Katie Massage is Relocating
I have posted a list of therapists I recommend for you to continue working with. Please continue to visit my website for that information or if you would like to know how I am doing in Texas.
Thank you so much for your support, trust, and kind comments about our work together and my future success. I can only hope that Austin will be as great of a town to work in as Belmont has been for me.
Fund raiser for Selian Lutheran Hospital - Success!
During the week of September 24 through 29, 2007 I donated 15% of my profits to Selian Lutheran Hospital in Arusha, Tanzania, Africa. With your help I donated $315 which is enough to immunize 96 children or e
nough to pay for 3 children to have surgery to correct the leg deformities of skeletal fluorosis.
My sister, Melissa, has been working with individuals infected with HIV at SLH for the past year. She sees the necessity that this clinic plays in community health. SLH depends on donations to continue serving the poor in Tanzania.
Ben Benjamin's Continuing Education Class
June 30 and July 1 I took a great CEU class taught by Ben Benjamin, PhD. The workshop focused on accessing and treating a few common injuries such as Subscapular Tendinitis, Tennis Elbow, TP 7 Ligament Injuries, Ilio-lumbar Ligament Sprain, Patella Tendinitis, and Lateral Ankle Sprain. I look forward to studying more of his work and utilizing it in my practice.
Katie Massage featured in Gaston Boomers
Amy Wadsworth wrote an article for the Gaston Boomers Monthly and regarding how massage therapy can help relax and relieve pain, it also highlighted different massage modalities. I was pleased to be the featured therapist in this June 2007 edition. The free magazine will be on racks throughout Gaston County during the month of June, but of course I'd be more than happy to share a copy with you.
3rd Annual Belmont Classic 5K
I had a great time working with the Belmont Police Department for their 3rd Annual Belmont Classic 5K. I brought my massage table there and offered free pre and post event sports massage sessions.
Katie Massage in the Gateway Gazette
In the February 8-14 edition of the Gateway Gazette my business was focused in the "Your Business" section. If you would like an overview of my work history this is an great place to read it. There will be a copy in my office. I'd like to thank Andie and Joey Brymer for the article and pictures.
UU Youth Try Out Massage Therapy
2006 Katie Recognized for Volunteer Efforts at RCC
In the beginning of 2006 I was excited to be recognized in a national newsletter for AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association). I was featured in a series called 'Finger Prints' which highlights massage therapist who are doing volunteer work to benefit their communities. The article is only available to AMTA members online, but during your next massage session, ask me about it and I'd be happy to share the article with you!
If you'd like to hear a personal account of my visit to the Rape Crisis Clinic, you can download an audio interview that I collected for the 501c3cast, a podcast for nonprofit organizations. This Internet radio program is a project that my husband, Corey, produces. To listen the the interview Click Here.
2005 Volunteer Trip - Rape Crisis Center
I am very excited and proud to say that my volunteer trip to Savannah, Georgia was a great success! The Rape Crisis Center (RCC) was very welcoming and glad to have me help in their cause. This non-profit serves women who have experienced acts of sexual violence such as rape or incest. From September 26th through the 29th, 2005 I offered 1-hour bodywork sessions to the individuals served, and the staff and volunteers of the RCC. My overall goals to reach through bodywork, which I fell that I achieved, were:
- to help re-connect their mind, body, and soul
- for them to experience safe, non-sexual touch
- to empower them to express where, how, and when they would like and not like to be touched
Backing me, making my volunteer work possible, was a wonderful list of donators. Part of their contributions for my cause went for gifts that will benefit the RCC even after I and my hands leave. Items given include:
- an aromatherapy diffuser with three oils to encourage relaxation
- Eat Mangos Naked: Finding Pleasure Everywhere and Dancing with the Pits, a book by SARK
- Transformation Soup : Healing for the Splendidly Imperfect, a book by SARK
- The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse, a book by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
- samples of Biofreeze, a cryotherapy gel used for pain relief
- samples of Khepra foot balm and massage cream to encourage their continued experience of safe touch
My work directly affected the 22 people I worked on; however, I believe that I set the ripple effect in motion. The volunteers and staff were coming up with creative ideas on how they can better help the individuals they serve remain calm and help reconnect their mind and body when the time is right. Many individuals that week had expressed a difficulty in being touched by their partners in certain areas, but felt comfortable with my touch. Maybe their personal relationship can grow more. But most of all, I am happy about the empowerment that the victims gained and look forward to them using that throughout their lives.
If you would like to find out more about the RCC please visit their website at www.rccsav.org.
Working at the 2005 Speedo National Diving Championships
In August 2005 I went back to the pool. Huntersville, NC was the host of the Junior National and Senior National Diving Championships. This being the second diving event I treated at, I recognized many of the athletes from a previous competition. Some divers I helped included: Troy Dumais (2004 World Olympic athlete), John Caulier, and Brittney Lerew. Coaches and managers of Team USA also used my services.
The highlight was working with Laura Wilkinson, she won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics, competed at the 2004 Olympics, and had just placed first place at the World Trials in Montreal, Canada. She was kind enough to pose for this picture.
What I found while working on the the Junior and Senior divers was that many experienced discomfort in their triceps and rotator cuff muscles, especially supraspinatus and teres minor. Of the divers complaining of back pain I noticed what appeared to be a rotation in an area of their spine. By treating the multifidus and rotatores on the depressed side they felt relief and the twist appeared to decrease.
February 22, 2005 was the 10th Annual Celebration of Life Day
Ten years ago when I was a Senior at South Point High School a friend of mine committed suicide. Jason "Barney" McLean and I were on the swim team together. I remember attending his funeral then driving straight to compete in the regional meet where our team swam in his honor. For the first two years after his death I was sad and somber on the anniversary of his passing. While in college I realized that by then, contact would probably have been dropped, so I declared that day should be used to celebrate who and what we have surrounding us.
This year I wanted to honor the life lesson I learned in my own personal way. On Tuesday, February 22, 2005 I offered free 30-minute sessions out of my office. I looked to offer a safe and caring touch to those in the community that need it most.
The event was a success and I even got the privilege of working on Jason's family.
Katie Volunteers at 2004 World Cup Diving Trials
In January 2004 I had the opportunity to volunteer and massage some of the nation's best divers. The trials were held at the Huntersville Family Fitness and Aquatics Pool. Many of these athletes competed in the Athens 2004 World Olympics.
Pictured on the right is Derek Starks as I performed a post dive massage.
Massage can be a great aid to any athlete's training regime. It can quicken muscle recovery time, prevent cramping, and increase performance during competition. The massage sessions can be personalized per individual, sport, and event.