25 Nov 2013

Don't Call Me Names

Let's make an important distinction:
Massage Therapists work in clinics.
Masseuses work in parlours.
I am a massage therapist. I am not a masseuse.

I've been called a bodyworker (though this term makes my skin crawl due to the the combination of the words "body and "work"). My profession doesn't need any help with misleading the public about what services are provided in a massage; enough people are already confused. I tolerate bodywork as a term for soft tissue manual therapy because the non-registered massage providers who understandably didn't want to be called masseuses had to come up with something that represented their field of work. There are some very gifted non-registered practitioners at work. Some of the people who most inspired me to study massage therapy were of such status. Because they chose not to take the registered road they have a different type of practice but I do not have any less respect for their lifelong commitment to helping others through touch.

As a massage consumer it is difficult to anticipate the quality of services provided by a non-registered provider. Anyone can hang a shingle and say they give a good massage but there is no regulation on training requirements and this is why the profession of registered massage therapy makes such a stink about defining what their profession is and does.

Our clinic.
I understand that there may be a generational difference in the meaning of the term masseuse. I can never bring myself to correct my 90 year old grandfather on this flub. But I want people to begin to understand what massage therapy currently is. Not everyone has caught wind of this, as I recently experienced at the clinc where I work alongside physiotherapists, a chiropractor, a Chinese Medicine practitoner, and another massage therapist. Our centre is bright, spacious, and inviting to those who are looking for a serene environment to tackle their health issues. Regardless of our clinic's appearance and branding, a gentleman dropped into the clinic to inquire if we did *wink-wink* "special massage". I clearly informed him that we did not ever provide that type of massage. I assure you that no seductive neon signs were luring him to our clinic, he just saw our sandwich board and inquired. This happens; massage may be associated with sexual touch. Massage has such a vast variance of interpretations worldwide that we are fighting an uphill battle in distinguishing the difference in types of hands-on techniques.

Let me clarify how it works. In order to be permitted to practice within a plethora of clinical settings my registered massage therapist colleagues and I have obtained extensive schooling (3000 hours), taken board exams, pay yearly dues to the college with which we are registered, obtain yearly continuing education credits, and adhere to CMTBC by-laws & The Health Professions Act. The reason these reserved title specifications are in place is to protect the profession. When the public talks about getting a massage we want their language to reflect the type of treatment received and leave no grey area about the therapeutic value of the services.

I don't intend to be hung-up on terminology but the differences in connotation between the terms massage therapist, bodyworker, masseuse are significant. I think it's fair to say that pretty much all of us in this profession consider this terminological variance a pet peeve. Please help us clarify this difference by using the appropriate terms.

In British Columbia the profession of massage therapy has claim on four titles that are not to be used by anyone other than their registered members. If you provide massage in this province but are not a registered member of the College of Massage Therapists of BC you may get some heat from our organization about what you are calling yourself; yes, there are people keeping an eye on such things.

The reserved titles are:
  1. Massage Therapist
  2. Registered Massage Therapist
  3. Massage Practitioner
  4. Registered Massage Practitioner
It's a minor linguistic difference to those who may not have a decent grasp on the English language and I'll forgive them and those who are simply ignorant until they know better. But for the rest of you, please don't interchange the word "masseuse" with "massage therapist". While my clients usually leave the treatment room happier than when they arrived I absolutely do not consider this providing them with "happy endings".

See you in the clinic (not the parlour),
Dana

20 Nov 2013

Universal Children's Day

The world's children need regular healing touch.
November 20th is Universal Children's Day. In 1954 the United Nations established this day to encourage all countries to institute a day to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children.

The Liddle Kidz Foundation is hard at work year round to empower caretakers to use infant and pediatric massage to promote the health and well-being of children who have a harder start to life. Not all of these children are fortunate enough to find themselves in an orphanage and many are forced to live rough lives on the street. The group the video below traveled to Vietnam to educate caregivers in orphanages about providing massage to the kids in residence. In some instances this was the second visit by Liddle Kidz to a few orphanages and the caregivers recount their first-hand experience of how the incidence of sickness has decreased, requiring less intervention of acute medical care, thus showing that touch has an important role in health and well-being.

This group went overseas "not to start a fire, but to pass a torch" and it appears that they have done just that by sharing their skills and knowledge. This foundation's work empowers communities to use positive touch to promote health and happiness of their liddlest members. This video sheds some light on an incredible program that I hope to one day soon participate in.


I have written more elsewhere in this blog about the necessity of touch, please have a read and don't neglect to reach out today and touch someone who is special to you.

See you in the clinic,
Dana






4 Nov 2013

Sweet or Salty Body Scrub

Just the other day I recommended to a client to try using a sugar body scrub. She had an unfortunate reaction to the chemicals used in a pool that left her swim suit discolored and her skin rough and scratchy feeling. Sounded like the pool maintenance crew added too many additives! She was already well versed in kitchen cosmetics, even sharing with me her favorite hair repair recipe that she used weekly during her platinum blonde phase that included mayonnaise, raw egg, and an avocado. This is what I shared with her to help regain her usual silky skin texture:

Basic Body Scrub
You already have the ingredients in your
pantry for luxuriously soft skin.

  • 1 cup sugar or sea salt
  • 1/2 cup oil (olive, almond, canola - whatever is in your cupboard)
  • essential oils, if desired 
The ratio of oil to sugar/salt will depend on the consistency you like most.  Start with a little bit of oil and gradually add more depending on your preferences.
If you have eczema or another dry and cracked skin condition, stick with the sugar. You will find that the salt will irritate your already sensitive skin.
Olive oil leaves the most nourishing effect on the skin, but leaves you smelling a tad like olives. Almond and canola oil have no scent, but are lighter and less moisturizing.
Experiment to find what suits you best.

And some tasty variations:

Coffee Body Scrub
  • 1/2 cup coarsely ground coffee
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 8 drops vanilla essential oil

Lemon Mint Body Scrub
  • 1 cup sugar or sea salt
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 Tbs lemon zest or 5 drops lemon essential oil
  • 1 Tbs dried mint or 5 drops peppermint essential oil


How to Use

After your initial shower wash down, with your bowl of scrub concoction poised tub-side, turn off the water and begin your scrub. Take a scoop of the mixture in your hand and begin massaging it into your skin in gentle circles. Try to massage distally on your limbs toward your core in order to promote venous return, there by aiding your circulation, i.e: ankle to hip, wrist to shoulder. Don't forget to exfoliate your lips too! Conveniently, the scrub dissolves before you can over exfoliate. Rinse thoroughly - without soap to keep all the moisturizing goodness on your skin - then towel off and enjoy your newly lustrous integument.

The shower floor gets a bit slippery, thanks to the oil, so please be careful! There's nothing wrong with sitting down to perform your exfoliation.

See you and your gleaming epidermis in the clinic,
Dana




Sources:
http://yeswecoupon.com/diy-sugar-scrubs-makes-a-great-gift/
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemade-sugar-scrub.html
http://petitelefant.com/how-to-make-homemade-sugar-scrub/