August 2010
17 posts
Massage Continuing Education: Golfer's Back Pain...
Has anyone asked you how your Quadratus Lumborum was doing lately? Probably not. I doubt your bodyworker/massage therapist ever mentioned it in passing. Well, here is some information you should know. It arises by aponeurotic fibers from the iliolumbar ligament and the adjacent portion of the iliac crest for about 5 cm., and is inserted into the lower border of the last 12th rib for about half its...
Massage Education
So what exactly is massage education? I began teaching in the industry in 1993 at the Utah College of Massage Therapy. The classroom size was anywhere from 24 to 48 people, and the instructors were highly qualified. The students got a great basic education and if they decided to stick around for an additional 300 hours or 400 hours, they left with a pretty darn good massage education. I was the...
What Is Deep Tissue Therapy?
What is deep tissue massage therapy? We could sit around smoking cigars and brandy and talk on that subject for a long time if you like cigars and brandy. Doesn’t sound like a very healthy discipline, but it’s one that I enjoy on a rare occasion. The notion of what you think deep tissue therapy ais depends on your viewpoint. Some think it is a painful application of tools to alleviate painful...
The Dilemma of Continuing Education Credits For...
I’ve been practicing manual medicine for about 22 years. The concept has been successfully lumped under the umbrella of massage therapy. I began teaching the work after four years of practice in massage schools across United States. Eight years after beginning my practice, I began teaching privately for continuing education credits. I was trained at the Rolf Institute in Boulder Colorado. And...
Challenges of the Lower Leg
There are a lot of syndromes that are brought to the office that have to do with the feet and the pelvis. Many clients come to visit with painful conditions of the feet and lower legs. Our intention is to create a base of support for the pelvis from below. I have done thousands of sessions on plantar fasciitis and other problems of the lower leg and feet. When treating this, we want to get as...
Rolfing/Structural Integration: The first look...
Only do a minor amount of neck work in this initial session. We just worked the trapezius and the SCM while the client turns her head slowly to the opposite direction. We then do a pelvic lift, and back work while our clients are sitting on a bench.
Remember that chronic pain frequently occurs at an outer layer, so our first work with our client can have a huge impact on their pain. Think...
Rolfing/Structural Integration: The first look
Okay, our client comes in to our office for the first time and you have a look at them. You look at the blocks from the feet to the knees, from the knees to the waist from the waist to the shoulders, shoulders to the top of the head. Which one of those blogs looks most out of alignment? Our intention for this session is to create a uniform outer surface, by freeing the superficial fascia. So...
Dr. Rolf. "What is Structural Integration": Part 3
She believed our job was to build an emotional bridge between our clients and ourselves. This emotional bridge is our greatest protection. All doctors and therapists work on people, but we work with and in people. That’s what separates us from the rest of the physical therapy genre. Dr. Rolf told us to let our bodies have a two-way conversation with our clients body. If a person has a...
Dr. Rolf. "What is Structural Integration": Part 2
Bones have a tendency to get more spherical as we get older. A round body is not as healthy as one that is elliptical. The floor of the pelvis is the key to physical vitality. One reason we as a discipline do better in many ways and other techniques is that we create the understanding of the complex confusion at the rami and seemed to be the only ones intrepid enough to do something about...
Dr. Ida Rolf: "What is Structural Integration"?
What is Structural Integration? There are lots of different opinions out there about what it is; let’s talk about a few ideas that Dr. Rolf left for us to meditate upon. She said that knowledge of anatomy is a primary way of conveying what we see and do, so others may learn. Whole mastery of anatomy does not allow you to see, you learn to see the body first then go to the anatomy book. The basic...
Distillation Part 2
Without minerals water becomes acidic. Even the EPA says that distilled water can be dangerous to use in the long run, because it is essentially mineral free, which then begins to leech the necessary minerals to keep blood acid levels within the normal range, from the bone. Remember water is on of our planets great solvents. The jury is pretty much back and seated around the issue of an alkaline...
Why I Don't Support Distilled Water Usage
There is quite a bit of controversy out there about what kind of water to drink these days should it be from the tap, should it be distilled, should it be reverse osmosis, or and ionizer machine. Let’s talk today just about distilled water. In the 1970s there were a number of health practitioners, whose good name I will not tarnish, because they brought a great deal of valuable information to...
Water Filtration:Fluoride 2
Let’s look at a few statistics. Fluoride has been around for about 50 years as an additive to the United States water supply which you may be surprised to learn. Why have they done this? Well, as we said before, in order to protect its citizens from dental decay “authorities” made the decision as great benefactors for their society, to add one of worst toxins the world has ever known...
Water filtration:Fluoride
In one of my previous articles I mentioned how passionate I am about water filtration. We are made up of over 70% water and its the most vital substance for our health and well-being on this Water Planet. Yet, so few of my patients are educated on the value of good clean water. Its an aspect of their health that is often taken for granted, yet they often understand the need to hydrate and may...
Plantar Fasciitis-continued
So, what has caused this inflammation to begin with? Is it an over use injury? Well, yes, one could say that but who cares what caused the painful injury. I have seen it in flat as well as high arches. But, it does seem more prevalent in the less flexible higher arch anatomy. It really doesn’t matter what caused it, because I have seen plantar fasciitis in every walk of life (pun intended). So...
Plantar Fasciitis
PLANTAR FASCIITIS
I have been privileged to journey on the healer’s path for over two decades. And I have been blessed by the Spirit to have made this journey without the benefit of third party insurance, although some of the Doctors I know might argue that fact. There are usually only a handful of painful conditions that are brought to all of us who are lumped in the huge genre of massage...
Water: You Either Use A Good Filter, Or You Are...
Have you ever heard the adage, ” You either use a great water filter, or you are one. Anyone that isn’t using a filter should have their head examined by a competent psychiatrist! The information on the web, and in printed materials is overwhelming clear. Our most vital element, that makes up the majority of our Planet, which was once drinkable right from the source, is now so laden...