Solaris Update August 2009

Posted on by
2

What’s new since last time?  Well, we have been putting some great new music on our playlist; Gambit is in Maine working on some island; this lovely arrangement on our table from Dutch Flowers; a great new line of products from Blooming Lotus for pampering your hard working feet; and we get to see Andee at the front desk nearly every day here at the gym (yay!).  Oh yeah, and we had to buy our second box of 500 kraft paper brown envelopes for gift certificates from xpedx.  Luckily we got their last box!

The summer continues to be mild in Kansas City, and our business continues to grow steadily at our home in the crossroads location of Scott Fitness.  Our website was updated in April, and we hope it continues to be easy to use and navigate!  The Coffee Girls moved to Waldo (lucky southsiders!) and we’ve settled into our new favorite coffee spot: Grand Street Coffee (its just south of 20th on Grand, across from KC Costume and diagonal from the Cashew).

John (Scott, that is) continues to work hard on the new gym location at 36th and Broadway.  It will be Kansas City’s premier garden level gym!  There will be a big party on the 5th of September from 7-11, so mark your calenders.  The new gym is going to be glowy and bright and different (yet again) from the other three.

We worked on so many birthday people during the Cancer zodiac that we are certain massage MUST be a favorite of that star sign!  It’s been great fun to meet and work on so many  friends and family of our regular clients.  Thanks to all of you for sending them into us this summer!

As some of you recall, I’ve been threatening to walk on your backs for sometime now.  Well this fall I actually get to go take a class in Ashiatsu (it means foot pressure, as I recall).  I am supposed to practice hula hoop and chin ups to prepare for the class.  Whatever, I think I’ll just eat some greasy Doritos then git to steppin’.  No really, I couldn’t be more excited to learn this awesome new modality.  I’ll be getting bars installed upon my return and should be ready to take clients starting in October 2009!  Book early, and book often for best results!

Well kids, I think that about catches us up.  As always, feel free to get your instant updates by following us on your favorite social media network, and we hope to see you in real time-space soon!

-Kip

What massage cannot do for you.

Posted on by
1

My personal theme for this year is “clarifying my role”.  In terms of my professional life as a massage therapist, this is always important.  It also seems to be an ongoing process.  Even though I am very aware of what it is that I do and do not do, it will ALWAYS be my job to clarify to new clients just what it is that massage can and cannot do for them.  There will always be new clients, there will always be a fresh crop of in vogue maladies that many will claim massage can help.

So let me narrow it down: I help reasonably healthy people optimize their (existing) health through preventative maintenance of muscles and joints.  If you have muscle tension, I can help with that.  If that muscle tension causes other problems (say, a headache) then what I do might also help that secondary problem.

I do help some people in pain, but that depends on the cause of the pain.  If the cause of your pain is muscular in nature, well, it is likely that I can help with that.  If you have neurological pain, I cannot help with that.  Your pain is real, but I don’t work on the nervous system.  Find below a short list of things for which people have asked my help:

*Depression

*Colon Health

*Celulite

*Stretch Marks

*Acute Sciatic Pain

*Fertility

Now, based on what you’ve read so far, can a massage therapist help with any of these maladies?  I’m sure some massage therapist out there will claim that she can.  I do not.  I simply facilitate muscle and joint mobility.  Now, if you have taken charge of your own health and add massage to that overall plan, fantastic.  You might use massage as part of an overall plan to feel less depressed.  It might even become your favorite part of that plan.  Great.  If this happens, I didn’t help you solve your depression problem, YOU did.  You took action, listened to your body and now you feel better.

So there’s the crux of the matter: YOU are the puzzle master.  Massage may be one piece.  No matter how many experts you consult on the subject of your own health, ultimately you have to take charge and put it all together.  You know what works for you.  The best part is, when you succeed, you get the credit!