kristina's corner

So, this morning I hopped on-line to finish some work before going in to the office and I ended up following a rabbit trail of controversy. Controversy about my beloved field of massage!

Some of you sent me copies of last week's article about massage and inflammation (thanks!) and today I found a blistering article basically tearing the original study apart. (Click around on the site and see what you think.)  

I have to admit being a little sad and defensive that someone would have such passionate vehemence against my career and colleagues. I suppose it was a bit of an eye-opener to see that some people in the medical community still see massage therapists as "quacks" and would actually mention "happy endings." But, also, a little controversy is good to get the wheels turning.

Most of us who choose to commit to therapeutic massage as a career genuinely want to help people; and we rely on our training and ever-better research to continually hone our skills so that we may do so most effectively.  I have been ridiculed for saying this, but I would love some sort of Masters track for massage (and maybe even a PhD program) (it doesn't have to be "traditional"). I see great value in quality education.


Furthermore, I look forward to more research about the best ways massage benefits us and, conversely, genuinely want to know when massage will be ineffective. We all know that massage can't fix everything so let's keep exploring and get great at what it can do.

Ok, though, I have to admit, if a valid research study concluded that "massage is the answer! it cures all ills!," I would be thrilled!

kristina's corner

Enjoy these final days of the year, with the days of celebration and the changing of the seasons.

I hope you feel profound gratitude, share lots of love, and know boundless joy!

kristina's corner

Why do we always pin the metaphors of sadness and distress on rain? Why does the darkening of the sky elicit negativity instead of happiness?  Does the storm cloud not bring vital water to quench and replenish?


Perhaps we should dance, happy, in the rain. Perhaps our songs of rain should give praise. Perhaps we should seek out rainbows.


While I chose the name Nimbus primarily for it's connotation of a person's glow or aura, which massage helps enhance towards the positive, it does carry another meaning of the clouds. Occasionally someone will look at me and say "don't you know that's a storm cloud?" Technically, it is the uniform, grey covering cloud (which may or may not bring rain), and I have always liked this as part of its meaning. 


Grey happens, rain happens- we are the ones who choose whether we associate it with the negative or the positive- or simply as part of life.  A nimbus is, very basically, an atmosphere-and, light or grey, we each have our own little morphing patterns. And while I love bringing a little more "light" into someone's atmosphere; I really only get to facilitate. Ultimately, we all call our own "light!"

kristina's corner

About a half-an-hour in to washing the blinds from the studio, wet and cursing the fact that I had ever undertaken this endeavor, because who's even going to notice, another idea dawned on me. Stewardship.


Suddenly, I felt like a caretaker lovingly tending to the details of something I care about. Because taking care of the things we find important, is important. 


Perhaps the blinds themselves are not all-important, but they make part of a whole.  A detail of the tableau, working with the rest of the elements to create a scene. And the room's comfort and appeal are important to me because they inform your experience.


And performing the little "chores" to keep it pleasant and relaxing are easy ways for me to impart the energy of care into our space. It's why we have Spring Cleaning.


Now, I almost feel ready to tackle the office!

kristina's corner

Define your success.


As we move through life, many of us strive toward a picture of success learned at an early age. Hopefully, from time to time, we stop to examine our ideal of success and reassess our ever-changing goals. The epitome of a life well-lived at 20 may not add up to the same set of "must-haves" at 50, or 90.


Knowing your true definition of success and why you have defined it so, will steer your thoughts and actions ever towards your goal.


Do you seek enlightenment, happiness, financial freedom, adventure, a happy family...? Do you feel like you already walk this path? What would you need to change to attain it? Can you allow for life's surprises along the way? Why does this weigh in your soul?


As I pondered this for myself, I realized that I feel very successful right now. But not based on (our) society's definition of success, or even what I thought of as success five years ago. In a few more years, things will probably change again...


But for now, I will enjoy it while I feel it.

kristina's corner

After month's of threatening, I finally booked my appointment with Rob for a Past-Life Regression session. I found the experience intriguing and would be happy to answer any questions about it.

After the session, we discussed how part of the process involves opening yourself to a lesson or message from Spirit that has some bearing on your life.

"My spirits," I said, "laugh at me a lot.... Oh, and they like dancing."

I thought this sounded silly, but Rob didn't miss a beat. He shared how he has learned that part of our so-called "mission on Earth" is to have fun. To enjoy the corporeal. To not take ourselves too seriously.

This feels to me like truth.

I came home that night, put on the radio, and danced around the living room. Much to the amusement of my husband. I had lost touch with how much fun it was to just goof off.

So, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go find something silly to enjoy! 

(And, if you're brave, post it here in a comment, on my Facebook page, or e-mail it to me and I might add it as a guest spot on the newsletter.)

kristina's corner

This month, I just want to say "thank you."


You guys make me happy to get up and come to work each day.  I love getting to know you and working with you to help you with your wellness goals.  It really means a lot to me to have such wonderful clients.


Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

kristina's corner

I love to travel and, two weeks ago, I got to vacate for the first time in a couple of years.  What a great chance to leave it all behind, reset, and explore some new scenery! The destination?  Portland, Oregon and environs.  


But, as we all know- it's the journey, not the destination.  


We hiked among and behind cascading waterfalls, drove over the snowy mountain passes and into the desert sunset, and enjoyed the good food and drink of the Pacific Northwest.  It was a trip of wildflowers and stones, sun and storm, breathtaking views and wrong turns-- all fantastic.


I have luckily had the opportunity to travel occasionally over the years.  A gift from my family early on that has grown into a fulfilling and enriching part of my life.  For those of you who haven't tried it, I encourage you to explore its potential.  Choose a journey and let yourself discover the wonder of a new experience.  (PS- It doesn't always go smoothly, but that's part of the fun!)


For those of you who share my love of the great unknown, I'd love to hear your stories.

kristina's corner

What would you say to your teenage self?


I had the opportunity to address teen-aged students at my high school alma mater yesterday.  Public speaking has ever presented a panic-inducing challenge for me, but after much self Reiki, breath practice, and positive encouragement from my peers, I quieted my nerves enough to go ahead.  First! As a leader! Four times! Whew...


I was put in the Life Journey panel- we were all presenting on how your life path is often winding. And difficult. And full of challenge. And how to try to integrate the negative and learn from it to create positive outcomes.  And ironically (correct usage?) one of our panelists couldn't make it unexpectedly leaving us with only two people to cover forty minutes in one of the presentations.  (We had been told to prepare for five minute presentations.)  As an excellent example of turning a seeming negative into a positive, I turned one of my talking points into a group exercise and my co-presenter and I got out into the group and mingled. At the end we had the best question and answer period our group had all day.  We actually had students rushing up to us at the end to ask us more.


I was completely unprepared for this.


One of the students asked how to handle a downturn if it was "particularly bad." I hope I answered sufficiently well, and I may ask the guidance counselor to follow up, but my head has been spinning ever since with more ! better ! answers to his question.  I don't think I'm going to be able to stop thinking about it until I write it all down.  So, my next little mental project is going to be writing "Letters to my Teenage Self." (I hope its not already taken.) 


What's the first thing?  Perhaps, there will be joy.


I would love to hear your advice to your teenage self.

kristina's corner

Over the years I have taken many personality indices and assessments.  The Myers-Briggs, the Communications Style, a couple of different "color" surveys, I've even explored my archetypes.  Lately it seems that I do not know myself very well.  The last couple I've taken, I have found much difficulty in objectively analyzing myself.


The last one I took, which asked me to circle all the words that described how I acted at work, came out very even on all styles.  The facilitator said that people who came out that even were "gaming the system."  But it got me thinking.


What makes our personality anyway?


I guess people have mused and philosophized about this for millennia, but in turning it on myself I find I wonder.  How much is inner wiring, how much is forced behavior from family and society, how much is image fulfillment, and how much is given in grace?  


The more I think about it, the freer I feel to not be tied down to "who I am."  Because maybe that person has more to it than has been previously allowed to shine.

kristina's corner

Over the past couple of weeks I have been musing on happiness.  Specifically on our public images.  Someone commented on last month's body image entry, that constantly seeing media portrayal of air-brushed beauty can damage our self-image.  It got me thinking while perusing the pages of a fashion magazine, that they send another subliminal message, too.


No one looks happy.  


Vacant, detached, ferocious, dazed, tough, wanton, imperious, ambivalent... no happy.


We hold up these "edgy" looks as iconic desirable states to attain.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to strive to maintain a cool detached demeanor.  A moving manequin of unflappability.  And I don't really like to spend a lot of time with other people like this.


These images suggest a notion strength and invincibility.  But it's much harder to allow yourself vulnerability and trust that you will grow through it and emerge better.  What if the true strength lies in showing a little truth?

kristina's corner

The lights twinkle and glitter around the neighborhood; lighting up the night as the sun leaves us in the moonlit, crisp, chilly air.  These early nights, the harbingers of winter and a new year, bring a kind of quickening-- an excitement of another season to come.  An anticipation as if every wisp of cold breath freed unto the air will return a wish fulfilled as we rotate into 2011.


I love the hope of the future.  The dreams and possibilities.  The idea of positive change and what will come.


This whole season of giving and love and thanking-- of assessing how where we were has led us along the path to where we are, and that's really not so bad--  has a sort of child-like hope behind it.  A collective holding of the breath to see what comes next.  What gift the future, so palpably near, will bring.


Enjoy your gifts this holiday season.  Those you have to give and those you receive.


Be well,
Kristina