Original post: Beauty Shop Blog
August 30, 2010

Claire Marie Miller has created an evolutionary approach to the ancient art of reflexology. This unique application is easy, and fun to do, without injury from over use of the thumbs. Claire’s background in Radiology (1972-1979) set the stage for her vision of the foot reflexology in a clearer anatomically based foot chart.

Claire attended the premier Boulder School of Massage Therapy in 1979 where she was introduced to this simple yet profound modality. She began the certifying of therapists in the Integrative Reflexology® method in 1993, to date Claire has instructed 10000 plus students, around the country and internationally. She continues to be an innovator in the field of reflexology. Muscle Reflexology and the Meridian system, Lymphatic detoxification with reflexology, and the fun, and therapeutic Hot Rockin’ Reflexology and Sweet Feet Aromatherapy are 3 of the new innovative classes recently created. AMTA Registered Massage Therapist * Nationally Certified Massage Therapist * NC-LMBT #0580. Claire Marie Miller Seminars, Inc. is an NCBTMB approved continuing education provider. Provider #049535-00 Website www.integrativereflexology.com

Original post 8/29/10:  massagemagazine.com

Each year, adolescent girls who live each day with facial disfigurement are given the opportunity to learn, heal and gain confidence at the annual Angel Faces retreat.

Angel Faces is a nonprofit group that coordinates retreats and support for the girls so they can reach their potential. The girls journal, swim, create art, and are provided spa services.

Massage, facials and mani/pedi services are provided to the girls, and have a lasting effect.

“The spa experience component of Angel Faces is crucial to the healing that happens throughout the week,” notes the group’s website. “After a facial and a massage with the trained therapists at Angel Faces, we can actually see the girls’ hearts open up and their faces shine bright as they emerge from their treatment. Their soul now shines through; their light of hope emerges after a period of darkness.”

CA BOTANA, a supplier of body-care products to the massage-and-spa fields, donated products from its Doctor D. Schwab, Ambrosia Aromatherapy and Sea Enzyme skin-care lines to Angel Faces’ 2010 retreat.

“The girls were very excited to use the products and enjoyed the pampering,” said CA BOTANA’S Kathryn Vargas. “We would like to spread the word about this amazing charity and the good they are doing for these girls.”

For more information or to donate to Angel Faces, visit www.angelfacesretreat.org

“Break down, break through”.

I was recently reminded how therapeutic a good, solid breakdown can be and I am thankful.  Just about 4 weeks ago, my husband BJ and I decided to move from Colorado to Rhode Island – effective sooner than later.

It’s an exciting change, one that brings us home to family, friends and my Pisces soul to the ocean, a great place for breakdowns by the way. It is also a change that moves fast; warp speed.  There is a tremendous amount to accomplish and many times I just feel behind. But at 38, I understand that with all life change comes a new load we must carry and sometimes during the transition that load gets a little too heavy.  I believe that’s when you have to let the emotions flow and have a good breakdown to reset the scale.

A few days ago, my load felt a little too heavy and I needed to let the good times roll.  I had a breakdown.  For me, this was nothing less than a therapeutic exercise, followed by a long nap.  The greatest thing about a good solid breakdown is that you not only get to feel the emotions, you can also get to hear them coming out.  To me, this is a cleansing experience, a rebirth of sorts.  Certainly not to be overdone though, for a good breakdown is exhausting and is never recommended on a regular basis.

Since my fervent outpouring earlier this week I’ve been back to my optimistic self, ‘hi old friend‘ and feel ready to handle the challenges ahead.  This experience has reminded me of when I was in massage school at BCMT. It was 2004 – 2006, I went in the evening and worked at least one job throughout that time, sometimes two.  My schedule leaned towards the hectic side of the things and I found myself on a quarterly break through schedule.  These episodes were dramatic, honest and never accusatory, they were simply healthy releases of emotion.  Releases that allowed me to connect with the awesome undertaking of learning to become a massage therapist and going into a career where I would be helping people live better lives.   It was a huge deal, it was a life change.

My friend Carol, (a.k.a. BCMT blogger ‘admin’) recently told me that you can’t make the big things happen, they happen all on their own.  I wholeheartedly agree with that statement and just like this move east, massage school was part of my journey in life.  I feel that we must trust our paths and know that if we are meant to be somewhere or do something it will happen, all on its own.  In the meantime, enjoy the ride, trust in the process and treat yourself to a break through once in a while.

Original post: August 2009

Get on the phone, fire up the computer – call, email your massage therapist to book a massage today.  Everyone needs massage, here are 10 quick reasons to get on the table soon:

1) Be successful
2) Dare to live your life to the fullest
3) Improve your mental alertness
4) Give yourself what you need and deserve
5) Be all that you can be
6) Prevent injury and illness
7) Relieve pain and stress
8 ) Slow down and recharge
9) Improve your sleep
10) Because face it, you are never going to have an extra hour just hanging around to do nothing so book today for all the reasons I’ve given you and get it on your schedule.

The “Massage School Makeover” sponsored by Massage Warehouse, Massage Today and the World Massage Conference brings together the professional products community of manufacturers, publishers, educators, and business professionals. Beginning May 1, 2010, alumni, students, and schools may nominate and vote for their school of choice to win a valued makeover. The event will amass nominations, votes and essays until Oct. 30, 2010. And, just for voting or nominating you will be registered and eligible to win $100 Massage Warehouse gift certificates, products from Professional Product Partners and free access to the World Massage Conference online.

BCMT can’t win without your help and YOU can’t win if you don’t vote. So show your school some love and get a chance to win some goodies for yourself, too!

Vote today on the Massage Today website: www.massagetoday.com/msm.

BCMT alumna, Jessica Shada, funded her education through the AOS Degree program with outside scholarships – rather than financial aid. “I wanted to graduate debt-free”,  explained Jessica. And she did! Jessica has been generous enough to share her experience and expertise. With her help BCMT has developed a scholarship workshop and accompanying scholarship starter kit to help applicants and enrolled students secure funds to pay for their schooling.

So here are some hot tips from Jessica for getting ready to apply for “free money” for your education:

#1.  Save your BCMT/massage school application essays. You’ll be able to incorporate them into a “master essay” for all your scholarship applications.

#2. Save/get extra copies of your letter of recommendation for school. Again – to reuse for scholarship applications.

#3. Get organized: gather financial information (what you compiled to apply for financial aid!), write out significant volunteer work and job experience. Most scholarship applications will ask for information about one or more of these topics.

Finally, get started on your master essay. Jessica recommends you draft a 1500-word essay from which you can cut and paste relevant answers for scholarship “personal statement” questions. Answering these questions will provide you with ample material that is specific to you and your career goals.

Master essay questions

Here are questions you should answer:

• How have your life experiences (family, employment & volunteer work) contributed to your present goals and/or hindered your ability to reach them?

• How will your education/career benefit you, your family, and your community?

• What was your relationship to massage when you were younger?

• Why have you chosen to pursue this career?

• What are your career goals?

• What is the future/employment trends for this career?

For more information about how to win scholarships, request a scholarship starter kit today: admisssion@bcmt.org

Stone massage is a form of bodywork that involves the application of heated or cooled stones to the body during massage. The use of materials of different temperatures on the body to bring about healing is an ancient technique. Stones have been used in many cultures, such as in the Native American sweat lodge, to adjust the temperature of the healing environment. Traditional lomilomi (Hawaiian massage) goes further and applies heated stones directly to the body.

Although stones have been used for many years as an adjunct to bodywork, their use was formalized in 1993 by Mary Nelson-Hannigan of Tucson, Arizona. Nelson-Hannigan developed a form of massage using a system of 54 hot stones, 18 frozen stones, and one room-temperature stone, which she calls LaStone Therapy. Hot stone massage is a specialty massage that uses smooth, heated stones. They are often basalt, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well, but they can be other types. The heat is both deeply relaxing and helps tight muscles release.

During the massage, the therapist warms up the body with traditional Swedish massage, then massages you while holding a heated stone. As the stone cools, the therapist replaces it with another. The therapist might also leave heated stones in specific points along your spine, in the palms of your hand, on your belly, or even between your toes to improve the flow of energy in your body.

There are many benefits associated with both hot and cold stone massage including (hot stone);

• Deep relaxation, the warmth relaxes both physically and mentally
• Stress reduction
• Improved circulation is improved –muscles have an increased blood supply, improving function
• Quicker elimination of toxins
• Relief of pain in muscles and joints

(cold stone):

• Refreshes and stimulates the mind.
• Helps to relieve tissue congestion (such as the sinuses).
• Soothes irritation.
• Cools down the body on a warm day or during hot flushes.

Stone therapy also benefits the massage therapist. It reduces stress and strain on the therapist’s hands, wrists, and arms so that the therapist can work longer and more efficiently. The stones do the heavy work, so that the possibility of repetitive stress injuries to the therapist’s thumbs and wrists is decreased. Considering adding stone massage to your practice? BCMT offers stone massage a few times a year. The next class starts: August 27-29/Friday-Sunday. For more information, visit the BCMT website, or call 303-530-2100.