Dear friends,
Are you feeling the shift in the air? A new year brings new hopes, new dreams. This is a year of a turn inwards to truly care for the things and ideals we value most. This is a year to move, to stretch, to dance, to sing!
“Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth."
-Mark Twain
For a time, I really forgot how to move. Some of you know, just after high school, I was diagnosed with a very rare lymphoma. What a wonderful, challenging time! One of the particular gifts this challenge brought me was extreme tightness in my calves. If I'd walk a block or two... heck... sometimes just across a parking lot... my calves would be on fire! Yes. I really do see these things as gifts!
This lasted for years, until I went to massage school. No. Massage didn't miraculously fix my calves. It sure didn't hurt! It actually took me starting to walk around my neighborhood. I started off small. A few blocks. My calves would start seizing up and I'd have to stop.
Something in my shifted. I began to walk through the pain. I willfully entered a burning path just to see where it lead. To find that undiscovered country on the other side. Oh, there was effort. This was no easy task. In time, was able to walk farther. 10 blocks. 20 blocks, A couple miles!
I used to live on 26th, near Belmont... not far from my current office. I remember my greatest victory was a walk up to the western reservoir of Mt. Tabor. I walked up the hill and plopped myself down on the grass. Over 2 and a half miles (and the same length back home!). I tell ya... I felt like Rocky!
I still deal with my calves. I power walked a few blocks just yesterday and they were cranky. Healing is a struggle. It's been 17 years since my last chemotherapy treatment and I'm still healing. But, I'll be darned if I let myself stop moving!
We all go through our ordeals. Life brings every being countless challenges. It is up to every heart to decide... do I want to stop... or, yeah... I'm gonna push through this! You just watch me!
My practice has evolved over the years, using lots of movement and active engagement of the soft tissues of the body. I love finding those points, where there is less ease of movement and reduced range of motion, slowly, but firmly coaxing muscles and fascia to open again to new, forgotten breadth.
My methods and presence have developed into focused, treatment-oriented bodywork; a style that has shown itself to be quite unique amongst the vast sea of massage therapy. My pricing structure will be changing in March to reflect this, only offering 75 minute sessions for $85. If you're body truly needs the extra time, I will still offer 90 minute sessions for $110.
Yes, I'm raising my rates in difficult economic times. Yet, I still feel the works needs to be accessible to all and will expand my reduced rate offerings.
My sliding-scale, 35 minute myofascial clinics will be increased in frequency to twice a month. I will also offer a limited number of 60 minute sliding-scale openings. This will require a commitment to a massage session at least once per calendar month. If you're interested, please ask!
My office chums and I have finally come up with a name for our healing arts building! From this day forward, it shall be known as...
... Earth Body Wellness Center!
And, I'm getting the entire center involved in a monthly affordable massage and acupuncture clinic! The first date will be March 7th. Stay tuned for further details!
Also in March, I will be closing my Gresham home office. I cannot afford a second electric-lift massage table and I can no longer put my body through the rigors of using a stationary table. My father taught me to always use the best tool for the job. It's wisdom I follow as often as I can.
Dear ones, the walk through pain need not be alone. I've been there. Together, we can find a way through. Find the joy on the other side!
It is an honor to walk this earth with you.
Blessings and love,
Hamid : )
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Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon
