Life As a Massage Student Isn't Just About Studying!

Well I know my last few posts have been serious ones or insightful so I decided to lighten it up a bit...

...Top 3 places to eat so far:
3)Islands Burgers-great, unique food! :) Reminds me of Jimmy Buffets Cheeseburger in Paradise Restaurant
2)VG Burgers-go for lunch and expect all vegetarian choices...really yum! :) They also have great baked french fries
1)Sunflower Restaurant-go for lunch because the menu changes and becomes WAY more expensive for dinner!


Top 3 places I frequent:
3)Pearl Street! This IS downtown...restaurants, bars, and shops!
2)Gunbarrel Athletic Club -- this is where I stay strong and get sexy!
1)BCMT! :)

The picture is of Kayla (another massage student) and I on pearl street waiting on some friends! :)

Healing

"A real healer can heal because he has done, and continues to do, his own work. He works with his own health or lack of it. He is honest with himself and he is honest with others. His healing is not a bag of tricks or pills, but a collection of awareness techniques and supportive stances. He attains these through study -- both of his healing modality and of his own life. He attains healing status by maintaining his inner life and his healing practice."

Last week I had a full week of classes and have already learned so much! I feel like I am getting to know myself and am learning how to become more in-tune with what I want v. what I think I want. In Zen Shiatsu I am learning how to center myself through meditation, breathing, and taking care of my priorities. I have never fully learned to or taken the time to unify myself physically, spiritually, and mentally (looking inward). It is hard to train your mind to be quiet and to be an observer rather than a chattering "monkey mind" but I am slowly forcing myself to listen to myself.

So far, I have met some great people in my classes and outside of my classes. By focusing more on choosing positive, motivating people to surround me, I am finding it easier to listen to my wants and needs. Boulder is a great place but I am also finding that whether I am in Boulder, CO or Northern, VA, people are people. Some people are great friends and conversationalists. Some people care about me and others care more for themselves. Some people are goal oriented and others are still finding out the path to take. By listening to my needs and wants and by continuing to meet and surround myself with people who I know are positive, I am learning more.

This past week was hard in many ways. I realized that some people who I thought were friends, really weren't. I learned that I have to stand up for myself and make sure that I am not viewed as someone who is willing to be taken advantage of or mistreated. I also learned to be on-time for those people and places that mean something to me.

As the new week begins I am going to try to continue to focus more on my physical, spiritual, and mental self so that I can continue to improve in massage school and improve in my life.

Zen Shiatsu

As my first modality I am in Zen Shiatsu. Zen Shiatsu is a Japanese form of bodywork based on traditional Chinese medicine that focuses on the internal flow of energy in the body. The first class was a basic overview but on Monday we actually practiced palming on each other. One of my best friends or closest classmates so far is Adam. He's this great, energetic person from NY. There are 15 others that are basically in all of my classes this quarter. I am sure I will become close with almost everyone since we are such a small group and we are always with each other. One of my roommates, Sarah, is also in two of my classes and one of my study groups so that's great because she has been through two of the classes in the program already so we can work together and do well! It's so exciting to actually be beginning school again. It's more hands-on and intense than undergraduate school.


Hito is the Japanese character for human being (maybe a next tattoo for me?!) -- It represents how, as human beings, we need each other for support. We are all interdependent. We utilize Hito in shiatsu through our technique of using our relaxed body weight to lean on our client. Our client holds us up.

"Wei Wu Wei" = "Effortless Effort"

Namaste

I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides.
I honor the place in you where lies your love, your life, your truth, your uniqueness and your peace.

I honor the place within you where if you are in that place within you, and I am in that place in me, there is only One of us.

Living the Boulder Life

I apologize for not updating this any sooner but I have a very old laptop that isn't able to be hooked up with my home internet yet and my roommate (who I was "borrowing" a computer from came back home). So far, I've been keeping myself busy, meeting new people, and exploring my surroundings. I love it!

Since there's so much that has happened since arriving to Boulder, CO, I will try to break it down into categories/events.

New Years Eve:
Adrienne and Brennan (friends from Northern, VA) happened to be in CO over the holidays and we decided to meet in Denver, CO for New Years. I was so thankful because otherwise I'd probably be drinking champagne by myself and passing out before midnight! We took the RTD in from where they were staying and went to the 16th Street mall area. It was crowded and people were so excited for a new year it was contagious! We walked around, drank in the street and then found a fun college bar at the end of 16th. I met some people there that were very nice but this one guy I met wouldn't leave me alone so eventually Adrienne had to get in the way and although he still didn't seem to get the point, he was forced to! ;) I also met some other people, that hopefully I will keep in touch with and meet again. At midnight, there were fireworks and it was so beautiful!

The Friday After:
There was an event that is held in Denver the first Friday of every month at a club called Tracks. I convinced Adrienne to go with this new friend and her friends, and I. There were over 1,500 females and it was such a huge event! Beforehand I went to a bar called HamburgerMary's with them and we saw a really funny drag show! I danced, and drank, and was very merry!

The Next Day:
I woke up, was putting my id/cc back into my wallet and noticed that my debit card was missing!!!!!! Immediately, I called the CC company and then they figured out that someone actually stole the card and get this, bought $13 worth of Burger King (of all things) on it! On a side note, my parents will prob. just be figuring this out but everything is fine now. I learned to REALLY be aware of where all my belongings are for the future! GRR!

Gym and Tanning:
I found an awesome, local, small gym in Gunbarrel (my neighborhood) that had this great offer for 20 workouts for $20. I've been going everyday and feel great! I think since I don't know anyone at the gym and I feel great I've been pushing myself even harder and really feel like I worked hard after each session! I also joined their tanning deal too and love me some color! ;)

Roommates:
Cara and Sarah have been great so far. We are all so different but I think and hope it will work out. Last night we watched some Sex and the City and then were all craving mexican so we hopped in my car and got some margarita's and guac! I'm sure I will have some juicy roommate stories to come!

So life has been good. I miss some people from home and still think of everyone! The weather here is great...50-60 degrees in the day and sunny! By 4 p.m. though, the wind picks up and it's really hard to even walk without feeling like you will be blown away!

I start my first day of classes this Friday! I'm very excited and already have my books and schedule so I'm ready! My goal is to be an honor student (3.9 or above) so it will be hard work and will require dedication but I can do it!