam packed.  A typical day for us on BAK begins at noon and goes until 10 pm with little to no breaks (unless you schedule them in).  The primary role we play is to keep the cyclists injury/pain free so they can complete their journey across the state.

The realization is that some of these folks come to BAK with prior injuries/issues, some may not have trained enough (or at all) and some may not have any business riding on a two lane highway with truck traffic.  At any rate, they end up at my table in an effort to be pain free or stay pain free so they may continue their quest.

Each year, as I prepare for BAK, I familiarize myself with where my "Scope of Practice" begins and ends.  I fortunately wear a few professional hats: Licensed Bodyworker, Exercise Physiologist, Certified First Aid/CPR.  Because if this, I can meet people and discuss and prescribe at a different level than most therapist.  Interestingly, this isn't the case with all bodyworkers.  I have been witness to bodyworkers who work far outside of the scope of practice.  What is interesting is that people listen.  People assume that you are the expert and know what you are doing.  My advice to people is to fully check out the person before you succomb to their work.   What is their education (and continuing education), certifications and reviews?  Having worked in Kansas for many years as a therapist, I educated people all the time.  Kansas still does not recognize massage therapy as a profession.  Therefore, there are no standards such as the need for a certificate, state or national certification, ethics, safety and sanitation.  I have literally seen massage situations that gross me out due to unsanitary conditions and yet people were lined up for bodywork.

So, my parting words to you are:  Where ever you receive bodywork, seek out the bio of the therapist, chat with them prior to scheduling a session and with a discerning eye, read their reviews.

Carry on, folk!

Deep Tissue

May 18, 2018

Deep Tissue is somewhat of a sore subject with me.  All punning aside, there are rare moments when I recommend that someone receives deep tissue bodywork.  “But it feels so good”,  replies nearly every client who likes this form of bodywork.  I will agree.  If you like the feel of deep tissue, it is awesome.  Hewever, with most, if not all, of these clients, they need an entirely different form of bodywork - one that will actually address the issue as to why they need bodywork in the first place.  Unfortunately, deep tissue will not give them lasting results.

Clients who show up with pain, limited range of motion, stiffness and soreness, generally have something else going on that most likely involves the fascial tisure.  Fascia, in a nutshell, is incredibly strong connective tissue that is abundant in your body.  It’s literally everywhere: head to toe, just under the surface to deep within the body.  What is also unique about fascia is that one is connected throughout the body by the fascial web. Since fascia is so strong, it has a built in defense mechanism.  If it perceives that it will be injured (stretched to forcefully, for example), it will shut down.  Because of this, massage and deep tissue have very little impact on changing the fascia structure.  Enter in Myofascial Release (MFR).  I typically defined MFR to my first time clients as the complete opposite of massage/deep tissue but with far better results. A question I often ask them is would they rather be pain free for a few hours or for a longer period of time?  The answer is sort of a no-brainer.  Of course they would like to be pain free for a longer period of time.

Some clients fall head over heels in love with what they experience through MFR while a small number “just want to lay there and relax and feel good for the moment (just massage me...it feels better).  Again, we revisit what their goals are for the session (be pain free, have greater range of motion, less stiffness, etc)...but ultimately the decision is up to the client.

So, I ask of you, what are your goals?  Do you want to feel good for the moment or do you really want to work at living pain free, having a greater range of motion, and less stiffness?  The choice is yours to make. Having been a massage therapy for 10 years and an MFR therapist for over three years, I can tell you that I have seen almost unbelievable results with MFR that do not come close to equalling anything from the massage world.  It is literally my “go to” therapy and is highly recommended for my athletes.

So, don’t be surprised if you show up seeking deep tissue and I have a little talk about the benefits of MFR over deep tissue.  I want the best for you...but, alas, the ultimate decision is yours.

Personalized Therapy Sessions

First, and foremost, as an exercise physiologist, educator and coach, my role has always been to help people to become the healthiest versions of themselves.  This means helping each person figure out what this means and helping them strive toward that goal.

This is no different in my role as a bodyworker.  When you walk in my studio door, you will be asked what your goal is for the session.  Sometimes the goals are short term, however, most have long term implications.  Following your session, we will check in as to how that goal was met and what this means for the future in terms of bodywork.  Clients also have access to me post sessions in the event they have questions - a perk most therapist avoid.

Most therapists would use this opportunity to book you right away for your next session or perhaps sell you a series of sessions.  This is where my approach is different.  I want you to know how your body feels and realize when it is ready for more bodywork (and before the need is great).  Being in tune with your body is key and is a sense that many people work hard to not feel.  I also respect where people are at financially.  Most people do not have discretionary money sitting around to be spent and that becomes even more challenging as people retire.  As we discuss your long term goals, we will keep all of this in mind and the decision will be up to you.  

What this boils down to is that each session is specific to you rather than a cookie cutter approach to bodywork.

That's it.  Have a great day!

Jen