AMTA National Convention 2013 – It’s September Already?

1 Comment / Business & Marketing for Massage /

Let’s Get in The Way Back Machine

A while back I wrote here about going to AMTA-Alabama Chapter Annual Convention where I was teaching a Facebook class. That all went very well and I’m not sure why I didn’t write a followup on it. There was a lot of news to share following that meeting and I probably meant to write, but life got in the way and well, here it is September and I’m just getting around to it.

The reason I’m finally getting around to letting you know what happened in May is because it affects September. So… here goes…

Way back in May at that AMTA-Alabama Chapter Annual Convention I ran for Board of Director’s Member at Large Position 1. I won unopposed (still surprised). For giggles I also threw my hat in the ring for a delegate position. There was no way I was going to get the delegate position because I am a newer volunteer and there are lots of others who have been around and doing way longer than I have. Well, shocker of all shockers, I won a delegate seat.

Delegate for what?

You may be thinking right about now, “Delegate for what?” Delegate to the AMTA National Convention in Ft. Worth, TX, next week, GULP!

Surely they’re not paying for us to show up and look pretty

I don’t know what I thought a delegate was to do. I ran mostly so I could learn what that part of the process was all about and get a (mostly) all-expense paid trip to AMTA National Convention.

I’ve already taken some online training and am doing my best to keep up with the Google Group for the House of Delegates, but I am drinking from the fire hose. Apparently a delegate’s job is to evaluate position statements and associated research brought forth by members then vote on the position statements to steer the position of the entire AMTA on the massage profession. Who knew it was going to be such an awesome undertaking?

So this week starts the final prep of paperwork and collecting AMTA-Alabama member votes for the different position statements and hoping that I’ve looked at all the right studies. I’m self-conscious about my research evaluation skills as I am pretty sure that Sociological Stats class I took in 1990 has been completely purged from my brain. The only thing I remember about that class is bell curves and a Chinese international student who got to pick her name (Stephanie) when she came to the U.S.

There is more Delegate training to be had when I arrive in Ft. Worth. I’ll be paying close attention as I really don’t want to mess this up.

Surprise! More Classes!

After the House of Delegates meetings are complete I’ll have an all-access pass to the convention. I plan on taking a class with the very well-known James Waslaski and an instructor I do not know for Thai Massage on the Table. I hope to come back with lots of new tools. I’ve been invited to a secret Ashi-sister party where something I’ve been wanting to try for a very long time might be available (this is a teaser 🙂 you’ll have to come back later to find out what it is if it actually pans out).

My goal after the convention is to actually update all you lovely readers on the happenings and highlights of AMTA National Convention 2013. I’ll probably have to sleep for a couple of days before anything will make sense. The schedule is somewhat INSANE! But I do want to get that done before next year’s convention rolls around because, yep, you guessed it, Delegate terms are for two years!

If you want to follow my trip to the convention, I’ll be posting over on the Harvest Moon Massage Therapy Facebook Page, the AMTA-Alabama Chapter Facebook Page, the AMTA-Alabama Facebook Group and if all goes well on Twitter @SharonB013 while I’m gone. If I have an extra moment I may figure out if it’s possible to do some mobile blogging as well.

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy!

AMTA National Convention 2013 – It’s September Already? Read More »

August & September Specials

Specials /

Did you get my August newsletter?

No? Well, get yourself over there —> and sign up for the newsletter. It’s where you’re going to find the latest information on any specials I’m running. I am also told they are somewhat entertaining and sometimes helpful.

Anyway, since I really want everyone to take advantage of the specials I’m running during August and September here’s a summary.

♥

Bring an unopened bag of puppy or kitten food to my office and get $10 off your massage during the months of August and September. All collections will be donated to Decatur Animal Services.

Or

Adopt an animal from a shelter during the month of August, bring in your adoption agreement, and get 50% off your next massage.

Or

Police, Fire, Rescue, or Active Duty Military – $10 off your massage, year-round. Just bring in your city/county/federal ID for the discount.

So what’s stopping you? Save some money, get a massage!

It’s all good.

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Newest Provider of Thai-Yoga Bodywork!

August & September Specials Read More »

Summer Vacation Time!

Business & Marketing for Massage /

Harvest Moon Massage TherapyThis year’s summer vacation was one of those, “I’ll believe it when I see it,” type things.

So if you’re seeing this post, you can believe that I’m in Florida taking a much needed sabbatical from the stresses of daily life and (hopefully) getting several great massages.

I’ll be back soon and Harvest Moon will re-open Monday, August 12th. Until then!

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Fijian Island Massage!

Summer Vacation Time! Read More »

Is Ashiatsu Safe?

1 Comment / Ashiatsu /
Do You Ashi?
My nephew doing a perfect Ashi Wing Walker***

Every so often someone asks if Ashiatsu is safe. They have looked at some pictures or read a description and gotten the idea that experiencing Ashi may be akin to being trampled by a small elephant.

I’m here to assure you that is not so.

Many of my clients have taken to telling their friends and family and actually introducing me as the massage therapist who walks on people. I got tired of correcting folks, it’s a distinction really, so now I just smile and nod yes, that’s me, the lady who walks on people and calls it a funny name.

And while I technically do not walk on people, I do a pretty good impression.

Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy or DeepFeet Bar Therapy was created to deliver deep pressure to the client safely.

So I can say it’s safe all day long, but what do I do to make it safe?

Don’t walk on people

I really do NOT walk on you. I use my foot or feet to glide over and compress the muscles. It’s different from walking because even with two feet my weight is rarely ever fully on the client and I never shift weight from one foot to the other while working.

Use the right tool for the right job

Sometimes it’s not safe to receive Ashi. If you’re pregnant, if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or uncontrolled diabetes or problems with circulation or recent surgeries, you should not have Ashi. That’s why I ask so many seemingly invasive questions when we first meet.

Also, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy massage and Ashi-Thai moves are designed to be performed in a certain way. If I’m using the wrong foot to do a particular move, at best, I’m going to get stuck and have to make clumsy adjustments. At worst, I might hurt my client. So there’s a right foot and a wrong foot to use for each move.

No free-stylin’

I use only one foot at a time when working with clients who weight less than 40 lbs. more than I do. No, I’m not going to ask you how much you weigh unless you really need two feet, and you’re really close to the me+40 limit.

Regardless of whether it’s with one foot or two feet, I only perform moves I learned to do the safe way in training.

No goofing around on the table, EVER

This is probably the most dangerous thing an Ashi therapist can do. Goofing around and / or not paying attention to what they are doing is going to result in falling off the table and / or on the client. Neither of which is good for everyone involved.

We are trained specifically on how to move and navigate while on the table with a client. It may look simple and fluid, but it’s not all that intuitive and our instructors spend a lot of time trying to ingrain safe on-the-table habits.

Always be gentle and considerate

I try to never touch or cross the spine while working. Since the pressure is deep by the nature of Ashi, getting too close to the spine could cause a lot of pain or even injury. Also, stepping on or pinching the client’s skin is bad form. As is getting your toes tangled up in their hair. Not good… Oh, and I wash my feet obsessively between clients.

So that’s what I do to keep Ashi safe. I hope these answer your questions about Ashi Safety. If not, please leave a comment and I’ll write about it.

***I should point out that what he’s doing isn’t really perfect in that he’s unsupported. His form is pretty good and his balance is great, but as an adult I would never attempt this because frankly, someone could get killed.

I won’t tell you not to let your kid walk on your back. I think it’s a right of passage myself, but do be aware of the receiver’s physical limitations and the weight of the child. My nephew and I had a good weight difference when this picture was taken, probably about 90 lbs. difference.

But he’s growing and I’m growing older and I can almost guarantee we won’t do this again because our weights will be too close for it to be safe. Not to mention even in this photo, at these weights, one wobble the wrong way could have sent him crashing down into me and there’s at least one of us injured if not both.

But… it was fun anyway and a great memory that we will both have for posterity. I’m glad we got it in electrons 🙂

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashi-Thai Massage!

Is Ashiatsu Safe? Read More »

Ashi at Your Garden Party!

Ashiatsu /
Jordan Ben doing Ashi on the portable bar system
Jordan Ben getting sassy on the portable bar system

Recently one of my Ashi sisters called wanting to rent my portable bars for an event. Turns out she got a gig at a “Girls Day Out”. She kept saying it was about swimming and eating and massage and pedicures while the guys were out hunting or fishing or doing whatever they do when they’re not around on the weekend.

This is one of the many pictures that came out of the event. I love that they were outside. The tent the host provided was huge and had curtains for privacy if the client wanted them. She was set up on grass and at first I thought that might be a problem, but apparently the portable bars handle grass alright.

I love the Garden Party aspect of this event that she did. I wish I could have gone with her, but now that we know, anyone? Ashi at your Garden Party? Family Reunion? Random outdoor event?

I’d love to bring the portables and do massage for your friends and family!

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy!

Ashi at Your Garden Party! Read More »

Put It In Park

Business & Marketing for Massage /

ParkingThere are improvements afoot at the office and they are not so subtle.

We had the parking lot striped with the spots labeled for our clients. Apparently during the day (while I wasn’t there) we were having a huge influx of vehicles fill up our lot leaving no room for the therapists and clients who were coming in for a massage. So after talking with the landlord we were given permission to stripe our parking spaces in front of our offices.

Unfortunately the guy who labeled the spots sort of got it wrong. It was supposed to say, “Massage Therapy”.

We’ve had clients pull up to park and then move their car because they thought the spots were reserved for the therapists. This is not the case, if you are a client, please park in the labeled spots.

Other than the unfortunate spelling errors the new striping and labeling are working out great! Clients are having an easier time finding parking in our small lot and it’s the first time I’ve ever had a parking place that welcomed me. The only thing better would be to have a parking place with my name actually on it.

Hmm…

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashi-Thai Massage!

Put It In Park Read More »

Gentlemen, Avert Your Eyes

Massage /

boobpillowOr not, your lady may be interested in this.

Ladies, do you know what that is? It’s a cushion designed to make lying on your stomach more comfortable. If you enjoy (or suffer through) being a larger chested woman, you know what I’m talking about.

Recently the stars aligned (read that as, I finally went to the store) and I got all my supplies together to make this helpful little cushion.

Now there’s no more dreading those first few moments of lying on your stomach as this little tool will be available for use with your massage and should help alleviate any discomfort. In addition to a more comfortable experience, this cushion helps properly align your shoulders so you receive a more effective massage. And I’m pretty sure we could all use a more effective massage.

P.S. – If you would like one for personal use at home, just let me know.

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Bamboo-Fusion Massage!

Gentlemen, Avert Your Eyes Read More »

Ticked Off!

Wellness /

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had a couple of very scary tick experiences. I don’t like ticks and they don’t like me. Well, that’s not true. Perhaps a more accurate statement would be that they like me too much.

My body’s reaction to a tick bite is no fun, I have massive, skin-based allergic reactions to the little buggers. The doctors like to call it contact dermatitis which I think is somewhat of an understatement. I prefer to call it the nasty, oozing, itching, ring of hell, but then I’m no medical doctor.

Anyway, I am fine and have mostly gotten over the trauma of having a tick get way too friendly. But it got me to thinking about tick safety and thought someone might could use a roundup of useful tick tips.

So here goes…

1. How to remove a tick and other stuff that’s good to know.

I see that we did several things wrong when removing my most recent tick. Of course, it was all I could do to be still after I discovered the thing hanging off my leg. Running away from an embedded tick does not work. Experience talking.

2. How to reduce ticks around your yard.

People tell me all the time that you can use Sevin Dust around your yard to kill ticks. I don’t know if it works or not. We don’t use it because it kills all the beneficial insects (like lady bugs) that eat the bad insects chewing on the garden. Maybe I need some more chickens to eat the ticks?

3. Ticks and your dog

Bleee… itching, itching, itching now… I just didn’t need to know all that.

4. What the CDC has to say about tick-borne illness

Please excuse me while I go all hypochondriac for a moment.

Okay, I’m going to stop here because frankly I’m a little skeeved right now and can’t handle anymore. I really don’t like ticks at all. And after reading a bunch of (really scary) stuff on the internet, I’m hanging my hat on the first article I have linked up there where it says most ticks don’t carry disease. I never would have known that if I hadn’t gotten bitten (again). Anyway, hope this is helpful.

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashi-Thai Massage!

Ticked Off! Read More »

Dark and Light

Business & Marketing for Massage /

I recently had an experience that opened my eyes about work and environment.

It’s rare that I do massage anywhere but my office. Occasionally in the floor at home or on location, but it’s rare. Sometimes someone will hire me to come to their location and do a massage, that is even more rare. Regardless, I recently visited away from home and did an Ashi massage on someone else’s setup.

The bars were fine, configured a little short for my taste, but nothing unmanageable. While working, I kept getting lost. I would find myself wondering how many Warriors have I done? Was that Mortisha’s Rack #2 or #3? I hope it’s not #4. Eek!

Anyway, I started really having to pay attention to what I was doing and feeling and it took a while, but I finally realized the difficulty was the room. There was no window and it was dark by design. There were lots of sparkly bits scattered about, a silvered shawl thrown over the frame of a mirror, a bowl full of glass ornaments, a jar of lights. Shadow and light everywhere made the place even darker and deeper than it actually was and gave the room the feeling of being very small and very full. It was all so interesting my brain kept getting lost exploring the shadowed nooks.

After I finished the massage and headed home I kept thinking about how the style was so very different from mine. I’ve always been a bit self-conscious about my sense of style. So much so that I will gladly tell you I am doing well to dress myself in the morning. If my clothes are cute, it’s probably an accident. Therefore, when it came time to decorate my massage office I was practically catatonic.

I knew even before I went to massage school that I wanted to have a light theme. I didn’t want a dark office. I find nothing wrong with the dark, rich decor usually found in massage treatment rooms, I just knew it wasn’t me and I probably wouldn’t be happy with it.

I was lucky in that I found an affordable space that was large and had a window. Somehow I decided on a color, painted, moved the furniture and equipment in and decided what to put on the shelves. Since then I’ve  slowly added art to the walls, hooks for hanging clothes, and made a curtain for the big window. There are more things that need to be done that will affect the aesthetic of the room, but it is a process finding and creating the things I need.

And in driving home last week, thinking about the massage I’d just finished in someone else’s lovely office surrounded by their lovely things that help them through the day, I realized how much I love my office and all the things that I’ve collected that help me through.

When decorating my office I tried to make sure everything had a purpose, the dark, swirly bowl to hold jewelry, three flower-shaped metal hooks for hanging clothing, chairs from the old Decatur High library that were to be tossed out for seating. In the crush of practicality and need I somehow managed to pick out beautiful, meaningful things that I love.

For me, this is new. Not just the realization that I shouldn’t be so self-conscious about my style, my clients seem to love my office, but also the awareness that workspace and the things in it effect my mood and job performance. I know these things about my home, what took me so long to connect the dots at work? I suppose I’m finally realizing that, like everything else, it’s a journey.

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy Massage!

Dark and Light Read More »