More Mobility Massage Newsletter, Fall 2014

My blogging abilities still need some work. I would like to have the newsletter here for you to read, but haven't been able to make that happen. So, you will have to click on the link below and it will magically appear.

Fall 2014 Newsletter

5 Things I Can Tell You After My First Oil Pulling Session

Oil Pulling is the latest health fad out there, but has been an Ayurveda practice for hundreds of years. I'm sure that you, like me, have been hearing and reading about it everywhere. If not, I suggest you do plenty of your own research. This blog is to document what I have chosen to do and how it is progressing for me.

This may be a scary photo, but I wanted to document where I'm starting.

1. Start with the smallest amount of oil. I used a rounded teaspoon of coconut oil (see #2). My mouth started producing saliva. This increased the volume in my mouth creating a swallowing reflex. I knew that I did not want to swallow the oil. 
2. If using coconut oil, warm it to a liquid form before starting. I naively figured that the solid coconut oil would liquefy instantly in my mouth. Not true, some bits took over a minute to liquefy. It made me want to chew and could have increased the saliva production (see #1). 
3. If you don't like the taste of the oil, this will be much harder to do. I don't mind coconut flavor and cook with it often. This is not the same thing. The flavor intensified as I was pulling the oil through my teeth and holding it in my mouth. I may get some sesame oil and try it. I am hoping it will get easier as I use the coconut oil.
4. Stay near a trash receptacle. Remember that you do not want to swallow the oil, and you do not want to put is down your drains.  Between the increased volume and the over powering flavor, I was starting to gag after only 5 minutes. With a target time of 20 minutes I was not going to make it. 
5. My teeth feel like I just came from a dental cleaning.  I brushed my teeth after spitting out the oil and rinsing my mouth with warm water.  My teeth feel polished smooth.  The plaque buildup between my front bottom teeth is gone.  Usually I am scraping this off with dental floss (and cutting my gums).

I will be continuing the oil pulling process.  Look for a follow up next week to see how I am doing.  Do you use oil pulling? Or have you ever tried it?  Would you like to try it along with me?  Leave a comment and/or a picture to let me know.  We can encourage each other to keep going with it.

Thanks for stopping by!

New Massage Room

Things around here have been very busy over the past month.  The new massage room is finally complete. My loving husband received the first massage in it this week (after shoveling snow). I'm sure that there will be some refinements as I work and discover where things should be.

My Virginia license hangs prominently over the water cooler as you enter the room.

As you turn to the left into the room the massage table is centered for ample access in any direction.

My Loving Husband calls this my 'Ego Wall', displaying my certificates and diploma.

Around the corner hangs a Reflexology chart.

A Hobby Lobby find.

A re-purposed computer cart holds my paraffin bath and hot towels. The middle shelves pull out for access.

A family heirloom hangs above the mini refrigerator.

Looking back toward the hallway.

A storage bench from Kohl's under a great find from Lowe's. I could not have picked a better matching color.

This view shows the spacious entry with a side view of the water cooler.

The walls are Dew-mist Delight, the trim is Mushroom, and the doors are white with brushed nickle hardware.

Let's see what's inside.

Hand crocheted bottle holster.

Plenty of room for storage.

Hooks and hangers for the client.

Oils and lotions.

Essential Oils and Special treatments.

The lamp is also from Lowe's.

I hope that you enjoyed the photo tour. I left out a few special details though. Subscribe to my blog to be notified when my next blog posts covering those.  If you have any questions about how we did something or where we found an item that I didn't cover leave a comment.

Focus on the New or the Old?

It is pretty much a given that all Bloggers post a New Year's Blog.  The question I asked myself was should I review the past year, or should I look ahead to the coming possibilities.  I'm certain that there are many ways to include everything such as writing two separate posts, following a timeline, or write before and after scenarios.  I wonder how you, my readers, feel about it.  Do you mark the new year with resolutions or celebrate that you survived another year?

I believe that we all need to review our past to a certain point.  I like to look at things and consider what I could do better.  There is always room for change, but I don't believe in waiting.  I try to make changes as I see the need, not on a special date or when 'everyone' else does.  That is the extent of my thoughts on resolutions.  I do wish the best for you if you choose to make them.

To look forward to the new year I have a project planned.  My husband and I will be creating a new massage room.  My current room is a little cramped and a larger room has become available.  It is empty and the possibilities are endless.  I plan to document the progress in regular blog posts.  I invite you to come along for the journey and make suggestions if you like.

The first step will be to prep and paint the walls.  We are planning a No VOC paint in a light green such as Beach Glass:

Dewmist Delight:

Flowering Cactus:

Delicate Frost:

Pick your favorite and leave a comment.  

Thanks for being a part of our lives.

Booking Appointments

If every time I heard someone say "I need to make an appointment with you" they actually made an appointment, I would always have a full schedule.  Unfortunately, this is usually followed by one of many excuses; i.e. 'I don't have my calendar' or 'I need to find a sitter'.  Comment below with the best excuse you've heard from a client for not booking a massage.  I will make recommendations during their session, but it is ultimately up to the individual.  I am not 'pushy' about booking appointments. I feel that a person knows when they are ready for or need a massage.

If it is a regular client, I give them a couple of choices that I know are available so that they can make a quick choice. If they aren't ready to schedule, I usually ask them to call me the next day.  I already know that they will book the appointment, it is just a matter of how soon. I have the same general times that I like to book my appointments, but for a frequent client I am willing to adjust my schedule occasionally.

If it is someone that I have not worked with before, I give them my business card and suggest that they review my web site.  This usually answers questions that they may have as well questions they haven't even thought of.  New clients are usually less sure of booking.  Even after they book an appointment it is more likely to be rescheduled or canceled.  Just like many doctors I have specific days and times that I will see a new client.  This allows me to set aside more time for intake and evaluation.  I want them to relax and become comfortable with me not feel rushed or anxious.

I like to keep things simple.  I use an on line calendar to keep track of my schedule.  I am familiar with how it operates and it doesn't cost me anything.  It syncs between my computer, my tablet, and my smart phone so I always have an up to date schedule.  I can set reminders for myself by email or notification and email confirmations can be sent to the client automatically.  This helps prevent missed appointments. Which is an entire topic on it's own to be discussed in a later blog.

Along with the excuses I'd love to hear how you respond to get the client booked.

Traits for Self Healing Part 10: Kindness Quotient

Part  10 of a 10 Part series based on the article "The Traits of an Energy Practitioner" by John Kroneck (July/august 2013 'massage & bodywork'). The final topic in our series is Kindness Quotient.

1. Stillness
2. Presence:
• present moment
• awareness
3. Non attachment
• nonresistance
• nonjudgment
4. Beginner's Mind
5. Acceptance
6. Inspiration
7. Responsibility
8. Kindness Quotient

Kindness Quotient 

The Dalai Lama has been quoted as saying that his religion is kindness.  It takes great strength and insight to live a life with kindness.  That is, an individual can only act with consistent kindness if her heart and spiritual understanding are mature. Many times we find that forgiveness of others is only the beginning, and that it is more important to forgive ourselves.  Along this line, there will be some clients demonstrating behaviors toward themselves that are shy on the kindness quotient.  A practitioner's demeanor that exemplifies kindness can introduce a reality not yet acknowledged by a client.  A truly kind act can be powerful and change the world for an individual. A truly kind heart can change a neighborhood. A kind neighborhood can change a culture.  And what a kind culture can do is yet to be realized.  How is your mastery of kindness?--John Kroneck

Traits for Self Healing Part 9: Responsibility

Part  9 of a 10 Part series based on the article "The Traits of an Energy Practitioner" by John Kroneck (July/august 2013 'massage & bodywork'). This week's post is on Responsibility.

1. Stillness
2. Presence:
• present moment
• awareness
3. Non attachment
• nonresistance
• nonjudgment
4. Beginner's Mind
5. Acceptance
6. Inspiration
7. Responsibility
8. Kindness Quotient

Responsibility
Accepting responsibility for our interpretations, perceptions, and intentions of given situations is a vital dynamic to spiritual growth.  The act of owning responsibility  for our interpretations, perceptions, and intentions has a vibration and frequency of energy that colors our inner experience and the environment around us.  To be clear, we are not being asked to accept responsibility for others' interpretations and actions.  To know the difference is an important skill to develop.  As we embrace that which we are responsible for, we are more likely to become aware of opportunities to influence the respective state of affairs.  At the heart of how we perceive and interpret situations, as well as the intentions behind our actions, are the beliefs that we carry defining ourselves.  Accepting responsibility involves the willingness for self-awareness and the readiness to take action that adds value to the given experience.  How is your mastery of accepting responsibility?--John Kroneck

 I often perceive a situation to be in my favor when I really have no bearing on the outcome.  My perception and interpretation may be selfish or self-centered.  I feel that taking responsibility for my actions is much easier than taking responsibility for my emotions behind the actions.  When I take responsibility for my feelings I am better able to control my actions. Our interpretations can only come from what we have experienced and therefore our intentions tend to also be the same.

We are responsible for our actions, but NOT for how others react to them.