Massage Reflections

Tonight I had my last massage for 2007. It was lovely. This morning in the staff room, many teachers were complaining of sore backs and shoulders from long hours hunched over the computer, writing reports. I went to the chiropractor last night. Two other teachers had been there before me. I feel great, even though I had a pretty busy and demanding day.

I was chatting to the masseur tonight about the many courses I have done in my life. I love learning new things and she does too. She was commenting on how people sometimes think you are crazy to be learning all the time or doing more courses. I have usually done some kind of study at most times of my life. Even when I am not formally attending a school, I have been focused on learning some new skill or practising something new.

Blogging would be in that category. I don't know everything there is to know about blogging, but I know enough to do it to the level I want to, with ease. I expect to learn more over time, yet at a more gradual pace now. One of my friends commented to me last night, after checking out my blog that I must put a lot of time into it. I have in the past, yet I don't really now. I would spend around half an hour on a post usually. Occasionally I spend a couple of hours when I want to rearrange or shuffle things about, or have something I really want to write properly about.

What's the connection between massaging, blogging and learning? Well I realised today that I do all that learning to make the things I want to do quicker and easier. Short term pain, long term gain. I think you are crazy if you don't try to make your life easier and more effective! Learning is the fastest route I know of.

Solitude

I have had ridiculously late nights all week. In my delicious solitude I have kept no track of time and have eaten when I feel hungry. I found myself going to bed after 3.00am most nights. I haven't lived like this for years. I am generally in bed before 10.00 most nights. I'm not sure what has gotten into me!

I haven't been reading as much as a result. Normally I go to bed at 9.00ish and read for an hour. As I have been so late going to bed, I have gone straight to sleep. I have been sleeping in as well.

I used to live like this all the time when I was younger. I don't really like it. I am going to bed early tonight. I want to read and awake early. I am heading to Melbourne tomorrow to catch up with loved ones.

Massaged and Loving It

Highly Recommend Massage
If you have never had a massage in your life, as so many people tell me they haven't, commit to getting one today. I've been having around 4 massages a year for the last 20 years. I'm about to start having one a month though, life is too short!
Shop Around
In this time I have probably had a couple that weren't satisfying because I paid too much and received too little, yet on the whole, the massages I have received have been little hours of bliss in life. At times I've had to try different people for all kinds of reasons. It's a bit like hairdressers, sometimes you have to shop around to find the one that is just right for you.
Finding the ONE
I tried a new masseur yesterday. I have to say I was thrilled with her service. Excellent pressure, clean, tranquil space, warm towels, great price and a very positive and professional lady. The massage was a pleasure to receive. She used the quality essential oils that I prefer and a fabulous blend. Later in the day I felt a little tender, which always is the sign of a beneficial massage to me, much like those muscular pains after have a great workout at the gym. Yet during the massage, there was no pain, only relief and relaxation.
Affordable Proactive Care
Massage relieves stress, which is a big cause of disease. It improves your circulation and elimination. There are many types of therapeutic massage yet even relaxation massage is beneficial. Having a regular massage, whilst seemingly indulgent, could arguably be a saving due to the health benefits. Preventing disease has to be better than treating it. When I was struggling financially, I was fortunate enough to have friends who were studying massage and I was the crash test dummy for them, so got my massages for little or nothing. There really is no excuse to go without the health and well being benefits. Ask around to find a good reasonably priced person in your area. I have found people working from their homes are cheaper and usually just as well set up.
Massage Exchange
I massage my family and friends but I am not professional and I conk out pretty quickly. When they reciprocate it is a similar experience, they don't last long enough! Whilst I think it is a lovely nurturing thing to do this for one another, it is no substitute for paying for and receiving an hour or more in a beautiful candle lit room, scented with essential oils, wrapped in a warm towel, in well trained hands.
How to Spot a Great Service
Short fingernails is a must. Many beauticians have long nails and whilst they create a great environment and have lots of other elements in place, can't really apply pressure as well as trim nailed counterparts. Cleanliness and warmth are vital as I find it difficult to relax in other circumstances. Discuss price up front. Around $50 an hour is what I have generally found is a fair price.

Disconnecting

Tomorrow we head off for a week of being away. I look forward to being away from home and the Internet and the phone and the familiar for a week each term. I have a pile of books to read and my laptop is crammed with projects that I want to play with. I know from previous experience how rewarding it is to my work and my health to have these breaks. I have a new camera to play with, so I will no doubt have photo's and stories and clips to last me a term.

Patience

I received an amazing complement today. My masseur told me she thought I was a very patient person. She was surprised because I was having difficulty with a meridian that related to lack of patience. I knew it was true, but she was surprised. She used to work with me and found me to be a really patient person.
I am delighted that I have learnt to hide my impatience so well. I am amused that my body has given away the truth.
My massage was terrific though and I am feeling quite at ease in my body.
Perhaps I have become patient....
Anyway, that word keeps cropping up tonight. I'm seeing it everywhere, yet have no clue why.
In the spirit of it here are some quotes about patience, that are helping me to think it through.

Podcasts and Theatre of the Mind

I listened to podcasts from Theatre of the Mind this week whilst I was walking. There are plenty on that site and they are quite interesting but contain a bit of promotion of their products, which are meditation CD's. There are also articles on these things on that website/blog. The woman behind the business also mentioned Joseph Chiltern Pearce who wrote one of my favourite books "Magical Child"
I have used these types of audio meditation and found them to be very good at improving my clarity and well being. It reminded me how effective they are and I am intending to find a timeslot in my day to include 30 minutes of it again. I am also going to find a space in my home to use exclusively for meditation.
bk_keywords:Chiltern Pearce.

Massage - Just do it

I had a massage tonight. It was the best. I don't understand why anyone would spend money on any other stress relief. A massage is the best. I have been having massages for probably 20 years. At some times I have had only one or two a year, now I have at least 4 a year. I feel it has really improved my health and helped me a lot. I love to massage the people I love but can rarely sustain the effort for more than half an hour. It is really great to pay for a massage, as I did tonight and enjoy over an hour of total attention to your needs. It is amazing. I feel great. Just do it. You will never look back!

Observing ease....

I have felt a lot of ease about returning to work. Things that once instigated rage in me are not so upsetting now. Something has changed. I think the fact that my own children are no longer at the school where I work has taken some of the emotional charge out of wanting things to be the best they can be for them. I am not sure this is a good thing to lose. Does this mean I don't care as much now that I am not driven by the self interest or my childrens interests? I have a feeling I may actually be a better, calmer teacher though. I have to observe it all and reflect more on it. I also don't have a leadership position. I guess I feel less responsible for the disorganisation so I have patience with it. I don't want to stress anyone else out like I was feeling a lot of the time whilst I was in that position. I am enjoying the conversations I am having with others more because I am not in a position of service to them as much. I feel I can choose more about what I contribute and do more than I could before. I felt obligated to do certain things before and this was like a chain around me. I have also let go of expectation. I have given up. I have less attatchment to the place. It has come down from it's pedestal and it's now just a workplace. Although I am uncertain about what has exactly caused the ease I am feeling, I am not stopped from thoroughly delighting in it.

Happy Chinese New Year - Year of the Fire Dog

We start back at work tomorrow. It will be the start of a new year indeed. The holidays have been awesome. These ones really lasted; like they used to when I was a kid. I think I am becoming more present in each moment. My mind is not always off doing something else making time slip away too quickly because it is not fully felt. I feel really healthy too. The small changes to my eating and exercise habits over the last 12 months have paid off more than any short term diet I have tried. I haven't meditated as much these holidays as I usually do, but I have spent a lot of time in nature and I reckon that's as good meditation as you can get.
I have barely given a thought to work these weeks away. I hope for a fresh start and avoid getting carried away with the politics and pain of the place. I want to focus on learning and the young people in my care. I know who my friends are now, so it should be easier. The rest I will handle. I expect to have more of a relaxing time without the leadership responsibilities. I am not going to be putting my hand up for anything!

Welcome back essential oils

Around 10 years ago, when I was on a big mission to revolutionise homes and learning feng shui and lots of other things about home, I 'apprenticed' myself to an aromatherapist. I wanted to learn about aromatherapy to apply it to creating spaces in homes and the essential oils would I figured add another dynamic tool to ones space creating kit. I spent one day a week with Ronece, who I have now lost contact with unfortunately, and she taught me heaps about essential oils and health. I loved my oils and I would make a different blend each morning and after I showered I would massage the blend into myself. I always put a couple of drops of lavender or chamomile into the kids bath to settle them in the evenings and I turned to my oils first if there were any illnesses or crisis's in my circle.
My life has changed dramatically since those times. Different partner, town, job, friends, home, lifestyle and time has inevitably passed. I have kept my oils and all the associated tools that go with them and on occasion I will light a burner after cleaning the house to add a bit of whatever it is I'm striving to create in the space.
Anyway this morning I decided that I need to do the daily massage thing again and I did and I immediately felt relief from a headache and weariness that has dogged me all week. It was so simple and easy to do and yet I haven't done it for probably 6 or so years. I have no idea why I stopped, but I am delighted I have started again.

The Importance of a Nap

I spent the entire afternoon napping. It was delightful. I needed it and I feel so much better. I should have done it the first day of the holidays and not the last! I think I did have one such afternoon at Foster actually. I feel I can now cope with returning to work tomorrow. I would have said returning to school, but as my daughter accurately pointed out to me on numerous occasions, it is her school and my place of work.
My grandfather (who is now 85) has always enjoyed a nap after lunch. I think it is a good and worthwhile thing and I intend to do as much of it as I can.