Revealing the new website!

Calm Spirit Bodywork

There are still some things that need fixed but I think you will get the drift. I hope that everyone shares their opinions with me and if you see a typo, PLEASE tell me. :)

Off to play with Shiatsu dog.

New family member

We have a new addition to the family. A 12 week old Shih-Poo. That is half Shih Tzu and half Poodle. So I have a Shiatsu dog, sort of. :)

His name is Marley and he is a great puppy!

Good ole liniments

Back in early 2007, I began my exploration into making liniments with Chinese herbs. While my intent was to just use them on clients and my loved ones, I have found a demand for them.

My first batch was made in January, my second batch in June/July. I made a die da jiu (trauma liniment) and a tendon relaxing liniment. At first, if someone had a jar, I would sell it to them that way. Later, I bought some nice amber colored bottles with dropper's to make it easier. When the liniment is handy, it is also easier for clients to use it, rather then have to go to Kamwo and have it shipped. Good for everyone all around.



One positive comment from a man who hurt his knee and didn't know what to do. I suggested his wife lightly massage the trauma liniment into the knee and surrounding area a few times a day. She reported the swelling decreased within hours. I also suggested san huang san but his wife wasn't to interested. :)

More information on treating common injuries can be found in Tom Bisio's book A Tooth from the Tiger's Mouth as well as practical information on prevention, diet and exercise.

And just a small suggestion. After you buy the book, you will read of various products that are good to have on hand for when that injury does occur. Trust me, from experience I can tell you, have that stuff handy. Many things can take days to ship and by then your injury is worse. I highly suggest everyone have some trauma liminent and san huang san, just to name a few. If you are local to me, I can supply both those things. If you know me, you got my number. :)

Peace!

Pain in the neck ~ Part 2

I wrote Part 1 two months ago, click here to read about steps you can take to prevent headaches. Eventually if you are like so many of us, one creeps into your body. So you got a headache. What now? You grab the OTC med's and pop a few. But after awhile, you need more of those pills to ease the pain and after all the reports on the news about various side effects, who really wants to take that stuff?

One thing that has been suggested to me for headaches is magnesium. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking additional supplements though. Personally it has helped me in preventing headaches and I even take less then suggested. A herb called butterbur is known to help with migraine headaches. Always remember to do your research before taking herbs, especially long term. I am not an advocate on taking any single herb long term and rarely take any single herb to begin with. In Chinese Medicine, herbs are prescibed in formula's only.

Got it in the sinuses? Try a drop or two of ravensara essential oil on the sinus cavities and a cool cloth. Have a partner push gently on the following acupoints: Bladder 2, Stomach 3, and Large Intestine 20.

More to come in the next post. For ex. headaches that present in the front of the head, or the sides of the head..... this time I won't wait so long to write the next part. Promise.

One photo to please the masses

OK.... masses is a bit of an over statement. I believe there are 3 people who read my blog. :) THANK YOU 3 glorious people who find me either pathetic or amusing.

I had another glorious day in NYC this week. It was a tad ugly out at first but luckily no rain. Later in the day the sun did pop out. I was up there for an acupuncture appointment and my body was grateful. Before my appointment I was walking about uptown, checking out the Cathedral of St John the Divine. Amazing from the outside, I promise to go back when I have more time to take a tour.

On 110th Street, I saw this crazy guy staring down at me:

Has it really been this long?

I swear my thoughts were always on my blog. However, real life gets in the way. Things such as re-doing my living room. This meant 2 trips to Ikea's as well as countless trips to throw old things away. Out with the old, in with the new. Hours spend assembling tables and shelves, rearranging stuff, ect. Unfortunately I am not done, as I got sidetracked with a weekend spent in NYC.

More tui na studies! Hurray. It was amazing. Good food, one place I can remember called the Zen Palace. Don't go there if you are in a hurry though as we were late getting back to class and missed some piriformis work.

Here is a demonstration going on at Union Square. The place was packed and it was hard to get a good photo but I tried.




Sunday morning before class I sat in the park eating my bagel, watching all the dogs with their humans. Some crazy squirrel tried to eat my leg too! Once he realized I wasn't a nut, he left. Boy was he wrong. :)

All and all, things are moving along fine. I will be holding somewhat regular Tui Na clinics in order to get some practice in. I am hoping that I get a full schedule with that.

My website is coming along. I haven't been able to get with the designer till today for updates/changes but it should go live in no time.

Peace and love!

Favorite movie

If you read my profile, you will see that one of my favorite movies of all time is Whale Rider. Having just watched it again..... for like the 100th time.... I thought I would recommend it to my readers. It has nothing to do with Chinese medicine. It takes place in New Zealand. It is about a young girl who goes against tradition to become a leader. While many people haven't heard of this movie, it won many awards and by far is one of the best films I ever watched. One day I will get a copy of the book written by Witi Ihimaera.

Keisha Castle-Hughes plays Paikea and has to be the most mesmerizing character. The hardest of hearts will melt watching her on screen.

So rent it or better yet, just buy it. Trust me, you will want to watch it a few times.

Exciting changes coming

This is so exciting to me. I have been practicing massage and asian bodywork therapies for almost 7 years now and have worked in various situations. Sometimes an employee, other times as an Independent contractor. But in all these years, I never actually named my business. It was always just my name. Poo... how boring is that!

But one creative day a business name popped into my head and I LOVE it. I asked a few of my friends for suggestions and tweaked it a bit. Now, I will NOT reveal this until I get it safeguarded with the state but once I get the ok from the state (and by the way, its looking pretty much a sure win) I will tell everyone! I can't wait..... to me, it sort of feels like a new start. Anything can happen now. Watch out world. :)

The second new exciting change is a website. I have had 2 websites that I build for free. One with my DSL account, the other with my MAC account. I am not saying they are totally horrible but they shout out "non professional". So I broke the bank and found someone and he is currently working on some layouts to share with me. I also sent him my likes and dislikes and we will take it from there. Can you imagine designing something for someone you never met and know nothing about? I pity him.... he has no idea what is has gotten himself into. LOL

I have every intention on linking my site to my blog and then my blog will be less anonymous. Yikes.... you will know who I am. But then I can share this awesome new website with you and that makes me happy.

Happy days ahead!

Tui Na vs. Shiatsu

Tui Na defined by the AOBTA states the following:

"Tuina is a method of Chinese bodywork characterized by the smooth gliding or rolling movements of the hands and arms. Through Tui (push) and na (grasp), kneading, pressing, rolling, shaking, and stretching of the body, acupoints are opened and qi flow is realigned in the musculo-tendon meridians. Tuina techniques are used to treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal and internal organ disorders by opening stagnant meridian channels and encouraging the flow of qi into deficient areas. Tuina utilizes TCM theory in assessing energetic and functional disorders. In addition, the use of external herbal medicines and therapeutic exercise is also included."

Shiatsu defined by the AOBTA states:

"The primary emphasis of Five Element Shiatsu is to identify a pattern of disharmony through use of the four pillars of examinations and to harmonize that pattern with an appropriate treatment plan. Hands-on techniques and preferences for assessment varies with the practitioner, depending on their individual background and training. The radial pulse usually provides the most critical and detailed information. Palpation of the back and/or abdomen and a detailed verbal history serve to confirm the assessment. Considerations of the client's lifestyle, emotional, and psychological factors are all considered important. Although this approach uses the paradigm of the five elements to tonify, sedate, or control patterns of disharmony, practitioners of this style also consider hot or cold and internal or external symptoms and signs."

Actually the AOBTA defines a few styles of Shiatsu so I am sharing Five Element with you. My studies included Zen shiatsu, and theories of TCM and 5 Element. Combining all I was taught, I should just call it The Therapist Shiatsu. :)

In my Shiastu training, we did learn many of the same hand techniques that I have learnt in my future studies in Tui Na. So I am finding it hard to define my sessions with clients. Some Shiatsu clients have noticed a slight difference in my work and really enjoy it but all I have done is included some of the protocol I am learning in Tui Na class. They ask me, what are you doing, Shiastu or Tui Na? Well, definitely both. They ask, is one better then the other? Hell no, they are both excellent modalities.

Now I am left wondering what to say the session is and I think Asian Bodywork is ok but still very extensive in possibilities. It has become obvious that it is impossible for me to say..... This session is shiatsu or this session is tui na.

Herbal Aid Kit

I don't often recommend products to my readers but today I make an exception. I was browsing Kamwo Pharmacy's website and found they put together a kit of their most useful Chinese herbal remedies.

Click here to take a look.

The kit is made up of items for cuts, burns, bruising, the common cold, the flu, viral infections, stomach issues and even a remedy for bad breath. It covers most typical illnesses families get yearly.

I actually have a few of these items in my own little kit but plan to add more. Possibly I will just buy the kit so that I can have them all handy and to share. The price is right, at $24.95. There is nothing worse then getting sick and not having something to take when you need it. And if you are like me, you do not live close to a Chinese Pharmacy.

Take a look, read the information. See if its for you. If you are interested, don't wait till its to late. Buy them while healthy, especially if you are prone to that yearly cold or flu. Flu season will be here before we realize it.

Blogging etiquette

Maybe some of you more advanced bloggers can help me here. What sort of rules apply when blogging?

For instance, I just found my blog linked to a questionable website. Actually it was my article on headaches and trust me, this site has nothing to do with health. Maybe this is more a web etiquette issue in general. I was a bit shocked when I saw where I was linked and wonder if I contact that site, will they remove me from their list?

So is it courteous to ask permission before linking or are we all so hard up for more traffic that we don't care?

Personally I have many external links listed but mainly to direct readers in the right direction. The links are relavent to the subject at hand.

Could be I am thinking to into this and should just let it go.

Give me some advice people! :)

Native American Powwow

Today I went to a local powwow to take in some music and good vibes. While there I got to thinking, what exactly does powow mean? One website I came across defines it this way: "powwow is the English spelling of the Algoquian word pauwau. The word pauwau means an elder, faithkeeper, healer, or chief. It has been speculated that to the observer, it appeared to be used to refer to a gathering, since the word was probably heard before such an individual was going to speak. Sometimes with certain speakers or messages, it is possible that an activity, like preparing food or singing, was appropriate. However, the word in the Native Algonquian language is more closely associated with the person rather than a celebration or gathering."

Regardless, it is good to see Native American customs still in practice. So on with some pictures.

Missing in action

I can't believe how much time has passed since I posted. My promised second part article on headaches is in the works but in the mean time, I will share some photo's from my recent trip to NYC. Last Saturday I spend part of the day, first getting acupuncture then exploring. In my totally relaxed (but a bit sore) state, I took the subway to Brooklyn in order to walk back into Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge.

Approaching the bridge from Brooklyn

Looking over at the Manhattan Bridge.

View of Downtown Manhattan.

A tower/flag shot.

What a pain in the neck!

Headaches often start out as tension in the neck muscles. There are various kinds of headaches though from sinus headaches, cluster headaches, hormone headaches and migraines. Most of these tips to helping control headaches are geared towards tension headaches.

It is estimated that 45 million Americans suffer from these various headaches, many chronically. Of those, 28 million have migraines. 60% of children suffer occasionally from headaches. The cost on the work force? $50 million in missed work days and doctor visits.

One definition of a headache states "pain in the head". Tension headaches often start out with a stiff neck, achy occiput region (the area right below your skull on the back of the neck) or even tension in the jaw. Everyone has different area's that might get tight and later cause a headache. The best thing we can do is prevent this tension from invading our bodies. Any form of bodywork that we received regularly can help immensely as well as doing yoga, qi gong and/or meditation. In my line of work, I have discovered that people with poor posture seem to be prone to headaches.

Preventing headaches is key. As a sufferer of both tension and migraine headaches, I speak from my own experience. As I mentioned above, getting regular bodywork is essential. Not only does this help your muscles relax, you are retraining your body on how it should move in a healthy way. You are learning to relax our shoulders, not walk about with them at your ears. How often a client has bodywork is up to each individual. I suggest a few sessions as close together as possible. Ex. once a week. After those sessions are complete, an evaluation is done to see the progress. Most clients then find they can space sessions further apart. Personally I like to go for my sessions once a month.

I mention yoga, meditation and qi gong again. Any of these techniques will stretch and relax the body and mind. When we learn to breath properly, our bodies benefit greatly. I have found that doing qi gong every day has made a world of difference in how I feel and the lack of headaches I get.

Often the spine is out of whack and needs a chiropractor. Talk to some local friends and search out a chiropractor in your area.

Chinese medicine can be a great tool also. Part of the treatments I receive involve bodywork (tui na), acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines. Finding a qualified Licensed acupuncturist is getting easier and often is covered by insurance plans. To find a practitioner near you, click on the link to the left for the NCCAOM.

In the second part of this article, I will offer some easy at home things you can do to prevent headaches and to ease them once they have infringed on your life.

Kung Fu

Things have been a bit crazy these past few days, not leaving me much time for writing and responding to blogs so forgive me!

Somehow I came across this video that must have been taken at some martial arts competition. While it may be more artistic in form, it is still good.

Kung Fu

Then after looking some more I found this one.

Shaolin Monk Rain Demo

Enjoy!

~~blushing~~

I was given this award from my good friend Tracy and feel completely blessed by it.

"The Thoughtful Blogger Award is for those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others’ feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others." - Tracy at Pink Purl

Thank you again for taking time to read my blog and comment it. I hope you and everyone else continue to receive enjoyment from this blog.

HUGS!

Gua sha update

Two days ago I did gua sha on a willing friend and posted the results here I also included some information on what gua sha is and how it is done.

Today I took an updated photo of my friends back to show how the redness does fade, sometimes rather quickly.

Not so bad looking today. :)

Stepping back in time.....

I came across this photo of me, my brother and sister. Time goes by so quickly and we loss sight of the innocence of our youth. Playing in the grass under a swing set. Running around half naked with not a care in the world. This was taken at my Grandparents home. They are both deceased now but I remember them always. We had such fun at Grandma's house..... like it was a magical place. But oh it was, trust me! Where else could you play with bubbles all day and sleep in a huge bed at night after a meal of Grandma's cooking?

So you want to try Shiatsu.....

or maybe another form of Asian Bodywork Therapy!

Awesome!

But where to find a qualified practitioner?

Let me help you out. American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia The AOBTA has a search engine to locate practitioners in your area.

Another great place to search qualified therapists is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Lastly if you looking in the UK I suggest the Shiatsu Society

Gua Sha

Gua sha is an age old healing technique that some think of as 'folk' medicine. While typically preformed by an Acupuncturist or Asian Bodywork Therapist, this technique can be easily done at home with a family member.

Gua means to scrape and Sha is the reddish rash you will see in the pictures. Yes, it looks like torture but I assure you, it does not feel bad.

This technique is used when there is a restricted blood flow in an area. Most gua sha is done to the back, neck, shoulders and glutes. Typically there is pain in the area that has sha present. If you press your fingers into an area, quickly releasing them and white marks remain, sha is present. It can also be used to treat colds, flu and other internal conditions.

To do gua sha you will need a few tools. A lubricant (ex. Vick's vapor rub or a thick oil like peanut oil), a round edged tool (ex. coin, metal jar lid, spoon or a tool sold specifically for gua sha) and a towel.

Have your 'client' sit or lie comfortably. All muscles that will be scraped should be relaxed. Rub your lubricant on the skin and with the tool at a 30 degree's angle, make downward strokes. Use a comfortable pressure. Communication between both persons is essential. Stop if any pain arises. Continue with one area until the sha appears then move to the next area. If no rash appears, sha is not present.

When finished, wipe off access oil with towel and tell 'client' to keep the area covered. Many people feel immediate results so then need to be warned to still take it easy for the next day or so. Gua sha also should not be done to open skin, burns or serious injuries where there could be a bone break. For those interested in learning more, I will provide a link to a very good book on the subject at the end of the post.

The redness will fade sometimes within 24 hours but at the most 2-3 days. The longer it sticks around is an indication of poor blood circulation in the area.


It is hard to see properly but you will notice white finger marks near the left scapula, showing signs of sha being present.

This pictures shows the first line of scraping, bring sha to the surface then moving on.

Continuing to gua sha the back.


The back is complete. This client came for treatment related to chronic pain in the neck, shoulders and upper back.


Click here for information on Gua Sha. Arya Nielsen wrote a great book called "Gua Sha - a Traditional Technique for Modern Practice"

To purchase tools for gua sha, Lhasa OMS Medical Supplies has many varieties for sale.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is always best to seek a qualified medical professional. :)