Massage Chairs

Ok, I'll admit it. I had to try it. Although I don't believe anything will be invented that will outperform a human touch, these chairs that 'massage' are getting pretty sophisticated. I was waiting for a flight in San Diego this past week, and after doing the marina tour (5 boats for $12!) I had time to run through an open-air mall. Seeing nothing of interest at the movie theater, I found a Brookstone store, and two empty massage recliners. If you haven't done this (who hasn't) it is a good way to kill time. I hit the place at 3pm on a Monday afternoon, so I had my pick of the $2000 Panasonic or the $4300 Panasonic. Fifteen minutes in the cheapo model was good, but a little scary. If the salesmen wasn't there to reassure me, I might have jumped out when the leg attachment started trying to pop my calves from the sides. The back action was fairly adjustable for size, pressure, and speed. Not bad for $2000. I started to picture that in the living room, wondering what the motor warranty was. But then I jumped into the $4300 version, and didn't look back. I was impressed with the adjustability and comfort for another fifteen minutes. One could use preset programs or dial in the exact style and patterns, and save programs for 3 different people. Personally, I'd never buy one, but I could see someone with some disposable income and no massage therapist nearby getting hooked.

thickets and thoracic

He has some stories to tell, and does a pretty good job of telling them. Check out this blog if you need some literary value with your snark.

Cycling is a good sport in many ways. But there are some pitfalls. One thing to avoid is compensated posture in the lumbar region. This can occur no matter what your posture is on the bike, and usually results in a chronic 'crunched' position. The body avoids this during a natural walking or running motion, but on the bike we tend to keep the waist from performing a very important twisting action that gives the lower back a little break from compressive forces. If you are aware of muscles like the obliques, you know that your abdomen is supported by a criss-crossed cylinder of muscle. When you twist the hips in relation to the ribcage, or vice-versa, you tighten this cylinder of muscle, and lengthen the distance between the two. The resulting traction-like force on the lumbar spine is something we are missing on the bike, as we try to keep the upper body stable and motionless. So if there ever was a reason for cross-training, this is it. Get off the bike and run now and then. Hmmm, sounds a lot like cyclecross...

thickets and thoracic

He has some stories to tell, and does a pretty good job of telling them. Check out this blog if you need some literary value with your snark.

Cycling is a good sport in many ways. But there are some pitfalls. One thing to avoid is compensated posture in the lumbar region. This can occur no matter what your posture is on the bike, and usually results in a chronic 'crunched' position. The body avoids this during a natural walking or running motion, but on the bike we tend to keep the waist from performing a very important twisting action that gives the lower back a little break from compressive forces. If you are aware of muscles like the obliques, you know that your abdomen is supported by a criss-crossed cylinder of muscle. When you twist the hips in relation to the ribcage, or vice-versa, you tighten this cylinder of muscle, and lengthen the distance between the two. The resulting traction-like force on the lumbar spine is something we are missing on the bike, as we try to keep the upper body stable and motionless. So if there ever was a reason for cross-training, this is it. Get off the bike and run now and then. Hmmm, sounds a lot like cyclecross...

Thanksgiving

Over 15 years ago, I was a rookie computer programmer fresh out of school with very few worries. I had one occassional problem however. Migraine headaches. If you've ever had 'em, or known someone who has, you know you don't want 'em. I remember being so nauseated I couldn't keep water down. And if I got one while at work, I was lucky if I could get to the bathroom before vomiting. But luckily I found massage. After meeting a therapist named Karen Kullman, I began to have hope that this did not have to be a chronic condition. She didn't make any wild promises, but agreed to do what she could, and exuded a confidence that made me decide to stick with her treatment for a couple of months to see what massage could do. I have avoided these terrible headaches ever since, and have found many other benefits from regular massage. So much so that I decided to become a massage therapist myself. After 5 years in the business, I'm happy to say I have been able to serve many very appreciative clients thanks to the knowledge I gained from Karen's treatments, and formal training at Sister Rosalind Gefre's School of Professional Massage.

Thanks Karen, where ever you are!

I'd Prefer Not To Say

With elections around the corner, and thoughts of what direction this country is headed in, I try not to turn into a grouchy old man. (I can hear Dylan singing 'I used to care, but things have changed.) That won't help anything. Neither will ranting on this obscure blog that nobody reads. My remedy is to search out things that give me hope, and they are rarely mainstream ideas. This is usually because when something promising becomes popular, it is plagued by parasites attempting to make a quick buck.

I listen to people about a variety of things. It's part of my job. I've heard mothers cry about their sons being in the middle of a war. I've heard about the stress of raising a family with an alcoholic involved. I've listened to people who don't know what their problem is, but know that something is wrong. I've seen others being drawn from one problem by another problem, thinking their situation is getting better. There are those who are in a job they no longer have passion for, or maybe never did. People who are chasing too many things at once tell me how many ailments their doctors have pinned on them. Doctors have told me they are too busy to care about pain. Perhaps they are. Perhaps they shouldn't be.

Yet I have hope.