Aug 24, 2012

Share Shiatsu

I just can't get enough of the Eastern modalities this summer:

I went for a Shiatsu session today from one of my favorite practitioners, Susan Hare. The session was absolutely lovely. Shiatsu is a traditional form of hands-on therapy from Japan, by way of China. I studied Zen Shiatsu briefly under the patient tutelage of the lovely Sande Mullany and remain curious and fond of it, but I do not use it per se in my own practice (though the three months I spent studying have proven to be instrumental in my work)

In Shiatsu, like in Thai Massage, the client remains clothed and the work is done on a traditional futon mat on the floor. At the beginning of the session, the practitioner reads the 'Hara', or abdomen to assess what work might best benefit the receiver. This is usually just gently placing a hand on the abdomen and 'listening' and observing. Shiatsu systematically works the 12 meridians, or energy pathways (pretty much the same meridians as in acupuncture), and the Hara represents all 12 meridians in a specific arrangement.

In Zen Shiatsu, the treatment, after the Hara assessment, begins on the front of the right leg and then the left, moving down from the upper thigh to the feet, with the intent to 'ground' the receiver (by working the Earth meridians of Stomach and Spleen) The practitioner uses her fingers, thumbs, and palms to press and sink down into the meridians. Then the right arm, followed by the left arm are worked (the Fire - Heart and Sm. Intestine - and Metal meridians of Lung and Lg. Intestine). Finally, the client turns over onto her stomach for work down the back, hips and legs (the Water meridians of Kidney and Bladder). Finally, the client turns over for some work on the neck and head. Mmmmm! Maybe that's the best part. When working the neck and head, a silk cloth is used for the finger-pressing up and down the neck, along the scalp and face. The scarf or towel can even be used for adding a little traction to the head. Ahhh, great stuff!

I highly encourage everyone to experience Shiatsu - sooner than later!

Aug 23, 2012

Standing West, Looking East

It's true I've referred numerous times lately to Traditional Chinese Medicine, with references like Fire Element, Qi Gong and Traditional Chinese Medicine. But really, i know only very little about such things. After all, what's my brief study to a philosophy that was 4000 years in the making? And it's fun and satisfying to learn and involve myself in a completely different (and yet not alien) paradigm. As well, the (traditional) Eastern-based paradigm is rooted in finding harmony with the world around us. This segues nicely with the work I do, which is also rooted in creating and supporting balance for our selves and the world we must engage in. 

Beyond some personal dabbling, my practice and the bulk of my pursuits is based on Western-developed concepts of bodywork therapy. Though I studied Swedish massage techniques for my basic training, I've since moved on to more in-depth techniques, including craniosacral therapy, myofascial therapy, and deep tissue. These forms, known as modalities in health-jargon, provide me with techniques that I use with skilled and experienced discretion. I combine and use them as a painter uses her paints on a pallet - deemed appropriate to a given setting, or to achieve a desired outcome. I seek to open up possibilities and invite change in the soft tissues - nothing forceful or dominant. Just making suggestions, in a non-verbal sort of way, my fingertips, to your muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. The results are often profound.

Aug 21, 2012

Fire and Laughter

No, this isn't about walking over fiery coals, but it is about a challenge, of sorts.

In honor and recognition of the Fire Element, which in Traditional Chinese Medicine is represented by the hot and sunny months of summer, I am emphasizing laughter in my daily routine. Laughter and joy are the sound and emotion associated with the Fire element.

I need at least a giggle a day to get my minimum need of vital joy and well-being. Who knew I'd have to make an effort to ensure this 'kleinigkeit' in my day? Shouldn't laughter, at least a chuckle, be easy enough to come by? It's not like I need to hoard it and save it for a rainy day. But I've found I have to make a conscious effort to make it happen. But practice makes habit and good habits lead to success. Laughs away!

So where to start?

Words:
The Funny Times (www.funnytimes.com)
Calvin and Hobbes
Puns
Dr. Know of the weekly Willamette Week (http://www.wweek.com/portland/articles.sec-121-1-dr-know.html)

Performace:
Mel Brooks (Blazing Saddles, Space Balls, Young Frankenstein, to start)
Kids in the Hall ('Buddy Cole and the Dinosaur', Chicken Lady sketch, etc.)
Colbert Report
Ministry of Silly Walks (Well, really all of Monty Python)
The 3 Stooges
Jim Carroll's ("A Day at the Races," etc. from Praying Mantis)

Links:
http://www.snorgtees.com/
www.fark.com (esp. the photoshop contest)

Other:
Getting an unsolicited piggy-back ride from my husband
Talking with my oldest, bestest pals

Maybe you have some dependable sources of giggles and laughter? Nothing violent, political, gross or sarcastic (though these things can elicit laughter too sometimes), just good, healthy fun?

Aug 20, 2012

Me and Qigong

After two years of saying 'shoulda, coulda, woulda' about learning some qigong for self-care, I finally jumped in to the summer session taught at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) in late July. The specific form we learned was Hui Gong (pronounced "way gong"), which means "Heart Wisdom" qigong and focuses on the energy of the Heart. This form is taught in the summer as the 'Heart' is a part of the Fire element, which corresponds to the hot, bright month's of the year's cycle, summer.

Qigong from afar looks kind of like a person pretending to swim very slowly underwater, or perhaps dancing among the clouds with some flourishes of the hands thrown in for poetic dazzlement. Really, it is a beautiful form of combined mindful exercise, breath and meditation. Each movement and repetition has a very specific wisdom, purpose, meaning and execution.  I find it helpful, and very interesting, to know the story behind each motion, but it is not necessary to understand the background in order to get the benefits of the exercise.

I was finally prompted learn and practice qigong because of a worsening overuse injury to my shoulder. Indeed, the exercise worked wonders and I am amazed how quickly I began to heal and feel less pain immediately after the first class. Ideally, I would practice the Hui Gong routine daily (it takes anywhere from 20-40 minutes for a sesssion), but I usually manage 4-5 times per week.

Also, in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) paradigm, the physical is not separate from the mental, emotional and spiritual health of a person - all of these things combined is well-being. So while my qigong exercise helps with my shoulders, arms and neck, it also helps me to deal with stress, be more communicative, and especially, achieve a deep sense of self-security and calm, as I've noticed over the past several weeks.

Aug 19, 2012

Hydotherapy, Part I

"Hey Kate, What is hydrotherapy and how should I use it?" you might ask. "Hydrotherapy," I would answer, "Is the use of water for therapeutic reasons"

The term can refer to drinking extra water to help flush toxins from your system, released during a bodywork session. But more often hydrotherapy is used to describe using heat or cold to encourage the body's healing process.

Hot (Thermo) Hydrotherapy

Using heat can be very comforting to tense muscles, though I would not encourage it on injured muscles alone. Contrast hydotherapy (the use of both hot and cold) is ok, but I am getting ahead of myself. The idea with using heat is that it increases blood flow and thus nutrients, hydration, white blood cells and other good stuff to an area that needs it. Hot hydrotherapy can come from an electric heating pad, a hot water bottle, hot tub, sauna, steam room, hot shower, etc. As with all forms of hydrotherapy, it is key to not overdue it; do not use heat for more than about 15-20 minutes, or else it will increase inflammation in the area and be counterproductive to healing and relaxation. 

Cold (Cryo) Hydrotherapy
Using cold packs is great! I highly encourage using more cold packs - this coming from someone who used to hate even the thought of ice packs. But I've learned, you don't have to use ice - just using cool is even beneficial. Cold therapy slows down muscle spasm, calms down the inflammation response, and actually can increase circulation, just like hot hydrotherapy. Cryotherapy can come from ice cubes in a plastic bag, a cold pack, a frozen bag of peas, or even submersion in a bathtub of cold water, augmented with several trays worth of ice cubes. Again, do not overuse any form of cold hydrotherapy - use cold for max 15-20 minutes, otherwise it becomes counterproductive, just like in hot hydrotherapy.

Contrast (Hot-and-Cold) Hydrotherapy
Contrast therapy is a really great way to get the benefits and comforts of both hot and cold hydrotherapies. The cold calms down spasming muslces, while the heat keeps from the area from  up too much. Contrast hydrotherapy is invigorating and the routine ensures that you don't get bored or distracted and leave a cold or hot pack on for too long. It can be seen as more work, but if you use a shower to switch from cold to hot and back again, it can be a pretty convenient and effective way to get the maximum benefits from both hot and cold. There are two 'rules' to keep in mind with contrast therapy. 1) Use the ratio of 1:3 for cold and hot therapies. Use a cold pack for 1 minute, followed by a hot pack for 3 minutes, and so on. Or use cold for 3 minutes and warm for 9 minutes, etc. And 2) Always end on cold, to discourage inflammation.

Aug 18, 2012

Handedness


In my last post I talked about overuse injuries. On a somewhat related topic, I wanted to discuss briefly handedness. Most of us are right-handed. By most of us, I mean all mammals (if not also even the larger animal kingdom including birds, lizards, amphibians, insects, etc.) are right-handed. Researchers have observed animals, such as hunters, having a dominant paw/hand with which to grab hold of prey, be it a cheetah or a chimp. Even killer whales have been observed to have handedness, but instead of hands, or even fins, most killer whales will attack their prey with the right side of their jaws. This fact has been deduced by examining the bodies of orcas that have washed up on shore - the majority have dominant scarring on the right side of their mouths, presumably from their prey fighting back.

Why handedness? Why not use both hands equally? One common explanation is straight out of a modern economics text: a dominant hand is a physiological expression of specialization. Extending the theory to our hands, if you have two hands and do all tasks equally with either hand, then your accomplishment of tasks will be mediocre, or average. But if you allow one hand to dominate, to become specialized, then it can excel at tasks that require either extra dexterity (dexter coming from the latin for 'right') or strength, or both. 

In the uniquely upright human body, our handedness goes beyond just a dominant arm and hand - it usually amounts to a full-body spiraling affect, usually starting in the hips, if not even in the legs and feet, and just to make things fun, the body will throw in some counter-rotation, often masking the underlying primary rotations. In a word, we are all a bit lopsided, one way or another. But with this lopsidedness comes heightened skill, and thus, more likelihood of success, be it catching a fish in your mouth if you're a porpoise or sticking a forkful of food in your mouth or writing a birthday card to your grandma if you're a homo sapien.

Homework: Just for kicks, try walking 'left-legged'. Walking seems like it would be a pretty even-footed endeavor, but actually if you are right-handed, you likely walk with a dominant right step. Try walking for a block with your left leg being the dominant limb. When I do this exercise, it takes a bit of concentration, even just the minute it takes to traverse a block. I also feel like my hips straighten out, comparatively, though I don't notice them being crooked when I walk normally. And I can feel my torso lengthen as my deep core muscles (in this case, the psoas) become more evenly engaged. Even better, when I think and run left-legged, my poky jogger's pace actually increases, without any extra effort, other than the mental concentration on my left leg. That, I think, is pretty darn cool.  

Aug 17, 2012

Overuse Injuries


A while back I overworked my shoulder to injury. It took about 6 weeks of overuse. We tend to think of injuries as being a traumatic one-time event, like stepping off a curb funny and twisting an ankle, or slipping and landing on your wrist with a bang. But our bodies can suffer injury from overuse, or what is also called 'wear and tear,' as well. Overuse injuries can be just as painful and debilitating as a sudden traumatic injury. Overuse injuries occur when we perform an action over and over again, and don't provide the conditions for the soft tissues to heal. Often poor body mechanics can be a major contributor to wear and tear injuries.  Also, it is common to develop compensation patterns, such as using other muscles that are not as strong or designed for the task, further complicating the matter.

How can we heal from an overuse injury?

First things first: get extra sleep and extra water. Treat your body like it's sick, cuz it is. Instead of your white blood cells attacking foreign invaders, they are attacking the damaged and destroyed cells at the site of your injury. And of course, limit, reduce or stop doing whatever action led to the overuse injury - which is easier said than done. But however you can creatively avoid or limiting further damage to the area, the better. This does not mean to not use or move the injured area. Far from it. If you stop moving the joint or limb, you will only encourage adding insult to injury by inducing long term joint immobility. Frozen shoulder, anyone? I don't think so. Keep moving! Go for a walk, swing your arms, roll your wrists, rotate your neck and  head, any kind of slow, gentle movement that explores the range of motion of a given joint is vital - and do it at least daily. Better yet, find a Qi Gong class. Qi Gong is a slow, methodical exercise, developed from thousands of years of experience and wisdom in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Use Hydrotherapy, meaning use cold and hot packs to increase circulation to the area. And get some good bodywork. I went for a energetic-form of Shiatsu for my shoulder injury - it worked beautifully. But any kind of therapeutic massage will help balance the soft tissues, boost endorphins and encourage healing by promoting the parasympathetic response. And finally, find out, either from a massage therapist, a trainer, a physical therapist, or any licensed professional who works with and understands the musculoskeletal body how to balance the muscles around the injured area

Aug 15, 2012

Not Knots


I get asked all the time what a muscle knot is. Believe it or not, there is no scientific definition of a knot. It is an everyday term we use to describe that hardened lump of soft tissue we find often in our necks, backs and shoulders, though a knot can occur just about anywhere. My non-massage therapist husband explains it as good as anyone: "a knot is when my muscles are being stupid and they won't relax."
  
In massage school, you never find out what a knot really is; 'knot' is not a term to be found in the glossaries of any massage textbook, much less Anatomy & Physiology, nor Pathology books. Nonetheless, as a massage practitioner, I can palpate the knots that my clients feel and expect me to rid them of. And it is my professional obligation to record these so-called knots on my chart notes. But there is no medical terminology equivalent to 'knot,' I cannot report finding a "moderate-to-severe knot in the lateral aspect of the right rhomboid major."

Knots exist, yes, but what is a knot if it is not a knot? A knot can actually be a few different things, and it is my job to differentiate and treat the lesion, or abnormal tissue, accordingly. Here is a non-exclusive list of what a knot can actually be:

Knot I - When muscles "are being stupid and they won't relax," is otherwise known as Hypertonic muscles. Hyper (Over) and Tonic (the tone of a muscle) is when a muscle is contracting too much and is staying in a shortened state.

Knot II - The opposite of a Hypertonic muscle is a hypotonic muscle, hypo meaning 'under'. It would seem a contradiction that an underly toned muscle would feel 'tight' and 'knotted', but often it is the hypotonic muscles that cause us the most pain. Hypotonic muscles are overly lengthened, stretching beyond comfort in order to compensate for the hypertonic, or overly-toned muscle that lay opposite of them.

Knot III - Adhesions, as the name implies, are glued bits of soft tissue, specifically the connective tissue called fascia. Adhesions of the fascia can occur within a muscle, between two or more muscles, and even between muscle and viscera. Ideally, all the tissues of our body, despite whatever names and distinctions we've created for them, should slide and glide past each other, like wet spaghetti noodles. But when our bodies become dehydrated or suffer trauma, or have reduced circulation because of lack of movement, the 'spaghetti noodles' of our tissues dry out and get glued, or adhesed together. These adhesions are palpable and lead to reduced range of motion in our joints and less power in our muscles.  

Knot IV - Trigger Points are special knots. They really do feel like tiny, tight knots deep in the muscle belly, and sometimes like a taut band, like a fishing line. Trigger points occur specifically in the muscle tissue, unlike adhesions, which can occur in the connective tissue, but like adhesions, are also caused by dehydration, trauma, and/or lack of mobilization of the tissues. Trigger points are unique in that they send referral pain to other area of the body when palpated.
  
Each of these 'Knots' is different and should be approached and treated as is appropriate.

Aug 14, 2012

Some Fun Features

Some (new) features offered at PDX Massage Therapy to help things run smoothly and happily, for both me and my clients:

• Accept Credit Card and Debit Payments: For over a year I have been using the Square device to accept credit and debit cards. Square, which is now on the verge of becoming ubiquitous, is a tiny chunk of white plastic that fits into the headphone jack of your smart phone or tablet and reads the magnetic stripe credit cards when you slide them through. Payment is immediate and secure and you can receive your receipt via email or text message. This little device runs smooth and true and has proven entirely reliable.

• Schedule your Appointments Anytime - Online -  I have integrated online scheduling on my website, using as service called Full Slate. I tried out a few other online schedulers, such as Schedulicity and Simplify This, but Full Slate won out because it does not require you to set up an account in order to book. You do have to supply either a phone or email, but you don't have to create yet another online account. The web app is also very easy to use, intuitive and fairly customizable. The smart phone app is not great, but it looks like there have been some recent improvements made.

• Increased Availability - I am now available 5 full days per week, up from just 2 days week. I made the jump and signed a lease to an office in a new location and can now determine my own schedule and focus my time and energy on my own practice and business fully 100 percent.

• Enhanced skills and knowledge - Since the new year, I've taken workshops in myofascial techniques to specifically treat Headaches, TMJ pain, and issues involving the Shoulder, Arm and Wrist, which is in addition to some of the other workshops I've taken to address issues in the Neck and Head, Back, Hips, Legs, Knees and Feet. And there's so much more to learn! I am a bonafide massage nerd. I can't get enough of the stuff. Thus the workshops are supplemented by time spent studying articles, books, research, webinars and with other practitioners.

Aug 13, 2012

New Things


This year has been one to embrace the new: in February I exchanged vows with the love of my life beneath the vaulted timbers of the Redwood Forest in Hoyt Arboretum. We were treated to a rare dusting of snow, while golden sunlight simultaneously shone through a veil of low clouds and tall trees. Drops accumulating on the pine needles high above fell on our heads, but otherwise we stayed dry, if not very warm. And so I am newly a wife, and even have a new name. And with this new name, I have new articles of daily living, like a driver's license, check books and an address: I am Mrs. Dennington now, it still sounds so formal. As well, I am learning a new signature and opting to change my name on Facebook, Gmail, my website, and all my other online affiliations. The process can be slow, but perhaps after a few decades of holding one name, trying to change it won't happen all at once.

Another exciting new change is the expansion of my practice. In June, I signed a lease for a charming office in historic Dahl Building in the Irvington neighborhood of NE Portland. I spent much of June and July painting, furnishing and setting up shop there. And with this new space for my practice, I now also have much more time. Before, I only had 2 days a week with which to practice, now I am able to practice and offer bodywork services full time. This is a tremendous step forward along my path as an independent practitioner. My goal is to have a fully-self sufficient practice by the end of this year. I am well on my way to attaining it, so long as I keep my eyes and my heart open.