Quantum Metta School of Massage

Feng Shui Tips for Massage Therapists

One way of describing Feng Shui is the flow of chi (energy) in the environment. Here are a few ideas to enhance the good chi in your treatment room. For individual advice, it's best to get a feng shui consultant to have a look so they can tailor the advice to your space and requirements, using specific feng shui formulas. Having said that, 30% of feng shui is common sense, so here's some general ideas that can help every therapist and that you can put into action immediately. If you feel good in the space and about the space, chances are your clients will too.

1) Keep the doorway to your treatment room in good decorative and working order...no chips on the paint work or creaky hinges. Make sure there is nothing stored behind the door, so it can open easily. If possible, align the hinges on the side of the door that enables you to see the whole room when you enter. As you walk into the room, ensure that there is nothing blocking the way...e.g. a masssage table! Have some free space to walk into.

2) Ideally use a therapy room with a window so the chi can be 'refreshed' by fresh air. Stagnant chi is not conducive to good health. Keep the windows sparkley clean. If the view outside the window is lovely - great! If not - e.g. sharp angles of rooftops, big buildings, a brick wall - place a bagua mirror OUTSIDE the window with the mirror side facing outwards. If you haven't got a window, keep the door open when you do your regular cleaning session and use Tibetan bowls to cleanse the space energetically. If you're an aromatherapist, juniperberry can also be used to cleanse the room.

3) If you can, position the massage table so that the client's feet or head are NOT directly facing the door when they are lying down. If they can see the door when they are supine, that would be good.

4) Keep your surroundings tidy, clean and uncluttered. Only have items in the room that look lovely: uplifting pictures of nature, healthy plants, ornaments that invoke positive thoughts and feelings. You have to love them too. If not - let them go! Remember to empty the waste bin regularly. Use colour to promote relaxation: soft shades of green or pastels for example.

5) Soften 'sharp' angles and corners (from walls, tables) by using plants in front of them or soft material. If possible, have furniture with curved edges.

6) For the consultation, use chairs with a back and arms and have these positioned so you can see the door, and both you and the client have a wall behind you.

7) Remember, if the client gets a good impression of the treatment room (and therefore, of you) and they feel good about it...then they'll start feeling better even before the first effleurage! So smiles all round : )

May the Chi be with you 

Dympna and Doreen

Recommended Books 2

Here are a few more of our favourite books...most of which can be found on our online store:

http://www.quantummetta.co.uk/index.php?p=shop

Soft Tissue Release by Jane Johnson

Sports Injuries: their prevention and treatment by Lars Peterson and Per Renstrom

Field's Anatomy, Palpation and Surface Markings by Derek Field

The Pocket Atlas of the Moving Body by Mel Cash

The Anatomy Colouring Book by Wynn Kapit

The A-Z of Essential Oils by E Joy Bowles

Molecules of Emotions by Candace Pert

Fish by Stephen C Lundin

Fish Tales by Stephen C Lundin

Quantum Healing by Deepak Chopra

Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra

Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks

Happy reading - Doreen and Dympna

What is Chi? Part 2

Human chi is generally known as 'Normal', 'Upright' or 'True Chi'. Within that there are different categories of Chi. So let's have a look at them.

1) Pre-natal Chi is also known as heaven, original or inherited chi. It's the chi that we are born with and we inherit it from our parents through our genes. It is thought that the amount of Pre-natal chi we are born with can't be increased during a lifetime, though as we use chi/energy it can be supplemented by practising meditation and other forms of spiritual development, including Chi Kung . Pre-natal chi is stored in the Kidneys.

2) Post-natal Chi  is received through breathing (aka Natural Air Chi) and by eating (also known as Grain Chi). This combination of air and food, forms 'Nutritive Chi' which is then circulated throughout our bodies via energy channels known as meridians.

The combination of Pre-natal and Post-natal Chi can be further categorised in 5 areas...

1) Organ Chi which is responsible for the healthy and balanced functioning of the organs.

2) Channel/Meridian Chi which is responsible for transporting Chi through the channels/meridians.

3) Nourishing/Nutritive Chi which transforms and creates blood from food, and also moves with blood to help nourish the tissues of the body.

4) Guardian/Protective Chi acts as our immune system. It acts as a barrier between the body and external pathogens (or what's known as External Pernicious Influences!). It flows within the chest and abdominal cavities and warms the organs, and also flows between the skin and muscles and regulates the opening and closing of pores, and protects and moistens skin, hair and nails.

5) Ancestral/Chest Chi gathers in the chest forming a 'sea fo Chi'. It travels up to the throat area and down to the abdomen. This Chi is responsible for breathing, speaking, regulating heart beat and can also strengthen the body.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine illness is a result of the Chi being out of balance, the flow being disrupted or blocked in some way. Illness can also be a result of deficiencies and imbalance in the organs of the body. There are many patterns of disharmony and the following are the two major ones associated with Chi...

1) Deficient Chi: this happens when there is a lack of Chi and it leads to an inability to carry out the normal functioning of Chi within the body. For example, when the whole body is deficient in Chi this could lead to lethargy and a lack of motivation. Collapsed Chi is a type o Deficient Chi where the lack of chi causes organs to prolapse. For example, prolapsed uterus or haemorrhoids.

2) Stagnant Chi: this happens when the chi doesn't flow smoothly. This can also lead to impairment of an organ. For example, dysmenorrhea could be a result of stagnant chi (blood) affecting the uterus. Rebellious chi is a type of Stagnant Chi where the Chi flows in the wrong direction. For example, stomach chi should flow downwards; if it rebels and goes up it could result in vomiting and nausea.

Various interventions are used to rebalance, unlock and promote the free flow of Chi again. These include Chi Kung, massage, nutrition, herbal remedies, martial arts and acupuncture.

Happy Chi - Doreen and Dympna

 

The Power of Focus in Massage Therapy

You know the old saying 'you get what you focus on'? You know the question ...'is the glass half full or half empty?' Or how about 'Don't think of a flying pink elephant'? See you did, didn't you? You get what you focus on.

Let's assume that we can only hold one thought at a time. So therefore we can only focus on one thing at a time. Yes...you can flit from one thing to another, often in a fairly random unconscious way...AND it's still only one thought at a time.

This is really good news in our work as massage therapists. Of course, it's a given that our focus and intention is always that clients feel better after a treatment. We wish them well. Add to that a deliberate and CONSCIOUS focus on the healing potential of the client, and it multiplies the possibilities for them. We can enhance this further and create opportunities to make health-ful and happy choices within our treatments.

Here are 5 things you can focus on in your practice to enhance the health and wellbeing of your clients...

1) Focus on you! Look after yourself first. Work from a constantly replenished source, rather than an increasingly depleted source. Be a beacon of health for your clients - inspire them. Walk the talk. Clients would rather see a happy healthy therapist. Wouldn't you?

2) Focus on the client's wellbeing not their problems. In most clients, much more of them is well than not! Even if they have a major pathology going on...see them getting better and improving moment by moment. Of course, we take details of their medical history and then we focus on what can help them. If anything is going to change, you have to change the direction of your focus and think differently in the present.

3) Focus on using language therapeutically by choosing to use positive or neutral language. So during the consultation, rather than asking 'Do you suffer from any back problems?' say 'Do you have any back conditions?'. Sounds different doesn't it?

4) Focus on the use of positive expectation and suggestion throughout the treatment. Instead of saying 'Wow your muscles are really tight' say 'yes your muscles are getting looser'. Aim to soothe the 'hotspot' rather than reinforcing it. On a subliminal level, when clients go into the relaxation mode induced by massage, it's better to have 'improvements' suggested to them, rather than 'that's really tight and tense' which keeps them nearer to where they were when they came in.

5) Focus on what makes it feel better and encourage more of that. If that stretch is helpful do that, or those shoulder mobilisations, or that chi kung class...then do that. Stuff that improves how the client feels in the moment raises their potential for wellness. Of course, you may know this and we'll say it anyway...use aftercare to further develop the 'this will continue to help you feel better' focus...do remember to give a LITTLE bit of aftercare so it's manageable for the client. Give them a long list, and they're likely to do none of it. It may feel like too much to do...so less is often more.

Happy focusing - Dympna and Doreen

10 Good Reasons to Attend CAMexpo, 24/25 Oct, Earls Ct

Just 4 weeks to go to this year's CAMexpo at Earls Court, London. www.camexpo.co.uk

Here are ten good reasons to come along...

1) CAMexpo is the UK's only dedicated trade exhibition for the CAM sector and we'll be exhibiting there again this year. It's aimed at complementary health practitioners, students and retailers.

2) It's a wonderful opportunity to discover what's new in the field of complementary health.

3) There's a wide range of workshops you can attend. We're running 2 workshops on Thai Yoga Massage. So if you're a massage therapist you'll learn traditional Thai Yoga Massage techniques that can easily be incorporated into your current massage work.

4) On our stand (number 2712) there'll be a FREE prize draw. We're giving away 6 one day workshops with Quantum Metta School of Massage. www.quantummetta.co.uk

5) There are a number of free talks that you can attend.

6) There'll be loads of interesting stands to wander around.

7) This is an ideal environment to network with fellow practitioners/students.

8) There'll be a number of stands offering treatments to try out.

9) There's a special offer on tickets at the moment...buy one get one free www.camexpo.co.uk.

and...

10) We'd love to see you!

Happy days - Doreen and Dympna

 

Organic Fortnight 5-20 September 2009

This month sees 'Organic Fortnight' from 5- 20 September. It's not just about food either. It's a nationwide campaign promoting everything organic...food, beauty products, clothes...all with an eye on being environmentally friendly.

There'll be a number of events all over the country with the aim of raising awareness about why organic is a healthy choice for us and the planet.

See www.soilassociation.org for more info.

Happy organics - Dympna and Doreen

Foodmatters DVD

If you're interested in your health and wellbeing, you'll be interested in this dvd... www.networking4therapists.com/foodmatters.html.

It's an eye-opening documentary on the food we eat and the medicine we take.

Happy watching - Dympna and Doreen

www.quantummetta.co.uk

Showtime!

What a lovely time we had at CAMexpo 2008 (www.camexpo.co.uk).

Both Saturday and Sunday were really busy and the number of visitors to the show this year was up. The move from Excel in the Docklands to Earls Court seems to be a success.

Congrats to the 6 lucky people who won a 1-day workshop each, in a our free prize draw. We're looking forward to seeing you on one of the workshops in 2009.

We had more help on the stand this year which meant we got to eat lunch(!), and we were all able to have a good look around the show ourselves. It was good to see current students at the show as well as a number of our massage graduates. Also good was to chat to other visitors about what's on offer at Quantum Metta School of Massage (www.quantummetta.co.uk) and Networking4Therapists (www.networking4therapists.com).

We ran Thai Yoga Massage workshops with Dympna, Paul and Sharon - which were great fun and everyone gained techniques that they could easily incorporate into their existing massage practices. The workshop on How To Network Effectively with Gary and Dympna, was also well attended with a great buzz to it. A number of visitors signed up to the Networking4Therapists events we hold every quarter.

We were superspeedy in 'breaking down' the stand on Sunday evening and gratefully made our way to a Thai restaurant nearby. We're lucky - we got to spend 2 days with fun, upbeat and positive people. Big thanks to Zena, Gary, Ginny, Derek, Sharon and Paul for all their help, support, kindness and laughter.

Happy days - Doreen and Dympna

www.quantummetta.co.uk

CAMexpo 2008 - see us on Stand 2712

CAMexpo - 25/26 Oct, Earls Court, Stand 2712

Autumn 2008? It must be time for CAMexpo (www.camexpo.co.uk). We've been exhibiting at CAMexpo for several year now. If you haven't come across it before, it's an exhibition exclusively for the complementary health field...practitioners, students, retailers. The show has moved venue this year to Earls Court, which should make it accessible to even more people, which will be great.

There will be stands (including ours), workshops and talks on offer. We're running a couple of workshops on Thai Yoga Massage on both Sat and Sun. And in addition, we'll be facilitating a workshop on Effective Networking for Therapists. Having done both of these last year at CAMexpo, it's really exciting to be doing them again this year, as they were really successful and  beneficial to participants.

We have our magnificent Team QM - Zena, Gary, Sharon, Paul, Ginny, Derek and us (Dympna and Doreen), and we're looking forward to meeting loads of people (old friends and new). For us, it's a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Quantum Metta School of Massage courses and workshops, and our Networking4Therapists events that take place every quarter.

There's a FREE prize draw on the stand and anyone who enters has the chance of winning one of 6 workshops.

So, if you're around that weekend, do drop by and say hi - we'd love to see you.

Happy Showtime - Dympna and Doreen

www.quantummetta.co.uk