This week in kung fu class I saw one of the Rank 5 students break a piece of 1 inch wood with one kick. It cracked and a third fell off and hit the floor. Describing force and energy to the juniors, the Master later split a same sized piece with one punch. It split cleanly, right down the middle and fell in two. When no one was looking I checked to see if what they were using was 'real' wood, hard wood. It was. So now I'm thinking, 'fractured phalange, cracked metacarpal, at least a dislocated knuckle' (once a therapists, always a therapist). But nothing. Not a graze, not a bruise. Later in my own class, the Master called me over to the whiteboard, "there", he said, pointing, "that's your Rank 1 grading date. April 7th. Its a Thursday," and he walked off. All the blood rushed from my head to my feet. This exam would mean moving up to Rank 2. But I'm not sure I want to let go of Rank 1. I'm not sure I'm ready. I'm enjoying training, love every class, never tire of what we do, and feel like I'm always improving. But gradings are good says Sifu, they help us to grow and to expand, to go outside our limits. He's right of course. And if a man who's been practicing for 37 years thinks a grading should be attempted it would be foolish not to comply. There's comfort in familiarity but I guess you'll never know whether you can split wood or not unless you let yourself expand to that level. Comfort zones can be restrictions. Sometimes it takes someone else to tell us that. Have you outgrown a comfort zone? Is there any area of your life that would benefit from expansion?
Getting to the Bottom of Things
How do you get Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in just one buttock? After one of these regular kung fu classes I had DOMS in my left butt. Of course, the day after that it was even worse, and Jake took delight in showing his mates, "watch this, watch what I can do to my mum," gently prodding me with a finger which elicited an "Ah! Ah! Ah!" and a hopping
retreat on my part to much giggling amongst small persons. A few days later I happened upon two fantastic wooden chairs near a dumpster, just what I was needing for a 'shabby chic' makeover project I'm working on (translation: how to keep 4 kids busy in winter with nothing but a piece of sandpaper). I carried the chairs home, and after 20 minutes realized that either they were much heavier than they looked or my biceps were weaker than I thought. Now they are in the hall. I just can't fix them up or sit on them.
Opportunity or Threat?
Zoe and I have been fielding emails from some therapists, anxious about the latest Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) clamp down on how therapists (of all disciplines) market their
services. As you may know, the ASA is responsible for ensuring all advertising is 'legal, decent, honest and truthful.' Long story short: on your business cards, leaflets and website you can't claim that massage (or sports massage or aromatherapy or reflexology or myofascial release or whatever other therapy you practice) relaxes you, stretches you, improves tone, for example, unless you have a peer-reviewed research paper to back it up. Don't even think about suggesting that massage (of any sort) may be able to help clients with specific medical conditions such as a stiff shoulder, swollen joint or tight muscles. The Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) have been quick and thorough in responding to questions about this from their members. For example, the FHT highlight that using the word 'may' before a claim (eg Indian head massage may help clients suffering from headaches) is not likely to be acceptable by the ASA. Other organizations are no doubt also looking at this issue.
Here at The London Massage Company we are excited and rubbing our hands together (not just because its absolutely freezing) at this development. There's nothing we like more than a marketing challenge. Lets be honest here folks, we've all seen therapists' business cards with claims that certain treatments can do all sorts of things and improve all sorts of conditions. Some therapists have had an easy ride. But we're no different to any other service provider and the ASA are simply being fair. Its not our fault as therapists that hard core research papers supporting the value of massage as a treatment for various conditions are thin on the ground. Yet neither is it the fault of the ASA for not knowing that there is a vast body of anecdotal evidence to support our treatments. Those therapists who claim to be able to improve stiff joints, tight muscles, headaches, leg cramps, etc., do so because that's their experience. Such therapists don't need a research paper, they have all the evidence they need to satisfy themselves that what they do works. However, under ASArules that's breaking the law. So what do we do?
None of us are going to rush straight out and do research to show that massage helps
decrease tone in quadriceps, that STR helps improve joint range or that manual lymphatic drainage improves lymphatic drainage. Most of us have neither the time nor the inclination. So we need to take a different approach. A different approach? Now I'm totally excited. I love different approaches. This is a fantastic opportunity to think creatively about how we market
ourselves. Two of my favourite topics combined: creativity + therapy. Where shall we start?
How on earth does a sports massage therapist, for example, advertise the fact that they may be able to help clients recovering from, for example, a sprained ankle if they can't say, 'sports massage may help with the recovery of ankle sprains'? How about this for an idea: we no longer list in bullet points the conditions nor the treatments we offer. Instead, we simply say Sports Massage Therapist (or whatever therapy we are practicing) on our business cards, and then when potential customers call we describe what we do? ASA guidelines do not cover verbal
communication, (though of course its wise to be aware of their overall purpose to ensure advertising is legal, decent, honest and truthful). Let me ask you this: Do you think you will get fewer clients if you are unable to market your services by listing the conditions you 'treat'? In my experience, many clients don't 'know' we can help with stiff calves or adhesive capsulitis until we suggest this to them, they simply come to us wondering whether massage might help? How's this for an idea: I propose we dump all of that other 'stuff and simply pose the question on our business materials, 'might massage help you?' and leave it at that. Then we can provide a treatment and ask the client how they feel and use what they say on our materials later with their
permission (yes, you can do that according to the ASA). So, if many of your clients have found that regular massage with you helps keep them in shape as recreational runners, for example, you can state that in your marketing materials.
If all therapists had only their name, contact details and therapies in which they are trained in on their cards, clients would be forced to try out different therapists and to go where they got the best results. Free market economy or what!? How will you now differentiate your services from those of other therapists? Remember, your marketing materials are only one way of communicating, only one way of differentiating yourself. What else could you do? Its not like the ASA are saying, 'all therapists must use rectangular black business cards with white lettering or they will go to jail'. There's still so much we can do! Let's rejoice in that fact!
Yet if my excitement and enthusiasm regarding this challenge isn't rubbing off on you, you could always give the problem of how you market yourself to a marketing expert. Set out the facts: This is what the ASA say I can do, this is what they say I can't do, please sort it out. Let the marketing
expert do the marketing. That is, after all, what you are paying them for.
Lets all collaborate on this to help each other. Contact us with your ideas and we will
include them in the next newsletter. Lets use this ASA legislation as an opportunity rather than a threat. Oooo, yummy yummmy yummy! Start rubbing those hands together!
Camel in the Kitchen
Some of you reading this might know that I've made quite a few visits to morocco, my favourite being to the desert, far south of the village of Mhamid. At the start of March I returned from the latest visit, a holiday/work venture. Holiday because there is nothing but sun, stars and space, not to mention healthy food and some much needed warmth at this time of year. Work because I've written a book, Camel in The Kitchen, a travelogue and departure from my usual therapy titles. I was continuing with an ongoing interview of Khalid, my long time Berber guide. The interview has been ongoing for around 5 years because there's a limit to the number of questions you can ask when only one of you speaks Arabic and my French enables me to order a plate of butterflies and to ask whether the British Embassy is near the train station. Not much good when you're 400km south of Marrakech approaching the Algerian border with three camels and a brilliant chef (Hussain) but no interpreter. Still, its amazing what you can do with a pencil and paper and lots of gesticulating. When I told her that here in the UK we put thyme and mint sauce on our lamb, the woman in Zagora tried unsuccessfully to suppress a raucous laugh. Or was that because I was making bleating lamb ba ba noises? Then, using only Arabic and lots of hand movements she told me they used thyme as an inhalant when they got runny noses. I was fascinated in the tiny new herbalist (called Espices) tucked away in a side street there, where the chemists brought out the argan massage oil and packets of spice, rose-scented balms, all sourced in morocco. Their peppermint tea was so raw and strong that when I used three teaspoon full of the leaves back in the UK it nearly blue my head off. I bought a packet of dried vervain. The chemists gesticulated and put their hands together as if praying and lay on their sides to indicate its properties. I wasn't quite sure whether they were telling me that it was sleep-inducing tea or that it would put me into a comma if I used too much. They have no care for ASA advertising regulations here. They just show you what their products do. Perhaps there's a lesson to be learned here?
Women Wanted
I'm looking for travelling companions for my return to the desert in early 2012. Do you feel like getting away from it all? Want some sun and some space to read, relax, chat or chill? Contact me at jane@thelondonmassagecompany.com for more information or to see photographs of my previous trips. (p.s the hotel in Zagora at which we need to stop overnight en route to meet the camel caravan at Mhamid has a floodlit swimming pool for use at night. Not that I'm trying to
influence you or anything).
Two therapists win payout for RSI
Two 'beauty' therapists have won a combined payout of £300,000 form Virgin for developing RSI as a result of providing through-clothing shiatsu massages to first class Virgin Atlantic passengers in the airline's Heathrow lounge. The therapists claimed their RSI was due to insufficient breaks and having to apply very deep pressure. What do you think about this?
How much to charge?
We often get asked by therapists if we can give them some hints and tips on how much they should charge. Sports Massage Therapist Jane Paul asks, "how can I find out how much to charge for treatments, is there any sort of governing body that could tell me or is it a question of deciding your own worth or what the rates are of other such people in the area? I don't want to
over-charge but then again I don't want people to think I'm really cheap." What do you think? We know that therapists have very different views on this. Jane is happy for any readers to contact her with ideas: jp014s2735@blueyonder.co.uk
My experience so far of Voluntary Massage at UCLH, by Justine Hutchins
Hi everyone,
As one of Jane’s students, I was keen to get as much variety of ‘hands on’experience as possible, after passing the intensive sports massage course.
I met a Cranio-Sacral therapist who told me about her experience of working at University College Hospital (UCLH) as a volunteer, I thought It sounded like a challenge, which would
be out of my comfort zone and a worthwhile venture.
After getting the relevant red tape taken care of, such as CRB checks and inductions, you are let loose on the wards. (I haven’t worked in the Pain clinic yet.)
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect and imagined that most of the time you would have limited access to a patient’s body as they may be attached to a drip, unable to sit up, or not easily accessible. This has turned out mostly to be the case; however even with those limitations I have had interesting and rewarding experiences.
I felt a bit uninspired to begin with, being limited to only working on the hands of one particular patient, but I was soon reminded of the power of simple touch and the circulation. When I arrived the patient was the colour of alabaster and after I had worked on one of his hands for about 10 minutes we were both amazed to see pink travel up his arm to his cheeks and even his feet! It was funny to hear him ask, being a medical man, how that happened! He said that he had always been against complementary therapies, but since being in hospital, it had given him a chance to be on the receiving end and has now changed his mind. Even though he was paralysed in both legs, receiving reflexology made him feel deeply relaxed.
Another woman I massaged had generalised Dystonia and had been described by her Doctor as being like a ‘crisp’ as she could not bend her joints when all her muscles seized up. The physios had her walking up and down but she was unable to dorsiflex her feet properly which made walking very difficult. After massaging her calves, I tried MET on her ankles which
greatly increased the range of movement in her ankle and immediately after massage, made walking much easier. She let the physios know that the massage had made a difference and they apparently looked at her in disbelief. During the following session she said that she could still notice the benefit of the previous treatment and it had made walking up steps easier. She also had a medical background and found this way of working fascinating. So I guess you never know what you are going to get which I find interesting. The amount of patients you work on can vary each time from as few as one to about four or five depending on how quickly you can locate people.
Most nurses, in my experience are really helpful and friendly, but there are a few who can be a little reluctant to inform you on the patient until they are reassured that it is important that I know of any contraindications to massage. I have found that you can usually get a very detailed
description from the patient.
I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who has worked in the Pain Clinic, I’m going to look into that next.
Kind regards,
Justine
If you’d like to volunteer your skills in a hospital or hospice environment but would like more understanding of what’s involved then perhaps our June workshop - Massage In Hospitals - can help you take the first step. Keith Hunt, Complementary Therapies Co-ordinator at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, will help you overcome your concerns and have you ready to offer your treatments.
Things we Think You'd Like
// Recruiting on site massage therapists now Inspirit www.inspiritmassage.co.uk supplies
therapists to offices and events. They are expanding their elite team and are looking for
talented, experienced therapists who are passionate about bodywork, dedicated to client care and understand the importance of professionalism.
To apply, you must have an On Site Massage qualification (one day courses not acceptable), which insures you to give treatments using a massage chair. You will have at least 6 months of OSM experience and own a portable chair.
They are recruiting now for work in all parts of London. If you are interested in joining the Inspirit
team please send you CV to contact@inspiritlondon.com detailing your qualifications and experience.
// Emma-Louise Tyack is looking for a massage therapist with a wide range of skills to take over her very healthy client base in central London. Having a wide range of skills and passion for your work is important to the quality of massage demanded by her clients. If you're that fantastic practitioner looking to expand their client base please call Emma-Louise at Feel Good Massage 07855 860 848
// Anthony Nolan the pioneering charity saving the lives of people with blood cancer, are looking for massage therapists who can make up a team offering massage to their supporters on
Sunday 10th July as part of their 10km run frundraiser in London. If you can support the charity and make the runners feel extra special on the day a please do get in touch with Rebecca on 020 7284 8284 or email Laura on - laura.gorringe@anthonynolan.org
We love
// Vertical Veg, a not-for-profit organization 'that inspires and supports food growing in small urban spaces.' For more information see www.verticalveg.org.uk// RE the company that recycles. Check out these re-fired skeleton plates or their skeleton paper garlands! Of course, its not all bones, they do gorgeous recycled products for the home.
www.re-foundobjects.com
// Kew Lecture, Materia medica in the 19th century – ethnobotanist Mark Nesbitt, curator of Kew’s Economic Botany Collection. Wednesday, June 29, 2011 @ 6pm Apothecaries’ Hall, London EC4. Admission free but must book with the Society of Apothecaries on 0207 236 1189 (Thank you Sue!)
// Ok, I'm on about it again: justfortheloveofit.org I really do love this website. Its a site for
people trying to live without money, swapping stuff or simply giving it away. Freeconomists as we are called. In order to fund my Moroccan trip I'd put lots of items for sale on ebay and raised £1000. But I had many items remaining. I posted messages about these on the justfortheloveofit website and within 3 days individuals from all over London had come and taken away my
unwanted items, beaming from ear to ear at getting what they were looking for free. A young couple came all the way from Lambeth to collect 22 old glass jars which they intended to fill with their new recipe for fig chutney. A woman from Elephant and Castle took away two 4kg handweights and two 5kg handweights, 'just what she was looking for' to help her build up some muscle. I split my stock of unused A3 flip chart paper between two other people who were willing to share it, and had 24 others it could have gone to. Also gone is the large 4-person tent that took up the space of two kitchen cupboards. This really is recycling at its best. Stuff you no longer need going to people who really need it and will use it immediately. Is there anything you need to get rid of?
// Curry!! In every shape, size, colour and form. Zoe’s just been on a bit of a curry binge thanks to having her other curry-loving friends visiting her in France. Ok, so coffee and
pastries took a hammering in the morning but after that it was chilli time!! There is nothing
better than weighing out your spices, inhaling the explosion of aromatics as they’re ground down and then you wait for magic of the mix to unfold. Pure genius!
// Finally, lets be thankful we are not Mongolian goat herders. The rice of cashmere is due to rocket as these farmers have been forced to eat their livestock due to severely harsh winters in recent years. Putting things into perspective, having to fan-dangle about with how we market ourselves aint so tough huh?
Workshops for May
// 14th May 2011 Foam Roller Techniques for Rehab - Want to know how to use or be more effective with foam rollers? Want to integrate rehabilitation and corrective exercises into your treatments? Then Foam Roller Techniques is the workshop for you.
(www.thelondonmassagecompany.com/workshop7)
//14th May - Deep Tissue; No-Hands7 – In conjunction with the launch of Jane’s new book – Deep Tissue Massage - join us for the workshop. Learn to access deep tissues safely and
effectively without using, and therefore damaging, your hands.
(www.thelondonmassagecompany.com/workshop11)
//15th May - Intro to Trigger Points – Learn about this effective and fascinating Neuromuscular technique - a National Occupational Standard (NOS) for sports massage as set out by Skills
Active. (D522) You will spend the majority of the day locating and treating trigger points on the major muscles of the body as well gaining an understanding about their anatomy and physiology and why they occur. (www.thelondonmassagecompany.com/workshop12)
ask@thelondonmassagecompany.com
