Now that I've been here for over a month I have accumulated an imaginary wish list - things I would like to have, but do not need would include: speakers, a watch, an underwater camera, dove dark chocolate, a few more pens and 1 more notebook, fiber bars, 1 more nail polish color (dark purple), 1 more skirt (long enough for massage), 1 more tank top and/or strapless top.. hmmm other than that, I did a decent job of packing.
After 12 days, Jess is continuing on her Costa Rican travels. It was so nice to have a piece of home here, introduce her to all my new friends, and show her the lush campus that I'm living on for these four months. We had a great time reconnecting with delicious food, cold cerveza (beer), the road trip to montezuma, and beach time. The same day that Jess left, Rachel arrived. I was eating at my favorite place to get pollo casado with my roommate, Mary, when I recognized Rachel on the street in front of me. I was in disbelief, but I knew she was toying with the idea of coming to Samara, so I shouted her name! Sure enough it was her - it is truly a small world.. or a small island. For as small as Martha's Vineyard is, there always seems to be an international connection.
The one month injury list: 1) Jillian sprained her ankle by slipping and falling at the edge of our classroom. She has been alternating between using a previous students boot, a cane, and wrapping it in bandage for support. Every day her walk is getting stronger, it's definitely on the mend. 2) Early last week, Justin woke up with swollen and blistered hands. Most of us assumed it was just poison oak and that it would subside in a couple of days. However, after two days of the infection rapidly spreading up his arm, he was driven to San Jose for private medical attention. It was determined that he had some kind of staphylococcus infection, that would've been contagious through open wound contact. He was away for about 4 days until they released him to take the bus back to Samara. It really felt like a part of the group was missing, there was always an empty massage table and a group of 3 because of his absence. It feels complete to have him back. As for massage, he has to wait 21 days before he can give or receive massage (because it was an infection), totally disappointing to have your hands compromised at massage school, but he's observing and staying productive with everything else that we have going on.
Last Monday, I was lucky enough to be Hillari's model for our class as she explained new/deeper techniques for the back, shoulders, and scapulas. It's always a treat to have an experienced touch and it's always a test of comfortability to have your body exposed in front of 20 people who are trying to learn through detailed observation. However, to enjoy the demonstration client experience, I just remained relaxed, confident, and professional.. assuming that everyone else was in that same state of mind. Ultimately, I feel safe within this group because I believe that there is no judgement, which allows everyone to be comfortable in their own skin.
Specifically on Monday and Tuesday there was a lot of noise coming from the chickens that boarder our campus. On Monday it was just annoying and disruptive to our lecture, but on Tuesday the slaughter screams seemed more distinct - and the hanging and plucking was even more distracting than the screams. Once I got over the initial grotesque interpretation of what was happening.. I simply got excited for Pollo Fresco! As much as I cringed when I saw the chickens hanging upside down to get their necks slit through a plastic gallon jug while still having moments of movement - I became aware of the larger picture - these chickens have been running freely around our campus, which means I know exactly where the chickens are coming from.. therefor my protein source is free-range and organic. Believe me, it's a win/win situation.
Last Tuesday was also a day filled with trust and blindfolds. We had partners to blindfold and lead through the streets and stores of Samara. We did this activity without speaking, allowing us to increase communication sensitivity through hearing, smell, and touch. It was fun to lead my partner around town blindfolded, but it was even more of an experience to be led. Once my eyes were covered, my hearing senses heightened.. I heard all different kinds of music, my partner even had me dance to some music playing on the beach, I also felt different textures on the ground as I walked, I sat in a rocking chair, and had water sprayed on my arm.. I was amazed how much I understood, absorbed, and saw without my vision.
That same afternoon, we used our blindfolds again for Bodywork Experiential. There were 10 of us on the massage tables (blindfolded) as 10 of us rotated and massaged a different section of the body. The goal of this activity was for the clients (blindfolded on the table) to guess which massage therapist was touching them, to determine who's touch was most similar to their own. As for my touch, Matthew and I had the most matches, therefor our touch is somewhat similar. It was an interesting experiment and totally appropriate, because as massage therapists we will never be able to experience our own touch.
This past Friday we learned pregnancy (prenatal) massage techniques. We learned how to support the head, neck, and upper back with the headrest and pillows to ensure that the mother is comfortable and that the blood supply continues to circulate and reach the baby. We also learned how to bolster (support) a client lying on their side. This can also be used for the elderly population or anyone who is more comfortable on their side, as opposed to lying face down (prone) on the table. Everyone got to be pregnant for the day (even the boys) as we exchanged pregnancy massages.. ahh it was one of the most relaxing massages I have experienced.. it's like floating on a cloud of pillows. I highly recommend it.. even if your not pregnant.
That Friday night, I worked my second shift in the student clinic, but my first shift with the public. I was nervous and anxious to receive real clients with real health issues and requests. I had three very different clients, but I felt capable of everything that came my way. I have to continually remind myself that every day is filled with surprises, related to massage or not. It was a positive reality check and once again I was relieved that I loved doing it. I honestly feel so lucky to have figured out my passion so young in life and that I have been given the opportunity to pursue it.
Saturday was the first half of the Cancer Massage Workshop. I signed up for this extra workshop because not only is it a unique opportunity to specialize in something that is so prevalent, it will add 21 hours to my transcript towards obtaining my license and I will be a more valuable massage therapist as it will open up job opportunities within the clinical field. It was significantly more interesting than I expected and is seriously making me reconsider what I would like to specialize in. This technique focuses on very light touch and some energy work, such as Polarity Therapy. I have always been skeptical of energy work, but after having such a positive experience in feeling intuition, heat from friction, and energy vibrations within my personal space, I have learned to believe in energy work if it done with the right intentions. I enjoyed giving and receiving the cancer massage - it was light for the purpose of human touch, slow, more meaningful and full of positive energy. I've always been passionate about deep tissue work.. so we'll see how I combine the two modalities.
Yesterday, we learned techniques for child and elderly massage. Again, the program is timed perfectly because these two techniques are extremely similar to cancer massage techniques.. meaning that the touch is very light.
Today.. I think every.. single.. one of us was having an off day. We've been here and together for over 6 weeks now and I can feel our energy/motivation declining - especially during our early morning lectures. The program is just so intense that we never have the chance to breathe and catch up.. full steam ahead. Although, usually by our third and final afternoon class we all perk up and are reminded why we're here.. for massage therapy. Our class this afternoon totally shifted my mood from negative to positive. We used our blindfolds again.. this time to exchange a full body in prone position (face down). I happened to be exchanging with Matthew (who was compared most similar to my touch, so I payed close attention to his strokes so I would have an idea of what mine felt like - if you can even imagine that concept). As he was blindfolded and giving the massage, his techniques felt more intuitive and connected.. I would have never known his vision was taken away. As I was blindfolded and giving the massage, I also felt more connected to the client, was forced to used advanced body mechanics (posture) in relation to his body, and noticed that I was using gravity more to increase my pressure/depth while really feeling the muscles and knots with my hands rather than my eyes. It was an empowering and inspirational experience.
F*ing fire ants.
No comments:
Post a Comment