Last Physiology Lecture

Excuse me, but who stole the days? Who slipped the year out from under my feet? And who snatched my physiology classes away, hm?

Just as with our last anatomy class, I felt stunned at the end of our last physiology class yesterday. I knew this was our last class meeting; it's right there in my calendar, so there was no reason for surprise on my part. But surprised I was. Or maybe just sad. ::sigh:: I'm going to miss this class, too.

Above is my heart drawing for this class, completed in December. Physiology lectures have ended, but I'll be studying my notes for months to come; first for our two written exams at IMI (the Basic Exam in April, and the Therapeutic Exam in May), and then for the national certification exam.

Lecture class continues through March with two pathology lectures followed by two business lectures.

I complete my clinic hours in mid-March.

I have two electives yet to complete: Torso Techniques in early March, and Mind-Body Medicine in late April.

Hands-On class continues through mid-May, and graduation is on June 1.

Okay, so I said that I'll miss my anatomy and physiology classes, and it's true, but... I'm almost finished! Woo hoo!

Hands-On: Cranial Massage

Cranial Massage. That's what we did in hands-on class last Thursday. I enjoyed it immensely, both giving and receiving. I do believe that cranial massage will be a focus -- if not the focus -- of my future in massage therapy.

I have much to learn, of course, but for now what I'm referring to by "cranial massage" is just that: massage of the skull. The scalp is naturally massaged in the process, and the face is or can be massaged as well, but the focus is on the cranial sutures, those lines where the skull bones come together.

In class, each student gave and received a full one-hour cranial massage. Receiving the massage was an amazing experience; my whole body relaxed, tension melted away. At one point, it felt as if my spine slowly lifted off the table and then slowly sunk into the table, as if my spine itself inhaled and exhaled.

Giving the massage was also a wonderful experience. My eyes went blurry, and that's a good sign. Blurred vision during massage tells me that my focus has moved to my hands, and that I've let go of the mental noise, the worrying and wondering whether I'm doing this the "right" way or feeling what I'm "supposed to" feel. I've come to believe that my hands know and recognize far more than I give them credit for.

Pardon My Dust, Pt. II

I tried something new, but I didn't like it. I brought all my massage therapy-related posts back here to ChrysCrossing. I won't add anything new to the other blog. Sorry for any confusion or hassle. Methinks I've not caused much of a stir, but thanks for your patience, all the same.

Emmanuel's Final Anatomy Class

On February 4, Emmanuel and I spent our last Anatomy class together at IMI. He really could use more muscles -- traps, lats, pecs, abs, glutes -- but he is as complete as is required for graduation. At least he's smiling.

See the screen in the upper right corner of the above photo? While we put finishing touches on our "manikens," our esteemed teacher treated us to a video of Kodo; thundering, pulsating Japanese drums played by some very fine examples of human anatomy.

What a joy it's been to form muscles with my fingers, rolling them, shaping them, attaching them to bone.

Sometimes, on my own leg, I can see the lateral edge of my soleus, hiding like a mackerel behind my gastrocnemius. And I think of Emmanuel.

I'll still have Monday morning lecture classes through March -- physiology, pathology, and business lectures -- but this was our last lecture in anatomy.

I'm going to miss this class.

Pardon My Dust

I'm in the process of trying something different. This blog, ChrysCrossing, is currently under construction. Please bear with me during renovations. Thanks!

IMI Student Massage Clinic

One of five massage rooms at our student clinic. I've been working here since late November, and I expect to complete my 48-hr. requirement by the end of March.

Be at peace, all who enter here.