Change Can Be Good

June 10, 2010 2 Comments

Well, if you’ve been following me on Twitter, you know that I’ve been alluding to a “Big Change” and a “Big Project” for the past few months.  I am happy to say that I am finally able to announce that at the end of summer, I will be moving my business to a new location!

For the past 3 1/2 years, I have enjoyed working in a beautiful space inside Ginger’s Mind Body Spirit Center on Orchard Lake Road in Farmington.  My clients and I have benefited from the natural surroundings and soothing space.  However, as so often is the case, things happen and changes occur.  Earlier this year, Ginger notified all of her tenants that she made the decision to put the building up for sale.  Admittedly, when I first got the news, I was deeply concerned.  When would the sale take place?  Who will be buying it?  How will it affect my business?  How will it affect my clients?  What should I do?

With the economy in Michigan still struggling to rebound and 2 kids to provide for, I’ve had some decidedly difficult, okay, let’s be perfectly honest, I’ve had some really bad days with all of this.  But, I’ve come to the conclusion that my reaction to the news of the sale of the building and my attempt to fight change was more of an issue than the change itself.  Some days I embraced the news, and had great things opened up to me.  Other days, I fought the idea of moving and all that it would entail, and my days went badly.  Today, I think I am at peace with it.

When the year began, I was planning on applying for a grant to pay for training to become a Registered Aromatherapist.  I was working with massage clients, meeting with prospective Doula clients and just going about my business as usual.  Within several weeks time, things had changed and my plans had to be placed on the back-burner.  I began looking at surrounding cities to learn their massage laws and for a new space and wondering how I could make it all work.  In the meantime, I still needed to take care of my business, clients, children & family responsibilities, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera…

Fast forward to today.  I have found a wonderful space right downtown in Farmington.  I signed the new lease a while ago and, in an effort to offset the rental costs, invited a colleague to lease 1 of the 3 available rooms in the space for her own business.  We spent most of April getting the space prepared, including having the waiting room and halls painted and furnished so she could move in when her lease at Ginger’s ended at the beginning of May.   Last month I hired a wonderful new therapist named Katie who shares my commitment to women’s health and is currently working around my schedule in my space at Ginger’s, but who will be moving with me and using Treatment Room 2 at my new location. I have a wonderful, talented interior designer who is going to work on converting my 2 Treatment Rooms and bathroom into amazing spaces where my clients will be able to escape the hustle and bustle and stress of their everyday lives.  We already have the waiting room set up, and although my designer will be adding some final touches, I can say that I even feel relaxed just walking in.  Take a look:

View from Hallway to Treatment Rooms

View from inside entrance, looking to left

View from inside entrance, looking to right

While my clients and I have enjoyed walking through a beautiful courtyard, surrounded by nature at Ginger’s; moving to a Downtown location will have enormous benefits.  For me & my business, I will have increased visibility, a space professionally designed around my tastes, and expanded hours.  My clients will continue to receive customized care, a convenient location (only a few miles west of my current location), consistently competitive prices, and more flexible scheduling by having the opportunity to receive massage from Katie as well as myself.

Grand River view of Building Housing New Location

Main Entrance on South Side of Building

Focal Point Studio on Left, New Location on Right

Most of us like constancy and are creatures of habit.  We eat at the same restaurants, watch the same TV shows, vacation in the same spots.  We fight, avoid, and complain about change.  But, sometimes change is thrust upon us.  Sometimes we are forced to make decisions to change because those around us have.

I have been forced to make a change.  This will cause my clients to make a change with me.  I am choosing to embrace the change.  In fact, I am excited by the possibilities that this change will bring.  I have decided that in this case, Change Can Be Good.  Actually, Change WILL Be Good!!!

I can’t wait to see how everything comes together and look forward to welcoming all of my clients to my New, Improved, Massage Clinic!

New Location: 33425 Grand River Ave Suite 102  Farmington, MI 48335

See you there!

Filed under Business, Gratitude, massage, Misc. Interesting Stuff Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Listening to my Inner Therapist

April 6, 2010 Leave a comment

For several years I have had a laptop computer which I use daily.  I have an office in my basement where I usually do the work I need to keep my massage therapy and doula businesses running well.  However, on especially sunny days, or days when I need to have my favorite shows on my DVR playing to help the time go by faster, or when I want to be in the same room as my family while I’m working, I will use my laptop in my front room.  As a massage therapist, I know that the use of a laptop can contribute to upper back and neck pain due to the fact that it is nearly impossible to have the screen and keyboard at the correct levels to avoid straining the muscles.  I often advise my clients on how to better position themselves when working on their computers to help combat the strain they experience.

So, on occasion, I will carry a rather heavy plastic folding table up from the basement and set it up in my front room and work at it.  Although it helps the upper back and neck strain, it is heavy and cumbersome and takes up an inordinate amount of space.  I felt resigned to choosing the pain of using my laptop with a lap-desk, or the pain of hefting a heavy table up and down my stairs.

Then I went to IKEA!  I came across the answer to my prayers… a beautiful, compact laptop workstation table that not only helps me keep my shoulders and neck at a more ergonomic position while working, but also matches nicely with my front room furniture!  Take a look:

ALVE Laptop table $59.99

I love the fact that I can fold the sides over my laptop and use the surface as an end table or my husband can use it for his laptop, thus saving him from causing strain to his upper back and neck muscles.

My goal this year is to listen to my inner therapist and take the advice that I normally give my clients so that I can be a good example for them and experience less pain in my own life.  I thank IKEA for providing this table as a help for me on my own journey to better health and well-being.

Well, I guess I should get back to work… lots of computer work today… at least I’ll be better positioned for it!

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Why I Love Being a Massage Therapist & Doula

March 22, 2010 Leave a comment

Well, I haven’t posted in a while and it’s because I have had a decidedly wonderfully busy couple of months.

I started my career in massage therapy 6 years ago this month.  When I went to massage school my reasons were varied.  I had been a SAHM for my 2 boys who were both in elementary school, my husband had worked for FoMoCo for several years and, since we both were 3rd and 2nd generation Ford families, we could see that something big was about to happen in the auto industry, and I needed to fulfill a need to follow my dream of nourishing and helping others.   I had looked into massage therapy school after my second son was born, but it just didn’t feel right because my boys were so little and I wanted to devote 100% of my energy to being there for them.  In 2003, it just seemed like everything had fallen into place for me to start pursuing my dreams.

photo courtesy of ABMP

By March 2004, I was ready to start my business.  I was at the point in my training where I was able to work on the public, both in our student clinic and privately.  I already had my target market…I was going to focus on the women in my community, with a special interest in those suffering chronic pain and those who are pregnant.  As I continued my schooling, I started to feel a very strong pull to understand how I could take my love of massage and its benefits into the labor and delivery room for my clients.

I graduated in September 2004 from one of the best massage therapy schools in Michigan and started to sublease a space from another therapist.  I found that my business grew steadily and word began to quickly spread through the community that I was eagerly accepting new clients.  I became Nationally Certified with NCBTMB in January 2005 and a Certified Prenatal Massage therapist in September 2006 and a Certified Massage Doula in February 2007.  I got my own space to work in 2006.

photo courtesy of ABMP

In my career, I have had the amazing honor of being invited to join my clients as they journey to better health and wellness.  I have been at the births of 17 babies and look forward to the 6 that will be coming over the next several months.  My hands have touched women who could barely tolerate the weight of their clothing due to Fibromyalgia or Chronic Myofascial Pain and I have seen the joy and wonder of women who have seen a significant reduction in their arthritis pain and an increase in their ability to move with less pain.  With all of this, I have been blessed to still be able to take my kids to school everyday and be with them every evening.

I love my job because I never stop learning and it allows me to be the mom my kids deserve.  I love my job because it allows me to see the power of women and the joy of birth.  I love my job because through it I have met some of the most amazing women in my community.  I love my job because I can’t imagine doing anything else!

Filed under birth, Fibromyalgia, massage, Misc. Interesting Stuff Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Gratitude Post

February 22, 2010 Leave a comment

So, here I am, at home with my kids on a snow day.  The last snow day that we had, I was scheduled to work at my office with 4 massage clients.  My last appointment had contacted me the day before to cancel due to illness.  I chose to cancel my first client of the day, believing that the roads would be clear by the mid-morning when my next one was scheduled.  As it turned out, the roads were a mess until late that afternoon and the parking lot of my office complex was never plowed.  I almost turned around at one point, but couldn’t reach my client by phone, so I trudged on, slipping and sliding.  When I arrived at my office and noticed all the snow in the lot, I had to park in a lot across the street and walk.  My 2 remaining clients were able to get there and we had great sessions.  This caused me to pause and think about how grateful I should be to have clients who are so committed to their health and so loyal to me.

So, when I found out today was going to be a snow day, I decided to think about all the things I am grateful for, the first being that I didn’t have to drive in it today!

But I digress.  Here are the things I am grateful for today:

  • My family & I are healthy and happy.
  • I have 2 of the best sons anyone could have!
  • We are blessed to have what we need, despite having to simplify our lives due to the economy.
  • My husband has a job (actually 2 part-time ones) that pays most of our bills, he recently got his Associate’s Degree in Marketing and Applied Management & is hoping to break into that field soon. (hint,hint ;-) )
  • I have an amazing job that allows me to meet amazing women in my community who recognize the value of massage therapy.
  • I also have the awesome privilege of being chosen to be the Doula for women who are taking charge of their births and value educating themselves about all of their options & recognize the need for labor support.
  • My job(s) allow me to arrange my schedule to be present and active in my children’s lives.
  • I have allowed myself, and been supported by my family & friends, to grow both professionally and personally.
  • The wonderful birth professionals and bodyworkers that I have met through various social networks who have helped me become more knowledgeable and confident in my work and have encouraged me to explore my “writing voice”.
  • Everyone who has chosen to take some time out to read my blog.

Of course there are many, many other things that I am grateful for, but these are the things I felt like sharing today.  I hope that everyone who reads this can take a moment and think about what you are grateful for and even share those things with me in your comments.

With Gratitude,

Exie

Filed under Doula, Gratitude, massage, Misc. Interesting Stuff Tagged with , , , , , ,

Are We Shooting Ourselves in The Foot?

January 9, 2010 5 Comments

Recently I had a prenatal massage therapy client come in for an appointment; we’ll call her “Client A”.  On my prenatal massage client form, I have a spot for the client to request information about my birth doula service.  If she requests that information, I take a few moments to discuss what her desires for birth are and explain how my support can help enhance her birth experience and help her have a positive memory of how her baby was born.  I did this with Client A.

Allow me a moment to briefly share my background:  I have 2 boys who were born vaginally, but with medical interventions.  I have personally experienced induction, episiotomies, use of vacuum extraction, narcotics in labor, epidural, spontaneous water breaking, and AROM.  I know how some of these interventions were beneficial to me or my baby and some were harmful.  Fortunately, my children are healthy, happy, and show no signs of birth trauma.  Knowing what I know now about these interventions, I am sure that I would have made some different choices if faced with the same circumstances today.  I have provided support to 16 sets of parents and 17 babies as they entered the world, some in hospital settings and others in our local birth center.  I am neither pro-intervention, nor am I against intervention.  I am, however, pro-knowledge.  I believe that if a woman is fully informed of both the risks and the benefits of an intervention, she can in good conscience make the best decision for her and her baby; this is her birth after all.  As her doula, I support her in any well-informed decision that she makes.  I carry with me The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer  along with OB/Peds Women’s Health Notes to help my clients if they are faced with an intervention decision during labor.  I show them the information, which includes the pros and cons, and allow them to make the decision with which they are most comfortable.  I feel that this is the best way I can serve the birthing women who have invited & honored me to join their birth team.

Now, back to Client A.  She has indicated to me on several occasions during prenatal massage appointments that she would like to have a doula-supported birth.  This is her first child and she is apprehensive about how labor will go.  She has indicated that she is not opposed to interventions, although she would prefer to be able to do things such as walk and be in a tub (which is not available at the hospital she toured).  She spoke with her OB who told her that the hospital is a teaching hospital and therefore, she would be subject to the presence of and examinations by various residents and other staff.  She also was told during her tour that the hospital protocol is that everyone is hooked up to a fetal monitor.  While her OB is not opposed to doula support, she made sure to tell my client that the doulas that she has worked with have stepped over the line and tried to tell her how to do her job as the doctor.  This caused my client to express a wish to not do anything that may cause any kind of drama or confrontation during her labor and birth. 

Here’s my question:  In our efforts as doulas to support women and advocate for gentle births, are we shooting ourselves in the foot? While being zealous about birth and wanting to help as many women as possible to become educated about their choices, are some of us going beyond our scope of practice and code of ethics and actually  REDUCING the choices to women because we are creating battle lines with their medical providers?

As Doulas, we are not supposed to perform clinical tasks, nor are we supposed to speak for our clients or make their decisions for them.

I have no illusions about the world, myself, or birth.  I know that we are in an uphill battle against insurance companies, OBs with “God-complexes”, and women who question their abilities or rights to decide how their babies are born.  I know that I am not the end-all, be-all of birth professionals.  I am, however, a mom who has had interventions because I didn’t know any better.  I am a doula who just wants my clients to feel empowered and informed enough to own the decisions that lead to how their births evolve.  And I am frustrated when a client decides to not have a doula because she is paying the price for another patient whose doula was a little over-zealous and put her OB on the defensive.

Filed under birth, childbirth, Doula, massage, pregnancy Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

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