Thai Massage at Oregon School of Massage: May 4-6
Posted on | May 3, 2012 | 2 Comments
Coming soon to OSM Salem – Public Demonstration, May 4, 6:30 pm
Written by Jason Aguayo, Salem Supervisor
Growing in popularity, Thai massage is an ancient form of bodywork promoting health and well being. Thai massage is sometimes referred to as assisted yoga, as many of the poses and postures are similar to various forms of yoga. There is more rocking and pressing than Swedish massage which tends to use more stroking and kneading strokes. Because of the gentle nature of Thai massage, it is a good introduction to those new to bodywork therapies. It is also great for experienced receivers, the elderly or infirmed clients.
There are a number of Salem area therapists who specialize in Thai massage. Clients can expect to pay $50-$90 for a session which may last 1-3 hours. Clients remain clothed and no oils are used during the massage which is usually performed on a large floor mat, or sometimes massage table.
Thai massage has many benefits for the practitioner as well as client. Simple concepts of good body mechanics such as having a neutral spine, maintaining proper balance, joint alignment plus intentional breathing make for a healthful meditative experience for both client and practitioner. Many therapists assert they achieve as much of a calming and energizing effect as a giver.
Thai massage is a component of Thai medicine, a 2500 year old method of natural healing that combines influences from Indian, Chinese and Southeast Asian cultures. Thai medicine is composed of several branches which include herbal medicine, food cures and nutrition, spiritual practices and the manual therapies of Thai massage.
The term Thai massage translates from the expression nuad bo’rarn. “Nuad” means to touch with intention, while “bo’rarn” means ancient, sacred or revered. The key concept of “metta” in Thai Massage comes from Buddhist philosophy and translates as “loving kindness”. These give a hint at the depth of healing presented in Thai massage.
In the Thai model, energy flows through the body via pathways called sen. Each pathway contains many specific points known as nadis. Thai massage is a gentle interactive therapy where the therapist uses palms, thumbs and feet to apply acupressure and stretching to facilitate free flow of energy along these pathways to promote improved balance and health.
In the Thai model, many major energy pathways originate in the abdominal area. A typical session may emphasize gentle abdominal work to encourage health and vitality throughout the body. Thai massage in intent on working slowly to promote mindfulness. This serves to better engage the client as well as making the practitioner aware of discomfort or resistance the client is holding.
Oregon School of Massage will present a free Thai Massage demonstration on Friday, May 4th from 6:30-8:30PM. Participants are also welcome to the attend the Thai Massage – Level I class, which continues Sat-Sun 9am-5pm. Tuition is $375.
The Level I course is extracted from the full Southern-style Kata, and provides the student with a holistic session lasting 40 to 50 minutes. This short form uses all five body positions and focuses primarily on compressions and passive Yoga stretches. The emphasis of this class is on good body mechanics; you will learn to move the client effortlessly and “heal yourself while helping those you touch.” The course is certified by the Thai Healing Alliance International. Prerequisite: None
David Weitzer, LMT, the instructor, has studied extensively in Asia and taught Thai massage for over ten years.
To register or obtain additional information contact:
Jason Aguayo
Oregon School of Massage
503-585-8912
or the OSM Portland office at 503-244-3420 (or 800-844-3420)
OSM Homepage: http://www.oregonschoolofmassage.com
Hawaiian Midwife Speaks About Massage During Childbearing Years
Posted on | April 30, 2012 | Add a Comment
Special Event at Oregon School of Massage – April 20, 2012
OSM SPEAKS OUT ABOUT “THE CLIENT LIST”
Posted on | April 11, 2012 | 2 Comments
Dear Oregon School of Massage Students, Graduates & Colleagues,
It has come to our attention that there is controversy brewing around the Lifetime Network show, “The Client List.” If you haven’t heard the news, the show examines the struggles of a single mother who finds employment at a spa, only to discover that it is really a storefront for prostitution. She continues her employment, despite the illegality of her work. Adding to the questionable nature of the storyline, commercial trailers for the show portray it as sexy and glamorous, which is in conflict with the mission of Lifetime to offer “the highest quality entertainment and information programming content that celebrates, entertains and supports women.”
Both the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) and the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) have written official statements and have been in communication with Lifetime Network regarding their concerns. They have addressed how the show may impact professional massage therapists and resurface outdated stereotypes about the massage industry – potentially placing massage therapists in unintended danger. We encourage you to visit both AMTAmassage.org and ABMP.com to read more details from our professional associations and responses from the network. (ABMP statement . AMTA statement )
Oregon School of Massage places a high regard on professional ethics, communication and boundary setting and we find this both a concerning situation and an opportunity for client education. At this moment, Lifetime intends to continue with their plans to air the show. This means that clients, both existing and potential, may be exposed to the sexual massage parlor stereotype, which we have fought as a profession to overcome. Because the show may become a part of weekly television viewing culture, our boundaries and professional communications will be put to the test as our clients come to sessions with questions about the show and sexual massage. We encourage you to use this opportunity to discuss with your clients, in a non-judgemental and matter-of-fact way, the therapeutic nature of our work and clarification of professional boundaries.
For additional information regarding discussing sexual issues with clients, please refer to “The Educated Heart,” by Nina McIntosh or “The Ethics of Touch,” by Ben Benjamin & Cherie Sohnen-Moe.
Sincerely,
For the Oregon School of Massage Staff,
Amy Stark, Student Services Coordinator
Meet OSM Instructor Anne Barber-Shams, LMT
Posted on | April 9, 2012 | Add a Comment
We’d like to introduce you to OSM CE instructor Anne Barber-Shams.
By Ray Siderius, OSM Director
____________
Art and Healing
Anne Barber-Sham’s early education led to BA in art at UC Santa Barbara; her first career was as a painter. After moving to Oregon she continued art studies at Marylhurst and, as she focused more on contributing to family income, practicing massage came to mind. At Marylhurst a mentor reassured her that art and massage were a natural fit. The mentor said, “The healer and the artist are the same person.”
Life-Long Learning
Having entered the massage profession when Oregon educational requirements were minimal Anne, from the beginning, fed her desire to learn with a steady stream of continuing education. At an Oregon/Washington AMTA convention she met and was introduced to the Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) work of Paul St. John. She was drawn to Paul St. John’s teaching because of his holistic concepts and because the method appeared to be a way to therapeutically benefit clients. That led to extensive training and a subsequent role of teaching. For several years she taught Paul St. John NMTseminars throughout the western United States…she tells of being the lead instructor for weekend trainings of as many as 60 students.
At that same AMTA convention she was introduced to the Onsen method (unique form of sports massage) developed by Oregon LMT, Rich Phaigh. These days in her Silverton and Portland practice she says her work stems from the NMT experience and an integrated mix of Rich Phaigh’s technique, which she learned from Portland LMT Bob White, and the many other prominent teachers with whom she has studied. She incorporates muscle energy techniques (Onsen), stretching and movement therapy into her work.
She recently participated in a “Deep Massage” class taught at OSM by David Lauterstein. Lauterstein, Founder and Director of the Lauterstein/Conway Massage school in Austin, Texas, has developed a form of massage which systematically integrates energy and structural work. Anne, a life-long learner, says she is also integrating some of this approach in her work.
Anne says her aim for clients is “to increase musculo-skeletal balance for lifelong physical and energetic health.”
Teaching at Oregon School of Massage
At OSM Anne teaches “Tension Headache Treatments” and “Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Treatment.” She has been particularly drawn to massage for those conditions because of the frequency with which they have shown up in her 25 years of practice and the insights she has developed in working with them. She will be teaching the “Tension Headache Treatments” class in Salem on April 27-29.
More Art
Art remains an essential part of Anne’s life; she is currently working on a 11-piece exhibit which will be begin in September at the Palestine Center in Washington DC. This body of work, in support of Middle East peace, portrays a period of Spanish history where the Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures peacefully and constructively intermingled.
Contact Information for Anne
You can learn more about Anne’s practice at her website: http://annebarbershams.com/Neuromuscular_Massage_Clinic/Welcome.html
To contact Anne email her at: anne81@frontier.com
REFLEXOLOGY AT OREGON SCHOOL OF MASSAGE (OSM)
Posted on | April 1, 2012 | Add a Comment
The author, Alexis “Lexi” Reale, is Oregon School of Massage‘s Clinic Coordinator. While not a massage therapist, Lexi has a long standing interest in natural healthcare and uses massage as part of her own well-being. The report stems from Lexi’s participation in a recent OSM workshop,”Reflexology for Women,” taught by Amy Goetz.
By Alexis Rale
WHAT IS REFLEXOLOGY?
Reflexology is a form of massage built on the belief that there is a map of the entire body reflected, or connected energetically, to the points on the feet, hands and ears. For example, each side of the body is reflected in the foot, hand or ear with the corresponding side of the body. Reflexology works by clearing nerve pathways and helping to restore the communication systems of the body so everything can run more smoothly. Reflexology is a great tool for self care, and when applied by friends and family it makes for a simple, non invasive way to provide healthy touch.
WHY REFLEXOLOGY FOR WOMEN?
Reflexology practitioners, like those in other healing modalities such as acupuncture, homeopathy, reiki and massage, can tailor their treatment sessions specifically to women’s health concerns. Alternative healing practices can be used to deal with menstrual problems, menopause, hormonal imbalances, infertility, pregnancy, labor and birth as well as postpartum and emotional concerns.
Studies have shown reflexology to be effective in maintaining comfort and quality of life during pregnancy, although a number of precautions need to be taken. Treatments during pregnancy might focus on relaxation, exhaustion and sleep issues, or work on specific concerns such as low back pain, and morning sickness. Treatments can continue into the labor and birth stages, and can be quite effective in inducing labor, turning the baby into the correct birthing position, and decreasing pain; treatment can also continue on into postpartum care.
Because reflexology helps to restore and balance the body’s systems, holistic practitioners suggest that it may be particularly beneficial for health concerns specific to women. Stress is a significant factor in most diseases and can directly impact a woman’s hormonal balance, blood sugar levels and immune response.
REFLEXOLOGY FOR WOMENS HEALTH CLASS AT OSM:
In this particular class students were taught reflexology techniques for the hand, foot and ears, and the class followed this sequence:
• Introduction to reflexology
• How to use your hand to avoid injury
• Reflexology techniques, including the amount of pressure necessary, how to effectively engage the tissue, techniques such as the thumb walk (which resembles the motion of an inchworm), j-strokes, vibration, circles and the use of knuckles
• Specific health concerns
• Contraindications.
One theme of the class was to provide care to the client, while making sure to not compromise our own health.
The first sequence we learned was for balancing hormones. This consisted of considerable work around the ankles, which helps relieve tension in the low back and pelvis. The work was then focused around the solar plexus, this area holds a lot of power for both the giver and receiver, which I experienced first hand. When the student located my solar plexus reflex point, which is located under the ball of the foot somewhere between the second and third toes, I instantly felt my body melt into the table, I noticed that I wasn’t holding any tension in my jaw, an area that even when I’m in my most relaxed state, is still tight; that was huge for me.
When it was my turn to give I was holding her solar plexus point, very relaxed, and I felt a subtle vibration in my hands, I had never felt anything like that before; it was at this moment that the power of touch and reflexology became evident to me. After the solar plexus we continued onto the uterus and ovary reflexes, then the pituitary, thyroid and parathyroid and ending on the pancreas reflex.
The class then covered “Things that make life hard”, which covered headaches, constipation, lower back pain, stress, sleep troubles, breast sensitivity and finally bloating. After several hours were spent exchanging work, we covered the “growing life” and “labor and birth” lessons.
We each got a chance to receive work from Amy, while she demonstrated a new sequence. When I heard her ask if any of us had lower back issues my hand immediately shot up; it was a treat to receive from her.
HOW WILL I USE REFLEXOLOGY
Being prone to chronic headaches, reflexology offers me simple and effective tools for self-care. The points are easily accessable through the hands, so whether I’m at work, on the bus, or waiting in line at the store I will be able to apply reflexology.
We learned various stress relief sequences, for both the hands and feet, that can be applied from the self or from a partner.
Aside from treating health conditions specific to women, I will apply some general pain relief techniques we learned to alleviate the discomfort from my persistent knee problem.
Reflexology can easily be integrated into your life; think morning, noon and night. It is easy to multi-task while doing reflexology, you could put a foot roller under your desk at work, or use a golf ball on your hands while watching television. Be creative in your methods and where you apply the techniques, be consistent, and play around until you find what works for you.
Who should take this class?
Although the class is a general interest class, I recommend having some knowledge of reflexology, massage therapy, or anatomy and physiology. While I have limited experience in all three areas and I was able to keep up and comprehend all of the material, having prior knowledge might have made for an even deeper learning.
Amy is full of knowledge, energy and love for reflexology, and I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor for my first continuing education class at OSM. Id recommend that those interested in Reflexology take Foot Reflexology Basics as a way to get a more general introduction to the theory and techniques. For those with prior experience in reflexology OSM offers a Reflexology Variations class.
Resources
“Complete Reflexology for Life” by Barbara and Kevin Kuntz. A guide to use reflexology for common ailments, infant-old age, for everyone! (Can be obtained in the OSM bookstore.)
Instructor Amy Goetz’s website: www.barefootphoenix.com
Watch the OSM calendar for this and other reflexology classes.
BODYWORLDS…FASCINATING HEALTH SCIENCE…Ends March 5
Posted on | February 28, 2012 | 1 Comment
If you are interested in human anatomy here’s a great learning adventure.
The exhibit closes on March 4…if you have time take it in. Regular adult admission is $25; with ID student admission is $20. You can obtain additional information at: http://www.omsi.edu/on-view
*Plastination is a process which preserves and stabilizes tissue. The exhibit specimens come from cadavers which have been donated to scientific study.
OSM Student Activity Coordiantor Amy Stark says: My husband and I recently went to the BodyWorlds exhibit. I felt humbled and inspired by seeing the various layers of the body unfolding in artistic expression. As a bodyworker, knowledgeable in the sciences, it was particularly encouraging to walk through the exhibit answering my husband’s questions about the structures of the body; seeing his face light up as he eagerly sought to understand more about what’s going on inside his own body. Also, getting a sense of the interconnectedness of the body in its most primal state deepened my work and my curiosity during the bodywork sessions that followed.
OSM Clinic Cirector, Jonathan Berg says: Probably the greatest value to me of the exhibit is to be able to see the body 3 dimensionally and in scale. Having the models in dynamic poses allows to see structural relationships more clearly. The models in able someone to see the accurate size and shape of structures more clearly then any other way I believe. Two lasting impressions for me are just how deep the laminar groove is and how the layers of tissue are organized in the body.
Aleta Goin, OSM Salem Pathology Instructor: It was a fabulous exhibit. This is my second time attending the event. The first was when the exhibit was here previously. Each time I learn something new about the human body, despite the numerous A&P and Kinesiology classes that I have taken. Each display is an opportunity to see just how beautiful and complex the human body really is in a very visually dynamic way, and the entire exhibit is presented with a reverence for human life that I found very touching. It’s an amazing opportunity and I have been encouraging all of my students to attend. I offered them 10 points of extra credit if they attended and wrote a 2 page paper with their thoughts on the exhibit, something new they learned, and how they could apply that knowledge to their practice.
MY ROUTE TO MASSAGE TRAINING AT OSM – Marie Dixon
Posted on | December 22, 2011 | Add a Comment
Hi OSM,
I’ve been in Sales for most of my life and at age 40 I was feeling
like there must be more to working that just doing the job for
simply the money. Yet I didn’t know what that looked like to me at
that time.
In 2009 I had a serious car accident and realized after the accident
that I didn’t want to have my current career be as good as it gets
for me. So with that said I was receiving massages as part of my
healing process and noticed that Oregon School of Massage was having
a FREE training preview in Salem and it occurred to me that I would
love to be in a career that “Healed” others at the same time giving
my time to people that were in need of positive safe healing
massage. What a good feeling to have a job doing something like
that.
After the training preview I realized how affordable it could be at
the same time they offered night classes so I could still work and
go to school. OSM accepted my application for very low-interest loan. I’m grateful that the monthly loan payments are considerably less than what many people pay for car loans.
My life has changed so much since starting school at OSM. I have
more self esteem, better confidence, stronger hands and arms, and my
anxiety is almost completely gone which is a blessing in itself! I
am a much calmer individual. I get incredible respect from the OSM
staff as they welcome diversity completely. I also look forward to
seeing the people I’ve met through the school, it is like an
extended family. We exchange phone number in the beginning of each
class as students and that just strengthens a feeling of “being a
part of”!
I am lucky to have believed in myself enough that I took the chance
of getting the loan to start school for massage. It has helped me
be a better Me.
Sincerely,
Marie Dixson