Certification, Registration and Licensure:

Education:

Advanced Training:

In order to become Nationally Certified, a massage therapist must meet stringent prerequisite qualifications and pass a national examination.  In general, the prerequisite qualifications are most readily satisfied by completing a 500 hour course of study from an accredited massage school.  While the cost of the schooling varies somewhat across the country, the total cost to start a business as a professional Certified Massage Therapist, including schooling, the national examination, professional association membership, massage table, linens, and a myriad of other supplies and accessories typically exceeds $4,000.00.

National Certification is your assurance that your Massage Therapist is a highly trained, competent professional who will provide only first rate Therapeutic Massage.
 

Credential Validation

Fishers: Home Office (My Private Practice):

Out Call -- Your Home, or a Hospital or Nursing Home:

Out Call Massage is
Reiki Treatment,  Reflexology, Swedish Massage, or Trigger Point Therapy
administered at:
the client's home, or at a hospital or nursing home.

Out Call Massage is Reiki Treatment, Reflexology, Swedish Massage, or Trigger Point Therapy administered at the client's home, or at a hospital or nursing home.  Out Call Massage is offered for the convenience of the client.

Out Call Massage allows the client to have the therapist come to their location and administer a treatment.  For Out Call to your home, the therapist must bring the massage table, linens, and all other supplies required for the appointment.  Because of the extra time commitment and work for traveling, setting up, and taking down of the equipment, Out Call Massage to your home carries a higher charge than the usual session fee.

Reiki Training:

Reiki involves stimulating the flow of "Universal Life Energy" within and throughout the body.  Many cultures and peoples have words in their language for this "energy".  The Chinese call life energy "Chi" (as in Tai Chi, or Chi Gong), the Japanese call it "Ki", the Egyptians call it "Sekhem", and the Indians (eastern) call it "Pranha", to name a few.  I find it interesting that the cultures with a clear "appreciation" for this energy have existed for thousands of years, and they have very rich (though widely varied) spiritual traditions, while the relatively youthful cultures are those that tend not to have developed the same level of appreciation (yet).

There is little room for doubt that such energy exists -- the energy field around the body (and plants and animals) can be measured with scientific instruments.  What initially matters to people is if they personally can feel the energy.  Some people can readily feel the energy and its movement while others have not learned to do so.  For those that feel the energy, the "discussion" is much more meaningful -- you can "relate".  Whether or not you feel the energy, or whether or not you "believe" in it are both, in reality, completely unimportant -- a Reiki treatment will do you good regardless.  The issue is that people who don't feel the energy (or otherwise "believe" in it) find it hard to accept that anything is happening during a Reiki treatment and are not likely to be interested in something they don't perceive.  The only common exception is when someone they know and trust persuades them to try it.  And so it is.

I find it helpful to consider the "energetic body" as simply one more "dimension" of a person.  In addition to the dimensions we are familiar with -- physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual -- there is energetic.  However, there is not universal agreement on how many and which "dimensions" we human beings have.  Perhaps least agreed upon is the energetic dimension, but there is also varying degrees of belief in the spiritual.   And most us us know at least one person who denies the existence (or at least denies the importance) of the emotional dimension of people.  People who personally experience the energetic dimension of humanity understand that it is "a stretch" for those with out the experience to relate, in the same way that people who believe in the spiritual aspect of humanity accept that other people don't.  In all cases, belief choices are personal and all are valid and appropriate to the person holding them.

It is reasonably well understood that all the  "dimensions" of a person (which ever ones "work" for you) are inter-related to the others. This is illustrated in the following examples.  If someone is sick (physically) and they are made to laugh (emotional change), they feel better (physically) -- if only briefly.  When someone has thought about something very hard for a long time (psychological exertion), they get tired (physically) too.  Stress (psychological and/or emotional) can make us sick (physically).

This same type of inter-relationship extends to the energetic body.  The state (condition) of the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual "bodies" is reflected to a degree in the "energetic body".  Conversely, working on the "energetic body" with Reiki affects, in a similar manner, affects all the other "bodies".

The different types of Reiki -- Usui, Karuna, Seichim (and others) -- are substantially similar.  The significance of studying multiple forms of Reiki is primarily that the more one experiences Reiki, whether through receiving more training or through ongoing practice, optimizes the therapists ability to work with the energy.  Most people won't notice any differences in the assorted energies during a treatment.  On the other hand, people who are very sensitive to the energies will be able to feel the slight differences.

NOTE: If you are interested but unsure about Reiki, or if you are simply curious -- I offer a free "trial" to anyone who would like to "try it".  This typically requiring only 60 to 90 seconds.  We need only be in the same place at the same time and for you to express interest.  I will use my hands to "send" Reiki to your hands.  You can determine for yourself if you feel the energy or not.

Reiki Treatments:

Reiki treatments can be done fully clothed using a massage table or massage chair, or in any circumstances and setting provided the atmosphere is quiet and relaxed.  The therapist places their hand on or near the client's body, in varying locations and facilitates the flow and balancing of energy.  Reiki induces relaxation, peacefulness and well being, and promotes the body's natural ability to heal itself, at all levels -- physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual.

Reiki Training:

I also teach Reiki.   If you have any questions or would like more information than is presented, please contact me for more information.

Reiki Shares:

I host Reiki Shares on some Sunday afternoons.  Please check the site for the schedule, and any schdeule changes.

Reflexology has been known for many thousands of years. It was first practiced by the early Indian, Chinese and Egyptian peoples.  Most people who have experienced Reflexology find it beneficial and very relaxing.

Reflexology can be done clothed except for the feet, using either a chair or massage table.  The session begins with washing the feet in a warm vibration foot bath.  A minimal amount of oil or lotion may, at times, be used during the session.

Swedish Massage involves using oil or lotion on the skin, with the client lying on a massage table.  The privacy of the client if fully assured using draping.  Swedish massage may be done on the whole body (excluding obvious private areas).   Therapy can concentrate on difficult areas and/or avoid problems (such as recent skin injuries) as appropriate.

The therapist locates constrictions during the course of a massage by feeling them, as a hard band or bump in the tissue.  Once a constriction is located, the therapist finds the "Trigger Point" within the constriction, and then presses directly on the trigger point.  The therapist holds the pressure for 30 to 90 seconds and in many cases the constriction will release either partially or completely.

Because a constriction itself is usually tender, and it is being worked with directly, this type of therapy can often be uncomfortable.  This type of therapy typically is not recommended as someone's first professional massage.  However, most people, once they have experienced the benefits of Trigger Point Therapy, are eager to repeat the occasion.

Trigger Point Constriction Release Therapy is most easily done using oil or lotion on the skin.  In this case the privacy of the client if fully assured using draping.  Trigger Point can also be done fully clothed in a Massage Chair provided the client wears appropriate clothing.  This setting partially restricts the area of the body where therapy can be performed, but does allow work with the back and shoulders, which is frequently what the client wishes.

Massage sessions often combine more than one type of therapy, depending on the wishes of the Client, the setting, and what the Therapist finds as they are working. Each type of treatment is described below.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have and to discuss all aspects of massage with your therapist.

Reiki Treatment can be done fully clothed using a massage table or massage chair, or in any circumstances and setting provided the atmosphere is quiet and relaxed.

Reflexology can be done clothed except for the feet, using either a chair that elevates the feet or a massage table.  The session begins with washing the feet in a warm vibration foot bath.  A minimal amount of oil or lotion may, at times, be used during the session.

Swedish Massage involves using oil or lotion on the skin, with the client lying on a massage table.  The privacy of the client if fully assured using draping.  Swedish massage may be done on the whole body (excluding obvious private areas).   Therapy can concentrate on difficult areas and/or avoid problems (such as recent skin injuries) as appropriate.

Trigger Point Therapy is most easily done using oil or lotion on the skin.  In this case the privacy of the client if fully assured using draping.  Trigger Point can partially be done fully clothed in a Massage Chair provided the client wears appropriate clothing.  This setting also restricts the area of the body where therapy can be performed, but does allow work with the back and shoulders, which is frequently what the client wishes.

In-take Forms

New clients are asked to complete an “in-take” form.  The form asks for identification information and medical history information. In addition to providing simple business-appropriate information, the form allows the therapist to review your specific situation to help identify any potential conditions for which massage might be inappropriate as well as to help establish what therapies would be beneficial, and to determine what specific treatment to administer.  Please arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for your first appointment in order to fill out the paper work and review it with the therapist.

Cancellations

Cancellations and rescheduling require at least one-day notice.  Missed sessions (not canceled at least one day prior) are charged in full.  When an appointment is scheduled, that time is reserved and made unavailable to others.  In addition, the therapist is committed to being present for the appointment to the exclusion of life's other demands. To be fair to everyone, one-day notice is required to cancel or reschedule appointments.

Family, Loved Ones and Minors

Family members and loved ones are always welcome in the room while a massage is being administered, provided they can be non-disruptive.  This may be especially helpful for anyone who might feel apprehensive about receiving a massage.  For minors, below the age of 18, to receive massage, a parent is required to accompany the child to every massage session, and for children below the age of 16, the parent is required to be in the room while the massage is being administered.  These policies ensure maximum prudence and peace of mind for everyone.

In consideration of those with allergies or sensitivities, no fragrances of an kind are used.  No aroma-therapy is practiced, no candles or incense are burned, and no fragrances are added to the oils and lotions.  In addition, a HEPA filter is available, at all times, to clean the air in the massage room.

Indiana has recently passed legisltion regarding massage therapy.  Under the new law, in order for anyone to use the title "massage therapist", they must meet state criteria.  The law is brand new, and the mechanics of implimenting it have yet to be worked out.

Massage in Indiana is not currently regulated or licensed at the county level or in either Hamilton or Marion counties.

Zoning

In most jurisdictions in the Indianapolis area, there are no zoning requirements for the practice of Professional Therapeutic Massage.  Massage is generally covered by ordinances governing "Home Occupations" which freely permit a professional massage practice while ensuring accord in the neighborhood.

Copyright Law

There are several styles of massage the names of which are copyrighted and can only be used in print according to the copyright owner's guidelines.  This restricts the Therapist ability to advertise their expertise in writing, including advertising, business cards, and flyers.  Therapists may, however, refer to the types of massage they offer using generic terms, thus avoiding the copyright issue.

Massage Therapists are always free to discuss and explain verbally with their clients all the types of massage they offer.

Constrictions are “knotted up” muscles or portions of muscles -- a muscle that gets “stuck” in a contraction.  Several factors can help cause muscles to form constrictions.  Repetitive use, over use, injury or trauma, certain illness, certain nutritional deficiencies, or sustained irritation can contribute to muscle constrictions occurring.  A contemporary example is the upper back discomfort often associated with computer usage.  The long hours spent at the keyboard, with the arms and body in the same position can constitute chronic repetitive use.

Small constrictions can simply feel like a sore spot.  They may make themselves noticed only during some specific type of movement or when bumped.  Larger constrictions can ache constantly and the client it all too aware of them -- but may not know what they are, what cases them, or how to correct them.

Constrictions cause a muscle to perform less efficiency, contributing to fatigue at a minimum.  In a more severe case the ability to use the muscle is considerable reduced.  This in turn requires the body to use other muscles to compensate.  This out-of-balance condition is again fatiguing and also puts stress and stain on muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints as the body tries to compensate for the constricted muscle.  In even more severe cases, the stress and strain on ligaments, tendons, other muscles and joints can lead to additional problems in these tissues as well.

Muscles are formed from bundles of muscle fiber tissue.  Each of these fiber bundles is controlled by is own nerve which either tells the fiber bundle to contract or allows it to relax.  One of the effects of a muscle contraction is that it partially restricts its own blood supply.  The restriction of blood supply during contraction contributes to the muscle tiring and aching.  Once the muscle is tired and aching, the sensory nerves in the area send signals to the brain “complaining” about it.  If the person has the chance to rest or change activity patterns, constriction formation can often be reduced or avoided. But if the activity pattern persists, the muscles and nerves can be come irritated to the point that constrictions can form.

The simplest explanation of how constrictions form is that once a group of fiber bundles within a muscle becomes irritated, the nerve can become irritated too.  The irritated nerve then causes the muscle to contract even more, which in turn irritates the muscle further.  In this way, a “loop” of irritation and contraction is created which cause the muscle fibers to get “stuck” in a contracted state.  Typically, only a single nerve with a specific bundle of muscle fibers is constricted.  However, a number of constrictions can exist in a severely constricted muscle.  This may happen when the repetitive or over-use continues after constrictions have begun to form.

Another cause of grouping of constrictions is the notion of reciprocal muscles.  The idea is simply that for every motion the body can make (cause by muscles contracting), there is an opposite motion (cause by different muscle contracting – and the first muscle relaxing).  One of the effects of this interrelationship between opposite muscles is that problems in any particular muscles typically are accompanied by related problems in the opposite muscle.  The most typical example is that people with upper back constrictions often have constrictions in their chest muscles.

There are several simple precautions everyone can take to help avoid constrictions.  Vary your activity and take breaks during long repetitive jobs.   Get up, stretch, move around, and change you motion patterns.  It is always a good idea to exercise regularly, eat well, and get enough rest, within any guidelines that may have been set for you by your health care providers.   And, it is very important to drink plenty of water.

Amalgam Fillings

I believe amalgam dental fillings (the "silver" fillings we are all familiar with) are poisonous due to the high content of mercury.  I personally have has mine removed and replaced with composite fillings.  And I have undergone monthly IV chelation treatments to remove accumulated mercury from my body tissues.  I will be happy to discuss my beliefs, experiences, and research with anyone who is interested.

I believe this to be a very serious issue affecting many people.  It is not as simple and clear issue an issue as it should be, and I do not advocate people having fillings replaced until after they have done their "home work" regarding the proper way to go about it.  If done improperly, amalgam replacement can make matters worse.  I urge anyone interested to seriously look into the issue.  However, objective information is hard to find.

I intend to document as much as I can about the issue in this site.  But I need to take the time to do it right if I am going to put it in print.  More on this later....

Yeast Syndrome (Candida Albicans)

Yeast Syndrome (also called yeast over-growth) is when the natural yeast cells normally found in the digestive tract and  the vagina become too numerous and interfere with normal body chemistry and function.  In advanced stages, the yeast cells actually change their form which allow them to invade the entire body, producing a systemic fungal infection (yeast is a fungus).  In my own case, I believe yeast overgrowth resulted from mercury poisoning of the more sensitive "probiotics" (good bacteria) that live in the digestive system, combined with a diet that was favorable to yeast, combined with lots of antibiotics for a health condition (antibiotics also kill the good bacteria in the digestive tract but does nothing to yeast), allowing the yeast to proliferate abnormally.  Once entrenched yeast overgrowth often proves hard to treat, requiring a strict diet, food supplements and prescription anit-fungals.

I believe this is a common disorder that affects many people.  I also believe that most of traditional medicine simply does not understand and recognize yeast syndrome because (in my opinion) the symptoms are so varied (both in type and intensity) that it is hard to see the pattern.  I will be happy to discuss my beliefs, experiences, and research with anyone who is interested.

I intend to document as much as I can about the issue in this site.  But I need to take the time to do it right if I am going to put it in print.  More on this later....

Facts about Human Beings and Water

We all have heard that drinking water is important.  But, do you really appreciate just how important it is....

»»  75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

»»  In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

»»  Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

»»  One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of  the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

»»  Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

»»  Preliminary research indicates that 8-10  glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

»»  A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

»»  Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%,  and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Water is one of the most important "ingredients" in any weight control program.  Water naturally suppresses the appetite (as noted in the U-Washington study).  It also helps the body metabolize stored fat.  Studies have shown that consuming more water reduces stored fat in the body, while decreasing water consumption increases stored fat.  Proper kidney function requires adequate water in the body.  If there is not enough water, part of the kidneys function is taken over by the liver.  Once the liver is doing part of the kidney's job it cannot do its own jobs as well -- one of which is to metabolize stored body fat.

Fluid retention is most often the result of not drinking enough water.  This may sound odd, but the body resorts to "hoarding" water if there is not enough.  The other common factor in fluid retention is too much salt consumption.  The body reacts to too much salt by retaining fluid to dilute the salt concentration.  Both of these common causes of fluid retention are best treated by drinking more water.  In the case of excess salt, the extra water will flush out the excessive salt.  In the case of "hoarding", once the body gets used to an adequate supply of water, it will stop "hoarding".  To relieve fluid retention -- drink more water.

Water also helps relieve constipation.  If the body does not have enough water, it will draw as much as it can from internal sources -- the most readily available source is the colon where water is absorbed -- creating constipation.

Are you drinking enough water every day?

Drink eight glasses (8 ounces each) every day, under normal conditions.  If you are trying to lose weight or are dealing with any of the other problems caused by lack of water, drink four additional glasses of water for a total of twelve (8 ounce) glasses.  In addition, if you are overweight, increase the amount of water by one glass per day for each 25 pounds of excess weight.

NOTE: Coffee, tea, soda, beer, juice and most other beverages do not replace the need for *plain* PURE water.  In fact, most beverages have a negative effect on your hydration.  Metabolizing the sugar in a soda uses water -- in order to "break even" you need to drink 5 cans on plain water for each can of soda you drink.  Metabolizing alcohol also consumes water from the body -- the dehydration caused by metabolizing alcohol is the primary cause of a "hang over".  Caffeine also has a negative effect on the body's supply of water.

Facts about Human Beings and Walking

(under construction)

Sonography Measures Reflexology
Massage Therapy Cures 63 Percent of Patients in Pain
Massage -- Good for What Ails You (Immune Function and Fibromyalgia)
Physician Integrates Medicine, Massage
High Blood Pressure Reduced by Massage Therapy

Massage Therapists Serving Indianpolis Indiana
Body Meckanics Sandy Meck cmt   She is my therpist, and she is GREAT.

I do not endorse any of the sites, companies or products listed below.
These links and commentary are provide only as information to anyone interested in the topic.
If you find any "dead" links, please mail me.  Thanks.

National Massage Therapy Information
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB)
American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)

Reiki Information
A list of Reiki Organizations

Massage Therapy Equipment and Supplies
Biotone  I use Biotone oils and lotions.
Oak Works   One of my portable table is from Oakworks and I have been pleased with it.
Earth Lite   I have used a Whisper Lift II and I was very pleased with it.
Massage Warehouse  I have ordered several things here. The quality, service and prices were good.

Virginia State Massage Therapy Information
Virginia Department of Health Professionals (including "Online License Lookup")

Massage Therapy Schools Serving Northern Virginia
Applied Kinesthetic Studies  (AKS)   In Herndon VA  (My Alma Mater!)  Arguably the finest massage school in the region.
Potomac Massage Training Institute  A well respected school in Washington DC