Dropped the Ball, or Blog (so-to-say)

Stopped by to review my account – truthfully, I had all but forgotten about it. I’ve never been one to journal things and that is probably the main downfall of not keeping updates, musings, ramblings going on here – and when things aren’t going swimmingly, I’m not one to “dump” on others about it. I’m more of a find those boot straps and pick myself up by them person.

So, here’s to making a post (of sorts) after a few years of silence. What has been happening in these few years, other than us all loosing a year to the shut down? I’ve become a set vendor at the NCHA shows in OK & FTW, some call me the “horse spa for people” – horses still get the benefit of a rider sitting better, right? I’ve had my hands on a few horses, one owner was becoming a semi-regular one, but has since moved to CA to be near family (looking forward to a visit with her when schedules work out). And now have steady access to some horses so I can keep in practice with my equine osteopathy education I’m getting from the Vluggen Institute for Equine Osteopathy.

My private two-legged business continues to increase here and there, although I didn’t plan on that happening. When people are in pain God chooses the who and when to cross my path – When In Knead is a fitting name choice (I’m don’t have the patience for “always” in need). So, a vessel for healing is the space I stand in and give the glory to God for the results that come through.

Speaking of two-legged clients, have one on the way in now. Take care everyone, stay safe and stay well. God bless!

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  Bloom where you are!

Choices and Consequences

All of our choices are followed by consequences that are not of our choosing.  Consider choices carefully and make wise decisions about them.  There is an energy that seems to be attached to the choices made – lighter, flowing energy when it is a good choice; heavy, stagnant energy when it is a not-so-good one (at least from my perspective).

While consequences can’t be avoided, reaching the other side of them is possible.  I believe consequences teach us how to make better decisions (learn from our mistakes).  All of life is a lesson.  There is no one “out to get us”, there is not “they did this to me” – ultimately it is our choices that land us in the middle of situations (good or bad), therefore anything we are experiencing is “us doing it to ourselves” (although it is super easy to blame others instead of looking in the mirror).

That said, I’m grateful for making the choice I did to not be mad or seek to “get even” in a situation where it would’ve been easy to do so – heck, I probably would’ve had a few people jump on board to help.  Choosing not to be that way cleared so much more space and created such a better surrounding energy for me while I was working out of town these past few weeks!  I will take that feeling and those results any day!

In all things, choose wisely and be prepared for what follow.  Instead of struggling through what may follow a choice, ask yourself “what is the lesson I need to learn from this?”  That simple question will soften the energy around what is happening, but you must also be open to the answer of that question & it may not be something you want to hear.

Benefits of Massage and Bodywork for Your Equine Athlete

We all seem to know the benefits of regular massage and bodywork when it comes to human athletes and ourselves.  Why should your equine athlete be any different?

Did you know that muscles account for 60% of your horse’s body weight?  That is a large load to carry that has demands placed on it every day, especially training for specific disciplines and preparing for events.  Just as we experience muscle dysfunction, so can your equine partners – only your horse(s) can’t tell you what bothers them and, like most prey animals, are very skilled at hiding what hurts.

When it comes to muscles a good rule of thumb is that a “soft muscle is a lengthened muscle” and a “tight muscle is a shortened muscle”.  What does this mean?  It means if there has been an injury to a muscle, or even overused, and proper recovery time has not been given – that muscle will remain tighter than it should and will directly affect the range of motion for your horse.  It also can create compensation patterns in other muscles that “take on the load” of the affected muscle, which is not beneficial for those muscles over the long term.

Remember, horses (like most animals) are good at not showing us they aren’t well and will continue to try to do what you ask of them.  A small injury won’t be noticeable at first and can take several weeks to a few months to become apparent – downward shift in performance, attitude, and visible signs of lameness.

The BEST solution to maintain your horse’s performance is regular massage and bodywork, consider it preventative maintenance for your equine athlete.  Below are some benefits of massage and bodywork.

• Injury prevention (this is the primary benefit for horses when they are on a regular massage schedule based on activity level*)

* 3-6 weeks for average activity;

* 10-12 days for heavy work or training;

* 3-7 days (max) for post injury care.

• Helps the equine athlete at any level to prepare for, and recover from, training and events.
• Improving range of motion (better forward reach, better rear-tuck, more fluid movement).
• Relaxes and softens tired, overused, muscles (helps to prevent injury).
• Stimulates lymphatic flow – the body’s natural defense system, enhancing immunity.
• Improves joint flexibility (muscle tendons cross joints creating flexion/extension).
• Improves the mental clarity required for focus in performance and training – lessens anxiety.
• Improves blood flow and oxygen circulation.
• Reduces muscle spasm and soreness.
• Reduces stress from travel and trailering.
• Releases endorphins – amino acids that act as the body’s natural painkiller.

 

In addition to my training in equine massage, I am also trained in neuro-muscular therapy for people.  As part of your team, I can help to keep your horse and you healthy and event ready.  Here is a list of the equine therapies I’ve been trained in:

• Therasage EMC– Equine sports massage training for trigger point therapy, stretching as well as tendon and ligament work (40 hours of training).
• Equi-Tape – Certified practitioner (16 hours of training).
• Prairie Winds, LLC – Certification level training in equine massage and bodywork. Training techniques included neuromuscular, myofascial release and some cranio-sacral therapies (250 hours of training).

People Often Say..

“You get what you pay for”.  I’ve heard that statement a lot recently, even in the CranioSacral I class I recently completed.  In that line of thinking I’d like my clients (current and future) to know what you are getting when you hire me to be a part of your horse’s wellness routine.

My education and training definitely extends beyond a weekend, or even a week – I feel that my education is your gain when it comes to the performance and wellness of your horse.

• 250 hours in equine bodywork from Art of Equine Massage and Bodywork (2015)
• 650 hours in neuro-muscular therapy from Me Ke Akua (2004-2005)
• National Certification in massage and bodywork (MBLex 2015; NCBTMB 2006-2014)

In addition to the above education I have had training in Reiki (energy healing), pain relief techniques for fibromyalgia, Aviana Mindful Touch (massage, energy, Ayurveda marma points & reflexology), myo-skeletal release techniques, manual lymphatic drainage, Access Bars (specific energy points on the head to clear restrictions), Kinesio Taping and most recently CranioSacral I through The Upledger Institute.

Bodywork is about the mind-body-spirit connection and horses most definitely have all three of these.  Incorporating bodywork into your horse’s wellness routine brings these three things into balance.  That balance is then reflected in enhanced athletic performance, reduction in soft tissue restrictions and reduced levels of stress in the animal.

To meet the objective of balancing the mind-body-spirit, my training also includes Grief Following Trauma (animals experience trauma too – especially following injury, death of a companion and poor treatment by prior owners/trainers).  Now we all know the animal doesn’t verbally tell us what is the matter, that is why my training also includes intuitive communication and energy balancing.  Some of my training for that field has come from the AMT (a guild of professional energists based out of the UK, of which I am a member).  I am also self-studying the meridian and acupressure points for canines (can be applied to equines).

I also believe in “giving back”, this has lead me to be a volunteer for the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC).  I volunteer my services at Oak Grove Fire Department (a volunteer department east of Catoosa) and at Bit by Bit in Oologah.  In the past I was also a volunteer for almost 2 years at Clarehouse and I’ve also been a member of a federal disaster medical assistance team (DMAT).

All of that said…proper muscle and joint function comes down to proper movement of those structures.  Balanced mind-body-spirit comes down to fluid movement of structure and energy.  The training I’ve completed over the years in multiple techniques has given me the knowledge and tools needed to be of the best service to you and your horse(s).

• Equine Session: $95.00 (approx. 1hr – up to 1.5hrs)
• Equine Pre-Event Session: $35.00 (15-20 min)
• Canine Session: $50.00 (approx. 1/2hr)
• Trip Charge: $50.00 (if over 3hrs from Tulsa; may be waived if more than 2 horses are scheduled)

Written Vet Referral Required in Oklahoma (so far has been at no charge)

I have a referral letter that can be emailed to the vet, for their convenience.

Also, per Oklahoma law I have liability insurance – copies of which can be provided to you veterinarian upon their request.

 

Rainy Day Investment

No, I’m not referring to mutual funds or a 401k.  I’m referring to saving up “rainy day” funds that would be used to invest in myself and those I’m wanting to provide service to…the horses and those that own and love them.

Some might think: What does saving money have to do with working on horses?  Why not just adapt the skills I’ve acquired for people massage & bodywork and apply them to the horses?  And while both questions are valid, and some people would just “get to work”, I’m not wired that way.  I knew for a while that I wanted to work with horses and in learning their anatomy I could use it to better care for my dogs & cats.  However, where to start and when to start?

That last question lead me to do what I do best at times…research (some family & friends say I should’ve been a private investigator).  The “when” to start was the easy one to answer – starting would happen once I had the funds set aside to pay for the education I would acquire for working with horses (prices do vary).  The “where” to start was a bit more illusive.  I reviewed some of the courses I’d seen advertised in my trade magazines and found several others by internet searches.

I was now starting to make notes of the available training – most of them being out of state but I did find one in state.  However, what wasn’t sitting well with me was the length of the classes.  Call me silly, but I didn’t feel that a 1 week or 2 week class seemed in-depth enough for working on a 1200+ lb animal – heck I would think 2 weeks, minimum, would apply to just learning anatomy (I remember what learning people anatomy was like, surely horse anatomy would be just as challenging).  And when I found a 2 day course almost in my backyard I thought “yikes”.  So, my search for what I was looking for continued…for a while.

Then one day last December I was scouring the internet yet again, and there it was…Prairie Winds LLC Art of Equine Massage and Bodywork.  So I read about the program.  6 weeks in Colorado, approximately 60 head of horses to work on during that time, anatomy, veterinarian instructor for pathologies, information about saddle fitting (that is a course unto itself) and did I mention 6 weeks with 60 horses?  And the students go pick out the horses – actually the horses pick out the student b/c if they don’t want to work with you they’ll keep you at bay all day long.  This was it!  This is the class and curriculum that resonated with me!

I sent an email off to Sara at Prairie Winds to inquire about being accepted into the class – another thing I liked about it, a horsewoman being protective of her knowledge and her heard of 60 or so 4-legged instructors.  After speaking with Sara and being honest about my horse experiences I was over-the-moon to know I made the cut.  And if you’re still reading to this point, guess what?  The rainy day I’d been saving for was here and the funds I’d saved would cover the class and my lodging expenses…just as if it were always meant to be.

Now, I’m not knocking the avenue other people may have taken to work on horses be it a 2 day or 2 week course (or no course and just going out and “doing the work”), because people have to do what is right for them.

But I believe investing in my education for 6 weeks (that included over 2 weeks of anatomy and 3 days with a veterinarian) was the best choice to make for myself.  I also believe that investment wasn’t just in myself, but also in the horses that I will be working on as well as the owners that love and care for them.  It is also why I feel making contacts with the veterinarians in OK to get on referral lists is the right thing to do (yes, OK requires written vet referral to work on any animal) – it’s time-consuming, tedious and sometimes frustrating but those are rules of the game I’m given to play by (at least until I can figure out a way to apply some pressure to effect a change, force will get me no where…just ask the horse).

The above is my “Rainy Day Investment” story.  Thanks for hanging in this far on this rather lengthy post.  And “thank you” to Carrie for helping to bring this post into being by asking the questions you did Saturday while I was there working on Lady.

Believing is Seeing

That’s right, I feel that one has to “believe” in something first before it can be “seen”.  I grew up being told just the opposite…seeing is believing.  I’ve outgrown that tribal logic that energetically puts limitations on what can be perceived as real or unreal.

To believe in the unseen opens up more possibilities of what lies ahead.  At this point in time I’m believing that leaving the corporate job of 17 years and investing in myself and education to learn equine massage & bodywork is the best decision I’ve made in a while.  I’m also believing that I will become a valuable addition to the care and wellness of the horses I work on and will not have many financial worries (if any) once I’m established and my work is reflected in the suppleness and improved movement of the horses I work on.

Now will this believing in my successful future take a while to actually see?  It could.  But then again, maybe it won’t.  Right now I’m already seeing the benefits of my believing it was time to part company with the corporate job…less stress, happier (even former co-workers commented on how happy I look), time to get things done during the day that would otherwise get rushed through in an evening or eat up time on the weekend. Was it difficult to leave the “known” for the “unknown”?  You betcha.  But there comes a point that you can just feel it is time to let go of what no longer resonates within yourself and a change, at some point, has to be made.  That point came for me and I took the leap – so far I’ve landed on my feet and continue to move forward with what it is I need to do.

Again, believing is seeing.  And I believe I see a better path for myself…one that helps horses.

Busy, busy…

Or at least so it seems.  Been working on website content today for my equine bodywork business… and I thought blog content was a challenge.

I’ve never been one to diary or journal.  However, thanks to Sara S. I’m trying to get in touch with my inner writer and bypass my inner critic (even though the critic has special pages at the back of the journal, she still tends to try to get mouthy).  So, for now, I’ll take baby steps on this whole thoughts take written form and just see how the words reveal themselves.

Better than a blank blog…

Thought I should post something, leaving my blog empty (such is my brain at the moment in regards to content for it) just didn’t seem appropriate.

I’ll be back, as time allows, to add content and possibly even some random thoughts (no telling what those may look like).

In the meantime, take care.