Abstain From Fear

Massage Therapy Pt. 2

March 5th, 2022

Photo credit: Jason Randolph

Do unto others as you would have them do to you. Doing for others makes humans feel good.

It should also be noted that giving too much of your energy away can be bad for your mental and physical health. Reserving your energy for things that are important is necessary.

Controversially, energy is a very useful tool in the massage world. But, even if you aren’t doing energy work in your sessions, you are still using up your physical and emotional bank. You are giving full attention to healing the body and soul you are working with.

Most clients that get massage are in for regular “maintenance”. Those are your weekly clients who are very active in their lives. Yoga instructors, physical therapists, doctors, nurses, and many other active professions.

You also get the clients that have their one day off for the month and just want to relax. Everyone who is on your table is seeking some sort of healing, even if it is just an hour break from their kids at home. It’s very important to listen to your client before the session and even more so, listen to their body during.

My favorite clients were the ones who fell asleep during the massage. To me that meant I was able to put them at ease and earn their trust enough that they were able to rest body and mind. Huge compliment to me!

Massage sessions were healing for me too. Oftentimes you give the advice you need to hear. At the end of every clients massage I would give recommendations for life in between massages. Drink water, stretch, rest and practice self care.

Early in my massage career I pushed myself further than I should have. I didn’t listen to my own advice. Some days I would block my schedule and pump out 8-9 massages a day. In school the instructors tell you to never do that! I quickly noticed what I was doing to my body and emptying my emotional bank. Most massage therapist don’t work past year 3. They blow out their thumbs, shoulders, backs, etc. Think of working out all day with limited breaks. I had to give my body a break. My massages were beginning to feel like work instead of helping a client to heal.

Well the universe listened and answered for sure. 2020 I received my “break”. The pandemic forced me to again, rethink my career. My daughters school closed and I had to make a choice.

Now I am a stay at home mom. My kiddo(s) are everything to me. I hope one day I can go back to massage. I miss it so much. But for now I will cherish the time I have with my little one.

Comment your favorite massage experience!

-Kylie
Massage Therapy Pt.1

March 4th, 2022

I used to be a massage therapist. I once thought it was the only thing I wanted to do with my life. Sometimes I still think it is my calling.

For years before I met my husband and had my daughter, I worked for a well known chain coffee shop. I worked the opening shift mostly as a shift supervisor. Mornings in the coffee industry can be hectic, rarely giving time to breathe, much less think. I adored my regular customers. Those customers, honestly are what kept me in coffee so long. I loved having their drinks ready before they even walked through the doors. Some of these customers became like family to me.

I was able to make their mornings easier and give them one constant they could look forward to. Coffee is a very religious act for many. Some had been drinking a morning cup of joe for as long as I had been alive.

Giving people a stress free coffee experience made me realize I loved seeing weight lifted from people.

I started to rethink my coffee career. I started to research and found one thing that spoke to me. Massage.

The idea of being in a serene, quiet environment sounded great after years of the chaotic coffee shop mornings.

I started to ask myself serious questions about if massage was for me. Could I stand touching other people all day? Was I strong enough? How would my body react?

I scheduled a tour for a school close to me hoping to get more info.

The school was small and the staff seemed amazing. I was in my element. I knew I was about to start my healing journey and I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for me.

To be continued..

-Kylie
Antidepressants

March 4th, 2022

I was diagnosed with Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Anxiety in August of 2019. My daughter was 10 months old at the time.

Admitting that I need help has always been a huge problem for me.

My husband took me to the hospital and I checked myself in. I felt the need to tell everyone who asked questions that my depression didn’t feel like the kind you hear from the news or family and friends. I never wanted to hurt my baby. I was just so extremely protective of her. I didn’t trust anyone to even be in the same room with her, without me. My husband even. I also felt like I could walk out into traffic at any moment just to stop the pain.

Being a first time mom, everything parenting was new. From pregnancy, labor, and giving birth, and all of the traumatizing things that come after, breastfeeding was the most new.

I thought I watched enough videos and read enough books on the subject to get by and make it work. There were things I didn’t know would happen when I started this journey with my sweet newborn. Like how nursing a baby (and pumping) releases hormones that make you sleepy. Or how you can experience flashbacks from past trauma from said hormones. I do not blame my nursing journey for my ppd/ppa. It’s just something that can happen to anyone after they have a baby.

Along with all of these new feelings I was experiencing, I also experience immense shame. So many women wish they could breastfeed and their bodies don’t agree. I should be thankful right? And I felt like I still wasn’t good enough. PPD will do that to you. I eventually got into counseling and onto max dose ssri to get back to some sort of normal.

I have been taking my lexapro everyday for almost 3 years and it’s still working. I hope that one day I am able to wean off of it. Ppd/Ppa is nothing to be ashamed of. Educate yourself before you decide about children because it can truly hit you from seemingly out of nowhere.

Disclaimer: This post isn’t shaming breastfeeding or formula feeding. Fed is best. What ever you choose, take care of yourself and listen to your body.

-Kylie

Massage Therapy Pt. 2

Massage Therapy Pt.1

Antidepressants