Archive for October 2015
On Being Present: Struggles of a Frantic Girl
It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly four months since the official opening of White Willow! It’s been great. Now, at the end of October, I’ve hit a good routine. I feel settled into my treatment room and happy in our office. It’s all perfect, really. A couple of weeks ago, when I realized that I’d worked through all the business projects on my list, I thought, “What’s next?”
The truth is, all of my life I’m thinking, “What’s next?” Even more than I love a good project, I love dreaming of the next project. Plotting, planning, stressing, calculating, juggling, it’s all part of my familiar routine. I needed to learn something new. A new massage modality for my tool belt, perhaps, or maybe something different altogether.
When I couldn’t land on any one thing to study, I decided to meet with an advisor. I talked to him about what I’ve been doing the past few years and asked for his assistance in setting new goals. He said “It looks like you’re in a good place right now. Why do you want to learn something new?” I replied, “Well, if I’m not learning then I’m stagnant, right?” He chuckled a bit and said, “No, I’m not sure that’s how it works. I think you have plenty to learn right in your massage room. You’re learning every day.” I protested, “I think maybe I’m bored.” Sternly, he said “You’re not bored, you’re frantic. You’ve gotten accustomed to being so busy all of the time, but did you ever wonder what it would feel like to slow down? You’ve worked hard to get to where you are. Maybe you could be comfortable with a slower pace. How long has it been since you enjoyed your day without thinking ‘What’s next?’ I think you need to learn to be in the moment and appreciate your life as it is now. Learn to be present.”
For two whole days after meeting with the advisor, I thought I’d wasted my money. He didn’t help me find my next direction, and he definitely didn’t tell me what I wanted to hear. But then, as I was recounting the meeting with a friend, I suddenly understood what he was telling me. It’s funny how you can hear and repeat the same advice over and over, but never really understand it. As cliche as it sounds, I realized that if I keep my current pace, I could let my whole life pass me by. How can I possibly enjoy my life if I’m firmly rooted in the future?
The next day, I decided that I would make an effort to slow down my thoughts and learn to be present by walking to and from work. My walk is 30 minutes, each way. The first day that I walked, the only thing I could see was the finish line. It wasn’t until I reached my destination that I realized I hadn’t done what I intended at all. The next day, I tried to view it differently. Instead of walking to get somewhere, I tried to be conscious of my thoughts and to think only about what I saw and felt. Still, that proved to be quite a struggle, so I thought that a photo project might help. Baby steps.
Here are some things I’ve seen on my walks:
Dewdrops on a spider web, right outside White Willow.
A lovely fall arrangement
Milkweed?
A neat little gate
Some perfect flowers. Seriously, Mother Nature is so talented.
Lots of gorgeous autumn flowers
Wilson’s Grocery.
Flowers, flowers everywhere.
A garden behind a church
A twisty tree
A dog, who frightened me when he barked.
Lots of leaves
A magical canopy of trees
And a cat, mid meow. This one is my own back yard. ^_^
After seeing all these beautiful things, I realized that I never would have noticed them if I hadn’t slowed down. I couldn’t possibly appreciate an autumn blossom or tree canopy from my car. I think it’s pretty obvious that I haven’t mastered the art of being present, but I do feel different. Without any particular goal in mind, I think I’ll keep walking to work, just to see what happens.
-Charley Caudill, LMT
Self care: Preventing A Breakdown
Image source: Society for Psychotherapy
Do you ever have those days where you feel like all you do is run, run, run and still feel like you’re behind? Maybe you skip lunch one day or only get a few hours of sleep another day. Or maybe you don’t realize that you were so caught up until the end of the day when you finally lie down and take a deep breath? These are all, unfortunately, very common habits of modern day, fast living Americans. I fully believe that our fast- paced society is leading us astray from personal wellness and respect, which in turn affects everyone’s human experience in this life.
With extreme stress inevitably comes “burnout.” Burnout is the last phase of months or even years of using your reserve fuel and never taking the time to refill. With burnout comes exhaustion, both mentally and physically, and often leaves you sick and with no choice but to rest.
Not only does stress leave an impact on our wellbeing, but changes in the seasons can have a noticeable impact on our bodies and moods. According to Ayurvedic medicine, we are now in the time of Navaratri. Ayurveda follows closely with the cycles and rhythms of nature and especially the moon. Navaratri occurs twice a year in the “gap” seasons. Winter into Spring and Summer into Fall. They are both times of the year where it is very easy to get wrapped up in an accelerated pace and to let our self care fall by the wayside. During this Navaratri with the cooler temperatures blowing in, it is of the utmost importance that we take the time to fully appreciate and nourish our bodies with quality rest and whole, healing foods.
It is entirely too common for stressed individuals to ignore our bodies signals until it is too late and we fall ill. Here is my compiled list of self care habits:
1. Get some sleep!
It is the basis for a healthy lifestyle- It will literally improve your body and brain function.
2. Nourish.
No more quick stops at McDonalds/ Taco Bell, etc. If we expect our bodies to keep up with our busy lifestyle, we need to give it adequate energy.
3. Get your massage/acupuncture/therapy.
So many times I, personally, have rescheduled my self care so that I may help others. Make time for yourself and stick to it! No one else is going to do it for you!
4. Breathe.
Remember, in times of stress, it’s very likely that you are holding your breath which is depriving your body and creating more of a problem. Take those deep breaths and feel your mind and body slowly come back to a level playing field.
5. Do the things that bring your soul joy.
Just as important as work is to your life, so is play. When you give your spirit the time to restore, it will keep you healthy and enlivened. To be stuck in the same routine of comfort is to disengage. We must keep learning and discovering and experiencing to fully nourish our mind and spirit. Take some time to go for a walk or to plant your bare feet in the grass. Watch the leaves fall and admire the ebbs and flows our lives take us through.
Every season can teach us something about ourselves and the cycles of life. I believe that the fall is a time for us to fully appreciate our vitality and our mortality. We are only given one body in this life and we must treat it with the respect and love that it deserves.
-Arielle Ferrell, LMT
Image source: Where Easy Living Begins
Massage Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that is currently incurable, but treatable. The symptoms range from mild to severe, coming and going, while never going away for good. Like any chronic disease or syndrome, it can be hard to cope with the constant pain, fatigue, and variety of other symptoms. Fortunately, also like many other chronic issues, massage therapy can help.
If you or someone you care about has MS, you know that even a few hours of relief can be worth more than gold. Massage has been proven to reduce pain levels and may even lengthen the remission period between flare ups in some people. According to a study reported in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, participants who received 10 weeks of massage therapy reported pain levels up to 50 percent lower than the control group. The proven stress reducing benefits of massage may also help reduce the frequency of flare ups in people whose symptoms often worsen in time of stress.
This article from MultipleSclerosis.net was written by an MS sufferer and her experience with massage. It’s worth a read, but the bottom line: she’s a fan.
When looking for a massage therapist, be sure to find someone licensed in their state, knowledgeable about your condition, and willing to work with your individual case. In cases of chronic illness, it’s always a good idea to inform you therapist of any sensitive areas of you body that may need to be avoided or treated gently. During your massage, you comfort is top priority and an important part of your treatment.
If you have any questions about whether or not massage is right for you, please talk with your health care practitioner and give us a call to discuss your particular plan.
-Breanna Kinman, Licensed Massage Therapist
“Symptoms of multiple sclerosis” by Mikael Häggström – All used images are in public domain.. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons
Spotlight: Charley Caudill, Licensed Massage Therapist and Professional Birth Doula
- When is your birthday?
- December 28th, right in between Christmas and the New Year.
- Where are you from?
- I’ve lived in Lexington for a while, but I’m originally from Viper, a small town in southeastern Kentucky.
- What is your favorite massage modality to practice?
- I’m especially drawn to the subtle modalities, specifically CranioSacral Therapy. This work, though light in tough, can help the body to self-heal and release deep restrictions that are emotional, physical, and energetic.
- What CEU class are you looking forward to next?
- So many classes, so little time! In November I’ll be flying to Dallas, Texas for SomatoEmotional Release, which is an extension of CranioSacral Therapy and my third class in this modality.
- What is your favorite movie?
- I have a hard time picking a favorite, but I’m especially fond of The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies. I also love The Fountain. Anything with a bit of magic!
- What is your favorite color?
- Green or turquoise, depending on my mood and the season.
- What is your favorite food?
- Sushi! I recently had some great sushi at Sapporo in Louisville. In October, however, my favorite food is caramel apples.
- If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
- I would like the ability to change my appearance like Mystique of the X-Men, or maybe telepathy.
- What’s the best part about your job?
- I love building a relationship with my clients and helping them to heal. I love being a part of the transformation and growth of bodies and spirits.
- What’s the worst part about your job?
- I don’t like talking on the phone very much, so most of my clients know to text me instead. I’m also not fond of accounting. All in all, it’s a pretty great job. I get to hang out in a sparkly room all day, listening to ambient music and helping my clients to feel better in their bodies. I love it.
