Massage

I Got Nerded!

My post on World Massage Festival is coming, I promise. The holdup is that I’ve been asked to write a post for the Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy blog on World Massage Festival so I don’t want the posts to stomp on each other.

For now though, take a look at this interview by Massage Nerd. That’s me with Ruthie Hardee. I did a lot of smiling and nodding, but if you’re patient you’ll get to hear me talk a little around the 4:30 minute mark.

Enjoy!

I Got Nerded! Read More »

World Massage Festival or Bust!

I leave this morning for Cullowhee, NC and the World Massage Festival. I’ll be demonstrating in the DeepFeet booth with Ruthie and numerous other Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy therapists and instructors. If you’re going to be there be sure to stop by and say hi!

You can follow my travel progress on Facebook at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology.

I’ll be home Sunday and ready to see clients next week. Have a great weekend, everyone!

World Massage Festival or Bust! Read More »

Bamboo Fusion Here I Come!


Well, it’s official. I filled out the form, sent it in and if all goes well I’ll be in Kennesaw, Georgia next month to learn Bamboo Fusion massage.

I am so excited. Of course, the last two classes I’ve signed up for have canceled. So… get on over to the Bamboo Fusion website and sign up for the June class. I’m willing to share accommodations and I don’t bite.

I can’t wait. Right now warm bamboo sounds really luxurious. Sigh…

Bamboo Fusion Here I Come! Read More »

Elbow Trouble

Back in the fall I started having some trouble with my elbows. Self-diagnosing, as I am prone to do, I decided I had tendonitis in both. I’m not sure that’s what it was / is as I still have not been to a doctor opting instead for self-treatment with a tennis ball, BioFreeze and a lot of poking and prodding.

While on vacation last week I was finally able to slow down enough to go get a massage. The therapist I found is in Gulf Shores, AL. Her name is Melissa Millson and she is fantastic! If you ever get down in that area give her a call.

She did some things to my forearms that I’d never experienced before and I’m happy to report that for about a week, I’ve been largely pain free. Unfortunately, this morning I woke to that familiar pain in the left elbow. So this morning was spent trying to remember all the things I did yesterday that might have irritated the forearm and the elbow. I didn’t have much luck with that tack. My days are pretty busy.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you a bit about what she did to my forearms that seemed to help so much. It’s called Bamboo Fusion and warm bamboo pieces are used to warm and massage muscles at a deep level.

I’d never had a bamboo-assisted massage and as far as I can tell she only used the bamboo on my forearms and calves, but wow was it ever worth it. I’ve known about Bamboo Fusion for several years and it’s been on the list of CEUs I’d like to take, but mostly I had relegated it down the list of things to do later.

But since I had such a lovely experience with Melissa (and my Body Reading class got canceled) I’ve done a little research and there’s a very good possibility that I’ll be taking a Bamboo Fusion class in June. I have made initial contacts with an instructor and am waiting for a response.

Why Bamboo Fusion? Well, mainly because it’s luxurious and effective deep tissue through a hands-on application. I find myself with clients who can’t experience Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy or Ashi-Thai because they’ve had recent surgeries, but who still need deep work. I’m only comfortable and capable of delivering so much with my hands. I rely on my feet for the really deep stuff. So when a regular client has, say, a hysterectomy, but is accustomed to my feet and the accompanying deep, luxurious massage, they’re not happy with my hands-on techniques. They still want the deep massage. Bamboo Fusion promises to help me deliver what they’re wanting. It’s certainly not a barefoot massage, but it apparently goes deeper than what I can deliver from the floor.

Thus, I’ll be traveling in June if all works out for that. Unless the instructor writes back and says she’ll come to me! Now that would be ideal.

Elbow Trouble Read More »

My First Sporting Event!

One of the things I’ve been wanting to do as an Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist is do events with my portable bars. Heck, it’s why I invested all those dollars on the portable bars.

Up until now I haven’t had much luck insinuating myself into any local events. Until yesterday when a friend texted and asked if I would donate a gift certificate to support The Special Olympics via the Decatur Police Department’s annual Torch Run. I had been involved with this organization in years past and immediately agreed.

Then I pitched, “How about I come out and work your event?” She got excited, I got excited, then we figured out I was going to be out of town that weekend, but wait, there’s another event this weekend closer to where we live.

So… Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology will be at the Foot Pursuit 5K this Saturday giving out free massages!

Where: St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1450 Sparkman Street, Hartselle, AL
When: March 26, ~7am – 10:30am

I would love to see you there!

And here’s a gratuitous plug for my friend / Ashi-Thai instructor. She is the subject of an article about Ashi and Athletes and put up some lovely pictures from one of her events.

My First Sporting Event! Read More »

Going Portable!

For everyone who is still wondering what I’ve been so excited about lately, here it is! My portable bars arrived Thursday. It was dark before I arrived home so I drug them inside off the porch and have slowly been unpacking the boxes ever since.

This morning I got up early because I couldn’t sleep from excitement. An hour and a half later, viola!

Usually they would go together much quicker, but it was my first time and there were a few other issues that we’re currently working to correct, nonetheless they’re here and they’re together.

So… if you have a group who needs someone to come speak and comes with an impressively large piece of equipment with which to demonstrate, call me!


Going Portable! Read More »