I had a once in a lifetime opportunity, I was able to massage a cheetah in Africa.  Actually,  I massaged one of the cheetah handlers too.  So, after spending about a week in Cape Town South Africa I went on a tour that forever changed me.

The tour was a wine tasting tour for the most part. The awe inspiring beauty of the South African wine lands is enough to take your breath away and the wine , well its exquisite to say the least.  Our funny and lively tour guide Rob ushered us to 4 of the finest wineries S.A. has to offer. Each one only exceeded in elegance by the previous. Until we got to the Spier Winery, it was a more modest winery with a lovely lake and a Cheetah Preserve.

I could barely contain my excitement when we entered into the cheetah area.  I learned a great deal about cheetahs that day, but the massage therapist in me could barely contain my eager fingers to explore the fascinating musculature of the speedy cheetah legs.  The pelvis itself was very different then the typical house cat as well as the powerful thigh muscles that were exaggerated from other cats I’ve seen.  A cheetah usually runs a consistent speed of 75mph, but a cheetah has been recorded as running as fast as 125 mph. Let’s just put this in perspective, a Corvette Twin Turbo accelerates at about 7.2 meters per second. A Ferrari Enzo boasts about 8.1 meters per second, which takes it from zero to 60 mph in about 3.3 seconds [source: AskMen].  A cheetah picks up speed faster than both of those cars. Its specialized body accelerates at 10 meters per second and gets up to 40 mph (64 kph) in three strides [source: Cheetah Conservation]. Wow, how is that possible?

The cheetah has an enlarged heart and lungs that enable it to take in lots of oxygen and circulate it in a very effective manner. The nostrils of the cheetah are also larger than most animals its size; the head is small and the waist is thin, with the body long. The cheetah owns long and powerful legs. The cheetah’s tail acts like a rudder as it runs. It also has semi-retractable claws that allow it to gain ground with every step. Interestingly, the cheetah cannot roar, but it can purr as it inhales.[source:ehow.com] Now that was my favorite part,  as I was massaging this cheetah he started to purr the handler looked at me surprised, he said that the cheetah almost never purrs for strangers, I proudly said “maybe so, but I’m a massage therapist” he laughed and said that I must have that special touch then!

Well you know how word gets around fast in the cheetah pen, one of the handlers then asked me if I would work on her poor shoulder too.  So I did, she had a messed up rhomboid and trap.  Yes, it was amazing, and now when my clients say they want purr while on my table I just tell them, go ahead,  if it’s good enough for a cheetah…

Burr!  We have had quite a dose of cold weather lately and winter has just begun in Colorado.  Here are a few of my personal favorite suggestions for keeping warm this winter:

1.  Get regular massage!   As most of us know, #1 benefit of massage therapy is “improved circulation”.  The reason most of us have cold feet, hands, noses, and achy muscles during these fridgid months is “poor circulation”.  There isn’t a better way to keep the blood, oxygen and energy flowing.

2.  Step it up a notch and book a “Hot Stone” massage.  Depending on the price, therapist, etc.  hot stone massages come in different varieties.  Sometimes stones are placed on the body for healing or chakra balancing or integrated into a full body massage session.  In my own hot stone sessions I incorporate stones and hand manipulation.  The stones provide warmth to the tissue incouraging relaxation as well as a feeling of true groundedness.  You literally melt into the table.  For you massage therapists out there, we offer a great continuing ed class in hot/cold stone massage Feb. 19-21.

3.  Now for the adventurous, one of my favorite treats is a session at the Izba Spa in Denver.  This is not a 5 star resort but a simple, slightly unusual spa experience.  Izba spa provides Russian body therapy that incorporates hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, and massage.  A popular session includes a hot tub soak, a full body massage, and 2 Russian Banya treatments.  The Banya is equivalent to a sauna.  After a hot soak and 1/2 of your massage you go into the Banya to heat up again.  Here, “the whisks of oak/birch leaves are taken out of the water, shaken above the stove to warm the branches, and used to gently stroke, brush and tap the body from neck to toes, followed by a honey rub to draw out toxins to soften and condition the skin. This therapy has both antiseptic and detoxifying qualities.”  Then back to finish your massage, another Banya treatment and a final shower.  The prices are reasonable and most therapists are of Russian decent.  The massage is very deep tissue so be prepared!  I love the experience because it is something out of the ordinary.

So, don’t forget to take care of yourself this winter and get regular massage.  Plus, massage gift certificates make the perfect holiday gift..buy them from your favorite massage therapist for the best value.  Happy Holidays and Stay Warm!

BCMT grad Johanna Velazquez has been spotted working at the Body Bar Urban Spa and Boutique in L.A.   From what we can see, it looks like a classy spa and top job for our esteemed alumni.  Check out their website here.  Johanna’s rise to fame is best described in her bio below found on the Body Bar website.

She was born in Glendale, CA and has always known she wanted to help relieve people from stress and pain. Starting at a young age, Johanna started experiencing and learning the wonderful benefits of massage and knew she wanted to give people the same gift she had found. With her passion to learn the unique art of massage, she moved to the state of Colorado to attend the Boulder College of Massage Therapy. There she received 1,000 hours hands on training on various massage modalities. In addition she studied Anatomy, Kinesiology, Pathology and Energy Work. Her journey to Colorado and the education she received helped her accomplish her goal and gave her room for personal growth. Returning back to her home state, she is excited and ready to be a part of her community through Body Bar Spa by providing massage that will nurture mind, body, and soul.

Good luck Johanna – we wish you the best!

BCMT Students Provide Massage to Sian Kaan Employees

As the New Year approaches, most of us do some kind of year in review, we think about what we’ve accomplished– and struggled with–in the last 12 months.  And then, we make resolutions. We put new hopes, dreams, and plans into place for the new year.  It’s been an emotional year, a phenomenal year, a year of huge milestones at BCMT.  In March, we took our first group of students on a Study Abroad/community service trip to Tulum, Mexico. Our students soaked up this experience, embracing a new culture, making new friends and making a difference. Each one of them had the opportunity to provide massage for the very first time to the hard-working folks at Sian Kaan Ecological Reserve.  They also worked on day laborers – men who do back-breaking work – during a day trip to Ek Balam.  The people they worked on had to be encouraged to receive massage.  For them, it was a luxury that people like them cannot afford - or  something strange that they wanted to stay away from. What they found out what that massage therapy is medicine–it heals–and that they deserve it.

In September, ten faculty, staff and alumni set out to make a difference, this time in Dharamsala, India. The plan was to train 20 or so Tibetan refugees in massage therapy over a six-day period. A BCMT alum, Maria August, inspired us to do this work. She had been working with a local nonprofit, Lha Charitable Trust, and told us that their plan going forward was to incorporate massage therapy into their core training programs.  We all knew that the experience would be life-changing, tranformative, amazing. What we didn’t know is that we’d be forever bonded with Tibetan refugees and their plight for freedom, opportunity, and preservation of their culture. 

In addition to my career as an Orthopedic and Sports massage therapist I am honored to be a cog in marketing wheel at BCMT.  With this, I get to see all the cool stats about our blog; number of visits, what readers are searching for and how they end up finding us.  In a recent review of our blog statistics, specifically the phrases that people are searching for online which ultimately bring them to Green Chi, one phrase in particular caught my eye; ‘being a massage therapist’.

When I was in school at BCMT I heard time and time again from instructors about their profound experiences with massage and how we would experience similar things when we were professionals. Stories about clients who exhausted all medical options then turned to massage only to have life changing results. Stories of clients who have lived in pain for 20 years and after just a few treatments of massage were able to live pain free.  Stories of massage therapists spotting an irregular mole on their client’s back and saving them a battle with cancer after their dermatologist was able to confirm that it was cancerous but it was caught early enough. And stories of clients who couldn’t sleep and were so exhausted that they could no longer perform their jobs.  Again after a few months of regular massage sessions they were sleeping like babies and experiencing higher job performance.

Story after story.   For the 2 years while I was in school I kept hearing about these experiences and the only thing I could think was ‘no way, I’ll never affect someone’s life like this’.  Sure, maybe I would help people relax but change lives?  No way, those are once in a lifetime events reserved only for the best of the best.

If there is one thing that I’ve learned to do well over my 3.5 years in practice it is to eat those words.  For I have facilitated health for others in a profound way and most definitely have changed lives forever.  I am the best part of someone’s day, I get to nurture others in a society where nurturing takes second seat and I am blessed with a stress free profession.  I have stood in my office after a session and thought ‘if that was the only massage I ever did, all the money, the hard work and sacrifice would be worth it’. For me, being a massage therapist is the hardest job I’ve ever had but it also makes me realize that I’ve never loved a job before.

If you become a massage therapist you will experience profound moments, you will change lives and you will do your part to make the world a more peaceful place.  The fact of the matter is, massage is just that powerful.

Male students Travis and Mike practicing sports massage techniques in Nate B.'s sports massage class.

Every week I hear the same questions arise from apprehensive male students.  Can a male massage therapist make it in this profession?  So being that I’m a female, I thought it was high time that you  got your answers from the guys!  So I’ve decided to track down some of the male massage therapists in the area and ask them about their business and practice.  I feel that there are some concerns and questions that everyone wonders about.  From my own expierence,  I have had so many massages I can’t even begin to count them all,  and with all honesty,  I have recieved my most amazing massage and my least favorite massage from male therapists.  The best one pretty much blew my mind and I connected with my inner self in a way I never had previously.  The least favorite was with an absent minded drone that took no passion for the art form.  I know that’s rough, but it was quite unpleasant.   So,  I am completely unbiased and I’ll present their insight for you. 

First on our agenda is Jack Vandenberg.  Jack has a private practice in Boulder, he rents space in a  chiropractic office.  Jack,  what is your insight into being a male massage therapist?

“Coming into the massage therapy field as a male has been quite interesting.  I remember having quite a few questions about entering the field as a male.  I questioned whether or not it could be a viable career option for me.  I sought out advice from a male practitioner before finalizing my decision to go into massage.  For the first half of massage school, I continued to have some doubts about the feasibility of developing a massage practice.  But, as I developed my skills, the doubts I once had began to vanish.  My experiences in a wide variety of massage internships while at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy enabled me to realize that my massage skills were valued by a variety of potential clients.

I am now in my 5th year of running a successful private massage practice.  Though I am aware of the fact that some people prefer a female therapist, I never feel that being a male massage therapist is a disadvantage.  Many people are seeking a massage therapist who can effectively meet their needs regardless of gender.  And I do have a number of clients (both male and female) who prefer a male therapist.

For me, gender seems to play less and less of a role in my massage practice.  What seem to be more important are the passion, skill and energy that one brings to the table.  I have come to know quite a few male therapists since I’ve been in the profession.  I’ve never heard these male therapists speak of difficulties in the massage field based on gender.”  

Thank-you Jack! On a personal note, I have been worked on by Jack on many occasions and found his work to be completely amazing and beneficial, one time I was hurting so bad I couldn’t hardly move Jack saw me on a Saturday and brought me incredible relief.

Todd Ackerman has been in practice since 2006. His comments are as follows:

“There are definitely fewer men in this field. I have only felt that my work has been affected by being a male a few times. I was doing regular sub work at a PT clinic (which is no longer in business) when I first began my career. I subbed a number of times, then suddenly received no more calls from them. A few months later I was informed by someone closely related to the clinic that it was due to the fact that they were wanting a female therapist for the sub work. I also know there are a few local spas will not hire males.
Many people definitely tend to have a preference as to the gender of their therapist. This can be due to past personal history with one of the genders, their comfort level of being touched by the same or opposite gender, or often I hear that ‘men can do a deeper tissue massage’. When the later comes up, I often defend that I know of many female therapist can work just as deep as many male therapists. My best friend told me outright when I began massage school, “dude, you’re not touching me”. It was not a reflection on me, he was merely thinking of his own comfort level. This societal view of a male working on him was overcome soon after I had began my private practice. I had been working on his wife for many months and he soon began booking regular appointments with me. There are a lot of different personal reasons that a client may base their choice of therapist. I think being a male has helped my practice just as much as it might have hindered it. The important thing for both genders is to be sensitive to what the client needs. This should not be taken personally by the therapist.”
 

Thank-you for your insight. I havealso had some bodywork from Todd, who does extensive Myofascial work. He is talented and gifted therapist whom I would recommend to anyone . Todd helped me with an injury and some stress I was holding on to, it was a wonderful session and I left feeling much less pain and more relaxed.

To me, a good massage can be done by either gender. A great massage is done by someone you trust, and someone whom you can let “in” to facilitate your healing process. That being said, it’s a personal choice each client makes, but I can not imagine missing out on the chance to have amazing bodywork, because of personal bias.

Yesterday, I had a complimentary ticket to go to an all day ”Get Motivated” seminar at the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver.  Now to be honest, it took me until noon to get the motivation to go (perhaps because I am not a fan of crowds, traffic, or motivational speakers) but a 1/2 day’s worth of some useful information and recounted experiences from famous, noteworthy guests actually got me pleasantly motivated.  I like to think of myself as a pretty motivated person.  I enjoy my life, I am physically active, I enjoy my job, I enjoy my clients, I enjoy helping others, but sometimes I do get a little lazy.  I am enjoying everything so much….sometimes I get a little lax in the financial department and before I know it, I realize I could really benefit from a few more clients, have better time management, be a bit more organized, and have better knowledge of where my money is actually going and positive ways to invest in my future.   If I had arrived at 8 am when things got started, I may have been overly motivated for one day but my “pleasant” dose of motivation came in these 4 key points that I took to heart and home with me:

1.  Understand, Be Aware, and Educate yourself on your financial situation and options.  Knowledge is Power.

2.  Give…..what goes around comes around.

3.  Be grateful.   Acknowledge with gratitude those who have helped you along your journey in life.

4.  Be a nice person to everyone.

This is a pretty simple recipe for success.  There is nothing wrong with keeping things simple and for many of us in the field of massage therapy and care giving steps 2-4 come quite naturally.  However, don’t neglect the importance of number 1.  Being in positive control of your finances is very important to being a stable, happy, care giver.  Sometimes a “pleasant” does of motivation goes a long way!

As massage therapists, we know the best results come when clients are educated in self-care and take an active role in their healing. We understand how much self-care will help maintain the progress made in our treatment sessions. For long-term health and healing, self-care is a necessity; we know this. So why do I find many massage therapists not caring for themselves? It’s the same excuse given by our clients: No time.

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When Jill Reynolds graduated as a Certified Canine Massage Therapist from the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in 2002, she decided that every month she would donate eight hours of massage to a deserving dog group.

Having spent her life hiking and backpacking in the Colorado backcountry, Reynolds selected Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado as a natural recipient of pro bono work.

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How can I look at joyous healthy children playing on a well equipped playground with proud doting parents looking on, and not think of the young naked children I saw in India running around an open trash area near the side of a busy street rummaging for food or begging with outstretched hands for something to satisfy their hunger?

How can I enter a large open market filled with fresh wholesome food and not think of the marketplace of those vendors in Dharmasala sitting cross-legged in a space just wide enough for their gaunt bodies and long enough to display their meager offerings of a dirty bundle of scallions or a torn basket of fly infested potatoes and cabbage?

How can I turn on my faucet and flush my toilet at home and not think of the filthy gray contaminated water running in a deep ditch alongside the narrow streets, while a dozen thin rusted metal pipes poking out of the ground nearby convey this unsanitary water to the community?

How can I walk through my tree lined neighborhood of comfortable homes and cars in the driveway, and not see in my mind’s eye the massive tall concrete structures in India, with each designated dwelling no bigger than a small bedroom where an entire family of adults and children exists cramped everyday?

How can I not breathe in the fresh aromatic smells of a Colorado mountain morning and not remember the dank pungent odors of cow and dog waste and exposed trash wafting from the streets when I made my way to the school in Dharmasala?

How can I teach another student in a massage class and not see and feel to my core the enthusiasm, shear joy, and excitement of the Tibetan refugees who came each day to my class with a kind of thirst for knowledge I had never experienced in all my years of teaching?  This, despite their history of struggle and adversity that scars them physically, but ceases to define who they are.  Their smiles and voices will always ring in my heart, and continue to teach me about the profound resilience of the human spirit.

These sights, thoughts, and smells will forever be a part of me.  They will serve as reminders of a short period of time in my life when I dared to venture out of my comfort zone of my home, my community, and my country, and step into another world where living day to day took on a whole new meaning.

- Gaye Franklin, Massage for Peace Ambassador