your best massage

2009-05-13T03:56:00.000-07:00

BLUNDERS & BACKPAIN

A PICTURE'S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS - OR THOUSANDS OF $$$$$$$

Have you experienced back pain so great that it cost you your job? Louis Caldera did, but he's not alone. Check out this study:

FROM: JAMA 2003 (Nov.12); 290 (18): 2443-2454

Lost Productive Time and Cost Due To Common Pain Conditions in the US Workforce.
Stewart WF, Ricci JA, Chee E, Morganstein D, Lipton R

Advance PCS Center for Work and Health, Hunt Valley, MD, USA

CONTEXT: Common pain conditions appear to have an adverse effect on work, but no comprehensive estimates exist on the amount of productive time lost in the US workforce due to pain.

OBJECTIVE: To measure lost productive time (absence and reduced performance due to common pain conditions) during a 2-week period.

DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross sectional study using survey data from the American Productivity Audit (a telephone survey that uses the Work and Health Interview) of working adults between August 1, 2001, and July 30, 2002.

PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 28, 902 working adults in the United States.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lost productive time due to common pain conditions (arthritis, back, headache, and other musculoskeletal) expressed in hours per worker per week and calculated in US dollars.

RESULTS: Thirteen percent of the total workforce experienced a loss in productive time during a 20week period due to a common pain condition. Headache was the most common (5.4%) pain condition resulting in loss productive time. It was followed by back pain (3.2%), arthritis pain (2.0%), and other musculoskeletal pain (2.0%). Workers who experienced lost productive time from a pain condition lost a mean (SE) of 4.6 (0.09) h/wk. Workers who had a headache had a mean (SE) loss in productive time of 3.5 (0.1) h/wk. Workers who reported arthritis or back pain had mean (SE) lost productive times of 5.2 (0.25) h/wk. Other common pain conditions resulted in a mean (SE) loss in productive time of 5.5 (0.22) h/wk. Lost productive time from common pain conditions among active workers costs an estimated 61.2 billion dollars per year. The majority (76.6%) of the lost productive time was explained by reduced performance while at work and not work absence.

CONCLUSIONS: Pain is an inordinately common and disabling conditions in the US workforce. Most of the pain-related lost productive time occurs while employees are at work and is in the form of reduced performance.

I know that Louis Caldera, like millions of others in the work force, did not intend to lose productivity. The only answer here, he should have found a good licensed massage therapist. Massage unlike pain killers actually helps to relieve tense muscles by promoting circulation, which eases tension and reduces pain. Massage therapy solves the problem rather than masks it. Pain medication reduces the ability to think clearly and if you don believe me, ask Louis Caldera.

2008-12-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

This year has been quite a ride for millions of people all around the world. I pray that everyone will feel the blessing of light within their own hearts. I pray that everyone will feel love, joy and peace.

"Ask for everything...Have the courage to ask for the humility to accept everything".

Mother Meera

2008-05-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

THE WATSU POOL IN SAG HARBOR

WATERDANCING

This is a beautiful picture which truly captures the essence of waterdance. This is the freedom that the body has in water. Gently immersed in the warm water, the body is free to express itself. The pressure of the warm water rushes against and toward the body and at the same time all of the muscles and connective tissue relax naturally. The body feels whole in the water. The feeling is pure ecstasy. When the body relaxes at this level the mind is capable of releasing old patterns and embracing new ideas. This type of work is perfect for creative, high-strung individuals. I've lived in New York City for a long time and from what I can tell these are the type of people who would truly benefit from this type of bodywork.

After spending a week in one of the most magnificent watsu pools I've ever seen, located in Sag Harbor, NY, I had visions of a wonderful summer. I'd like to work in this pool this summer and I offer my aquatic massage services to all of you fast-paced city dwellers that seek relaxation and rejuvenation in the two days or so you give yourselves outside of the city.

2008-04-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

SURF AND TURF

Here are a couple of recent e-mails I've received from clients regarding my water massage and land massage. I am filled with gratitude when I receive messages like these:

Thanks, Lizy. The shoulder is much better. The pool massage is the
only thing that has worked, so far, for the pain and the loss of range
of motion. I can see why you like the WATSU,so much.

I'll let you know how the shoulder is doing at the end of a week or so.

I did enjoy floating in the water very much! The salinity of the
water helps for that. The WATSU is well conceived and should achieve
popularity. Its nice to know someone on the cutting edge of physical
therapy.

Keith

Dear Lizabeth,

I had a wonderful “vision quest” yesterday, very full of good feelings and appreciations, during which I spent some time thinking of you. I want you to know that I think you are an extraordinary masseuse, and that I appreciate immensely the perspective and spirit with which you approach your work. I love the way you engage with my body and energy, how no session is the same as any other, and how I too have learned to let go and go with your energy. I love the way you talk about your body work, and the way you end each session with a “thank you.” And I appreciate as well your sessions with Marsha when she comes to town, and how you’ve opened her up to the value and pleasure of going deep in body work.

It takes a very special person to do what you do as you do. So this is just to let you know how much I look forward to our sessions, how grateful I am that our paths crossed as they have, and how remarkable I think you are.

Ethan

2008-04-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

WATERDANCE

Waterdance is an aquatic based therapy that was originated in Germany. There are some elements that are reminiscent of Watsu, but the big difference here is that the client is immersed in the water. More to follow... In the meantime...Just think about how it might feel to have a therapist that is so present with your breath and your body. Just think about the possibilities that exist when you feel so attended to. Think how it might feel to experience yourself in warm water while someone is right there to witness and respect all of you. Imagine your muscles and connective tissue melting into the water allowing you complete freedom to be. While you think about that, I'll be thinking what to write in my next post. For now, I can tell you that I am very passionate about this work and I hope that I will be able to find a way to express this so that I can communicate how wonderful and special this work is.

2007-12-22T08:25:00.001-08:00

may visions of sugarplums dance in your head

2007-07-31T10:28:00.000-07:00

Ahh.... the sanctity of finding one's true aim...
where the heart beats home
where the mind knows peace
where the body feels perfection
where the soul finds eternal freedom
in the boundless, blue ocean of truth.

I wrote this poem two years ago when I didn't know anything about Watsu. I believe that this describes ultimate peace. That's been my personal experience with Watsu. In giving and receiving a Watsu session there is ultimate peace and that is just another reason why Watsu can be so healing for so many people - including the person who's giving the session. This is the peace so many people are trying to find through meditation, yoga, exercise, dance, music, and even drugs. It's the feeling that people describe when they are operating "in the zone." The peace that I experience when I'm giving a Watsu session results from my ability to open up and allow space for my client to meet their true self. This happens when there is unconditional support offered.

For me, giving a Watsu session is such a tranquil, focused meditation where I'm able to use all of my skills that I've learned over the past 13 years as a massage therapist. With my client's body in the water, I'm able to reach more muscles in so many different ways and open more tight places in so many different directions (without pain!!!) because gravity is not an issue. The client floats and through studying Watsu I've learned how to work with the water, actually...I've learned that the water is doing most of the work. Unlike a regular massage session where I'm the one who's doing all of the work. A client now can experience massage all over their body all at the same time because of the hydrostatic pressure. The water is constantly and gently working the circulatory system, the lymphatic system and the connective tissue system. It feels so great!!! Meanwhile, while all that is going on at the same time, I'm able to move the client's body in different positions so that I can massage and stretch the muscle tissue and free the joints.

Once the body feels free from pain, the mind has the ability to quiet and when that happens ...ULTIMATE PEACE!!!!!!!!!!

2007-07-20T12:03:00.001-07:00

WHAT'S NEW?...WATSU!!! I've been asked where have I been since December - so now I'm back with the answer. I've been a professional massage therapist for 13 years now and I was pretty happy with the way things had been moving along in my career - until I had a Watsu session. I had never heard about Watsu until I read an article about a couple of Swedish Institute colleagues of mine, Ben Watts and Tiina Dohrmann. I read the article about how they were massaging people in a warm pool - the water is heated to 96f and is mostly chrlorinated using salt. This special pool is about 15x15 in diameter and about 4.5 ft. deep. Ben and Tiina have been practicing Watsu for many years and through incredible ingenuity managed to create this healing oasis inside of a warehouse beside the BQE in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

After reading the article, I decided to give it a try. After my first watsu session with Tiina, I realized that this was something I had to learn. I couldn't believe that NYC didn't have a Watsu pool - or at least 1,000 Watsu pools! The benefits of Watsu are endless. Watsu takes massage to a higher level of healing! I had no idea of what would be in store for me once I made the decision to sign up to take the first 50 hour course - Well, I had an inkling that it might be more involved that I had originally anticipated since the couse was entitled Watsu 1. That does make one think that perhaps there would be more courses to take - but I was just so excited about how many people I could help and the possibilities of working with people in warm water - I didn't think that far ahead. I didn't have any idea what I was in for.

I must say that this was (calculus aside) - the most challenging thing I have ever attempted. This has also been incredibly time consuming and expensive. "WHY KEEP GOING??? " was the tag line that had been running through my brain on the 2nd day of class. My answer is the same - this modality has such endless healing potential for soooooo many people. I have to bring this into NYC.

So - for the past 8 months I have been immersed in Watsu. I have completed 250 hours (5 courses) and I am soon to be listed on the WABA.edu directory. For all you landlubbers - WABA is short for the Worldwide Aquatic Bodyworkers Association. This is an international association of aquatic massage practitioners that also includes physical therapists as well as other types of health professionals. It's been a long haul, but I am so grateful for making it!!!

2006-12-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-11-30T06:55:00.000-08:00

FROM BURNING OUT TO BURNING ON

I just finished reading an interesting article in New York Magazine entitled The Science of Burnout written by Jennifer Senior. As a massage therapist, I frequently encounter this phenomenon. I am around people who feel burned out most of the time. This summer I started feeling like I could burn out myself. According to the experts quoted in Jennifer Senior's article the general consensus of what burn out is seems to be "the gap between expectation and reward" and a "mismatch between effort and recovery". The people that I see each week call it stress - I call it stress - stress as defined by Wikipedia is: Stress can be defined as the sum of physical and mental responses to an unacceptable disparity between real or imagined personal experience and personal expectations. So what's the difference between stress & burn out. With stress - you're still responding - with burn out - you have no ability to respond.

I try to help people before they burn out and because I try to help these people before they burn out, I had to figure out a way for me not to burn out. Being in a helping profession I of course have an idealistic view of a world where everyone is at peace and everyone is fulfilled and if they're not - well I should be able to help them - every one of them. I'm a type-A, zen-massage therapist - is there such a thing? Yes. While I did attend catholic school, I am far from Mother Theresa! I soon had to learn that I can't help everyone - not even all of my clients! OH NO - I'M NOT THE PERFECT PERSON!!!!!!! After a lot of soul searching I realized that the only thing that I could do that may make a dent for people is I needed to take care of myself. The first thing I needed to do was to figure out what that meant - "take care of myself".

I realized that it meant more than a weekly manicure or being sure I worked out 3 or more times a week. Taking care of myself meant a whole new way of life for me. I started to seek out professional help in a few different areas. I found a nutritionist and a great body/mind/energy worker. I had to look at my diet so that I could let the nutritionist know what I had been doing and I discovered that my diet was not one that I could recommend to people - in my twenties and thirties my diet mostly consisted of coffee and cigarettes and before I turned 40 I gave up the coffee - only for vanity reasons mind you. (My sister saw John Pericone, MD on Oprah and he said that coffee made you age faster and prevented weight loss). The cigarettes I gave up about a year later.

So, after years of being strung out on coffee and cigarettes I went a much healthier route - I started stringing myself out on nicorette gum and green tea with an occasional cup of yerba mate for the caffeine. I subsisted on chocolate and an occasional meal consisting of real food once or twice a week. After consulting with a nutritional counselor it became evident that if I continued on my diet, I would probably be without a gallbladder & a spleen by the time I was 50.

I started on a new diet and I couldn't believe how much energy I had. I drink hot water with lemon and then I eat a full breakfast that powers me up. No cigarettes, no coffee, no nicotine gum. It was really difficult to make that change and now after about 13 months, I love breakfast! I started taking vitamins and supplements and eating about 4 times a day and I drink fresh green vegetable juice every day as well. Chocolate is still in my life, but I find I crave it less and less. Eating correctly has helped me be more functional. That doesn't mean I have more to do - it just means that I am better capable of handling what it is I already do. That translates to the fact that now I am less likely to burn out.

Eating well and getting enough sleep isn't the only thing that I did to prevent burn out. I used to go for a massage once a week just to see what other people are doing. Most of the time I would end up with an hour of aggravation because I'd spend the time wondering why the therapist was working the way that they were and not the way I would have. Now I see a truly wonderful bodyworker every week for my tune-up/tune-in. His name is Rick Barrett. I call him my energy guy. His work is nothing like mine so I'm able to really let go and surrender. His specialty is polarity therapy and cranio-sacral therapy. This settles my spirit. This work that I lovingly give to myself every week is my fuel and that's what makes me a better therapist because I remember myself for an hour or so a week.

Finally, I had to renegotiate my expectations about a lot of things. I had to realize that I am not a miracle worker. I can give people an hour of peace and I can do my very best to relax their muscles and offer suggestions for changes that they could make that might increase the quality of their life - whatever they decide to do with the information is up to them. I had to realize that in building my Empire, I needed to pace myself. I really can only do so much and I really can only expect so much. In order to assuage my type-A/New York City -need-to-make-it-big attitude, I constantly remind myself that if Rome wasn't built in a day then it's OK that my Empire isn't as big as Rome - YET - Maybe one day it will be - I shoot for that and I do what I can do each day to keep myself going.

2006-09-18T20:49:00.000-07:00

Check out my website at www.nycmedicalmassage.com

2006-07-06T05:08:00.000-07:00

ON THE FENCE

I received a telephone call yesterday from a woman who was entertaining the idea of becoming a massage therapist. She had recently retired and was interested in a new career. Concerned that she might not be able to handle the physical demands of massage, she was on the fence about investing time and effort into something that she might not be able to succeed with. She wanted to know if a career as a massage therapist was worth it.

I'm so glad that she called me. I couldn't be more passionate about being a massage therapist. I absolutely love what I do. There isn't anything more gratifying than waking up in the morning knowing that I will be able to really help people feel better. That's my job and that's the way I look at what it is that I do.

As far as the physical demands that a massage therapist experiences, that is up to them. In other words massage therapy can be as physically demanding as one makes it. I explained to this perspective student that there are so many different modalities that are available that are not physically demanding and that really work for people. Manual Lymph Drainage is one technique that does not require a lot of physical energy from the practitioner. This technique promotes lymph circulation in order to reduce toxins ultimately reducing swelling. Manual Lymph Drainage is very beneficial for post-surgical healing as well as for people who suffer from lymphedema.

The Swedish Institute offers a special concentration in medical massage. They set up internships where students actually work at hospitals and gain amazing experience before setting out into the "real" world.
The key to having a great career in massage therapy is to first get the degree, license, registration and insurance. After those technical items are out of the way, a whole world will open up to you and you will find so many different techniques (tools) that will work for you. The fun part is having all of these different "tools" to use and put together for each person that you will see. Every person that you treat will experience a great massage that is just right for them and for you too.

2006-06-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

JUDGEMENT

Let's face it. Life is hard. We're constantly walking around judging ourselves and being judged. There is only one place that I know of where judgement is a non-issue. That place is when you're on my massage table.

Massage therapy is the greatest respite from judgement. The only thing you have to feel is pleasure. If you don't feel pleasure or can't feel pleasure - there still is no judgement. The point of massage therapy is to bring you to a place in yourself that stands beyond judgement - a place where there is just pure joy, love and peace.

I have the opportunity of providing you with pure non-judgemental compassion and unconditional love. My intention for you is for you to feel how wonderful you really are. It doesn't matter to me what you do for a living, what your secrets are, what you've done, haven't done or should have done, it doesn't matter - I really don't care. To me, you are nothing but perfect. I want you to feel how perfect you are. I want to be able to introduce you to your perfection - the you that really does exist beneath all of the trappings of your life.

If you can give yourself an hour or so of this type of relief from life, I believe you will be a better you.

2006-06-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

Body Armor

This is the way most of us walk around. We've been acquiring body armor since we've been babies. Our bodies have learned how to defend us from trauma, pain, and stress. The good news is that we've lived through it all - the bad news now is our body is causing us to pay a price for all of that work.

When we experience stress, our bodies tense up - we're getting ready to fight or take flight. This is great because we are physically capable of running away in order to protect ourselves. The downside is - most of the time, we can't run away from most of the stressors we have to deal with on a daily basis. For example, we can't run away from our boss if we have a deadline to meet. We can't run away from the corner that we're trying to hail a cab on because we're running late for an important meeting. We can't run away from our 5 year old when they're having a crises, well maybe we can, but we'll get in trouble! The list of things we can't run away from goes on and on.

So, what do we do instead of running away? Our bodies hold tons of this tension in and the tension builds up over years and we're stuck with these knots in our neck and back. We get migraines, low-back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, hip pain, or our stomachs feel all out of whack. This build-up of tension ends up becoming this thick coating of body armor How do we release this tension? How can someone walk around these days without armor? Is it even possible?

Yes. I'd like to believe it is possible. I think that if we become aware of our bodies' armor, and we realize that perhaps at one point in our lives it was useful, then come to the understanding that it is no longer useful and actually is causing us to feel pain, we can start to take it off.

Massage therapy is a great way to build awareness and a great massage therapist will be able to help you start removing this armor. This process will absolutely relieve you of pain. I've helped countless people strip their armor and then I see them for quick tune-ups. The great thing about building awareness of your body is that as soon as you encounter a stressful event, you will be able to feel your armor patterns start up. The greater thing about building body awareness through massage therapy is after the stressful encounter, you'll know an amazing massage therapist and you know that with their help you'll be able to release this tension, strip the armor and feel your peace again.

2006-06-12T05:05:00.000-07:00

Medical massage therapy is finally gaining acceptance in the medical world. Acceptance = Medical Insurance Coverage. I guess that is the indicator of true acceptance. Doctors have not really been reluctant to prescribe massage therapy. Insurance companies on the other hand - have been reluctant to pay for it.

I don't understand why this is the case - is it because medicine is supposed to taste bad? If you're sick or in pain - aren't you supposed to be that way as long as the insurance company is paying? The things that make a person feel better have never actually been considered by insurance compaines as "medically necessary". Wouldn't it be great if things that kept you healthy were actually covered by someone - and then the insurance company wouldn't have to pay for much because you wouldn't be sick.

I've had this dream for ages now - Companies could have some sort of pool of monies allocated by them as well as contributed to by their employees - these monies would be TAX DEDUCTIBLE - for the company as well as for the employee. From this pool of money - certain things would be covered on a daily basis. Excercise would be part of work - just like gym was part of school. Healthy food that would be good for you and make you feel good would be available for you. Time out for meditation in the middle of the day would be mandatory. Everyone would have an hour massage each week. What a lovely idylic picture I've painted, but I believe it could work. Think about productivity. If people were well rested, well fed, relaxed and calm - I'd bet money that they would be much more productive and creative than their stressed out, overweight, unhealthy colleagues.

Now that the New York Times is writing about medical massage, maybe mainstream America will wake up and massage therapy will be considered as common as dress-down Fridays.

2006-06-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

"I'm not the massage-type"

I've heard this from a number of people over the years. I love it when someone comes to me for a massage and says this. They tell me either that this is their first "real" massage or that they've been massaged before and they had an awful experience. I consider this person as an even greater gift because now I have a challenge on my hands.

The first thing I try to find out is why they think they're not a "massage-type". I've heard a few different answers to this question. Some people feel this way because they think that they can't relax with a stranger. Others feel that they can't relax at all - especially with someone touching them. Some people actually feel guilty because it feels so good and they're not doing anything. Some people are so identified with being type "A" personalities that they consider relaxing a weakness. Finally, some people believe that if they relax for even a moment of time their entire world is going to crash around them.

Well, for all of you massage-challenged people out there - let me tell you - DON'T RELAX!!! That's what I tell these people that come to see me. Why are they in my office in the first place? Because they are in so much dire pain and no one is able to make it go away and they're at their wits end at trying to live with the pain after trying everything under the sun to make the pain go away.

Ah, the massage-challenged. I love them more. They become my challenge. What I try to do in this case is to put myself in their shoes. See things from their perspective. Wow, I might say - you do have an incredibly busy life. I can totally understand why you feel like you can't let go of things. Your situation sounds really difficult. The problem now though, is that all of this work and stress that you're under is getting locked up in your neck or in your back and while your brain and your will is absolutely up for the job that you're in or stress you put yourself under, your body is on strike.

Muscles are much like union workers. They are happy to do their job under optimal working conditions, appropriate vacation time, sick and personal days, benefits and limited working hours. When a person endures extended periods of a stressful lifestyle they put their physiology in a state of stress. Usually stressed out people are not excercising, eating correctly, drinking enough water, sleeping enough and these conditions just put you and your body in a cycle of distress. You cycle out of control until you hit a wall - you wake up one morning and you can't turn your neck or you get a migraine or you somehow injure yourself or something happens. Your body goes on strike until you can mediate some sort of new contract with yourself.

That's where I come in - Medical massage is a non-threatening idea for these type-A, massage-challenged types. A comprehensive, focused approach gives a beginning, middle and end to their physical problem. During the massage we may or may not talk about what's going on that's stressing you. We work together and target the pain and I try to build a connection between you and your body. It's a very effective and non-threatening approach for the massage-challenged person.

2006-06-09T06:12:00.000-07:00

Massage Therapy As A Transformative Tool

I've become inspired to write my blog again. For all of you who are viewing this blog for the first time, I'd like to share my intention with you. I hope to create a forum where massage students, massage therapists and massage recipients can share their experiences and communicate freely about massage.

I am passionate about massage therapy and the transforming effect it can have on both the giver and receiver. This transforming effect occurs as a result of the energy that is created when two people are together and present. I have personally experienced transformation through receiving massage therapy and I have personally experienced transformation through giving massage therapy.

Wow - does this seem to be too much, too weird and fruity? Too over the top? Does it sound too "New-Agey" for you? Perhaps - and if that is the case, please don't stop reading! You don't have to view it like this - you don't even have to think about massage like this if you don't want to. Actually, if the previously mentioned idea does not resonate with you - please drum it out of your head. I say this because massage can be something that just plain feels good to you.

Having a great massage makes you feel great. You may have walked into the massage feeling drained, achey, cranky or stressed out and in just an hour you feel relaxed, at peace and happy. You can say that this is because it felt nice. The music was nice, the massage table was comfortable, you turned your cell phone off and no one could bother you for an entire hour. All you had to do was lay down and everything else was taken care of.

Just by giving yourself that hour of peace - you feel better. That in and of itself is a transformation. If the word sounds too airy-fairy for you, then please let me know because I am interested in being able to reach as many people as possible so that they will try massage as a vehicle towards their peace.

Giving a great massage makes you feel great. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that you've just made someone feel wonderful. I feel like that is such a gift. How many times a day do people have the opportunity to do that? I guess lots, but being able to give someone an hour of peace and being able to offer a person unconditional love and true compassion and understanding is not something that everyone gets a chance to do. The fact that I make money doing it is the icing on the cake for me.

Stay tuned for more posts about massage therapy and please let me here from you! I want to know what you think about massage therapy. I would love to be able to answer your questions about massage therapy. Don't be shy - let me here from you!

2005-10-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Massage therapy can be an amazing tool for transforming the body, mind and spirit. I've been practicing massage therapy for 13 years now. The reason I became a massage therapist was because of my massage therapy experience. I had been working in the record industry and I had a very stressful job. It was a somewhat exciting job - lots of parties and famous people, but also the job was all consuming. I had two mobile phones that would ring at all hours of the day and night. I had to deal with a lot of deception and I wasn't happy about it. The only time I felt good was when I would go for a massage. I found a massage therapist that really helped me. What originally was a way to work out the kinks in my neck and back soon became a precious and priceless experience for me. Without saying anything to anyone for an hour and having the ability to be in a peaceful, safe environment my life started to become a bit more clear to me. I would get a massage once and sometimes even twice a week. My body started to change. I started to lose weight because I ate healthier - UNCONSCIOUSLY! I realized that the marriage that I was in was a mistake. I realized that I mattered and then all of a sudden, I realized that I was living the wrong life. I ended my marriage, left the job and went away for a vacation. I was on a long chairlift ride up the mountain in Telluride, CO and I was thinking to myself about what I wanted out of life - this was probably the first time I even asked myself this question. I thought about what was important to me and then I thought about what I could do in this world - what I wanted from it and what I wanted to give back to it. The thoughts that came to me that day were so crystal clear. I knew that I wanted to be happy and it was important for me to be able to deal with people in an honest, loving and happy way. I knew that I wanted to be able to work anywhere, I didn't want to have to report to anyone except to myself. I thought about people that I knew who were happy in their lives. Most of them worked for themselves, actually - all of them worked for themselves. The next question was - which of these people had the best life - the answer - my massage therapist - I decided at that moment - I was going to become a massage therapist. I had no idea what was involved and when I returned to New York, I called my massage therapist and I asked her what I needed to do. I went to the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in New York City and I enrolled in their massage therapy school. It took one full year and then I took the New York State Massage Licensing Exam - passed - and started working. It was a tough road and my life was drastically changed. Through all of the turmoil, there was a little voice inside of me that knew I was doing the right thing. I honored that voice through a lot of ups and downs. I couldn't be happier that I did. Massage therapy has brought me around the world - practicing massage and learning new techniques. Now I have a private practice in New York City. I treat people from all walks of life with all kinds of maladies. I offer them what was given to me - an hour of peace and a chance to be touched with nonjudgemental compassion and unconditional love with the intention of creating a safe place where they can have a chance to transform - whatever that may mean to them.