Padanaram Massage   Faith Sweetser Barry lmt

It is clearly miserable outside. Mid-winter blues are setting in big time. What to do? Let me think about this for a minute…..

GET OUTSIDE!   I know, I know that’s crazy talk.  There is an exhilaration to facing a stormy day-even an incredibly awful day like today.  “Faith” -you say- “it’s not even snowing!”  Honestly,as someone who is owned by a Golden Retriever,I can tell you;bundle up-put on your sunglasses to protect your eyes and pretend that it is actually sunny, and go outside!  Even just a few minutes braving the elements will get you going.  Really~do you want to spend your life ducking in and out of cars and buildings?  Or is it more fun to say to your friends and co-workers~”What are you talking about? I was out marching about for 15 minutes! It was great!”

TURN ON THE T.V.!  whaaaaa?  On-demand t.v. has yoga for beginners, Bollywood dancing, 90’s style step classes. If you have a Wii or that other thing-try out some golf, or bowling (do you know there is actually an injury that I see that I call Wii Elbow from people doing too much Wii?) or BOXING! How about Just Dance? Do you have that in your DVD cabinet? Guitar Hero?  Any of those things shake off the blues,give it a try.

of course GET A MASSAGE!  Cold,miserable,stiff or in pain from overdoing my other suggestions? Call your massage therapist. Ask for a Swedish massage with aromatherapy~and you want the room warm.  Swedish Massage is all about relaxation BUT it still moves your muscles(a different form of exercise),increases your circulation,gets fluid moving through your joints.  And the aromatherapy? Pick something that’s a pick-me-up like a mint family or a mellowout like lavender or sandalwood. You will feel so much better.

BUY SLICE AND BAKE COOKIES,PUT THEM IN THE OVEN AND READ A BOOK!  needs no explanation.

I have already done one of these things on this lousy day,no chance for a massage but I will massage my feet and break out some aromatherapy after I work and then…..I think I will skip to the cookies and a good book. How about you

Had a new client this week. New to me. New to massage. Got me thinking about all of the questions about massage that I get asked,and the ones that don’t get asked.

“Do I have to get naked?” is probably the most frequent question that doesn’t get asked.  But it’s lurking there,alll the time!   NO! You do not have to get naked!  I will step out of the room.  Please undress to your level of comfort.  Most frequently a client takes off all clothing except their boxers/unders. You are covered by a sheet and a blanket.  I have yet to see a naked client NOR do I want to!  During the massage I only undrape the area that I am working.  So,no,you do not have to get naked.

“Can I talk to you during the massage or do I have to stay quiet?”  It’s your massage,talk if you like, or not.  If you speak to me,I will answer you,if you don’t speak to me,I won’t!  Some clients like to talk to me until they feel comfortable,some~like my sister Suzy~chatter away the whole massage!  I have a weekly client who does both-she will tell me when she arrives that she is going to be quiet,or that she is tired and will zone out,or “I have SO many things to tell you!”  Whatever you prefer.

“I didn’t shave my legs~I am so embarrassed!”  Doesn’t matter to me!  Don’t worry about shaving your legs or getting a pedicure etc. You should arrive for your massage showered and at ease.  Please don’t imbibe alcohol,smoke pot etc.before a massage. It’s just not smart. And if you have taken any pain medication~tell me!

“Does it have to hurt? My last massage hurt”  Absolutely not! Screaming silently in pain does not a good massage make.   A long time ago I had a very soft spoken client who was clearly quite rugged.  No matter how my elbow dug in~not a peep! Even when I asked him!  The only way I could tell I was hurting him?  His feet would come off of the table!!

and last but not least-probably the most ASKED question

“Do YOU get massage?”   Yes, I do!! And when I win the Mega-millions, I will get a massage every day!

Snowy Sundays-so terrific for catching up, reflection, warming your feet by the fire after a good round of shoveling. Often-it’s when my cell phone rings!  Weekend warriors who might otherwise plow their car thru the snow and go to work-decide they will handle this snow themselves! And get every last flake off that driveway.  So the back is twisted,aching,a little twinge starting in that right elbow..etc. “Help Faith! Can’t hardly move”   Massage is a good answer and I love what I do enough to drag myself off the couch and respond.  Unless it’s still snowing and blowing about 40knots!

Anywho-some ideas-these have nothing to do with ‘Should you be shoveling at all?’  ‘Am I going to give myself a heart attack?’ If you are asking yourself that…don’t do it.

1. Put the shovel down way before you are tired. And don’t try to do it all in one fell swoop. Bend ze knees! Wait–forget all that—Find a 12 year old and give them $10 to do it for you. Or $20,whatever.
2. Icing the overworked muscles as soon as you can will help a lot.  The conventional wisdom used to be hot shower to reduce lactic acid buildup but there is a lot of disagreement  around now.
3. If you are one of my clients-you might have some China Gel~slap that on! You can use it as much as you like but don’t forget to wash your hands;nothing like China gel in your eye.

Do some gentle stretches, get down with some gentle yoga. And yes, get a massage a.s.a.p.  There’s nothing like it for a back that’s just plain tired. Even it’s just from reaching for your wallet to pay the young flexible neighbor kid.

Thanks for checking in on my new blog.  Massage to soothe,healing touch,relaxing ideas. My favorite quote about massage is from something Maya Angelou said   “I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a  friendly pat on the back.”