The Basic Exam: Brain-Whoa

The Basic Exam, which covers physiology, pathology, and anatomy, is the first of two written exams given near the end of the IMI program. I took the Basic Exam on April 3. I got a B.

I studied hard. During the test, I kissed my A+ goodbye because I was making too many guesses. I was fine with that, no stress. But I didn't think I'd miss an A altogether; a B!

Wish I had a nickel for every time someone has said to me, "Nobody's going to look at your grades once you're in the working world." Yes, I know. And I don't care. It's not about that. I just plumb enjoy acing tests. Makes my brain say, "Wee!"

With so many folks both here in trade school and also at university repeating how unimportant your grade is in the "real world," I can't help but wonder if relatively few people have themselves experienced a brain-wee.

A brain-wee begins with intense study, crescendos during the test, hits a high plateau upon completion of the test (the waiting period during which you're pretty sure you aced it), and finally bursts into its glorious Wee! upon seeing the mark. The brain-wee is completely independent of others' responses to your mark.

When someone (like me) is accustomed to having a brain-wee after every test, and when they (like me) study very hard for a particular test and expect another A but see instead a B, their brain says, "Whoa!" This is known as a brain-whoa. A brain-whoa is not to be confused with a brain-woe, which is more Eeyore-like in nature. A brain-whoa is simply a surprise with a smidgen of bummer mixed in. Its effect is not long lasting.

;)

Springtime in Michigan

Last Day at Student Clinic

Your Body is a TempleThis is what we see upon entering IMI's student clinic. Today, however, this is what I saw as I turned to say goodbye. I snapped this photo on my way out, having just completed my last day working here. I owe many thanks to the incredible staff for their patience and guidance, and to those gracious clients who entrusted themselves to these learning hands. Learning and ever learning. Namaste.

Elective: Torso Techniques

Essential Torso Techniques, taught by the inimitable Larissa Cisaruk, is a 16-hour workshop covering a variety of massage techniques for the torso, with particular focus on the chest, abdomen, and buttocks -- those areas of the body on which the client may be hesitant to receive massage and/or the therapist may be uncomfortable working. These often neglected areas of the body need at least as much attention as any other, if not more.

Please note that although we spent equal portions of class time on the chest, abs, glutes, and back, as well as tying it all together into a flowing practice, and although I could write oodles about each of the sixteen class-hours, my focus for this entry will be on the chest, for soon-to-be obvious reasons.

I was the demo for the pecs/chest massage! Aren't I lucky? (Okay, I volunteered. Loudly). The photo above, which I nabbed off the web, does not represent the chest techniques that we learned in this class. The female client will have one towel draped across her chest to cover the breasts, and the other towel covers her from the waist down, leaving the upper abs exposed. This allows the massage therapist to access the center of the chest by reaching under the towel, working near and around but not touching or exposing the breast.

At one point, as our instructor stroked my chest muscles outward from the center (sternum), I felt my chest cavity open and rise as if now capable of deeper breathing. To my surprise and delight, I felt the same sensation in my closed eyes, as if my eyes expanded.

Have you ever cleaned out a closet or some part of your home and felt that you were making room for something else, making room in your life for whatever comes next? My chest massage in this class left me with the distinct sensation that I'd been opened up from the inside, that I was and am ready for more, for whatever comes next, which is the constant unfolding of this moment.


Larissa Cisaruk is one of the finest instructors I've encountered at IMI. Without a doubt, my future success as a massage therapist will have stemmed in large part from the techniques learned and the attitude and confidence developed in this class. Thank you, Larissa.

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.

Elective: Hot Rocks

Giving...















...and receiving.

Posture!

It has come to my attention that a number of visitors found my blog while searching for information on "dowager's hump." So, I'm back with the rest of the story. Thanks to Garry Adkins for his expertise and enthusiasm, and for his trusty camera.

As described in my CTS post in July, Garry told me that I had the beginnings of a dowager's hump, which I vehemently denied. "See me during break," he said. Ohmigod, I thought, teacher wants to make an example of me! Indeed, and thank goodness for that.

During break, Garry aimed his camera at me and asked me to stand as I normally stand. Ha! I thought with a silent snicker. Okay, mister, okay. Watch me! So I stood erect. I felt happy that day, positive, confident, and certain that my posture was pretty darn good. Behold my "pretty darn good" posture:


With one hand on my back and one hand on my upper chest, Garry instructed me to tilt my torso up and back, and then he told me to pretend someone was pulling my head straight up to the sky. That’s it. Fewer than ten seconds passed between the two photos:


Just let your eyes bounce back and forth between the two. Amazing, isn't it? Compare my shoulders, rounded and slumped on the left, up and firm on the right; my "hump" is hardly a hump on the right; my jawline appears more pronounced on the right, and my neck longer. Take a look, too, at the angle of my chest; clearly, the lady on the left is saggy, whereas the lady on the right is pert near perky. Most amazing to me is the difference in my line of vision.

Garry said nothing about my eyes or my line of vision, nor did I give it a single thought at the time. The direction of my gaze was as it was, a natural result of my posture:


What an impact these photos have had on me! Two months later, and I still catch myself slouching, but it is no longer bothersome to correct my posture. What a joy to lift my head and straighten my spine, to feel my body rise, thereby creating my own uplifting experience everyday.

Upright posture is addicting.

On the advice of a certain Certified Personal Trainer I know and love: If your posture is way out of whack, don't try to correct it all at once and without additional training. It takes time. Strengthen your core, practice yoga, get a massage. Consult your physician before starting any exercise routine.

iVillage: Stop Slouching!

IMI's South Entrance

This is what I see every time I enter my school building.

Emmanuel Gets Dressed, Pt. I

Okay, so the belly of his biceps is a bit large and low, and his gluteus minimus raises serious doubts, but get a load of his erector spinae! He has mighty fine intercostals, too, if I do say so myself.

His arm appears disproportionately large because he's at an angle, with his hand extended toward the camera. I held him gently by the ankle because he wouldn't stay still for the picture. (He's shy, don't you know. That, and he didn't come with a stand.)