Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/329694
Which of these is your preferred client:⎯#5 or #95? Both? Right answer! You can empower the serious athlete and the weekend wannabe alike. There's a connection between bodywork, self-care, and self- image. #5 knows he needs you pre-race and postrace. #95 is poised to realize how beneficial your touch can be to her aching muscles and her wellness goals. Ideally, you can tailor sessions to both clients' needs. This fitness issue, however, is actually dedicated to your health and fitness. We want you to be at your best from your first client of the week to your last client of the month and have enough energy and spirit left over for yourself as well. The beautiful thing is the knowledge in these pages can easily translate to your clients and flow back to you. So together you can thrive—from start to finish. LESLIE A. YOUNG, Editor-in-Chief leslie@abmp.com EDITOR'S NOTE Every day of Nick Tumminello's life can be defined with three S's: Spider-Man (bouldering three times per week), strength (lifting weights five times per week), and skepticism (valuing science and reason). Charlotte Versagi is on her way to Uganda for six months to study holistic health in the African bush. Charlotte is a vegan, and her Arizona home is a magnet for the feral cats she helps. At 65 years old, she is an Olympic-distance triathlete. contributors As a tried-and- true native Washingtonian, Christy Cael spends her off time hiking, beachcombing, and just generally getting dirty. Her teaching, writing, and massage practice all seek to blend science and art with a healthy dose of curiosity and wonder. 10 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j u l y / a u g u s t 2 0 1 4 Start to Finish Fitness is a subjective topic. My definition depends on whether I'm talking to someone who's just conquered the Boston Marathon or my 80-year-old girlfriends who walk the lake path three times a week. Colorado is an exercise haven for all kinds of folks. Lately, I had a blast watching a 10-mile race in a small Colorado mountain town. Instead of watching the start or the finish, I situated myself on my tailgate at the 7-mile mark with a couple of other spectators. About 8:35 a.m., a strapping young guy wearing #5 came zipping down the hill and around the curve in front of us, light years ahead of the pack. He passed our little outpost oblivious to our cheers and clanging cowbell. Later, other participants started streaming down the hill. By now, you could tell who was an experienced runner and who was trying to recall why they'd signed up. A nearby race official was chatty, whining about how he had to wait for #95— the contestant who was currently in last place. 9:20 a.m. We counted about 25 runners with grey hair. 9:40 a.m. One guy came plodding down the hill, then started walking. He'd had it. More cowbell wasn't going to help him. 9:50 a.m. A volunteer came by and updated the race official: #95 was on her way. Just after 10:00 a.m. she came into view, walking. She looked exhausted, but determined. She smiled at us and the cowbell, and boldly continued on. She was going to cross the finish line no matter how long it took. She's my heroine. In many ways, I believe it took more for her to finish that race than #5, who was probably showered, shaved, and at breakfast by 9:15 a.m. And she needs and deserves a massage just as much as him, if not more. Massage & Bodywork Editor Leslie Young loves cheering for people from all walks of life.