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Massage for Headaches

February 20, 2006

I have been doing massage therapy and physical therapy for 9 years. My focus of the past 4 years has been on deep tissue massage, myofascial unwinding and release, structural integration all to deal with the complex issues of Migraine Headaches, jaw pain, and tension headaches as well as chronic pains. Massage and massage work have proven to be beneficial adjuncts to the work I do. For the past 2 years 90% of my work has been with headaches and massage of various modalities.

My name is Mike and the human machine has always been one of my greatest fascinations. My training started with informal massage for family and friends and continued with formal training at University of the Pacific in Physical Therapy and post master�s degree evening courses at Utah College of Massage Therapy, and weekend massage conferences and seminars. University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA is a very well recognized school. The cost is around $10,000 per semester and the physical therapy program is 21 months long. The school has a very strong anatomy, neurologic, and hands on (manual therapy) approach to learning the art of treating the human body. Touch is a very powerful tool to feeling what the body needs to heal. In reality the body�s own healing mechanisms are very strong and effective. And for the most part the body knows what is wrong and how to fix it. We just don�t take the time to listen. A good massage therapist helps you listen to the body�s signals and messages and provides a way for the body to do a lot of what it does naturally. I feel I was given a gift to listen to other�s bodies through touch and a gift of unwinding and undoing the problems and educating the clients on how to have power over their own pain and condition.

I have since learned from the hands of other skilled massage therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors, doctors, nutritionists, dentists, and the lay community more about being effective in the art and science of massage healing. I often think that it would be fun to open my own massage therapy school to share the knowledge and gift for healing I feel I have been given. I have often been able to significantly reduce or eliminate client�s headaches and pains where medications, injections, MRIs, neurologists and others have failed. I have been particularly interested in and found very useful the work of Dr. Bob Walker and his method called chirodontics in treating muscle, joint, and overall pain.

The hardest jump I ever made though was taking the leap into self employment. Giving up the security of a steady pay check and someone else worrying about the light bills etc into the world of laying awake at night wondering how the bills would get paid. Through it all I knew that if I treated the clients well, listened to them and helped them heal my physical therapy and massage therapy reputation would grow and build. Now, a short time later, my practice is on solid ground and I practice how I see fit. The clients are coming steadily and word of mouth is almost the only marketing I do.

I have experimented with a lot of different massage tools, tables, bolsters and oils. I have also hired various other massage therapists to work with me. Trial and error is not the fastest way to reach an answer but I am well satisfied with where I have ended up. My favourite massage oil at present is a sports blend from soothing touch. For deep tissue work I like the deep tissue lotion from BioTone.

I love the world of massage therapy and the world of natural healing. The human machine fascinates me. The gift of touch both giving and receiving is one of the best things we can do for each other. Massage therapy whether formally of informally done is a great gift to give.

Mike

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