Russian Zen and Starters
Because I injured my left foot last week, and because I've been having trouble sleeping, I was at ACTCM for what was the 2nd of 8 visits. The intern who took care of me that day was a sturdy built blonde russian who looked like a cross between Mikhail Baryshnikov and Leonid Brezhnev. We'll call him Nikolai. "So what is wrong with you?" he asks me directly with that heavy accent that made me a little nervous. So I tell him... and I add, but really, i'm feeling much better. "How is your shoulder?" My shoulder? Well, now that you bring it up, my right shoulder feels quite tight... "Are you getting headaches?" Headaches? Me? Oh no. Not at all. Well, the other day, but that's because I was hungover. He nods and looks at my chart. "I see..." he says. I fidget in my chair.
"How is your ankle?" Oh fine, fine... Great in fact! I can walk on it just fine. He asks me to show him where I injured it. I comply and he touches an area right underneath the bone. Ouch! I nearly jump off the chair. Well, I guess it is still a little sore. "I see" he says again. He reads my chart some more. "How is the depression?" Oh that, well, it's on and off. I'm fine today. He leans back, looks up from my chart and asks me point blank "So why are you depressed?" Well, I.. it's because... well actually i'm not really... a few weeks ago you see... well...you know, I think it's just an ongoing thing... um...can I have some water... (Do you have to look at me like that? is what I really wanted to say) "I see", he says again.
Nikolai asks me a few more questions about my digestion and other body functions. "I will talk to my supervisor and will be right back. Sit on the table and relax". So I sit on the massage table and try to relax as best as I can as instructed. How bad can it be I say to myself. This is the ACTCM, not some eastern Soviet block hospital. They're all about flowing Chi and herbs around here.
Nikolai returns and informs me "I will give you massage for your shoulder and then we will do the needles after. Please take off your shirt, use this blanket, then lay down and I will be right back." Okee dokee. Well, I've never had to take my shirt off here. But, i'm sure it will be fine.
So I do as instructed and lay face down on the massage table, feeling rather vulnerable. I decide to concentrate on breathing.
Acupressure and Tui Na
"Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago, using the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. When these acupressure points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body's life force energy to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points and meridians, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses gentle but firm pressure and integrates bodywork therapies, therapeutic touch, somatic work, healing imagery, energy psychology, and massage therapy techniques."
"To those who've experienced both acupressure and Shiatsu, a Tui Na session may seem like a cross between the two. Like Shiatsu, Tui Na uses rhythmic compression along energy channels of the body, as well as a variety of techniques that manipulate and lubricate the joints. Like acupressure, Tui Na directly affects the flow of energy by holding and pressing the body at acupressure points.
"One of Tui Na's advantages over simple massage is its ability to focus on specific problems, especially chronic pain associated with the muscles, joints, and skeletal system. It's especially effective for joint pain (such as arthritis), sciatica, muscle spasms, and pain in the back, neck, and shoulders. It also helps chronic conditions such as insomnia, constipation, headaches (including migraines), and the tension associated with stress.
"Tui Na does not simply work on the muscles, bones, and joints. It works with the energy of the body at a deeper level. As the practitioner senses the client's body with her hands, she is able to assess the distribution of energy and affect its flow."
"Is there pain here?" Nikolai asks me as he presses on a point on my arm. Yes, ouch! What is that? He works quietly, quickly and efficiently. "Here's another one, yes?" He's working on a few points on my lower back. Yes. "Is there pain here" he asks as he presses on a point on my ear. Ya, a lot! "That is your shoulder" he explains.
After what seems like more than half an hour i'm feeling extremely relaxed. Nikolai applies the needles, and leaves me for another 30 minutes. I close my eyes and let the visions come as they may. The images I've seen during these acupuncture sessions vary and are often dreamlike - they vanish like clouds as soon as I open my eyes. Except once, there was a startingly clear vision of a woman in white, laughing and happy. I was completely mezmerized by her. When the session was over I was still astounded by what I saw. I often wonder if I made her up, a vision conjured by my imagination. This time, there was no laughing woman. I keep seeing a verdant mountain range, and someone is telling me I'm supposed to go and travel through it for some reason. Time passes and I'm just looking up at this thing, wondering how i'm supposed to go through.
A few moments before Nikolai returns I suddenly open my eyes, brought back to the dark room, aware of needles on my ears and body. I lay there recalling what I saw, wondering what it all means. After he took out the needles, he announced "My schedule is Mondays and Tuesdays. If you want to see me again that is when I'll be here. Have a good day". And with a smile he was out the door. I will have a good day, I say to myself. I feel exponentially relaxed and balanced.
I get dressed and go to my car. It's a clear, breezy blue May day. I'm feeling my Chi flowing as sure as the sun is bright. I put the key in the ignition and turn. Nothing. I try again. The engine coughs. Nothing. Did I leave the lights on? No. I try again. Still nothing. The lights work, the battery's fine, but I am dead in the water (well, in the parking lot). I wonder if they have needles for this thing, I say to myself. Well, it's a good thing I'm relaxed, otherwise, I might be flipping out instead.
So I call the cavalry (my brother, R and KD). The rescue takes all day, but within the time it takes to replace and change my starter, I learn a lot about Col. Serafin Silvestre, his sons, the Philippine-American-Japanese war, and discover that in Maya's opinion, "Madeline and the Bad Hat" is "perfect". All this and I still get to pick up the monkeys in time AND arrive home to cook an early dinner.
The chi is still flowing.
*****
Tunes
"Let's Groove Tonight"
Earth, Wind & Fire
"How is your ankle?" Oh fine, fine... Great in fact! I can walk on it just fine. He asks me to show him where I injured it. I comply and he touches an area right underneath the bone. Ouch! I nearly jump off the chair. Well, I guess it is still a little sore. "I see" he says again. He reads my chart some more. "How is the depression?" Oh that, well, it's on and off. I'm fine today. He leans back, looks up from my chart and asks me point blank "So why are you depressed?" Well, I.. it's because... well actually i'm not really... a few weeks ago you see... well...you know, I think it's just an ongoing thing... um...can I have some water... (Do you have to look at me like that? is what I really wanted to say) "I see", he says again.
Nikolai asks me a few more questions about my digestion and other body functions. "I will talk to my supervisor and will be right back. Sit on the table and relax". So I sit on the massage table and try to relax as best as I can as instructed. How bad can it be I say to myself. This is the ACTCM, not some eastern Soviet block hospital. They're all about flowing Chi and herbs around here.
Nikolai returns and informs me "I will give you massage for your shoulder and then we will do the needles after. Please take off your shirt, use this blanket, then lay down and I will be right back." Okee dokee. Well, I've never had to take my shirt off here. But, i'm sure it will be fine.
So I do as instructed and lay face down on the massage table, feeling rather vulnerable. I decide to concentrate on breathing.
Acupressure and Tui Na
"Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago, using the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. When these acupressure points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body's life force energy to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points and meridians, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses gentle but firm pressure and integrates bodywork therapies, therapeutic touch, somatic work, healing imagery, energy psychology, and massage therapy techniques."
"To those who've experienced both acupressure and Shiatsu, a Tui Na session may seem like a cross between the two. Like Shiatsu, Tui Na uses rhythmic compression along energy channels of the body, as well as a variety of techniques that manipulate and lubricate the joints. Like acupressure, Tui Na directly affects the flow of energy by holding and pressing the body at acupressure points.
"One of Tui Na's advantages over simple massage is its ability to focus on specific problems, especially chronic pain associated with the muscles, joints, and skeletal system. It's especially effective for joint pain (such as arthritis), sciatica, muscle spasms, and pain in the back, neck, and shoulders. It also helps chronic conditions such as insomnia, constipation, headaches (including migraines), and the tension associated with stress.
"Tui Na does not simply work on the muscles, bones, and joints. It works with the energy of the body at a deeper level. As the practitioner senses the client's body with her hands, she is able to assess the distribution of energy and affect its flow."
"Is there pain here?" Nikolai asks me as he presses on a point on my arm. Yes, ouch! What is that? He works quietly, quickly and efficiently. "Here's another one, yes?" He's working on a few points on my lower back. Yes. "Is there pain here" he asks as he presses on a point on my ear. Ya, a lot! "That is your shoulder" he explains.
After what seems like more than half an hour i'm feeling extremely relaxed. Nikolai applies the needles, and leaves me for another 30 minutes. I close my eyes and let the visions come as they may. The images I've seen during these acupuncture sessions vary and are often dreamlike - they vanish like clouds as soon as I open my eyes. Except once, there was a startingly clear vision of a woman in white, laughing and happy. I was completely mezmerized by her. When the session was over I was still astounded by what I saw. I often wonder if I made her up, a vision conjured by my imagination. This time, there was no laughing woman. I keep seeing a verdant mountain range, and someone is telling me I'm supposed to go and travel through it for some reason. Time passes and I'm just looking up at this thing, wondering how i'm supposed to go through.
A few moments before Nikolai returns I suddenly open my eyes, brought back to the dark room, aware of needles on my ears and body. I lay there recalling what I saw, wondering what it all means. After he took out the needles, he announced "My schedule is Mondays and Tuesdays. If you want to see me again that is when I'll be here. Have a good day". And with a smile he was out the door. I will have a good day, I say to myself. I feel exponentially relaxed and balanced.
I get dressed and go to my car. It's a clear, breezy blue May day. I'm feeling my Chi flowing as sure as the sun is bright. I put the key in the ignition and turn. Nothing. I try again. The engine coughs. Nothing. Did I leave the lights on? No. I try again. Still nothing. The lights work, the battery's fine, but I am dead in the water (well, in the parking lot). I wonder if they have needles for this thing, I say to myself. Well, it's a good thing I'm relaxed, otherwise, I might be flipping out instead.
So I call the cavalry (my brother, R and KD). The rescue takes all day, but within the time it takes to replace and change my starter, I learn a lot about Col. Serafin Silvestre, his sons, the Philippine-American-Japanese war, and discover that in Maya's opinion, "Madeline and the Bad Hat" is "perfect". All this and I still get to pick up the monkeys in time AND arrive home to cook an early dinner.
The chi is still flowing.
*****
Tunes
"Let's Groove Tonight"
Earth, Wind & Fire
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