Massage & Bodywork

MAY | JUNE 2015

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SPEAK YOUR MIND 14 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k m a y / j u n e 2 0 1 5 I mainly try to strengthen my hands. Grip strengtheners, fi ngertip push-ups, and holding books with my fi ngers while standing with hands at my sides. I also massage my hands, constantly looking for more points and applying different techniques. As a bonus, I learn things I can treat clients with. ATTICUS DAVIS, CALIFORNIA How do you take care of your hands? I have been practicing massage therapy full time for 22 years and have no problem with my hands at all. I am mostly thankful for my genetic heritage. Coming from pure peasant stock, I am fi t to dig potatoes or become a massage therapist. Still, every morning I perform the hand exercise we learned in massage school. I slowly and deliberately bend each digital phalange until I make a fi st, and then slowly open my hands. I do three sets of 10 reps before I get out of bed. I also plunge my hands into ice water at the end of my workday, which inhibits infl ammation and reduces the appearance of the overtly vascular development in my hands. Also, I think that in the 22 years I have been practicing, the fact that I have never felt like I was "going to work" keeps me from experiencing any overuse systems. SHEILA FONTANA GLENWOOD LANDING, NEW YORK I stretch my hands and fi ngers before each massage. I also alternate every other night between sugar scrub on my hands and organic lavender oil, which I gently massage my own hands with. It feels great and reminds me that taking care of me is vital if I want to continue to do this work I love until retirement time! TAMMY GABLE PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND I mainly try to strengthen my hands. Grip strengtheners, fi ngertip push-ups, and holding books with my fi ngers while standing with hands at my sides. I also massage my hands, constantly looking for more points and applying different techniques. As a bonus, I learn things I can treat clients with. When I started my massage therapy career a year ago, I was very busy about 4–5 days a week, with 4–6 clients each day. My hands and wrists started to become very sore. So, from what I learned in school, I started paying attention to my body mechanics! That has helped a great deal throughout the last year. I have kept my wrists straight, fi ngers relaxed, and shoulders down. Every so often, I will ice my hands. ALEXANDRA SCHMIER, LMT ONLINE

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