Sit Up Straight! (and play nice!)

It's easy to forget about posture. So easy that we do it every day, hunched over a computer or desk, gripping a steering wheel, picking up heavy or bulky objects. Hell, I know better and I do it.

It's easy to forget until the middle of your back is twitching the wrong direction or screaming at you. And then you wonder what you did to annoy it so badly.

So what. You can still feel it, right?

When you do remember to sit up straight, do so. When you do remember to roll your shoulders back, do so.

That little bit of remembering helps.

When you kill the engine on your bike and finally lean back, how does that feel?

Like a good long stretch, right.

That's all your body needs in most cases.

Because on a bike you're leaning forward, no matter a sport bike or a cruiser, you're leaning forward into the curves and into the wind, holding your body upright with just your arms. We'll get to the arms at a later time, but for now, just go stretch out your back.

Roll your shoulders back, take a few moments to stretch your arms up over your head and lean as far back as you dare to without falling. If you're in for the night, lay down and place a folded pillow behind your shoulder blades to stretch back for a few minutes. If you're really daring, hang your head and arms off the side of your bed or couch... but that's only till the blood rushes to your head and suddenly you feel like dancing on the ceiling.

Your body will thank you in the long run, you know.

~

Where I play Dictionary and say No to Massage Envy

I believe in just a handful of things that I'll really get passionate about and stand up for, and most of those can be whittled down to the basic "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto you" (even though I'm not entirely sure about that whole 'unto' part).

I've stood up (when I was like 8, I think) and said "No, don't tear that house down to make a parking lot, just move it somewhere so someone else can live in it!" or something along those lines. I had this heart-pumping, scared in the gut but I gotta say something feeling.

Eh, they tore it down anyway.

I quit my job when they accused my best friend and co-worker of stealing from the business. She didn't deserve that attitude and it felt wrong to be there after that.

Eh, they had replacements for both of us within the hour.

I could bore you with short stories of what I feel is important in this world, but I won't.

Instead I'll start the latest story about massage, art, and Massage Envy. (Which I am also choosing not to link to because I don't care that much and if you want to go visit one, then you're on your own to find it.)

1. I take great pride in my hands and what I can do with them - carving, painting, shadow puppets and massage.

2. I'm continually fascinated by the human body and what it can do.

3. I loathe 'hot-stone' massages as a way for a spa to up-sell a ridiculous 'treatment' for people who are willing to pay for it when all it does is burn my hands so I can't give an effective massage in the end.

4. I believe in damn good customer service. To a point. There are some customers that should be shot & drowned, but since I don't believe in shooting & drowning I just ignore them till they go away. But for everyone else I've ever dealt with I do my damndest to make sure they're taken care of. (See also: People Pleaser)

~

Let me begin by saying they contacted me. Massage Envy promotes the availability of massages at mid-rand prices. The local one opened several months ago and has sent out postcards to area licensed therapists to ask if they want a job. I got a card and ignored it. I heard the rumors in the massage community, that they work a therapist hard for low compensation.

So I recently got a phone call from someone in their office who tried her hardest to sell me on coming to work for them. I said I'd come check it out and we'd see from there.

I wandered in, introduced myself, got the "Look how pretty our offices are and how nice the rooms are!" tour. It's nice. It's very nice. It's a great set-up, if they actually had the therapists to fill the rooms. But they don't and that's why I was one of the therapists they called.

Low pay. Sure, they'll clean the sheets and book the appointments and provide the lotions, but I would have to give a Deep Tissue Massage to anyone who wanted one for $39 bucks.

HaHa.

(I'm not really laughing here, just so you know.)

It's corporate. It's all pressed pants and polo shirts and 'same-same' so every client gets the same treatment in a familiar place no matter which Massage Envy they go to.

I have a hard time with that too. About as much as the silliness of hot stones. But that's another story/rant.

When she told me I'd have to cover my tattoo? That was the deal breaker. I got the scared in my gut but I gotta say something feeling and I said "Thank you, but I like my body art and don't want to cover it. Goodbye."




See? This tattoo is on my wrist. It says "Respiri", which means "Breathe", "Spirit", "Inspiration" - Inspire: to provoke ideas and to draw breath in. (It's a multi-functional tattoo that way.)

Breathing is essential for massage. Something that's said quite often, really. To cover this up in a place that promotes massage and relaxation would be just plain wrong.

That and it looks so much more silly to put a band-aid over a tattoo or like the girl at the front desk, her nose ring. Many therapists enjoy and encourage alternative lifestyles because they feel something different in this human shell than most do. So let them. Let us.

5. I'm not covering up my body art or putting hot rocks on your back. But I'll get those knots out and show you how to breathe easier. And that's all I really want in return.

~

Back to class

I'm taking my 12 hours of continuing education this weekend so I can keep my license up to date.

Today's class was on nutrition and aging, skin problems, and other physiology related stuff for massages.

Tomorrow's class (which I'm driving four hours round trip to take) is going to be an actual hands-on class for side lying massages.

Altogether, it's great to brush up on a few things and learn a few new things. Being in touch with the body is exciting and I admit how giddy I get about how it all works and feels!

As for the site - we're working on design, logo, ideas, and future plans for this name - and we're aiming BIG! Here's to unique!

Intro: Ride & Rub

So you already know that motorcycle riders are a unique breed of folks, ones who have an unusual affinity for bugs in their teeth...

And massage therapists are all hands-on all the time, always wanting to twist, manipulate, rub, and fix anyone with an aching muscle.

This Massage Therapist happens to be a Motorcycle Rider and so she knows what it feels like to have your hands cramp from gripping the throttle for several hours, the weight and ache in the neck and shoulders from helmets and leaning into the wind, what it feels like to climb back out of the saddle after a long ride and stretch your legs out.

We plan on covering stretching techniques, body manipulation, posture habits, bikes, gear, routes, rallies, and more bikes on this site. Stop by to see what else we throw up here as we wander the roads and work the muscles.