Super Better, A Healthy Adventure

Super Girl

Suffering a serious injury, game designer Jane McGonigal turned her powerful intellect toward saving herself. In the process, she may have found a key to overcoming obesity, depression, and illness, helping us all feel Super Better.

This is the hook used by Whitney Joiner in her article about game designer, Jane McGonigal.  You can read the full article at elle.com/friendswithbenefits, but I'm going to give you the gist of it here.

McGonigal grew up inventing all sorts of games and ended up making a career out of it.  In 2009, she suffered a concussion and was left struggling with how it affected her.  True to her nature, McGonigal came up with a game to assist her healing process.  I have copied and pasted Jane's description of Super Better from her blog, Avant Game.  

"SuperBetter is a superhero-themed game that turns getting better in multi-player adventure. It’s designed to help anyone recovering from an injury, or coping with a chronic condition, get better, sooner – with more fun, and with less pain and misery, along the way."

"The game starts with five missions. You’re encouraged to do at least one mission a day, so that you’ve successfully completed them all in less than a week. Of course, you can move through them even faster if you feel up to it."

As I understand it, Super Better, at this point in time, is a game where you log your progress in a journal.  There are plans to make it something more and you can sign up to be one of the exclusive beta testers at elle.com/friendswithbenefits.  Today I signed up to test the game, but for now am going to get started on the current version.  I am excited to find out what kind of super hero I will become.

To read Jane McGonigal's blog regarding Super Better, go to: http://blog.avantgame.com/2009/09/super-better-or-how-to-turn-recovery.html.  Learn the rules and how to play, and get Super Better with me!

A Career in Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy

as an Emerging Career

Many people are seeking more meaningful work in today's hectic world: work that creates connection and a sense of belonging. Massage Therapy has become a desirable profession because it is an effective treatment and provides a unique relationship between the client and therapist. Loving human connection is becoming a scarce commodity! 

Educationally there are two categories of training: becoming a Massage Practitioner requires 250 Hours of study, and having the title of Massage Therapist requires 500 Hours. The laws have recently changed, and by 2015 everyone will be trained as a Massage Therapist, and there won't be any shorter programs offered. Good programs are highly academic as well as holistic and teach students both the art and science of Massage. Students learn basic anatomy, physiology, kinesiology (the study of movement) ethics, history of Massage, and the therapeutic application of the art of Massage itself. It also requires excellent interpersonal skills, ability to listen deeply, and compassionate communication.

When looking at curriculum for Massage Schools, people are quite surprised at the content and complexity of what is being taught. We are a quiet profession with a surprisingly deep body of knowledge. To be an excellent practitioner, in my view, students must have an academic hunger as well as an inherent gift of touch.

Interestingly, California is one of the few states left that has no state licensure; in most states we are Licensed Health Care Providers. Fortunately we are moving in that direction. I strongly advocate state licensing for professional credibility.

Some schools focus on the intuitive aspect of Massage, others clinical, and others more holistic. A highly successful practitioner would ideally possess all of those skills and find a program that incorporates everything. Intuition is as vital to our work as is the core understanding of anatomy and physiology.

It is crucial to understand how the body works and why you're doing what you are doing in terms of technique, because Massage Therapy has a direct effect on every body system. Its efficacy goes without question, and Massage Therapy treatments have now been received by 60% of all health care consumers.

Our profession is emerging rapidly, and according to the US Department of Labor statistics (2010-2011), we are expected to grow “faster than average” with an expected growth of 14-19% between 2008 and 2018. These statistics express the value of our profession and the opportunities for employment are equally encouraging.

Graduates can open their own office, work together in a Wellness Center, with a Chiropractor, Salon, Spa, or Hospital. Forward thinking hospitals are incorporating Massage for their patients and staff. With some ingenuity and good marketing skills, the possibilities are innumerable. It is an excellent avocation or a serious vocation, and provides freedom, flexibility, and mobility.

In a part-time program, students can expect to devote about 20 hours per week in study, practice, and receiving including class time.  Every school has its own schedule. Tuition costs range nationally from $11 to $20 per clock hour.

If you love learning, have a desire to be of service to others, and intuitively understand the need for human touch, Massage Therapy might be an excellent career choice.

Deborah Heartwood is the Director of the Massage Therapy Learning Center in Pismo Beach - in conjunction with Lucia Mar Adult Education

Massage, It Feels So Good...

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of receiving a massage from Chandra, owner of Enchanté.  The treatment was pure magic; exfoliation & salt scrub, perfect pressure, and a synchronicity of the movements with my breath.  As I communed with my body, I was reminded of a phrase I hear often when giving a massage, "I didn't know that hurt, until you touched it."  Massage has a way of bringing to our consciousness, the physical and emotional pains we have buried and desensitized ourselves to. 

Therapists can be the biggest offenders when it comes to caring for our bodies and actually getting massages.  We too struggle with the time, money, and commitment it takes to honor ourselves for that hour.  It's easy to come up with reasons not to treat ourselves to a massage or fit stretching into our day.  Humans, however, are brilliantly creative and will find a way to get what they honestly desire.  

Time can be on our side, if we plan our days, weeks, and months appropriately.  Find the value in five minutes of stretching each morning and slowly increase that number.  Carve fifteen minutes out of your week to implement self-massage techniques.  And, once a month, enjoy a professional massage.  Setting small goals is a good place to start, you can always replace them with bigger ones.

Money doesn't have to be a barrier to getting the treatment you need and deserve.  Figure massage into your monthly or weekly budget, and plan for this expense.  Explore alternative methods of payment, like insurance.  Maybe you have a service you can provide in trade.  Some massage centers advertise on the Internet and local publications, offering coupons and discounts, and there is always the option of calling to ask about current specials.  Use your imagination and you will find an avenue that leads to affordable services.

Having the time and money are great, but they are nothing without commitment.  Taking responsibility for your current state is the first step to improving your health.  By making stretching a part of your daily routine, you will rediscover your body and improve it's condition.  Seek out a therapist you can work with on a regular basis.  Let them know about your goals and ask for tips on how better to achieve those goals.  Soon you will be well informed and saying, "Massage, it feels so good."

Breathing to your Health

The diaphragm, located at the base of our lungs, is the primary muscle used for respiration.  If you take a moment to breathe using the diaphragm, you will notice a rise and fall of the belly.  This is caused by the muscle contracting and relaxing.  Filling the top portion of the lungs with a shallow breath, uses accessory muscles of respiration in the neck and upper torso.  Consider this if you suffer from neck, pectoral, or upper back pain.

Working with a knowledgeable massage therapist relieves pain and tension while increasing body awareness.  Soft tissue manipulation causes changes to take place throughout every system in our bodies.  Breathing deeply, in through the nose and out through the mouth, facilitates these changes.  Don't just take my word for it, give it a try.  During your next massage, practice deep breathing and experience the benefits for yourself!