time flies...

So I may not have been keeping this blog current lately, but I have been hard at work on my TYM skills! Over the past few weeks I have finished the western portion of my massage training (anatomy, physiology etc), and I'm glad to say I'm in the home stretch now. The rest of the program is all about Thai Yoga Massage, and finishing my practicum hours. I have also been able to assist in some massage training classes as part of yoga teacher training at Core Power Yoga. It's really interesting to see how other people interpret instructions, and to help make corrections and adjustments - in a small way it kind of brings my training "full circle". I also now have all the gear I need to practice massage on my own: 2 massage mats for double comfort, and a rice steamer to cook up those yummy yummy Thai herbal compresses. Did I mention I am addicted to the compresses? If you've every tried them, chances are you're addicted too!

there's a first time for everything

The first massage method I learned in school was Thai for the Table. It's fun, and I can see that there are certain circumstances in which it is more practical to practice on a table. But many of my classmates have already been doing their practice on the mat, and over the past couple weeks I've found myself saying "I want to do that"! So today I took the plunge and unrolled a mat instead of setting up a table. Thankfully my first client on the mat was a regular at the student clinic, so I think he was open to trying new things with me, and didn't get upset when I fumbled or when moves were a bit awkward. If you're reading this - you know who you are: THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PATIENT WITH ME! Fumbling and awkwardness aside, it was a great experience. I can't wait to practice more of the things I learned today, and to keep learning more! Hooray for mat work!!!

business cards!

My teacher encouraged me to have business cards made, to start making connections and getting my name out there. At first I was hesitant because I'm not a licensed Massage Therapist yet, I didn't want to give a false impression to people. But I saw her point, I gotta get my name out there and start "networking" some time, why not now?! So after spending waaaay to much time on the internet picking out just the right design and wording - viola, my first business cards! I'm pretty excited about it, it's so official!

Here I go!

Let me get you up to speed...
I've considered Massage Therapy as a career at several points in my life, but at each of those times it just didn't feel like the right path for me for one reason or another. Eventually I started to feel the pull towards  body work once again, but this time it pulled me into a Thai Yoga Massage session. I went in feeling anxious, stressed, muscles tight and aching, and heavy. After my 1st 90 minute session I felt transformed: peaceful and relaxed, I felt the joy in my heart, I felt like floating away. (Thanks Scott, you changed my life that day!) I knew I would not be able to walk away from the calling of Massage Therapy so easily this time. After countless conversations in my head and with my husband, my very supportive and patient husband  ; )  about what to do next, I took the leap of faith and enrolled at Denver Integrative Massage School. I started in July, and plan on graduating in December of this year. If all goes well I should have a license to practice Massage Therapy by the end of this year! Until then I have 150 practicum hours to complete, as well as the classroom work, but I can already tell the time is going to fly by. I have been practicing 60 and 90 minutes sessions on clients at our student clinic, and it is such an amazing experience. I am truly loving meeting each person who comes to see me at clinic, and seeing how they are transformed into a more relaxed body and spirit over the time I spend working with them. I feel so lucky to have found something that not only makes others so happy, but nourishes my soul as well. I am so grateful that this has come into my life, I can't even say that enough!
...That pretty much sums it up so far. Now, for the rest of the story...