Month: January 2019

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Spotlight on IASTM: My New Favorite Weapon of Mass(age) Relaxation

During December 2018, I participated in an awesome IASTM Certification course and learned all about the emerging world of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, taught by the makers of RockBlades (the tools seen below).  But what is IASTM, and how can it benefit my clients?
Using these tools, the principles of IASTM are bound in the skin and fascia.  Using different techniques with the tools to feather the skin, scrape the myofascia, and chop densified tissue, we work to manipulate the neuro-sensory systems of the fascia (which has 5-10+ times more nerve receptors than muscle) to change the regulation of neural activity.  Basically that means I am working to amplify or pacify the nervous activity to the muscles and reducing chronic tension (down-regulate) or increasing tissue tone (up-regulate) using different strokes on the skin.

While the feeling of IASTM varies with the pace and depth of the technique used, you might be surprised that it is not a blatantly painful modality (you might be thinking about Gua Sha, another scraping modality).  Quite the opposite actually.  The goal is to start lighter and work up gradually to find the right response.  If the muscle is approached abruptly and deeply, it’s likely to tense up and efforts to relax it may prove futile.  Also, some of the nerves can only be played with using the slightest touch, while others need a fast pace, or a deep scrape.  Each technique is specific to the nerves that need to be manipulated, like the Pacinian and Ruffini corpuscles in the skin and fascia. 

I’ve started incorporating IASTM into my massage work already and am seeing results.  It’s not for everyone, but is another tool in my bodywork arsenal for my clients.  Looking forward to trying these tools for a test drive?  Let’s schedule your next massage soon!
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How I Became a Massage Therapist: A Comedy in 3 Acts

Where do I begin?  Deep down, I always knew I wanted to be a therapist of some sort, and only until the time was right did I take the leap to start my bodywork journey to become a licensed massage therapist about 3 years ago. 

ACT I
As someone who is ceaselessly interested in every dimension of everything, I’ve done a lot of different jobs in my life.  From my 1st job in high school selling Daily News subscriptions door-to-door to a litany of others (in no particular order): weekly open mic host & producer; Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf barista; marketing and beyond for an active daylighting company; karaoke host; camp counselor; spoken word artist and published poet; executive director for a small non-profit organization; and a few more I’ll leave to your imagination.
ACT II
But there at the end, balancing weekly open mic and karaoke nights on top of the non-profit job during the weekday/weekends (that was going nowhere), with a growing family to boot, I was at a crossroads of life and career aspirations.

One night at my local dive bar, I ran into one of my favorite karaoke singers and caught up with her.  She mentioned she was a massage therapist … and I had so many questions to ask her.  Truth be told, I looked into massage therapy soon after graduating from CSU Northridge, but the thought of additional student debt was not very enticing at the time.

Amanda informed me she was ten years into her massage career, had her own mobile massage business with other therapist contractors, was making good money, and couldn’t have been happier with her work.  I knew right then and there I had some research to do.
ACT III
I scheduled a walk through that very week at National Holistic Institute, figured out the financial aid, discussed the class schedules they had available and the only one that worked for me happened to include both weeknights of my shows.  Not only that, but the group I would join started their semester that week, so I had to sign up then or wait another 6 months to start. 

After a little reflection, the decision was clear.  I ended my open mic at the Coffee Bean after 10 years, told the karaoke company I could no longer host, and was starting classes at NHI the next week.  It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. 

I worked at the non-profit until I passed my licensing exam and was working at Equinox Spa and building my mobile massage business before I graduated from school.  After getting my massage wheels going, I eventually brought back my open mic, now at my favorite dive bar on Tuesday nights; and while I’ve moved to OC, the show goes on with a new host.

I still bring massage to LA on the weekends and have been reaching out to more areas of the OC, and if it’s been a while since I’ve seen you, let’s schedule your next massage and change that!

Lots more to get excited about this year!  Stay tuned.
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Cheers 2018, Bring On 2019

Blink and it’s already 2019. I hope you had a great year in 2018 and are looking forward to a wonderful new year.  In case the months ahead do turn stressful, or painful, or you are interested in making the resolution of “more self care” this next year, I’m not far when you’re in need of a dose of massage therapy.

Below you will find a quick recap of some of the new additions to my massage therapy practice in 2018, and here’s (cheers) to many more exciting adventures in bodywork this next year!

Rockblades (IASTM Tools) by Rocktape

IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation)
Yes, it a mouthful, but you know what, it’s a mind-full also. I took an IASTM certification class this December on the use of scraping tools, including the ones pictured, for myofascial therapies and it’s still creating new wrinkles in my brain. The principles focus on neuro-sensory functioning and fascial health, and involves varying pressures depending on the goal (from “feathering” to “chopping”). I’ve already begun including the tools into my bodywork sessions and am excited to continue gaining more IASTM experience.

My Massage Studio

1 Year Studio Anniversary
In August, I celebrated the one year anniversary of my studio space in Encino, CA; or as I like to think of it, my very own zen den on Ventura Boulevard. If you haven’t seen it, consider shaking it up and scheduling a future session there!  It’s been a pleasure sharing it with fellow NHI graduate and massage therapist, Josh King.

Hypervolt by Hyperice

Hypervolt by Hyperice
In case you haven’t heard from me about this device … I am in love with this thing. Since Spring, the Hypervolt has helped immensely when I want to address deeper tissue and need to warm up more superficial muscles. It’s amazing what some high powered vibration can do to muscles and the nervous system in a short amount of time.

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