Do you ever wonder why your therapist uses flannel sheets year round? I use them because they are soft, warm, and comfortable.

Water-resistant, 100% cotton, latex-free, flexible and it comes in different colors. You may recall seeing it on athletes and wondering if it was some sort of tattoo. It is called kinesio tape, which was developed over 25 years ago by Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor.

Your assignment, should you chose to accept it, is to take an imaginary journey while spending some quality time on a massage table. Use all of your senses to become fully present in a place of your own choosing.

Has your massage therapist ever grabbed your muscle with a movement that felt like trembling? That rapid back and forth shaking of your muscle is called vibration. To force your muscle to stretch out and relax, your therapist may feel that it necessary to try a little rhythmic shaking on the superficial surface of your muscle. The plan is for the vibration to filter deeper into your muscle to release tension.

A recent scientific study done by San Francisco State University researchers indicates that if you buy experiences instead of material things you will be happier.

I have some important information to share about women and heart attacks. The Office on Women's Health has a new campaign - Make the Call. Don't Miss a Beat - to educate women about the signs and symptoms of heart attack because heart disease is the number one killer of women.

Every 90 seconds a woman has a heart attack! Please visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/HeartAttack today.

Somebody smack me! I signed up for a 10K in April. What was I thinking? Can I really endure those long runs in this cold weather at the crack of dawn?

I dare you to adopt a healthy massage habit for the New Year.

Shoppers, were you channeling Clint Eastwood this past weekend? Steely eyes...tough...unflappable. I know you got some great bargains while retailers were at war on Black Friday. A fist full of dollars is probably all you have left after this past weekend.

You have heard some faint whispering. Was that someone trying to clear their throat? My friend just asked for an aspirin. Why are the coffee club members drinking hot tea? Do they have sore throats? Who sneezed? Why is the warmest person in the room wearing that heavy sweater? Oooh, I feel a little warm. Is that a fever? Now I have a headache.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Recently I had the pleasure of interacting again with some wonderful folks at the Hanover Adult Center. This facility provides health care and companionship for adults who need help with activities of daily living and personal care. Clients also participate in socialization and therapeutic activities. The programs give caretakers a respite from caretaking duties.

Remember when women were concerned about "bulking up" like men if they used weights? Do you think those days are over?

Huh?

It's that time again. The 2010 Start! Richmond Heart Walk is this Saturday, October 23rd. Anthem and HCA Virginia are sponsoring this walk to help raise money to fight heart disease and stroke.

A while ago my client told me she was going to do a ginger bath for detoxification purposes. While I knew that adding ginger to a warm bath helps to relieve soreness in muscles and joints, I had not heard of the ginger detox bath before.

No, of course not. That 6.5 inch leg hair belongs to Wes Pemberton in Texas who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest calf hair.

Doctor's appointment.

Waiting room.

Old magazines.

As I sign in, I check the name before mine to remind myself to pay attention when that name is called. Then I search for something interesting to read. Finding a National Geographic magazine, I quickly become engrossed in the pictures. Slowly, I become aware that the receptionist is sniffling. When I look up, her eyes are watery. As she realizes several pairs of eyes are looking at her, she apologizes and says she has allergies.

These erasers are a new product to me. I was looking for a soft gum eraser to use in my appointment book. You know the kind I mean...the one that does not leave the page dirty afterwards.

After my client left, I walked to my car and was amazed by what I saw. The back seat and passenger seat were filled almost to the limit.

You can find such interesting things when you try to reduce the clutter in your place. That's probably the number one reason why it takes so long because you get sidetracked so easily.

It's been a long time since I've done shift work, but once you do, you never forget it. Trying to stay alert when your body says it is time to rest is no joke, especially on the dreaded third shift.

Remember that game you played on long car trips? Some parents suggest playing this game as soon as a child complains of boredom.

Occasionally I see a client who is an amputee suffering from phantom pain. Unfortunately, my client lost a hand as the result of a car accident in childhood. Pains in the missing hand along with a cramping sensation are the annoying symptoms that pop up from time to time. I usually do a full body massage, but sometimes the client will request just a hand massage if pressed for time.

That's what a friend implied about someone's feet after we had worked out. I did not have the pleasure of seeing or touching those feet personally, but think I would have found them a real challenge.

A couple of days ago I drove carefully to work in an intermittent rain storm. Once I got out of the car, the skies opened up.

Have you ever had that feeling? I have and to me it feels like drifting on a cloud.

Oh no, you are running late!! Whatever the reason, you just cannot make it on time. Like many massage therapists, I usually schedule clients with a 30 minute break between appointments. That break gives me time to discuss the session with the client and write my chart notes. I also have an opportunity to eat or drink something, take a bathroom break, check the phone for messages, and get the room ready for the next client.

About a month ago I had a client who cried during and after massage. I immediately stopped what I was doing to see if the client was in physical distress and to ask if I needed to stop the session. My client asked for a tissue, said there was no pain, and wanted the massage to continue, saying she felt much better. Once the session was over, the client teared up again. She stated she was very surprised by the onset of tears.

Assume a slouching position. Some of us are already in that position, right? See how your lower back is rounded and your head and neck are falling forward? See how your head is forward of the center of your shoulder and your center of gravity has shifted.

Recently I got some fresh vegetables from the garden. Those who know me well know I have a black thumb, so the veggies have been gifts from friends. I am very thankful for the fresh produce and appreciate their thinking of me. One friend, a novice gardener, loves working in the soil, but also recognizes that gardening can be a hard taskmaster. She decided to come in for a massage to help with the achiness, stating that her legs and hips had taken a beating from squatting and her shoulders were a little achy as well from raking.

Here's a great idea for those of you who like to party at home. Set up your favorite event - ladies night in, card party, pool party, birthdays, showers, etc. - and have massage come to you.

A client asked me that while filling out the medication section of the intake form. My answer was this information would be helpful in determining if I needed to make any adjustments in the massage session. When I reviewed the form, I noticed that the client had left that section blank. However, under the conditions section, anxiety was checked and the client had placed a little star beside it.

I have a client who loves facial massage. She asked me about a facial massage treatment using 23 carat, gold-plated spoons. I believe she was talking about Golden Spoons.

"I want to throw these things as far away as possible." That's what my client said when she arrived at her appointment. Now you ladies know exactly what she was talking about. Yep...high heels.

ASK = Assistance, Support, Kindness. ASK is a non-profit organization that provides tremendous support to children with cancer and their families.

Chemical dependency is prevalent throughout our society. It is the use of a substance in a manner that is potentially harmful to the user and to anyone in contact with the user and may create problems in daily living. These substances may be legal, such as nicotine and alcohol, or may be illegal, such as cocaine and heroin.

Today I heard about Girl Trek, an organization that works with females of color to live healthier lives.

I applaud your blossoming musical ability. Learning to play guitar seems like navigating a complicated maze to me. However, I do know that your hands need some work, especially those fingers.

Yep, that equals a distance of 10K.  Runners and walkers: The 2010 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond, Virginia is coming up fast.

57,356 victims died in 2005 according to The American Heart Association. It is now estimated that 70 million people in the U.S. now have hypertension or high blood pressure.

Well, it's that time of the year and "something" is going around.  Chills, headaches, runny nose, fever, watery eyes, cough, sneezing ...you catch my drift.