A Healing Experience Massage

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

Do you know what the difference is between the terms Masseuse (or Masseur) and Massage Therapist is? Well those of you that live in the Denver metro area and are familiar with Colfax and what it is famous for will know what the term Masseuse is. “I” am a “Registered Massage Therapist”, registered by the State of Colorado, Division of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), the same Agency who register other professions in this state. I take great pride and diligence in having a high standard of ethics and professionalism in my profession. Potential clients who choose to ignore these ethics will be encouraged to seek “massage” somewhere else. This mistake in nomenclature is something that many massage therapists have to deal with. I often have to explain this very thing to many people who new to the world of therapeutic, professional massage therapy. While it no longer offends me (much) I choose to have fun with explaining the difference by using the description above. It is often a source of enjoyment for me when I ask the question “do you know what Colfax is famous for?” Then watching when the light bulb of realization hits them. “That,..” I say “is a masseuse. I am a massage therapist,. sorry NO happy endings on my table.” Those who have had a professional massage therapy session can readily explain the difference in touch. While safety (for both the client and the therapist) and the comfort of the client are of the utmost importance to me, there is no mistaking professional massage as anything other than that. So stop putting off the body work that you know you need. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you.

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Susan Clingman, RMT, A Healing Experience Massage, 5031 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, CO 80110, (303) 726-2575; susanclingman@gmail.com; www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

Four new pages were added to the website, please check them out.

1. Mesothelioma: What it is and treatment;
2. Pain:  What it is and what causes it;
3. Beneficial Effects of Massage on the Body:  how frequent massage is good for the body;
4.  Therapeutic Massage for Health and Fitness:  the physical and mental benefits of regular therapeutic massage

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Susan Clingman, RMT, A Healing Experience Massage, 5031 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, CO 80110, (303) 726-2575; susanclingman@gmail.com; www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

Book Your Appointment Now With Me For Your Elemental Massage And You Will Be The Envy Of Your Friends. 

Choose either a refreshing foot bath or hand paraffin treatment with each purchase.  Until March 1st, receive a 60 minute massage for $45.00.

I combine Swedish, Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Orthopedic Massage and Cranial Sacral Therapy to meet your individual needs.  Pick either a spot treatment (for example legs & feet or back) or go for complete relaxation with a full therapeutic body massage.

Susan Clingman, RMT, A Healing Experience Massage & Bodywork, 5301 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, CO 80110; (303) 726-2575; susanclingman@gmail.com; http://www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com.

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

Some people who have never received a massage may have lots of questions regarding the session. Below are the most common questions that people have.

1)  Am I supposed to tip my massage therapist?
2)  Am I supposed to take off my underwear when I get a massage?
3)  What if I realize I’ve drooled during the massage?
4)  Will the massage therapist be there when I undress?
5)  Should I talk to the massage therapist during the massage?
6)  What if I get an erection during the massage?
7)  How do I know if it’s a legitimate massage clinic?
8)  The pressure isn’t deep enough, but I don’t want to insult the massage therapist’s technique. What should I do?
9)  I’m self-conscious about a certain part of my body and don’t want the massage therapist to see me. What can I do?
10)  I’d rather see a female massage therapist. Should I request this?

For answers to these questions, please visit:

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/massage/a/massage_ques.htm?r=facebook

Susan Clingman, A Healing Experience Massage, 5031 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, Colorado 80110; (303) 726-2575; susanmclingman@comcast.net; www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com.

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

Dementia (taken from Latin, originally meaning “madness”, from de- “without” + ment, the root of mens “mind”) is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging. It may be static, the result of a unique global brain injury, or progressive, resulting in long-term decline due to damage or disease in the body. Although dementia is far more common in the geriatric population, it may occur in any stage of adulthood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia

     Working with clients who have dementia or other types of memory loss can be both rewarding and quite challenging at the same time.  This population, in my opinion is underserved, so it can be rewarding to know you are helping someone who may not have a lot of contact with family or other people.  They may feel isolated because they can no longer talk or do basic daily activities.  They may be isolated due to behavioral problems associated with later stages of dementia.  But continued massage can bring amazing results to people, even someone who hasn’t spoken in years, when they thank you for the touch.  It can be a struggle too, when they may not remember you or may be combative or angry due to the situation which is beyond their control.
      One thing to consider is that the usual rules of massage (traditional table, chair, draping, lotion, etc.), don’t work well in this situation.  Generally it is best to massage them where they are at (wheelchair, bed) and massaging through their clothes.  Since clothes are left on, there is no need for draping and lotion, which means that you can carry less to the site where you will be performing the massage.
      My personal experience working with this population is to take any agitation into account and proceed depending on how combative they get.  If they appear to get agitated, I will slow my movements down to barely stroking their arms, shoulders, or back.  Slowing your movements down typically calms them with the rhythmic movement of your hands.  Also lightly massaging their hands or face can help.  If they get angry or combative, stop the massage and discuss what happened with your supervisor.  He or she may have suggestions on what might help the situation.
       Sometimes they may not feel like receiving a massage; that is okay.  Massage is intended to make them feel better; you don’t want to make the situation worse by massaging someone who doesn’t want a massage.

Susan Clingman, RMT, A Healing Experience Massage, 5031 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, CO 80110, (303) 726-2575; susanclingman@gmail.com; www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

ABMP’s Autumn/Winter 2010 Edition of their critically-acclaimed magazine for the public:

http://cp.revolio.com/issue/14740

Susan Clingman, RMT, A Healing Experience Massage, 5031 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, CO 80110, (303) 726-2575; susanclingman@gmail.com; www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

To find out, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles recruited 53 healthy adults and randomly assigned 29 of them to a 45-minute session of deep-tissue Swedish massage and the other 24 to a session of light massage.
Here is the link to the article in New York Times.

And if you really want to get into the meat of the study, here is the original from the The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Susan Clingman, RMT, A Healing Experience Massage, 5031 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, CO 80110, (303) 726-2575; susanclingman@gmail.com; www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

After particularly rough games, Ice and massage is one way in which Red Sox players (and others) recover from the rigors of the 162-game slate.

When there are quick turnarounds, especially from a night game to a day game, it is important to get the muscles back on track as quickly as possible.
Click here to read the whole article

Susan Clingman, RMT, A Healing Experience Massage, 5031 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, CO 80110, (303) 726-2575; susanclingman@gmail.com; www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

Getting regular massage, like chiropractic treatments, is a necessity to keep your body running smoothly and helps reduce the effects of stress on the body. Sometimes taking a vacation can be harder on the body than regular every day activities.  Many people are more active on vacation; trying to see and do everything.  Massage can be an essential part of either preparing for vacation or relaxing once the vacation is over.  Massage can also be a firm break between normal life and vacation; allowing you to focus in the moment and enjoy the surroundings.
    Massage before vacation can help a person relax and unwind prior to leaving.  With hectic schedules, people can find it difficult to relax on vacation, so having a massage before you leave can help leave the tension of life behind.  You will arrive at your destination refreshed and ready to do all the activities you want to do.  If you are driving for vacation, massage is a great way to limber up and soften the muscles; especially in the shoulders and legs.  Be sure to take plenty of breaks if driving extensively for vacation; get out of the car and walk around every couple of hours to prevent the muscles from cramping and the joints from getting stiff. 
    After a vacation, massage can help relieve the soreness and fatigue that can happen with travelling.  Jet lag affects people differently, but a nice relaxing massage once you have returned home can go a long way in de-stressing from a long plane ride.  Again, if driving, massage can help relieve the tension from driving in surroundings you aren’t familiar with. 

Susan Clingman, RMT, A Healing Experience Massage, 5031 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, CO 80110, (303) 726-2575; susanclingman@gmail.com; www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com

Massage Therapy Englewood Colorado

On June 26, 2010, the hosts of The View debated the case of Albert Gore vs. the Massage Therapist in Oregon.  Allegedly, Mr. Gore sexually assaulted the Massage Therapist.  During the discussion, the hosts then went into a discussion basically comparing massage therapists to prostitutes, as one host put it “no good can come from a massage lasting more than one hour,” and “she played music while she worked on my husband.”  Without making derogatory comments like they did, I will address the myths they portrayed and the seriousness of their accusations.
     To insist that massage therapists are nothing more than prostitutes sets up serious danger for the therapist and detrimental to the profession as a whole.  Most massage therapists have extensive training and knowledge about the body, disease and what effect stress has on the body.  Therapeutic massage is a non-sexual, non-sensual massage that relaxes the body, relieves pain, and can lessen the effects of disease.  Massage is suitable for everyone, from infants to the dying person.  It is not uncommon for a massage therapy session to last beyond an hour, depending on the needs of the client and if she/he has a complicated health history.  Massage therapists take a complete, and thorough health history to make sure massage is suitable for the client and will not exacerbate the disease.
     Yes, massage therapists do play music, along with the low lights, and candles; it’s called ambiance.  It sets the mood so that the client can relax and de-stress.  How would you like to be worked on with the music blaring (or none at all) and all the lights on?  Many clients full asleep while being massage, and that is wonderful.
      Forty-two states and the District of Columbia, as well as four Canadian provinces regulate massage therapy in some way.  Most states that do require registration and/or licensure, massage therapists must have a minimum number of hours from an approved massage school (typically 250-500 hours).  Among the subjects covered include Anatomy/Physiology, First Aid/CPR, Business, Ethics, Pathology, various modalities and evaluation and treatment techniques.
     If regulated by the state and/or city, massage therapists must also hold liability insurance, which has its own code of conduct.   Liability insurance is mandatory and holds massage therapists accountable for their actions and in their relation to their clients.
     A couple of things about the massage therapist in question; and I am not here to defend or accuse her of lying about the actual circumstances.  In school, massage therapists learn evaluation, assessment and treatment techniques, and this includes deciding whether the massage is warranted or if the massage could be detrimental to the client in any way.  According to her statement, Mr. Gore was drunk:  that’s the first red flag.  Professional massage therapists should know to never perform a massage on anyone who is intoxicated by either alcohol or drugs; both can be made much worse because massage increases the circulation.    Second, there was some mention that he made inappropriate comments/advances to her while he was on the table.  If that happens, the massage therapist should know to end the session right there, declare that the session is over and leave the room.   The client, being partially undressed under the sheets (mandatory draping in many jurisdictions), is not going to run after the therapist if he/she leaves the room.
       One “bad apple” does not spoil the rest of the profession; please do not assert what you do not know to be true.  Do not make glaring statements about the whole profession without getting all of the facts of the case and actually knowing about the profession.  Just because you don’t understand or have never had a massage, it does not make massage therapy illicit or sexual in any way.
     If the Massage Therapist in Oregon was really assaulted by Mr. Gore, I am sorry for her.    But if she is making this up, or stretching the truth, shame on her for making the whole massage therapy profession look bad.
     I urge everyone to get a professional therapeutic massage from a professional, regulated massage therapist.  You can go to either ABMP’s or AMTA’s sites to find a qualified massage therapist in your area.

Susan Clingman, RMT, A Healing Experience Massage, 5031 S. Federal Blvd., Suite 3, Englewood, CO 80110, (303) 726-2575; susanclingman@gmail.com; www.ahealingexperiencemassage.com