While the name suggests some new-agey concoction, in their most basic sense, essential oils are herbs/plants in their highest concentration form. They are that portion of the plant which serves as self protection and self healing. Most medical studies currently being carried out use the essential oil version of the plant as opposed to whole plant matter.
Second, not all essential oils are created equal.
As their healing capabilities become known and popularity increases, more and more companies tend to use extenders and additives to increase supply and reduce costs. These type oils should NEVER be taken internally. Know your source!
Third and finally before we get started, the disclaimer:
This is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or disease. Please, always check with your doctor.
Stomach Virus Blend
In this example, I was going for a blend to address a stomach virus making its way around the family. I always use Be Young Essential Oils to ensure the quality and safety of my oils. I chose Oregano and Be Young's Defense Blend. The ratio decided upon was 2 Oregano drops to 1 Defense Blend drop with a total of 3 drops per capsule.
What Ya Need:
• A pill holder. (While these can be purchased at amazon - see below- for about $20, they can be easily made from discarded materials around the house. The one I'm using here is simply a piece of foam which came as packing material and I used a steak knife to cut slits in it to hold the capsules.)
• 2 pipettes. (These also can be found on-line. I found some glass eye droppers at the bulk food store, candy making stores, or wash and reuse two from home)
• A carrier oil. (I use organic, unrefined, traditionally pressed sesame oil. Why? Because it has been found to have NUMEROUS health benefits including cancer prevention/killing. . .but that's another blog! Know that ANY food quality oil can be used. . . If out of sesame oil, I've substituted with extra-virgin olive oil. The main thing here is dilution. If you simply fill your capsules with straight essential oils, they will melt and you'll just have a big mess!
• 3 small bowls. (I've even used coffee cups, saucers or even shot glasses!)
• Empty Capsules. (There are different types - gelatin vs. vegetable - either will do - and also different sizes. I like the 00 size - aprox. 1ml - because it allows more dilution and there's less chance of them "melting". These can be purchased at your local health food store.)
Directions:
1. Separate the capsules putting the larger end in your pill holder with about 2/3 sticking out and the smaller end in a bowl.
2. Pour some carrier oil in one of the small bowls. Using the pipette, fill each capsule about 2/3 full.
3. In this case we were making 10 capsules. Our "stomach virus" blend consisted of a 2:1 ratio of oils (Oregano and Defense) with 3 drops in each capsule. So in one of your glass bowls put 20 drops of Oregano and 10 drops of Defense.
4. Stir the Essential Oil Blend up with the other pipette, fill it up and place 3 drops in each capsule.
5. Cap them and store them in a dark container. (used pill bottle, etc.)
I took one of these 3 - 4 times per day, limited my sugars and starches (they create a breeding ground for yeast and bacteria and was good in no time!
The main ingredient of all hand sanitizers on the market is alcohol. In order to be effective it has to be at least 60%; that's ALOT of alcohol! This is the warning on an alcohol bottle:
WARNING! FLAMMABLE LIQUID AND VAPOR. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. CAUSES IRRITATION TO EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. AFFECTS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN.
We darn near bathe in this stuff and slather it all over the delicate skin of our children. . . I figured there had to be a better and safer way to protect myself and family. So here it is. I created a recipe for an all natural hand sanitizer with ingredients that have been proven effective against even MRSA.
What Ya Need:
• 2/3 cup witch hazel (I prefer alcohol free, however even the traditional version only contains 14% alcohol which is much less than the content of store bought sanitizers)
• 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
• 60 - 80 drops ( ~ 4.5ml) organic orange essential oil. (keep in mind citrus essential oils can increase sun sensitivity to skin. Personally, I choose orange's "risk"over alcohol's. . . especially since natural orange essential oil was shown to be effective against MRSA with no damage to the skin!)
• bowl and spoon
• funnel
• recycled liquid soap or hand sanitizer bottle (a dark bottle is most desirable as essential oils react to light)
Directions:
Simply mix the ingredients together and then use the funnel to pour them into the bottle. Screw the pump back on the bottle and you are ready to go! Just make sure you shake before using as essential oils are hydrophobic.
Personnel at PlantLegends do not claim to be medical practitioners. I do not diagnose, treat or prescribe any medical treatment or advice. You should always discuss treatment of medical conditions with your medical practitioner before using any alternative therapies, natural supplements, or vitamins. You should consult with an aromatherapist about essential oil usage and always inform your primary care physician what you are using as they may not be conducive with his/her prescribed therapy and medications.
The Second In A Series.
It's no secret that the human body is at least 70% water; therefore, pretty crucial for our survival and good health.
But with an ever expanding population yet a finite supply of water on the planet, attaining this crucial product for survival is more and more difficult. Walk down any "water" grocery aisle and witness that, here too, we are falling prey to commercialism. Rows and rows of bottled water professing to be the best!
But the facts don't lie:
• 40% of the bottled water sold in the US is tap water.
• Tap water costs about a penny a gallon and bottled waters costs up to $10 a gallon. • And the list goes on.
So right now you might be thinking . . . "Well it's good old tap water for me!"
But remember there's a high amount of chlorination in that water. . . okay, you could just pour it into a pitcher and let it stand and allow the chlorine to evaporate, but what about the toxins and pharmaceuticals it contains? No one has studied their long term effects.
Don't be forlorn, confused and most importantly . . . Don't Give Up And Simply Give In!
Remember, we attained our "superior" status in the animal kingdom (and we really ARE nothing more than a species of "animals") due to our high intellect; our keen ability to reason. So let's put it to use here and keep some dollars in our pocket and out of corporate Americas!
2. But its taste is bland and it is void of crucial minerals.
I'm going to sidestep just for a minute and bring your attention to a recent documentary about GMO's in our food supply. What caught my attention here is a statement made that a LACK of minerals was causing much of the disease.
By clicking here you may, for a limited time, watch this eye-opening documentary in its entirety for FREE!
So, now that we've come across a cost effective means of good ole fashioned pure H2O, let's turn it into what our body craves. . .
3. Add minerals. You can do what I initially did which was spend close to $30 for 8oz. at the local health food store, but then I thought about it. . . . Hmmmm, just what WAS I paying $30 for? You can get into the whole ionic vs. colloidal debate, but it boiled down to me that each plea could be summed up in one word. . . marketing!
The body only needs minerals in trace amounts and too much can actually be toxic. So why spend the exorbitant amount? Get out of the more is better thought process!
So where do we find the perfect minerals at a reasonable price? SALT! There is a reason that at one time salt was considered more precious than gold!
Himalayan Pink Crystal Salt contains the minerals your body needs. You can order a 5lb bag of this gem for $19 with free shipping. That's only $3.80/lb!
Himalayan Pink Crystal Salt has a slew of amazing health properties! But for now we want to use it to mineralize our pure, distilled water.
How? We turn it into Sole (which has a whole slew of health benefits!) Simply grab a jar with a lid, toss in a handful of Himalayan Crystal Salt, fill it with distilled water, cap it and put it in a cupboard. Once all the salt has mixed with the water, throw in some more salt and wait again. What you want is the water to be at full saturation with the salt. (No more salt is being dissolved).
Now just "season" your water to taste! I use about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per gallon of water! Remember, more is not always better . . . too much and you've just made a very nice laxative!
I also like to get my water out of the plastic and use a crock or water pitcher in the fridge and always have my stainless water bottle on hand for mobility sake.
Here's to your better health and a sustainable future!
While I am aware the above crock is designed for the plastic bottles and you may use them in such a manner, the crock itself holds 2.5 gallons and my frugal self simply covers the top with a white plate!
So drink up, be healthy and don't allow yourself to get fleeced!
It's no secret chronic back pain is on the rise. More and more people are, often for economic reasons, being forced to both physically and mentally (stress) work harder for longer hours and more years than in recent history . Couple that with what appears to be an ineffective means of addressing this debilitating condition, and we are left with an enormous amount of people suffering, missing needed work and living with a diminished overall quality of life.
But chronic back pain is tricky to assess. Remember that the spinal column, comprised of independent vertebra divided into three sections, cervical (neck) - fairly flexible - thoracic (chest) - fairly rigid - and lumbar (low back) - fairly flexible, all functions as ONE unit. So disfunction in one region, or even one vertebra, for that matter, can present itself anywhere along the kinetic chain. Many times a person with a disfunction that is, say, a lumbar disc, will at some point complain of pain at the level of the kidneys. That should make perfect sense because the point of transition where the lumbar (flexible) and thoracic (inflexible) meet would be a "weak link" so to speak. This leaves an inexperienced therapist chasing the pain and the client feeling like a hypochondriac!
I believe we need to view the spine as a complete unit. When assessing pain, especially that which is not related to trauma, the overall fluidity of movement should be assessed. And the best place to start is at the root; the pelvis. Here you have joints which are crucial in movement to initiate the propelling of the spinal engine. Located in the lumbopelvis are spinal and sacroiliac ligaments. There are joint capsules, facet cartilages and intervertebral discs. Many are similar, for a visual, to silly putty. And if you leave a glob of silly putty sitting too long what happens over time? Compliments of gravity, it flattens down. With time and age, this happens in this crucial grouping of joints with us. We call it, "the creep".
This then offers an explanation of how one injured their back while bending over to tie their shoes! This silly putty or more appropriately termed viscoelastic tissue, over time and at the mercy of gravity has become strained and less pliable. It is less likely to bounce back to its original length and therefore, more prone to injuries and future injuries.
So what's a geezer to do??!!!!
The worst thing is to do nothing at all and accept it. The best thing is first, be aware of "the creep". Second, find a knowledgable bodyworker who can assess and aid in a plan. . . You now know that there is less cushion in those joints, right? So it would make sense that at the very least, they will function best if they're where they're suppose to be!
Above is a picture, borrowed from Erik Dalton the creator of Myoskeletal Alignment Technique (MAT). I am a level II therapist in this method of body working. In it you see what we call an upslip. Clients will come in and while performing their assessment I will remark about they're hips. They often are aware and will say nonchalantly that they have "one leg shorter than the other" or "uneven hips". In a true upslip, the joint between the ilium ("ear" shaped bone above) and the sacrum (triangular bone above) or sacroiliac joint which is held together by fibrous ligaments has become sheared. In other words the grooves each is suppose to rest in aint groovin'! These types have an almost zero chance of self correction. They set weight distribution and shock absorption off. The entire body starts compensating.
Many will opt for a doctor of osteopathy or chiropractic and that is a wise choice. But understand that there is something holding those bones out of alignment and that is where your therapeutic masseuse comes in. A therapist trained in the likes of MAT can aid either a DO or DC to bring quicker results and help to maintain adjustments giving the client less down time.
In my practice, I also incorporate the use of EOBBD guaranteed essential oils. In order to encourage and maintain structural alignment of the body I use Chiro Touch. Clients swear by this blend and attest to better adjustments and say they "hold" their adjustment longer., Chiro-Touch is my blend of choice, containing premium essential oils of spruce, blue tansy, rosewood and frankincense. It can't be beat! Myself (as a back pain sufferer) and many clients swear by this blend. As a sharing partner, #11483, I receive these oils at a discount. By clicking here and entering my number (11483) you can gain full access to the site.
For Michigan clients in the Detroit Metro area, I can be reached via email through this site to work with you using massage therapy, MAT techniques, essential oils, and/or somatics to put an end to your chronic pain. Some, any or all techniques may be used. When addressing pain, time is taken with each client. A history is taken and a physical assessment is done. Per request, A Physical Aromatic Touch (PAT) assessment can be performed to better identify the source of pain.
If you're not in Michigan, but are looking for a qualified MAT therapist, click here.
Personnel at PlantLegends do not claim to be medical practitioners. I do not diagnose, treat or prescribe any medical treatment or advice. You should always discuss treatment of medical conditions with your medical practitioner before using any alternative therapies, natural supplements, or vitamins. You should consult with an aromatherapist about essential oil usage and always inform your primary care physician what you are using as they may not be conducive with his/her prescribed therapy and medications.
First In A Series.
As the final "official" weekend of summer draws to a close, and the conversations at the string of soirees are being reflected upon, it's hard to not notice that many are finding things difficult right now. After a glass of wine and warm, physical chit-chat (meaning one-on-one as opposed to - due to our harried lifestyles - the personal-space-safety of virtual texts, and facebook avatars) the facade of painted on smiles went away and were replaced with looks of genuine concern. . . I will say, however, that when we DID break into arouse of laughter, it was far more intoxicating than any wine on the planet or acronyms of LOL or LMAO for that matter! :)
But the reality remains that many are feeling the "pinch". While granted, unemployment is going down (but how many have really simply been kicked off unemployment) and the inflation rate is less than last year (however food and energy are NOT taken into account in that calculation) people are still more than ever finding it hard.
I think, partly, we've been "consumered" to the point of bankruptcy; a different product for EVERYTHING. And with our preoccupation to "the tube", why wouldn't savvy marketers pull out all the tricks to eek our meager dollars away from us? Maybe even subliminally grabbing us like the video below suggests. . . Remember, people will do to you what you allow them to and also as long as you don't know their doing it! And if I got caught at something less than admirable and confronted, I'd probably have to deny it too like they did . . .there's shareholders to answer to! . . . You'd just have to! What are you gonna say?
I'm old. (Well, by my son's point of view!) I was raised by "The Great Depression" era parents. Mom could feed a family of 7 (and I had 4 brothers!) with 1 pound of hamburger and have leftovers. It was quite awhile before I knew a chicken had any other parts than feet!
We were ethnic. While the other Jan Brady-type kids at school had Snoopy lunch pails or those little brown bags with their Oscar Meyer Bologna sandwiches on WonderBread neatly in those nifty little plastic bags, I showed up with a slice of mortadella (they wondered what was wrong with my bologna!) between two pieces of hand-cut crusty Italian bread; every time you bit into it crust was crunching and crumbling all over the table; quite the spectacle for a self-conscious prepubescent! But no one cared about "self esteem" back then! The slices of bread were always 1/4 inch on one side and about an inch and a half on the other. And do you think Mom would ever put one small side to the others wide side so that at least it looked balanced? That would be a "No!" And always just a blob of mustard on it; that's it! And no, she wasn't gonna buy those little plastic sandwich bags the other kids used. Not when we had a perfectly good roll of waxed paper in the house! And buy a special brown bag for lunches? Wasteful! Five kids, five days a week? Come on, the paper bag from the bread loaf was good enough. . . if you were lucky; at least it was small! Usually I got the big brown bag from the grocery store. There was no missing my lunch in the press!
Little did I know that all those frugal things I shuttered at growing up would be a safety net now in the 21st century (weren't we suppose to be like the Jetson's?) So I'm gonna share. This series shall contain hints and tips that I use to "Get More Bang For My Buck".
Step one is, turn off the TV! Or at least clue in that EVERYTHING you see is designed to get you to do or purchase something. Be critical and suspicious! . . . But don't get paranoid!
Your first money saver is . . . good ole fashioned BAKING SODA!
I get a 12 pound box delivered to my door for $12.13 including shipping! I believe the less-than-a-pound version at the grocery store is over $2.00!
Here's some samples of how I use it . . . . . .
• The obvious, cooking/baking
• Keep Odors Down In The Fridge. Place some in a used sour cream container to keep the fridge smelling fresh. Down the disposal to rid drain odors.
• Its ability to lower pH makes it a wonderful laundry detergent booster. (Now you don't need that pricey brand!)
• Toothpaste. Years ago, every trip to the dentist included him telling me I needed a root canal or that my gums were starting to recede. Refusing to give in to "aging", I actually READ the tube of toothpaste and said, "No wonder!" So. . . a pinch of baking soda, a few drops of peroxide (and isn't peroxide what all those "whiteners" are made of? . . . hmmmm, am I seeing ANOTHER product I can nix?!) and a drop or two of EOBBD guaranteed essential oils (I use tea tree or something else - heck, they're ALL antibacterial! And by using essential oils and pushing them in at the gum line, I'm reaping they're protective qualities for colds!) Surprisingly, I haven't required a root canal and my gums are magically no longer receding! . . . The dental bills alone have saved me a bundle!
• Mouthwash. Dissolve a teaspoon in some water, add one drop of spearmint or peppermint EOBBD essential oils swish and spit. Fresh and minty!
• Heartburn. Remember? It neutralizes acid! Try a teaspoon in water and sip. To increase the effects and improve flavor. . . add 1 drop peppermint, fennel, anise, ginger or coriander EOBBD guaranteed essential oils. Say goodbye to the Tums, Prilosec, Rolaids, etc.!
• Combs/Brushes. Gunked up from "product"? Why throw them away to land in a landfill and spend money on a new one? Soak them in warm water and baking soda and let them dry. It will dissolve the "product" build up.
• A Surface "Soft Scrub". Why buy a separate product specifically for this? Simply soap and sprinkle some baking soda on the sponge and you're good to go!
• Removing Marks On Walls. You don't need one of those "eraser" things! Damp sponge, sprinkle with baking soda, goodbye crayon marks!
• Clean Cars. Good for car lights, chrome, windows tires vinyl seats and floor mats. 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart warm water. Use a sponge or soft cloth to remove road dirt; even tree sap, buts and tar!
• Clean Your Cutting Board. Warm water and baking soda! For adding germ killing, spray with EOBBD guaranteed lemon essential oil mixed in water.
• Deodorize/Freshen Carpet. Sprinkle Generously on carpet. Leave on as long as possible. (I like to leave it overnight if time allows!) Vacuum. For added freshness and make your room smell amazing, I like to fill a jar 3/4 full of baking soda and sprinkle with EOBBD guaranteed essential oils, shake and let set for a day or so. Peppermint and/or lemon is wonderful, but anything you use will make people take notice. Also note the added bonus that the peppermint and lemon will also keep bugs at bay!
• Are You A Camper? Then pack smart (and light!) and bring baking soda! It's a dish washer, pot scrubber, hand cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste and fire extinguisher all in one!
• Septic Care. One cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank.
• Diaper Rash. Not directly on, but a tablespoon or two in baby's bathwater will offer relief. Additionally 1 drop of EOBBD Guaranteed Helichrysum and/or Lavender essential oil can be used to heal and comfort.
• Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to the water
• Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain.
• Scattered around flowerbeds and gardens will discourage bunnies from nibbling.
And the list goes on. Imagine all the products which could be eliminated by using this one old-time favorite! And if you're afraid of looking cheap . . . it is MUCH better for the environment!
Look, we can spend a small fortune for "earth friendly" cleaning products so all may glance in our shopping buggies and know we care, spend a small fortune for every product every manufacturer tells you you "need" or travel to your own beat, holding on to your own dollars and having more of them to spend where you choose AND live a healthy, sustainable life without screwing up the environment. Remember, we've only been conditioned to spend.
Personnel at PlantLegends do not claim to be medical practitioners. I do not diagnose, treat or prescribe any medical treatment or advice. You should always discuss treatment of medical conditions with your medical practitioner before using any alternative therapies, natural supplements, or vitamins. You should consult with an aromatherapist about essential oil usage and always inform your primary care physician what you are using as they may not be conducive with his/her prescribed therapy and medications.
Feeling dragged out? Exhausted? Having to push yourself to make it through the day? This may not have to be just an inevitable unpleasantry of aging. The answer could lie within in the way of a congested liver. "But I was at the doctor and my liver enzymes are fine," you say. Maybe so and it's alway crucial to check. But if you have a hose to water your garden and test water quality coming out of it and then block half the nozzle and recheck the water, will the quality of that water be any less? No. But your garden will require more watering time and the hose will be working harder. And if you don't adjust the water pressure and allow it to keep running full force, the integrity of the hose may lessen. Over time, under the added pressure and stress, the hose will eventually break down and burst. Now your garden is receiving no water. Wouldn't it be smarter to clear the block and preserve the integrity of the hose?
The liver has an enormous amount of functions and they all serve to keep this "machine" called the human body "feeling" well. By size alone, as an organ, it's pretty impressive weighing 3 - 5 pounds in adults. It uses 12 -20% of the body's TOTAL available energy, and it must generate this energy to it's own cells all on its own. The liver routinely performs over 500 known functions to regulate your cell's metabolism. It is the "alchemical wizard" of the body, transforming toxins into harmless chemicals for excretion and digestively absorbed nutrients into the proper biochemical forms your cells can use to function. Pretty impressive! Yet the liver is probably the organ most assaulted by toxic modern lifestyles. It becomes congested full of pollution, stress, junk foods, drugs, etc.
If the doctor puts you on most any long-term med, what do they do? Monitor liver function! You see, these chemicals are foreign to the body and your poor liver doesn't know what the heck to do with it so it basically procrastinates at metabolizing it and the garbage builds up impairing its function.
You see, whether you're a creationist or evolutionist it cannot be denied that on a time scale humans have been here VERY long. Over the course of this VERY long time, the body has designed enzymes for the liver to aid itself in ridding and metabolizing EVERYTHING that comes its way. Amazing. Ingenious, Right?!
But here's the problem. . . . over the last 50 years, "modern science" has altered darn near everything we consume. On the time scale of man, 50 years is a blink. So envision if you will, that old I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel get the job at the candy making factory. They were okay for a bit until the conveyer belt kicked into high gear. Then what happened? Remember?. . . if you don't, watch this . . . .
Your liver is Lucy and Ethel!
SO WHAT DO WE DO?
That's where essential oils play the saving role of the day!
They have the ability (because the liver "recognizes" them over generations of familiarity) to kick the liver into both phase I and phase II detox. And because they are concentrated (roughly 100lbs of lavender flowers produce 1lb of oil) they're an economical goldmine! But please don't attempt this with just ANY Essential Oils or you could cause MORE harm. They should be only EOBBD Guaranteed. I use Be Young oils and have seen amazing results with average people through those with cancer who are sailing through their treatment protocols.
For more information on these wonders of nature, click here and enter my sharing partner number 11483 to gain full access.
my website address is http://www.plantlegends.com here you may find more information about me. I am always available to answer questions; simply email.
I always laugh when massage therapists get all indignant, scream for licensure and complain that they’re not taken seriously or treated like a professional. It all boils down to the old saying, “You reap what you sow.”
In this crazy over-saturated world, there’s a “spa” opening on every corner and from every chiropractic office. Couple that with the mind frame of more is better, we see each owner vying for business via the current paradigm that the only way to stimulate action is to discount prices. Wrong plan! It’s EDUCATION! Your customers are not ignorant! This more-is-better, disposable mentality leaves a plethora of discounts available to the consumer compliments of “GroupOn” and such whereby “GroupOn” is the only winner receiving 50% of the cost for doing nothing and approximately $15 to be shared by the massage therapist and spa. . . seems like a lot of work to gross $7.50 each! And remember, these are usually not LOYAL customers you are attracting, they’re “GroupOn” junkies who will be anxiously awaiting the next big deal.
This, understandably, leads to cost cutting by the spa. I worked in one such place. They would want us to up-sale add-ons in an attempt to boost the meager income being made.
Examples of what the consumer was getting:
• A Foot Scrub. Vegetable oil from the “Dollar Store” mixed with “Table Salt” from the same. Ooooooh, that’s nice!
• A Leg Treatment. A “Green” cooling gel. I asked, “What’s its protocol of use?” Answer: “Just schmear it on, rub it in and take it off with a hot towel.” . . . Very beneficial!
• Upgrade to “Deep Tissue”. “Just throw in some elbows and get out of there!” . . . Yep. That’s deep tissue work!
• Aromatherapy. “Let ‘em smell a choice of three essential oils, use a couple drops on their back . . . That stuffs expensive! . . . And go with it”! . . . And in my humble opinion, these were low grade, non-therapeutic essential oils to boot; we may as well have used air freshener!
Upon bringing clients into a room, we were discouraged from talking to them; get ‘em in and get ‘em out. That “history” which is filled out is SUPPOSE to be used in conjunction with client input. . . I’m thinking it’s just a snappy way to slide in the disclaimer! See, this is where the big laugh comes in. Massage therapists WANT to be all professional, but how in God’s name can you evaluate the client as a professional WITHOUT having discussion with the client? To merely say, “Is there any areas I should concentrate on or stay away from,” is a pat, token, question. Does the Massage certificate make you psychic as well? Is this chronic pain from habitual movements? Was there an accident? What is the SOURCE of this person’s pain? I can’t tell you how many times during a “couples massage” I’ve noticed the therapist next to me performing a deep, forearm stroke on the client from sacrum (tailbone) to C7 (base of the neck) on a CLEARLY kyphotic person (excessive curve in upper back). Well if you’re so professional, you should understand those facets are locked OPEN and that is then, a faux pas! One should only move in the OPPOSITE direction to encourage them to CLOSE! You also most likely need to release the pectorals to even ALLOW closure of those joints. Right?
The reality is, is that ANY massage is beneficial; they all encompass touch and that is very important to all human life. There are MANY types of massages which work in a variety of ways. The key to aprofessional in massage is comprehending the intrinsic manner in which all the muscles work synergistically together and how potentially a dysfunction in ones hips may lead to knee problems or even plantar fasciitis and addressing the SOURCE; So if someone is complaining of, say, plantar fasciitis and you merely rub their feet, you are NOT a professional without making the connection; end of story! You may disguise your actions under the huge umbrella of being therapeutic due to the enormity and wide range of massages benefits; that's easy. But then ANYONE can give a massage and what sets you aside? . . See, even the dreaded “fluff and buff” has value if all they need is some relaxation. And that’s where talking to the client comes into play. But if one doesn’t take their profession seriously and compromises their actions and methods to make a buck, the most expensive state license in the world won’t deem you a professional and it’s just another bill to pay.
You see, when one is devaluating their service to such an extent by offering “cheap” massages, I get feeling the need to “put on a show”, create the illusion and move on. But don’t become appalled when you’re viewed in less than a professional light. The consumer and public is not to blame, it’s that person in the mirror. I would rather maintain a handful of educated clients than pages of those who come in for a “deal”.
And remember, anything which one perceives as bad, also has a bright side. These “fluff and buff”, $30 massages can be great because it opens the door for people who in the past may never have laid on a massage table; that’s where education comes in and that’s why, I believe, it’s imperative to talk with and relay your knowledge to the client. Otherwise, you may as well be working at the car wash, having more fun and probably making more money without going home exhausted!
So in close, know that it’s YOU that deems you the professional, not a piece of paper.
