 Kneeding Less, Getting More |
| February 17, 2006 |
Kneeding Less, Getting More
By Michael Hylton
Katherine Kelso was one of my passengers. Although my A-job was ecological restoration it was not paying the bills. The B-job was driving an airport shuttle. Massage schools and body workers, movie houses and coffee shops are common as cloud-cover in Seattle. Although apparently exhausted, Katherine responded to my probing with a little about the San Francisco workshop she was returning home from. I’ve always been active and my neck had been stiff following a motorcycle injury three years before. I remember the discomfort of craning around to look at passengers, “You can get rid of scar tissue?” I asked. “Yes! When is a good time for you?” My love and fascination with therapeutic massage had officially begun. Within three months Katherine’s healing hands had completely restored neck and back mobility. Unfortunately the rapid healing would be more rapidly undone – but I am crashing ahead of myself.
I was so amazed by the power of bodywork I started researching schools. “Why can’t I be a massage therapist?” I thought. I was familiar with the massage school where Katherine graduated and taught. Marc Weinblatt, LMP, a previous housemate whom I respected and admired had graduated from Brian Utting Massage School too. My mentor Svadesh (whom I pirated from Marc) is a BUSOM instructor.
Brian Utting’s rigorous attention to anatomy and physiology attracts and produces outstanding body workers. The school is more expensive than the others but you get what you pay for. To prepare myself for the demanding coursework I took their required Intro to Swedish Massage. The introduction is outstanding. Prospective students get a feel for the variety and caliber of BUSOM instructors. The deep and thorough pace combined with their attention to healer as well as healing impresses students or scares them off. The distinctive style none-the-less results in everyone giving and receiving a full body Swedish massage.
As I was going through the application process – and it is a process – another class was suggested. If the intro was good, Anatomy and Physiology for Massage was great. Study groups and practice partners were suggested and described during the intro class. By the end of the first anatomy for massage class I had organized and scheduled a study group and practice partners – which was a hoot! The whole experience was great until the day I dropped off my application.
I dropped off the application and there was not a cloud on the horizon. Unusual in Seattle. I should have been suspicious. I drove six blocks and turned north onto Aurora Avenue. Traffic was backed-up for as far as the eye could see. Just as I slowed, stopped and surrendered to my fate a electrical utility van heavy with equipment flew up and out of the tunnel. The screech of tires seemed to go on and on and BAM! My life changed.
I was bedridden much of the next three months. Easy for a human being but difficult for a human doing. If I am not busy I am planning to be busy. And uncomfortable is an understatement in the extreme. I kept a pain-journal for legal insurance. Dealing with insurers and lawyers, going to medical appointments and agonizing about income, whether to go to massage school or not – life aggravated the pain and frustration. Ultimately I reasoned The Big One decided I ought to learn to receive and be still instead of always giving and doing.
Eight years have passed. So much has changed. Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a reminder when I over-do. Gratitude has replaced resentment and anger. Lessons in The Universe’s massage school included: cranio-sacral, Aston Patterning, Polarity, aromatherapy, flower essences, herbal heat packs and hot rocks, acupuncture, chiropractic, Rolfing, yoga, Naturopathy, psychic healing and modalities for which I cannot remember names.
Finally, healing is about relationship. Time meditating on the inner princess and inner warrior is the best time. Practice massaging all of life’s pieces and parts into an integrated whole. The Divine and the Significant Other and everyone else on this lonesome planet earth kneed love. Oh, and it seems like all healers say one thing in common, “BREATHE.”
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Massage, massager, self massage, free massage, massagers, chair massage, massage tool, massage toy, massage table, massage oil, massage therapist, massaging, massage chair, masseuse, masseur, massage machine, massager machine, vibrating massager, aromatherapy oil, aromatherapy, massage book, massage video, learn massage, massage course, back massager.
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