Success Stories, Experiences, and Tips - Renewal Massage Clinic

In Memoriam

1/30/2015

Michelle West

Michelle West

Today my dear friend Michelle died of breast cancer. She valiantly fought her disease for five and half years. I will miss her immensely. She helped me transition to life back in the United States. She was my walking partner. She shared dreams and ideas with me. She took me to religion and yoga class with her. She was one of my three book group buddies. She loved our sauna. She let me practice massage on her every week. She taught me how to be a better therapist. She had the hairdo (bald) that I have never dared to have, but always wanted. She remembered my birthday every year. But more than anything, she was an inspiration to me to be my best and live life to its fullest.

Heidi's Massage Education

1/22/2015

Total Hours of Official
Massage Training: 1497

When I graduated from Myotherapy College of Utah in May 2014 I felt that my journey into understanding the body was just beginning. I continue to learn by taking classes and reading anything I can get my hands on.

Listed below are all the classes I have taken.

Shoulder Surgery

1/9/2015

Last fall a client had a second shoulder surgery to remove excess scar tissue in his glenohumeral joint. His first surgery had been only 18 months prior to this surgery. I offered to massage him several times a week for the first two weeks to see if we could prevent scar tissue from adhering. He has visited a me a few times since then. He has given me permission to share our experience with his healing as it relates to massage.

His Purpose for Massage Therapy

His goal is to avoid the tight scar tissue which caused problems after the first surgery. We don't know how often he will need to continue massage therapy. He is paying attention to his body and coming in whenever he notices the beginning of the deep dull tightness that was constantly present after his first surgery.

Massage Helps Relieve Stress!

1/3/2015

How Successful People Stay Calm

An article on LinkedIn by Dr. Travis Bradberry says, "The tricky thing about stress (and the anxiety that comes with it) is that it’s an absolutely necessary emotion. Our brains are wired such that it’s difficult to take action until we feel at least some level of this emotional state. In fact, performance peaks under the heightened activation that comes with moderate levels of stress. As long as the stress isn’t prolonged, it’s harmless."

While there are numerous effective strategies that successful people employ when faced with stress, he identifies ten of the best.

They Appreciate What They Have
They Avoid Asking “What If?”
They Stay Positive
They Disconnect
They Limit Their Caffeine Intake
They Sleep
They Squash Negative Self-Talk
They Reframe Their Perspective
They Breathe
They Use Their Support System

Read the article for more details.

We all have stress, and it is a necessary part of life. But prolonged stress is harmful. Massage can help reduce stress by helping you relax and allowing you to sleep better.

Cardiac Health

12/19/2014

Here are some studies and links from the
Winter 2014 edition of the AMTA Massage Therapy Journal.

Massage Therapy
for Reduced Pain, Anxiety and Muscular Tension
in Cardiac Surgery Patients

Research published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery indicates that massage therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety and muscular tension, as well as enhance relaxation and satisfaction after cardiac surgery. Read the study on PubMed.

Massage Therapy
Can Help Lower Blood Pressure & Control Stress

In a recent study in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers concluded massage therapy could serve as an effective intervention in controlling blood pressure in pre-hypertensive women. The study showed that the immediate results of lowered blood pressure lasted up to 72 hours after massage. Read the study.

A separate study in the same publication had similar findings; those that received regular Swedish massage therapy over a period of four weeks had significantly lower blood pressure than those who did not have a massage. Read the study.

Save Money

11/21/2014

"Discounted" Massage

Massage helps relieve stress

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At the end of the year many of us are trying to use this year's unused healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) dollars before we loose them, and are also signing up for next year's election. Did you know that massage therapy might be eligible for FSA reimbursement? Depending on your particular plan, your massage may be covered if you have a doctor’s note or prescription for massage therapy to treat a particular ailment. Check with the administrator of your FSA to find out if you qualify.

If you qualify, let me know and I will provide you with a receipt which you can turn in for reimbursement.

Savings Explained

For every pre-tax dollar you spend, you could save up to 30 cents. Here's an overly simplified illustration: Let's say you pay $70 for a massage with pretax money. That's the only cost. But if you paid for it with post-tax money, the massage will have cost almost $100 because you paid $70 for the massage plus the income taxes that you already paid on that $70 when you earned the money.

Breast Cancer

11/12/2014

Testimonial from a Cancer Survivor

I am a breast cancer survivor. During this past year I have been receiving chemo treatments. I also have been receiving massage therapy from Heidi! She gives me a Lymph massage the day before I have the chemo infusion. This activates my lymph system and has helped move the chemo toxins out of my body. I also find that hydrating, drinking plenty of water before and after helps too. I see less of the potential side effects. Less nausea and gastrointestinal issues, less fatigue and "chemo brain." I have also received other kinds of massage which have been so helpful! Energy work seems to help my overall feeling of well being and I find that I seem to heal quickly. Heidi is very intuitive to what kind of massage will benefit me and areas of the body that need attention and the amount of pressure needed. I trust her judgement for what is needed and may be most helpful. I have also received massage therapy for injuries. Heidi is very good at releasing the muscles and promoting healing. Heidi listens to my concerns and allows me to help guide the course of massage for healing. I believe that Heidi has a gift for healing! I highly recommend her massage therapy to my family and friends!!
-Michelle W. (Oct 2014) Died 30 January 2015 - a great loss

Michelle is a dear friend who is going through chemotherapy for the fourth time. While I was in school, she allowed me to practice many techniques on her as soon as I learned them. Together we learned what helped her feel better. She has provided me with much feedback and invaluable advise. She has been one of my most staunch supporters as I studied and learned. I love her and hope that she continues her miraculous comeback!

Several other clients have also had breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. The scars cause back pain, restricted range of motion at the glenohumoral joint (shoulder), and tightness around the scar because there is adhesion. After the first myofascial release massage on the scars, they have all reported less tightness and within a few massages they have more range of motion and less back pain. In addition to doing massage on the scars, I am trained and qualified to do lymph drainage of the entire body, including the breast. However, I am not yet qualified to do lymphadema work or to do rerouting if you have had lymph nodes removed. Someday I hope to be trained in that work.

Breast Reconstruction - Scar Tissue

Scars are fibrous connective tissue and can be formed for many different reasons, including a result of infection, surgery, injury, or inflammation of tissue. The connective tissue are laid down in random patterns. As they develop and mature, they pull on the surrounding tissue, increasing the area that is affected by the wound.

Not only are scars aesthetically unpleasant and cannot be made to disappear, scars can cause a restriction or decrease in movement, and potentially even affect internal organs.

I have been amazed at how quickly many scars have responded to massage and clients have found relief from the tightness and discomfort.

Piriformis Syndrome

10/30/2014

Emails from a Client

Piriformis Syndrome is a name given to a complex of symptoms arising from the compression of the sciatic nerve and/or associated blood vessels by the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle is located in the buttock region. The most common symptoms of piriformis syndrome are pain and paresthesia in the buttock and down the back of the thigh. The pain is commonly felt when sitting, climbing stairs (or hills), squatting, running, cycling, or stretching too aggressively.

Recently a client visited me who had been diagnosed with piriformis syndrome. She had suffered from it for eight years and had given up running every day and sometimes still had pain as she walked. The pain often interrupted her sleep. I massaged her twice and following are a few emails that she sent to me about how wonderful she felt afterwards. She has given me permission to share them. (I bolded parts of her letters which highlight the benefits of massage.)

Trigeminal Neuralgia

10/28/2014

Letter from a Client

I am always amazed at the miracle of touch. I never know if what I am doing will really make a difference, so it is always nice to receive feedback that I helped reduce pain. As a massage therapist, I don't do anything "magic" - I simply help the body into the parasympathetic mode, or into a state of relaxation, and the body can begin to heal itself. The trick is to figure out which modality of massage is best for each person at that moment in time.

Oct 2014

Heidi,

Thank you so much for all you have done for me. . . . Here's my story:

My condition is trigeminal neuralgia. http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/trigeminal-neuralgia. I've had it on and off since 2009, but in June of 2014 it became constant and unbearable. We didn't know what it was until June. I had gotten a root canal last year unnecessarily, which obviously did nothing for the pain.

All of June was spent pretty much not talking or moving, eating, smiling, nor laughing. They all caused intense pain. I was still under the impression that my body could heal itself and God would help.

I had taken Tegretol on and off and that seemed to squelch the pain and work for up to 24 hrs. The morning I went to see you was very excruciating. So much so, that I took 2 tegretols. 400mg.

AMTA National Convention

10/2/2014

DR. MEHMET OZ
KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Denver, Colorado
September 2014

Dr. Mehmet Oz is a well-known cardiologist, researcher, author, and TV personality. He shared his personal experiences with massage and is an advocate of having massage therapists in hospitals.

Highlights from his presentation:

After surgery, massage therapists provide touch in a painless way. During surgery our bodies have been subjected to trauma and pain. Through massage we let the body have pleasure sensation in addition to healing benefits.

Massage is a way to "reboot" the body through relaxation. Sleep is when we produce growth hormone which is what we need in healing our body. Massage helps put the body in a state of self-healing.