Therapy by Alice 
From Daily Om
Posted on May 18, 2023 Leave a Comment
Accepting Compliments
When we willingly accept compliments, we are reminded that others see us through different eyes.
Many of us find it difficult to accept compliments but easy to believe the slightest criticism. Today, right now, let’s make a choice to fully accept compliments as we would a gift. Sincere compliments are gifts of praise. They are kudos given for wise choices or accomplishments or perhaps for just letting your light shine. There is no reason not to accept the gift of a kind word, but some of us argue against them, even giving reasons why they aren’t true.
If we visualize the energy of a compliment, we would see beautiful, shining, positive energy being sent from the giver. That energy, if accepted graciously, would brighten our personal energy field. Our gratitude then returns to the giver as warm, fuzzy, glowing energy, completing an even circuit of good feelings. But if we reject a compliment, what could have been a beautiful exchange becomes awkward and uncomfortable, making it a negative experience instead. Misplaced modesty can ruin the joy of sharing this connection with another person. But we can accept a compliment and still be modest by simply saying “thank you.” However, if compliments are rejected due to a lack of self-esteem, then the first step would be to start believing good things about yourself. Try giving yourself compliments in the mirror. Beyond the initial feelings of silliness, you will notice how good it feels and can watch the smile it puts on your face. The next step would be to see how it feels to give compliments to others. Notice how great you feel when you’ve made another person’s face brighten and how differently you feel when the gift you’ve offered is rejected. Having experienced all sides, you will be ready to play along fully and willingly.
We are our harshest critics. When we accept compliments, we are reminded that others see us through different eyes. All living beings crave positive attention, and we all deserve to have positive energy shared with us. Perhaps if we happily and gratefully accept compliments, we will give others permission to do so as well.
Defining Success
Posted on April 20, 2023 Leave a Comment
When have you felt most fulfilled and satisfied? What have you done in your life that filled you with a sense of purpose? When have you decided to be or do something solely for someone else, and what were the effects that had on you? Of everything you’ve built and done in your life, what are you most proud of? Have you ever thought an achievement wasn’t worth the sacrifice? Whose opinions matter most to you, and why? Have you ever made a decision for the benefit of your image in others’ eyes? How did that turn out? Was there any joy, and if so, how long did it last?
What’s the worst that can happen ?
Morning rituals
Posted on April 4, 2023 Leave a Comment
What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?
I am slow to rise. I check Facebook and pay bills, write notes, etc. i sometimes watch the news
I should be getting out and riding my horses. Or perhaps exercising.
New Techiniques
Posted on March 10, 2023 Leave a Comment
What is the last thing you learned?
I recently learned how to fix a sacral iliac jam as well as resetting the t/l junction in the back. I have been in pain for several days and nothing was helping. All it took was for me to relax and my husband to firmly grab
What I do for Fun!
Posted on March 6, 2023 Leave a Comment
This weekend I went to the Land Heritage institute to ride in a NATRC competition. My mare had never done this distance or speed before but she was great!. I was super impressed with her both days. She is becoming more fit. We have some back soreness to overcome, but I’m sure we will get it sorted it out.
Facebook page hacked
Posted on February 26, 2023 Leave a Comment
Hopefully this content will go on the page. My adagio music therapy page on FB has been hacked and I have been removed as admin. I’m trying to get it back. This is really annoying and inconvenient since they also hacked Stormy’s page and Michael’s Perryman Septic page. For now don’t contact me via my page as I won’t be able to respond.
Back Trouble
Posted on February 22, 2023 Leave a Comment
I have long felt very blessed that while my friends and family have occasionally had debilitating back pain I have always managed to avoid it. I’m not talking about the kind of pain I get after riding a horse for too long or falling off of a horse or even doing too many massages in a day. I am talking about pain that comes out of nowhere and stops you in your tracks.
This pain has been creeping up on me for a while I’m not sure what made it start currently but it originated when I got knocked over in the pasture several years ago. When stormy was young , she knocked me over in the pasture when another horse frightened her. At that time I went to the doctor and discovered that I had several compression fractures in my lumbar spine. With rest, massage and Chiropractic I healed relatively quickly. And, I was good until last spring when I had to discharges from her back within a week of each other. For the last year the pain has been managed with Chiropractic and massage and I have fared pretty well. Until a few weeks ago when I came off of Paladin when he spooked at C-bar stables. I have had several massages and Chiropractic treatments in that time period and thought I was doing okay until we had a nice storm. Then I got out of schedule and I have yet to kick the and I have yet to kick the chronic pain. I do go back to the chiropractor tomorrow and I am hoping to and I am hoping to also get in with the massage therapist sometime next week.
On Monday the pain became so bad that I finally went to the actual doctor. She determined that I was having spasms and probably have developed some arthritis in the bones where I the bones where I had the fractures a few years ago. Mostly I went to the doctor because I feel like I need some physical therapy to get over this. I am waiting for my referral to go to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Sports Medicine Clinic. They have a physical therapist here in Gatesville , however I feel like I need somebody who specializes in people who are still moving and active. I also have an RX for muscle relaxants and I have been alternating heat and cold as well as doing my stretches. I have bought several classes on the website dailyom.com and have been doing some of the pelvic reset exercises. I am not sure how long before I will feel relief. I had a riding lesson scheduled for today with Greg dial and had to cancel it because I am still hurting so badly. I’ve only had the medication since yesterday evening so I think it is still trying to work its magic. I also was unable to see clients yesterday or today which makes me pretty sad because that means in a few weeks I will be pretty broke. And, more importantly comma it means my clients are not getting the attention they deserve.
I am wondering if anyone here can help me with my back pain. If anyone has tips or tricks I will take them. It is primarily my lower back and I am pretty sure my psoas as and other hip flexors are involved in the pain since it hurts since it hurts all the way down the inside of my leg. I have been doing a lot of pigeon and high and low lunge to stretch out the hip flexors. I also got a Nifty little device to work on the pressure points in my lower back, glutes , psoas. So far nothing has brought release or relief. I if he had any advice for me and he did not. I am looking for something to relieve this pain immediately and make it stay gone forever.
The funny thing is I felt fantastic after I got done riding this weekend. When I got off of Stormy on Sunday afternoon I had not felt that little pain in a while my back felt great and my legs were not sore at all. When I went to the doctor yesterday, I did realize that part of the reason I had felt when I went to the doctor yesterday, I did realize that part of the reason I had felt good the last few weeks in spite of my unplanned Dismount, was because I had been taking steroids for my cough that hadn’t gone away since I had covid. Apparently the steroids were taking away some of the inflammation and pain in my back. The weather has been beautiful this week and I have been stuck on the the weather has been beautiful this week and I have been stuck on the couch or the weather has been beautiful this week and I have been stuck on the couch or in the bed with a heating pad and painkillers. Even though it’s killing me I have wondered if Riding would make it feel better.
I do have a lesson scheduled for Saturday that I will go to come hell or high water. It is with Megan Kenny and she does work in biomechanics. I am hopeful that she can help me figure out what I am doing in the saddle that is causing me so much pain. I will most likely take Stormy because she is the most comfortable and the horse I am riding the most.
The other funny thing is the other funny thing is that if one of my clients came to me with this pain I could help them fix it but I don’t seem to be able to fix it on myself.
The Mystery Of Your Gift
Posted on February 21, 2023 Leave a Comment
I have been fascinated with the song. I just love it. What do you think? Does it give you anything to think about? I find it to be open enough to come up with your own answers and I would love to hear what you think.
https://open.spotify.com/track/31gfyjzYE2NsNmEZyndFTg?si=o1QES51tRQe4A8dzZ74yEA
Keeping Massage Fresh For Longtime Clients
Posted on January 25, 2023 Leave a Comment
KEEPING MASSAGE FRESH FOR LONGTIME CLIENTS
09/22/2022
By Allissa Haines
For many massage businesses, a schedule full of regular clients is a goal. It’s rewarding to work with people who value massage as part of their regular physical and mental health care. And it’s fulfilling to see clients often as they move through various phases of life.
When I was a new therapist, my first pediatric client was a 9-year-old swimmer. I got a little choked up the first time she drove herself to her appointment, and now she comes for a massage whenever she’s visiting home from her job overseas. Along with the warm fuzziness, there can be a downside to a schedule full of clients we’ve known for years: We can get a little bored and stagnant with our massage work, and so can our clients.
As much as we want massage therapy to be a routine, we also want it to be an intentional choice every visit because of the client’s love of the service and our care to always meet the client’s (changing) needs.
CHANGE ISN’T FOR EVERYONE
When I added a new move to my massage, it involved a significantly different draping technique—undraping a whole side of the body at once, from the shoulder to the toes. The first time I tried it, the client tensed up right away. I realized my mistake immediately. Now, I always ask if I can try a new move before the massage, demonstrating how I will fold the draping back, and clients love the move.
It was a reminder that some clients like the sameness and predictability of each massage session, so it helps to really know your audience. Clients with anxiety may not appreciate big changes in their typical session. Other clients may love to experience new techniques, but they need to be warned about the change.
THINK SMALL AT FIRST
You don’t always have to add something new to freshen up your treatments. Sometimes you can feature a factor more heavily in your marketing and conversations with clients or draw attention to available customizations. Maybe you always have your table heat on low. Asking a client if they would like the table warmer at the beginning of a massage on a colder day helps the client notice it and adds to their experience.
There are so many automatic things we do. Sometimes just telling the client what we’re doing—such as “I’m only using this different lotion on your shoulder because it’s great for residual aches after this more specific work”—will change their perception of the massage experience, making it feel more customized and special.
UPGRADE YOUR INTAKE
We can get complacent with regular clients. A common SOAP note I got when I worked at a small spa at the beginning of my career was, “Same as always, attention to low back.” But bodies change, and sometimes we fall into such a rut that we need to ask new and different questions to be sure we are fully serving a client. Following are some questions you might ask:
- Do you have any new aches or pains?
- Is there anything you are finding harder to do?
- How has your mobility, daily-activity level changed since XYZ?
I’ve found these questions to be most helpful with maintenance clients who haven’t had major changes (i.e., surgeries) that would need new attention. Even changing the wording of your intake questions can draw out a more useful response. “How are you feeling?” will get a general answer, but “Are there any daily aches or pains bothering you?” can elicit a more specific response to guide your treatment. A changed intake can result in an improved massage treatment.
TRY SEASONAL OFFERINGS
Seasonal additions to your service menu can bring back some not-so-regular clients to your table and encourage an upgrade with your regulars. Short-term upgrades can be fun and lucrative. It can be simple, like offering a new essential oil blend each season or changing from an oil to a lighter lotion when summer hits. A foot scrub followed by a cooling cream during the summer and a warm pillow under the neck during the winter are both big hits with the right clientele. Allergy season is a great time for lymphatic sinus work.
I don’t love doing detailed foot massage or hot stones. But during the winter in New England, my clients love a mini hot stone foot massage upgrade. I can charge an extra $15–20 for the session, bust out a few small stones and some peppermint foot cream, and clients love it. It’s only offered for one month, so I don’t get bored with it, and the extra income takes the edge off the related cleanup work.
ADD A NEW MOVE
Regularly adding a new move to your massage session can keep things fresh and extra special for your clients. It’s not necessary to take a week off for a 40-hour education intensive. You can easily pick up new and useful massage techniques from the comfort of your computer screen. When I want to add a spark to my work, I think about the most recent common complaint. Then, I seek out a few related videos online and pick one move—just one—to add to each massage.
INVEST IN NEW EQUIPMENT
This doesn’t need to be a $3,000 upgrade to a hydraulic table with a knee lift. You can use a new face cradle that puts less pressure on the sinuses. Or, replace your squished, old bolster with a new, cozy, firm knee pillow. A flaxseed pillow is an affordable and easy upgrade. Warm it up and place it under the client’s neck or rest it on the low back.
SWITCH UP YOUR MUSIC
There is no shortage of music out there for massage therapists. You can find plenty of sound bath tracks and other soothing tunes. You can also encourage clients to bring in their playlists. Coming up with your own patterns can be fun, too. On rainy days I play jazz, heavy on the Miles Davis. Sleepy winter Saturdays at the office are perfect for Mozart.
Check in about client preferences (new moms have told me that violins sound like babies crying), and choose something new for each client. Your own flow will change, and the massage will feel fresh for both you and your client.
LITTLE CHANGES CAN BENEFIT EVERYONE
These occasional adjustments and additions to your massage practice keep the work fresh for your clients, but they can also improve your experience of giving a massage. Everyone benefits when a practitioner feels excited and enthusiastic about their work and the client’s experience.
Allissa Haines is a columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can read her column, “Blueprint for Success,” in the digital edition at massageandbodyworkdigital.com.
Allissa Haines is a columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can read her column, “Blueprint for Success,” in the digital edition at massageandbodyworkdigital.com.
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Therapy by Alice 