Taproot Bodywork Resource, LLC

Below is the article I recently wrote for the Zenana Day Spa and Wellness Center website… Read on for what my students really learn in my Back Massage for Couples class.

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How often do we devote even 30 minutes a day to pay rapt attention to our partners?  What radical changes in our primary relationship would come about if we prioritized fully enjoying our partners and ourselves on a daily basis? 

I initially conceived of my Back Massage for Couples class as an opportunity for couples to learn massage skills that would allow them to become partners in each other’s wellness.  I created a class that emphasized anatomy, technique, and body mechanics, giving students a solid foundation in beginning massage.  Ideally, they’d learn to listen to their own bodies, and observe another’s.  Body awareness and regular relaxation would surely lead to better health.   

My first class was an epiphany.  I realized that though some couples come to the class seeking massage knowledge, once they begin to work on each other, they discover something else entirely.  Unexpectedly, the giver is fascinated by the luscious curve of a hip, the punctuated arc of the spine on a body he thought he knew…  On the table, in the meantime, his partner revels in speaking what she needs, being heard, and receiving in a physical manner what she’s asked for - less pressure here, maybe more work on that tight shoulder, and not least, the devoted attention of her sweetheart. 

While receiving professional massage may help to heal a client’s body and soothe her mind, massage between partners opens a door to a uniquely sensual healing space – one in which all the glorious and intimate details of the body are lovingly observed, sensation is celebrated, and emotions are freed.   

What if, for 30 minutes every day, you and your partner could co-create such a space?  What could result but a great sense of wellbeing brought about by knowing, in all of your cells, that you are cherished and loved? 

I’d like to invite you and your partner to learn to help each other, heal each other, connect with and enjoy each other in the midst of your busy days.  Take your new massage skills home, and see what 30 minutes of devoted attention a day can do for your relationship.  We will create a sensual sanctuary in the Back Massage for Couples Workshop at Zenana Spa and Wellness Center twice in the coming months, on September 28^th, and again on October 26^th. 

Folks,

Recently I was wandering down Hawthorne Boulevard and came across a For Rent sign in front of one of the big old houses I’d always admired.  You may be familiar with those houses, kitty corner from the Safeway on 27th, and full of psychologists, massage therapists and others.  I’ve had a few serene massages there myself, and I  walked blissfully home afterwards.  Perhaps you won’t be surprised to hear that I’ve decided to move my practice into one of those cozy, and close-in, offices.  I’ll let you know of my official move date - certainly by the 1st of August, I’ll have moved.  For those of you who like to plan ahead, my new address will be 2607 SE Hawthorne.  There’s off-street and covered parking out front, a lovely waiting area, and an unusual office space awaiting you.  Rates will remain the same.

The new office will be too small to hold my Couples Classes in house, and so I’ve scouted out a few Southeast locations that better fit the luxurious vibe I want to create for each group of couples.  The first of these classes will be held in September, at Zenana Spa, on SE Clinton St.  Check my website www.taprootbodywork.com for the upcoming date. 

In the meantime, I’d like to hold one final Back Massage for Couples Class in my current space.  I need one more couple for a potential class this weekend, on Sunday, July 13th from 1 to 5.  If your summer schedule is filling up quickly and you’re wondering where to fit a little self-care in, this might be the class for you and your partner. 

Other potential dates this month are Saturday, July 26th from 2 to 6; Sunday, July 27th from 1 to 5.  I need two couples to hold the class.  Please give me a call at 503 481 0595 if you’re interested. 

*Please note, due to my move, there will be no August Couples Class.*

Massage will of course continue uninterrupted in my Northeast Portland space this month.  It’s hot, I’ve got air conditioning and good hands.  Give yourself a little break and schedule a massage!

Folks, 

As massage therapists and other natural healer types are wont to do, I recently subjected myself to a three week ‘cleansing diet’.  No, this was not some militaristic fast, nor an esoteric meal plan consisting of lemon juice, Tabasco sauce, and maple syrup.  Rather it consisted of a very fibrous shake once or twice a day, and a diet that eliminated the most common food allergens, as well as anything that might tend to stress the liver, such as caffeine or alcohol.  I actually found it easy to follow, never felt deprived of sustenance, and maintained my weight.  Cool! 

About a week and half in, however, I got sneezed on by a 4 year old, and 3 days later I had a sore throat.  Quel dommage!  As usual, I whipped out the orange juice, bought stock in grapefruit plantations, sucked on zinc lozenges, make some chicken soup, napped lots… and medicated myself with a shot of whiskey a few nights running. 

What a sweet way for bacteria to perish, aswoon in local Clear Creek Distillery’s McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt! 

My belief that no throat-dwelling bug could survive being doused with whiskey overcame my compunction to adhere as closely as possible to my cleanse.  My folk remedy seemed a worthwhile divergence from the stricture of the cleanse – an all-too-rare case of one good thing outweighing the benefits of another.   

How does this relate to massage, you might finally ask?  Perhaps in these frightening economic times you’re tightening your belt against rising food and fuel prices.  Perhaps you’re eliminating anything you regard as ‘luxury’.  Over the tumultuous months sure to lie ahead, however, there will be times when treating yourself to a massage will be of greater value than strict adherence to a no-frills budget.  Ultimately, we scrimp so that we can afford the necessities - a healthy body and a clear mind should top that list.  Massage is preventative maintenance for your exquisite body.  When times are tough, massage not a luxury, but an inoculation against the ravages of stress and discomfort. 

Inspired?  Do call or email to schedule your appointment!  I have several appointments available this week, but will be out of town for my pop’s wedding June 8^th through the 17^th.   

If you’d like more information about cleanses or are seeking a fabulous naturopath, check out Dr. Kelly Owens at http://www.hawthornewellness.com/.  Please let her know you heard about her here! 

The July Back Massage for Couples class will be taught on the 26^th, at 2 pm.  Check out reviews and more at my new website: http://www.taprootbodywork.com. 

Hope you are well and enjoying the simple things in life.

Michelle

PS. Got a great folk remedy?  Tell me about it!

The July Back Massage for Couples class will be taught on the 26th, beginning at 2 pm. 

 The August class is pending due to the vagaries of vacation scheduling, etc.  Check back soon for updates.

Back Massage for Couples will be taught June 7th, from 2 to 6 pm.

Can’t make it?  Give me a ring, and we’ll set up a class time that works for you, or keep an eye out for the announcement of July’s class date.

Learning back massage is the beginning of a lifelong wellness practice! By taking a couples massage class, you and your partner will:

Gain competence and confidence in the hands-on skill of massage

Become more aware of your bodies, and be able to address physical problems sooner

Have a means of relaxing together, productively!

Appreciate your mate as a partner in your health

Deepen your connection and develop communication skills that go beyond the verbal

Complement your existing intimate relationship with the addition of skilled, loving touch

Give each other a gift that keeps on giving — to your health, and to your relationship!

• Active couples who’d like to help themselves and their partners feel better after a workout
• New couples who want nurturing touch to become a cornerstone of their relationship
• Established couples who want to explore a new way to connect and communicate.
• Lifelong learners with a curiosity about the body and the effects of massage
• Couples who recognize the value of massage in addressing an ongoing health issue
• Couples who’ve tried to massage each other, and haven’t yet rubbed each other right

Now accepting registration for the May 10th Back Massage for Couples Class!

Guys, you’ll get what you give with a couples massage class, and the mother of your children will love to be massaged by you on her personal holiday weekend.

 Email michelle@taprootbodywork.com to sign up for a great Mother’s Day gift!

Have you ever tried to teach your partner a new skill?  Has your partner ever tried to teach you a new skill?   

Recently my fella and I went to Big Sky, MT for a week of skiing.  Ever curious about the massage scene, I decided to check out the spa in our hotel, the Huntley Lodge.  Turns out the Solace Spa offers something called the “Guided Massage” for couples, the idea being that a professional massage therapist would guide each of us through working on each other.  Hm.  Four handed massage?  Someone else teaching my guy how to work on me?  A tax write-off in the guise of research?  Excellent!  We scheduled a session for the next night.

Being a professional massage therapist myself makes teaching my partner massage even harder than it might be otherwise.  (Imagine having to massage your massage therapist.)  Our lovely massage therapist/instructor, however, demonstrated strokes and a route around the table, modeled great communication skills, and made gentle corrections, all without causing the eruption of World War III between the two of us.  I was really pleased with my massage, and my partner is eager to practice his new skills.  Success!

Perhaps you’re aware of how hard it can be to get your partner to rub you the right way.  I’m sure there are folks out there who somehow manage to put their egos away, and teach or learn from each other, respectfully and successfully.  But doing so is more difficult when the ‘material’ is new to both of you, or one of you has a sore shoulder, and a shortage of patience.

Perhaps you’d like to ensure that learning to massage each other is the blissful, connecting experience it should be.  Taking a couples massage class allows you to speak your massage needs, and your partner to get advice from a cheery professional about the best way to meet them.  Your shoulder or back feels better, and your partner hasn’t been henpecked.  You’re more likely to turn to each other for massage in the future, for reasons therapeutic or otherwise.    What a lovely habit for you to develop!

Couples Massage Classes will be offered April 5th and 19th.  Use your tax return to invest in the good health of your relationship!