Back in the day, my dad served in the US Army. According to Mom, he went through boot camp three or four times, due to re-enlisting after being discharged. I guess that's the way they did it. He served in Korea, Okinawa, and Vietnam in the Big Red One. He repaired helicopters. At any rate, I'm sure he dealt with his share of drill Sargents. He even became a police officer after he got out of the Army for the last time. I guess he got used to serving in uniform.
What does that have to do with massage school?
We had another substitute tonight for class. An older gentleman who is a retired Maryland State Trooper. I guess it was after he retired that he became a Licensed Massage Therapist. I definitely liked him. He reminded me A BUNCH of my dad. Gentle and caring, but you can definitely see the disciplined and tough character underneath. He even resembled my dad a bit, with a couple of the same mannerisms. This guy, though, was a straight-shooter. Dad, was more of a guy that held back a lot of what he was thinking and feeling...at least BEFORE he had the stroke. Afterward, well, if you're missing hair, he'd be sure to tell you about it.
Now I'm picturing my dad as a Massage Therapist, and that is quite the mental picture.
For lecture tonight, we learned about a holistic approach to health and the client/therapist relationship. During the bodywork, we had a 50 point evaluation done by the drill Sargent. I ended up with 43 points, so I can see where I need improvement. My partner was a tiny little young woman, so I was afraid I would break her in half if I really did some of the deep tissue work of which I'm capable. I did get some things accomplished, I think, but he noticed my hesitation about the deepness of the work on my partner. Well, of the folks I've been practicing on here at my house may tell you, I don't shy away from deep tissue - and really leaning into it. If only I could get graded on what I do here. *sigh*
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Day 72 - Is It Boundry or Boundary?
The homework assignment that was due tonight and took me four hours in the initial pass was regarding Therapeutic Boundaries. Yes, it took me four hours to answer 14 questions. And then I probably spent another half hour or hour reworking some of my answers to the questions. After handing in our homework, we went over some possible answers to these questions. Very interesting, indeed.
During bodywork, the music playing was an Enya CD. My partner apparently doesn't like Enya. When he was on the table, he was twitching like the music gave him convulsions or something. This is the same classmate I have that we joke around about our "personal space" and then proceed to place a hand on the other person's side of the table...possibly even on their book - a direct invasion of personal space.
Keeping it fun, folks. Keeping it fun.
During bodywork, the music playing was an Enya CD. My partner apparently doesn't like Enya. When he was on the table, he was twitching like the music gave him convulsions or something. This is the same classmate I have that we joke around about our "personal space" and then proceed to place a hand on the other person's side of the table...possibly even on their book - a direct invasion of personal space.
Keeping it fun, folks. Keeping it fun.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Day 71 - Face It!
I think the last body part we were to learn for Massage Variations class if the head, neck, and face. Watch - after I say that, we'll probably have some obsure body part to learn. But I think that's it...I don't really know what we'll be going over after this, but hey, I'm sure it will be fun.
We learned that we should actually ask somebody if they want their face worked on because she might be wearing make-up or maybe painted her eyebrows on and it takes a lot of time to do that and she wouldn't want us messing it up. Of course, we find out about asking AFTER I've already been massaging people's face. Well, hopefully, I'll remember to ask.
After learning all the body parts so far, my favorite places I like having massaged: glutes and feet. If it's done right, my quadriceps. Oh, I guess my back, too. And my neck. My arms like attention, too.
Umm...I think I pretty much named everything. So...I like it all, but especially the glutes and feet.
I wonder what we'll learn tomorrow night. I wonder if it will involve bones.
We learned that we should actually ask somebody if they want their face worked on because she might be wearing make-up or maybe painted her eyebrows on and it takes a lot of time to do that and she wouldn't want us messing it up. Of course, we find out about asking AFTER I've already been massaging people's face. Well, hopefully, I'll remember to ask.
After learning all the body parts so far, my favorite places I like having massaged: glutes and feet. If it's done right, my quadriceps. Oh, I guess my back, too. And my neck. My arms like attention, too.
Umm...I think I pretty much named everything. So...I like it all, but especially the glutes and feet.
I wonder what we'll learn tomorrow night. I wonder if it will involve bones.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Day 70 - Abby-normal?
In session six of our Massage Variations class, we learned about the anterior upper torso - basically, the arms, hands chest, and abdomen. Because of certain "delicate" areas, there are special ways of draping the client, particularly female clients. So we got to learn and practice all of that. Obviously, the chest doesn't get massaged all over, and the abdomen has a certain protocol to promote good digestive function. Yes, it's a good thing to hear a client's stomach growling/gurgling. That means that what we're doing is effective.
Whenever there are an uneven number of students in class, the one student who doesn't have a partner will join another "team" and two students will work on one student so all can practice. Unfortunately, that means that one doesn't get treatment that particular night. In tonight's class, a classmate joined my partner and I and I was the "unfortunate" student that had two people practicing on me at one time, which can be called a 4-handed massage. At one point, both of my hands were being massaged, and I gotta say, it was awesome!
Whenever there are an uneven number of students in class, the one student who doesn't have a partner will join another "team" and two students will work on one student so all can practice. Unfortunately, that means that one doesn't get treatment that particular night. In tonight's class, a classmate joined my partner and I and I was the "unfortunate" student that had two people practicing on me at one time, which can be called a 4-handed massage. At one point, both of my hands were being massaged, and I gotta say, it was awesome!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Day 69 - Ante Up
Mondays are tough. After a nice relaxing weekend, having to get up for the J-O-B is just - well - TOUGH! But I made it through today at work and then got to go to class, where our regular teacher was sick. Our TA stepped up to the plate, and despite being thrown into it, did a really good job. In some ways, better than the other substitute experiences we've had in our class.
At any rate, we learned more about the muscle structure and dimensional relationships of the anterior lower limbs, including the feet. Basically, we did the front of the leg and the feet. We learned that really paying attention to the feet and the knees means a lot to our clients, which in turn could mean a nice tip. ;-)
When we practiced the bodywork, my partner really paid attention to my feet and by the time he was on my second leg, I was totally zoned out. Not asleep, but totally zoned. When I started to get myself together to begin bodywork on my partner, our TA said I looked like I had "massage after glow." Oh yeah...I was zoned.
Thank you, sir, may I have another?
At any rate, we learned more about the muscle structure and dimensional relationships of the anterior lower limbs, including the feet. Basically, we did the front of the leg and the feet. We learned that really paying attention to the feet and the knees means a lot to our clients, which in turn could mean a nice tip. ;-)
When we practiced the bodywork, my partner really paid attention to my feet and by the time he was on my second leg, I was totally zoned out. Not asleep, but totally zoned. When I started to get myself together to begin bodywork on my partner, our TA said I looked like I had "massage after glow." Oh yeah...I was zoned.
Thank you, sir, may I have another?
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Day 68 - Gluteus to the Max!
The first time I got a massage, I totally did not know what to expect, and the therapist started massaging my gluteal muscles, but at the time, all I could think was, "She's massaging my butt," and the discomfort that came from worrying about what my butt looks like - too big, too white...well, you get the picture. Actually, I hope you don't get the picture, 'cause then you'd be picturing my bare butt.
At any rate - back to our regularly scheduled programming - after my initial discomfort, the butt massage (gluteal massage) felt really stinkin' good because all those muscles that work constantly want a little attention.
In our variations class this evening, we learned more about treating the glutes, hamstrings, piriformis, soleus, and other muscles that comprise the posterior leg and backside. We learned how to effectively "drape" the person on the table to make them feel as secure as possible with their cheek exposed and another technique for helping relieve some sciatic pain. Then, of course, we had to practice on each other.
The past week or so, I'd been feeling some soreness (pain, actually) on my left posterior thigh, which I told my partner about. She worked at it for a few minutes and after the session ended, I did not feel that soreness as acutely as I previously did.
Yeah, I guess you could say that I enjoyed class tonight.
At any rate - back to our regularly scheduled programming - after my initial discomfort, the butt massage (gluteal massage) felt really stinkin' good because all those muscles that work constantly want a little attention.
In our variations class this evening, we learned more about treating the glutes, hamstrings, piriformis, soleus, and other muscles that comprise the posterior leg and backside. We learned how to effectively "drape" the person on the table to make them feel as secure as possible with their cheek exposed and another technique for helping relieve some sciatic pain. Then, of course, we had to practice on each other.
The past week or so, I'd been feeling some soreness (pain, actually) on my left posterior thigh, which I told my partner about. She worked at it for a few minutes and after the session ended, I did not feel that soreness as acutely as I previously did.
Yeah, I guess you could say that I enjoyed class tonight.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Day 67 - Artistic License
Artists are a different breed of people. I have many artist friends, and in some ways, consider myself an artist. And yes, we're - uh - different.
But what does that have to do with massage?
During tonight's class, we learned about the muscle's in the back. Oh sure, you can look at a picture of "Big Red" - the anatomical man with all his muscles. Or you can do our our teacher did - draw the muscles on a volunteer classmate. Using China Markers (which are so cool - almost as cool as Sharpies), our artistic teacher drew the boney landmarks (spine, spine of scapula, etc) in black and then drew where the attaching muscles "flow" on our classmate's back. It's kinda cool when you see it in that perspective. It will definitely help me remember it!
Then, we had to practice more massage, putting into practice what we learned about the flow of muscles. It's pretty rough, ya know. Going to class, getting massages.
Really rough.
Really.
But what does that have to do with massage?
During tonight's class, we learned about the muscle's in the back. Oh sure, you can look at a picture of "Big Red" - the anatomical man with all his muscles. Or you can do our our teacher did - draw the muscles on a volunteer classmate. Using China Markers (which are so cool - almost as cool as Sharpies), our artistic teacher drew the boney landmarks (spine, spine of scapula, etc) in black and then drew where the attaching muscles "flow" on our classmate's back. It's kinda cool when you see it in that perspective. It will definitely help me remember it!
Then, we had to practice more massage, putting into practice what we learned about the flow of muscles. It's pretty rough, ya know. Going to class, getting massages.
Really rough.
Really.
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