Day 181 - Draping to the Max (28 Days Left)

In the 80's, when I was in my formative years, there was a teen slang language known as "Valley Girl," which I believe came from debutantes in the San Fernando valley. One of the terms used during that time was "-adjective- to the max!" For example, "Grody to the max!"
Grody meant gross or dirty, usually.
Tonight, during Core class, we learned how to drape our client's gluteus muscles. I think I've talked about draping before, but it's basically using the sheet to uncover the body part to be massaged. We had gone over this about six months ago, but it's something that needs to be practiced in case one of our clients wants some glute work done without the sheet over top the glutes.
Plus, what other way would be more perfect to get newbies over any uncomfortability issues they have?
As I worked with a newbie tonight, I had him on the table first and he enjoyed the session I did with him. I also noticed that as he was the practitioner, he tried to emulate some of the strokes and moves I used. He's learning quickly that if you see or feel a stroke or move you like as a massage therapist, you steal it and use it on your own clients.
Now, about DS. He reminds me of my dad, especially since my dad was a MP in the Army and then later a police officer, I can really relate to DS. I have to refrain myself from calling him "Dad" on occasion. He tough and demands professionalism but on another side he seems like a gentle soul.
It makes me miss my dad all the more. It's been almost two years since he passed away, but that's another subject for another blog, especially since his death was one of the catalysts for me ending up in massage school.
I just realized, I never did share about my last day in student clinic. I thought it was going to be an easy peasy day and have WGH as my last client. But it didn't work out that way. I ended up having four clients, with three repeats and one new one. One of the repeats was WGH and the other two had requested me and they were from the previous week! My new client also had some health issues and I was familiar with that particular health issue and knew the kind of questions to ask to make sure that she had a safe and therapeutic massage session.
I think it was one of the best clinic days I had, actually. Besides the fact it was my last one.

Day 167 - Snow Path (50 Days Left)

This morning, we woke up to a lovely blanket of snow over our fair county and surrounding areas. It's lovely, anyway, until you have to shovel it and then drive in it. I spent 45 minutes shoveling our driveway this morning and digging out my car, making me 45 minutes late for the J-O-B. Oh well. Not too concerned there.
At the school, however, they didn't have classes during the day, but went ahead and had the evening classes, which meant there was confusion among the students and/or instructors about who was to be there.
As it turned out, due to said confusion, an instructor didn't show up, making our Pathology instructor go teach another class, in turn, making our class get combined (again) with another class in one of the smallest classrooms in the building.
Putting that many people in a small space and actually trying to teach them something is probably about as effective as putting an open can of tuna fish in front of a cat and not expect the cat to eat it.
I think all things considered, we ended up learning at least something and we were released at 9:30 so as to avoid any ice that may have frozen as a result of the water that had melted earlier in the day.
Over the weekend in clinic, I had four clients (yay me) and things went about as smoothly as they could, seeing as how the Director of Student Clinic was released from employment a couple weeks ago, the assistant that has given out clients was out at a funeral, and the Director of the Campus who had been running clinic had just quit last week. They got in a couple of the regular classroom instructors and had them do the best they could with running the clinic and by mid-afternoon on Saturday, I think they got their groove.
My last client looked like a 12 year old boy and when I picked him up in the waiting room, a young woman came with us. I asked if she was his mom, she giggled and said that she was his girlfriend. I didn't know what to think, but went about my duty and did my pre-massage interview and must have been a little flustered by the situation and didn't explain how to get onto the table well enough.
After two attempts, he was finally on the table, wearing his jeans and tank top and the sheet over top of him. I had let him know to "disrobe to his level of comfort," so I assumed that he wasn't comfortable taking off his clothes and worked over top his jeans to massage his legs. By the time I had him turn onto his stomach, he asked if it was ok to take off his tank top so I could work on his back.
All the while, the GF watched what I did.
He seemed to enjoy it from the feedback I got from him afterward.
I'm also guessing that this was his first massage.
I have two Student Clinics left, and it should be very interesting to see what they bring.

Day 163 - Are We There Yet? (58 Days To Go)

Over the weekend, during Student Clinic, I had the privilege of massaging a jogger, two nurses, and a cancer survivor with a great attitude and positive outlook. One of the nurses was a practicing massage therapist for awhile and then got into the nursing field.
I had something very interesting happen to me, too. While I was massaging the cancer survivor, as I do with other clients, I was praying over him while massaging him - for continued healing, strengthening his spiritual walk, and that sort of thing. After I closed and thanked him for allowing me to work with him, he thanked me for the "energy work" I did on him.
That took me back. Did he sense or feel my prayers? Did he know to whom I was praying?
One of the things that I have been somewhat concerned about during this whole program is the delving into Eastern philosophies, including medicines and religion. I can't say that I subscribe to the whole "energy" thing that some people may. However, if someone can sense that I'm praying for him or her, well, then I guess that's good because I believe that God can hear the prayers of His people - and will answer them.
Anyway, in tonight's class, to celebrate Valentines Day (NOT!), we discussed some things that we may run into either during clinic or when we have clients on our tables. Things like Somatic Emotional Release - which basically states that a client may become emotional (crying or excessive laughter) while receiving a massage as a result of a physical release from the massage. I almost experienced that myself last year about this time of year when I received the massage that inspired me to get into this whole program.
During that massage, I came very close to crying. I had experienced a rough year to year and a half, between deaths in the family and losing my long-time J-O-B, and I mark that massage as one of the the turning points in my emotional healing. Not to mention the new focus and direction for my career.
After that discussion, we took our final exam for this Core class. I went first as practitioner and earned a 94/100. Then I got to relax and let my partner do his thing and take his exam.

Day 162 - No Go (62 Days Left)

After I felt really great yesterday, I didn't feel well today, so I decided to stay home from school tonight t get some rest. Back at it on Saturday afternoon for Student Clinic.

A First or Two

For the first time, WGH came to clinic and not just dropped me off to pick me up later, but came later and I gave him a massage in "my" environment - student clinic, which is supposed to simulate a spa with "real" clients and such. He was last client of my shift and I have to say that I liked that. I didn't feel rushed like my client has to get out and go home or I have to get going because of time constraints or whatever.
Also, when giving out clients, our TA asked if of the therapists (student therapists) had cubicles side by side. I mentioned that the cubicle next to me was empty, so another student and I were assigned a mother and daughter, whom we could open up the curtain so they could be together. The other student and I agreed that it was a pretty cool experience doing that - tandem massages.

After my clinic shift, I was starving, so WGH and I decided to go check out the Sonic that we've just heard about recently. After a crispy chicken sammich, tator tots, and a vanilla malt, I was in a full food coma. Ahhhh.

Clinic - 12/18/2010

I had my last public clinic of 2010 this past Saturday. I have eight more to go before I'm done.
Because BSOM has been running 2-4-1 specials in the Balt-y-more Sun, clinic was packed with clients.
As soon as I walked in the room to say that I was ready, they were giving me another client. Wow! Certainly beats sitting there and waiting for clients. As a result, I had another clinic day working on four clients!
I was quite tired afterward, but knowing that I could come home and be done with school for two weeks was quite rewarding.
I'm celebrating being off school this week by taking a few massage appointments for friends/family after work this week.
Honestly, I don't know what I'd do with the extra time if I weren't taking appointments. Probably be on facebook or youtube watching cat videos all night. Like this one: Animals Singing Jingle Bells
On Sunday, after Christmas day, I'm leaving for a week vacation in the Outer Banks. I will not think about school or massages. At least giving them. Hehe. My plan is to maybe get one while I'm on vacation. Wouldn't that be great?!!?

Day 135 - Getting on My Nerve

Over the weekend, during clinic, I had four clients! I was tired after my shift, but I guess that's to be expected. My clients were quite pleasant, generally speaking.
One piece of advice, though. If you go get a massage, do the therapist a favor and bathe beforehand.
Thank you for your attention to this PSA.
In tonight's Pathology class, we learned more about abnormalities of the nervous system, both the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
I found my nervous system starting to shut down around 9:00 tonight, though. Maybe it was the howling wind and cold outside and the warmth inside. Not sure, but at least I was able to get my notes down as best as I could.
Now I shall go let my body go into a parasympathetic state.

Day 134 - Shiatsu, Please, With Feeling

In our Shiatsu class tonight, we practiced our protocols and reviewed for the final exam next week. Also, we had a visitor, Gina, one of the school staff, who had come around to tell us about the new program the school has: Honor Roll. In order to be eligible, students would have to meet the requirements of at least 97% attendance and at least a 3.7 GPA for that five week session. She even had certificates with her for the students who made Honor Roll during the October term. Several of my classmates got them, but there was not one for me. I thought this was rather strange, being as how I'm always there and I have an overall GPA of 4.0. Oh, have I not bragged about that before? Let me now. I have a 4.0!
I gave her a puzzled look as she was walking out the door and she realized that what I was saying was, "where's mine?" She told the class that if anybody feels they deserve one but didn't get one, come see her. Well, don't you know that on the first break, I went to see her. I don't really care about the Honor Roll, but I do care about principle. The principle that says that I meet the requirements for it, and therefore, I should have gotten one. When she looked at my grades and attendance, she agreed, but apparently, not all of my grades have been turned in for clinic. Yes, we are graded for clinic.
Let's see, the session was mostly for October and early part of November, and it's now a month later. Is that not enough time to turn in grades?
Sorry, I didn't mean to sound snarky.
Well, yeah. Maybe I did.
Anyway, long story short: she'll be printing me out a certificate saying that I'm on the Honor Roll.
Now...who will be on the Ornery Roll?

Day 126 - Flowing Like The Nile

Saturday afternoon's clinic seemed to be a bit slower than they have been. My guess is that many people were either out of town for Thanksgiving weekend or they were out Christmas shopping. Either way, there weren't as many clients this past weekend. Well, my Shiatsu partner and I got to practice shiatsu stuff on each other during a student exchange.
One of the clients I got to work on was a weight lifter, so his muscles just stuck out and said, "Hey! Massage me!" So I did.
Now, onto tonight's class. My partner and I have been working on our protocol and I gotta say - it flows like the Nile. We have certain moves that we have to do and we have been working on how to transition to the next move. It's been working out very well. I'll get it all typed up tonight or tomorrow and we'll be rockin' an' rollin'.
On another note, over the long weekend, I watched one of the things WGH had DVR'ed from last week: The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now. I have to say that I was inspired. So much so that yesterday morning, I did a 15 minute yoga routine and then took a 30 minute walk. This morning, I got up and did the same 15 minute yogo routine and took walks during each of my 15 minute breaks at work today. I'm not saying that I'm going to lose a bunch of weight, or any at all, but I know that I need to be way more physically active than I am now. With the exception of a few things I do for classes or clinic, I've been very sedentary and I'm really starting to feel the effects of that. So...I'm trying to find ways to at least incorporate some sort of activity into my routine.

Day 123 - Extra Movin' and Groovin'

I do actually WANT to update after my shift in student clinic, but actually, I'm either too tired or too lazy. It could be either. During this past weekend, I worked the Saturday afternoon shift, where there aren't as many student therapists so we were all quite busy with taking clients. I actually worked with four clients and did no student exchanges during this shift.
Oddly enough, two of the clients asked me specifically to work on their abdomen, which is not something that I automatically included in the massages I have been giving. Another different thing is that I had all women for clients this time.
As far as class goes for tonight, I had shiatsu class in which we learned about the back and various meridians and points associated with it, including the energy path that runs along WGH's favorite place - the lamina groove. We also learned extra moves for the posterior side and all sorts of other stretches. I just practiced a couple of them on WGH. He's a good sport.
My partner and I have our final assignment/protocol started. Now, we just have to get it typed up and formatted with the right flow and that sort of thing. And practice it. Well, that will definitely take some time.

Day 119 - Shiatsu! God Bless You!

Class

Many moons ago when I worked at the old J-O-B, one of the neighbor companies in the office park was named "Otsuka." When my sister and I carpooled together, I asked her one time as we drove by the building, "What does that say?"
She replied, "Ott-soo-kaa."
So I responded, "God bless you," as if she had sneezed.
That's what the name sounded like to me.
A sneeze.
And that's what Shiatsu sounds like to me as well. However, unlike the Japanese pharmaceutical company, Shiatsu is a Japanese word that means "finger pressure," and we are studying this in class for the next five weeks. It's another modality, like acupressure, that is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. And you may remember how much fun I had with acupressure. I will say this, though. I can see me probably using this more than I will acupressure.
In tonight's class, we got a short lecture on what shiatsu is and then we got a demonstration of it. We also got to try a couple stretching things on our partner as well. In the next five weeks, we'll also be creating our own protocol to use on a client that my partner and I create. No, that is not a dangling modifier. We get to "create a client" with ailments and imbalances that can be helped by Shiatsu.
I think I'm looking forward to this class. At the very least, it will help me with my flexibility.
Things to remember for Shiatsu:

1. Yoga mat or really big thick mat (a mattress would be great, but my be bulky to carry into class)
2. Wash feet and change socks before going to school
3. Wear loose, comfortable pants, preferably sweats. Hello Kitty pajama bottoms could be fun, too.
4. Don't eat beans the day before or the day of Shiatsu class
5. Make sure to take care of any rest room needs before practicing

Clinic

In other news, I had my fourth (and final for this session) student clinic shift this past Saturday. My first client wanted deep pressure, but not on his back. Nothing on his back. The next hour, I got to receive a student exchange. As much as giving is good experience for me, receiving from another student is also good to pick up other ideas and have reminders about strokes and speed and that sort of thing. In the third session, I performed a student exchange. For the fourth and final session of the day, I had a young lady client who enjoyed her massage so much, she tried to give me a tip. I told her that I couldn't accept cash, but even more important to me now is a student evaluation feedback form.
From this week until the end of student clinic, I will be taking the Saturday afternoon shift, which means I won't be getting home until about 7:00pm.
Short term sacrifice for my long term goal...

Day 108 - International Delights

As I have discussed previously, I am in a Russian Sports Massage class. Interestingly enough, we aren't learning Russian words, but using the same French words we have learned for Core class: Effleurage and Petrissage. I feel very international now.
In tonight's class, we went over what sort of Petrissage we'll be using in Russian Sports Massage, the different strokes we'll be using, and whether we are pushing or pulling the muscle.
Also in class, we discussed how things went over the weekend in student clinic. There seems to be a consensus that the clinic doesn't have a lot of organization nor communication. (ie - there was a lot of complaining about not knowing where to go at first) I'm just trying to stay of the mind like one of my classmates: just go, do the massages assigned to me, and get the experience.

Clinic, Day 1

I got up EARLY on a Saturday morning, after going to bed at 10:00 on a Friday night. Man, how is that for getting older?
I got up at 6:45, got ready, had some cawfie, breakfast, and left around 7:50, arriving just after 8:30 for my first day of student clinic. KB, our clinic director, paired another classmate and I up with a "mentor" to show us the ropes on getting linens, lotion, and clients. After getting my "cubicle" set up, with nervous excitement, I went and got my first client, who was a man who appeared to be a little older than myself and said he was a "good guinea pig." I got the massage started and a couple pieces of equipment in my cubicle didn't work they way they were supposed to, like the head rest and stand-up lamp that became the leaning lamp of Pisa. But, I got through it, and after 50 minutes, I closed and escorted him back to the "station," where he completed his evaluation on me.
During the second session, there were no clients left, so I participated in a student exchange by having a couple classmates give me a chair massage. It was rough, I tell you. (/sarcasm) Actually, it was just what I needed to help me get through to the end of the shift.
During the third shift, I got the name of a client, but she was not in the room anytime I went to get her, so I just did a student exchange with another classmate in which I was the practitioner.
I finally got a client during the fourth session, who really only wanted her back done. For 50 minutes.
Well, let's just say that I improvised a lot.
I asked if she wanted her feet done (to at least give me some rest from the back), and she did, so I worked on her feet for about 5-10 minutes each. I pulled out all my techniques for feet, and during the evaluation, that did not come back void. She loved the foot massage! Yay!
During the times where I didn't have "clients," I signed up for getting a facial after my shift ended. After I signed out, I treated myself to getting a facial from another student. What a great decision! Not only has my face been exfoliated, but it calmed me down from a morning of nervousness, chaos, and general "not-knowing-what-to-expect."
When I got home, I became a vegetable on the couch for a little bit then the hubby and I went clothes shopping. What fun!

Day 103 Core Being

On Day 103, we took our final exam for this week's Core class. It was pretty much simple and straight-forward: come in, get the table set up, get on the table, get massaged for 50 minutes, get off the table, clean the table up, reset the table, have my partner get on the table, do a massage for 50 minutes and the instructor comes around and asks to see a couple strokes. Pretty simple.
Enough to earn me 99 points out of 100 for the exam! Yay!
I do have to say that my partner was not having a very good day, but I am so impressed with her that she was able to lay all of that aside and give me a great massage! She was truly "in the moment" which is what "beingness" is all about.
After the exam was over, we were free to go, and it was a bit earlier than usual, so that was quite exciting. A classmate and I ended up crashing at another classmate's house and we enjoyed the rest of the evening hanging out.
This morning, we got up and went to our Student Clinic orientation so we know what's expected of us for this portion of our education. It's going to be a gruelling six months. So the question is, should I count clinic in my "day count"? If so, we're talking Day 104.
In other news, since WGH and I end up driving about 200 miles between work and school each day, we purchased a "commuter car" that will be less of a hit to our pockets for gas. He took off yesterday to get it legal to drive with registering and such, so I got the chance to drive it to school last night and then home again this afternoon. It's a 1995 Geo Prizm, a smaller car than what I'm used to, and it actually does pretty well. What was really fun was filling the gas tank and it only took $25.00. I've driven 100 miles on it since filling it up and it was on about 3/4 tank. So, I think this is going to be a great thing for us in saving a little bit of dough, between gas and maintenance costs on the two other (bigger) cars.

Day 94 - Got My Sentence

I figured it out yesterday. Between work and school, I think I'm gone from the house about 60ish hours a week. Wow!
Tonight, I got my schedule for Student Clinic beginning October 16th. For the most part, I'll be there Saturday's from 1:30 until 6:00. So, my 60ish hours, will be jumping to 65 hours.
And I wonder why I impersonate slugs on Sunday's. (/sarcasm)
We also had Pathology class, where we learned the importance of nutrition and more information on how to take SOAP notes. SOAP stands for "Subjective, Objective, Assessment/Action, and Plan. It's a way that we can keep notes on our clients and track their progress through their therapy. Yes, we even keep notes on people who are just there for basic relaxation. I think even doctors take a version of SOAP notes, too. Theirs are probably illegible. Mine probably are, too.