Yeah, I was featured on a radio traffic report.
Sometimes a client will ask, as they are settling into their massage, “How did you decide to become a massage therapist?”
Actually, that’s an easy question to answer.
Well, you see. . . it all started on my way home from work (quite a few years ago). It was rush-hour, and suddenly a vehicle two cars ahead of me stopped abruptly. I tried to stop, but hit the car ahead of me (and he also hit the first car). My Chevy bounced back, just as a truck rear-ended me with such force that he pushed my vehicle into the car ahead again. Aaaaack! My poor Chevy sedan was the first casualty of that altercation.
A coworker told me later that the pile-up had made the radio traffic update. That’s not a good way to get yourself on the news.
…next, painkillers?
Anyway, after the accident, my chronic neck and shoulder pains began. I went to the doctor to make sure nothing was seriously wrong; he gave me some prescription muscle relaxers, but all I really wanted was for someone to get in there and work out my tense shoulder spasms!
I didn’t know any massage therapists at this point, so my solution was to seek out my friends who (a) possessed strong hands, and (b) had enough patience to deal with my frequent requests for help. Very quickly, I decided that some kneading for my upper trapezius trumped a Flexeril tablet every time! 🙂
Massage was a better painkiller for me
It was several years until I had the opportunity to go to massage school. But, during that time after my car accident, I gained a better appreciation for natural treatments. I knew I wanted to help other people feel better with massage therapy!
Sitting at the computer all day…
And here’s the other part of the story. In a previous career, I was a graphic artist (wedged into an office cubicle with a drawing board & a T-square). In the 80s and 90s, the tools of our trade transitioned to workstations with glowing computer monitors, mice, and non-ergonomic keyboards.
Then after 12 years of spending hours & hours each day typing and clicking and pasting, I experienced chronic neck pain… tight shoulders… headaches… and occasional wrist soreness. Does that sound familiar?
Massage therapy can help!
Massages can definitely help you if you’re using a computer or tablet all day long. No two bodies are alike, and no two massage sessions will be alike. But there are some typical patterns computer-users often have with their necks and shoulders.
Tell me where the majority of your pain & stress lies, and we can spend some time focusing on that during your session. Let me know how I can help!