Massage Boulder | Jessica Gumkowski, CMT | Colorado Massage Therapy

Massage for Peace touches people in need

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:00:23 +0000

This is a blog post from Teesforchange.com – the gracious folks that helped us start our revolution for peace. This photo is from our first day of training in Dharamsala, India which serendipitously happened to be International Peace Day. A million thank yous to everyone that supported this trip; financially and spiritually. I will go back; for there is more peace and healing touch to share.

by teesblog on July 7, 2010

The Massage for Peace program by the Boulder College of Massage Therapy literally touches hundreds of people each year.

The non-profit massage school helps student share their healing hands with those living with illness, in poverty, and through war and conflict. Each year they offer 10,000 hours of massage free of charge to those who need it most.

As one alumna for the College, Becky Little explains Massage for Peace is “the simple act of reaching out and touching someone. Extending the love, care, and respect that comes from nurturing touch to another human being is a gift that enriches life. The gentle touch of a hand or a reassuring hug reduces fear, anxiety, and loneliness often felt in times of unrest and despair.”

With the average cost of a massage being about $1 per minute, over the last 33 years the school estimates its donation to those in need to be nearly $200,000.

At home, massage therapists from the school each spend about 250 hours per year with patients in prenatal, postpartum, cancer, cardiac, and orthopedic care at Boulder Community Hospital.

Last September, 10 massage therapists travelled to Dharamsala, India to teach massage therapy to Tibetan refugees at Lha Charitable Trust. Many of the refugees they worked with arrived with little aside from the clothes on their backs and the terror of the experiences they escaped. In a letter afterward, the trust’s general manager Ngawang Rabgyal said the skills learned by the refugees will go a long way toward helping them rebuild their confidence, and praised BCMT for its dedication to non violence. This was the seventh trip by students of the school to Dharamsala.

We at Tees for Change are proud that we designed and produced the Massage for Peace t-shirts worn by the massage therapists on their journey and we hope you’ll join us in following their adventures in peace.

If you want to know more about the Massage for Peace trip to India, you can read all about it on the BCMT blog. To donate to Massage for Peace please follow this link.

Acupuncture Pain Clinic – $30 Fridays

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:24:16 +0000

I’ve had ALOT of acupuncture over the last 7 years – treating everything from a deadly virus to soft tissue dysfunction. I’ve always had great success and highly recommend it to others as an option for health care. For me, it’s my ‘go to’. My acupuncturist, Jennifer Six is offering affordable, community style pain clinics on Fridays in Boulder. Her office is just down the street from mine, see information below.

Acupuncture Pain Treatment Clinic* – Community Style (a few tables going at a time)
Every Friday from 12-3
$30/treatment
Walk ins welcome!

Location: Wellness of Boulder
3300 Arapahoe Ave, Suite 215, Boulder

*For pain and injuries only. For internal disorder and ailments please contact Jennifer Six, L.A.c. for a free consultation.

I just received my first prenatal massage!

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:55:29 +0000

I thought that headline would get your attention. No, no, I’m not cooking up a human - pause to let the excitement diminish - I am pursuing my certification to become a Prenatal, Labor and Postpartum (PLPP) massage therapist. Today was the first step to earning this advanced certificate. I am taking Massage for Healthy Pregnancies at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy (BCMT) this weekend. In massage school, your days always end in massage – today was 1 hour prenatal massage trades – lovely work.

As a part of my 1000-hr core massage training at BCMT, I learned the basics of prenatal massage – all the important stuff. But to be honest, when I started my practice, I was scared to death of it. It wasn’t until a client of mine, who was pregnant with her 2nd child said, ‘listen I’m not going to anyone else, you’re treating me through my pregnancy’. Done. Getting me out of my comfort zone is a good place for me to be, that is where I tend to excel.

I decided to embrace prenatal massage, pregnant moms, babies beings ‘to be’ and all the other incredible processes of life that come with it. I started to put the energy out into the world that I was ready to support women who were registered for the biggest athletic event of life. Birthing a baby.

For the last 2 years I have found myself with at least 3-5 prenatal clients at any given time which is a great balance for my business. I always want to be as knowledgeable and skillful as I can be about the types of massage I practice. Earning my certification as a PLPP massage therapist makes sense for me, especially with my orthopedic and sports background; it’s a perfect fit.

The program is 125 hours and consists of four modules and a testing weekend. The courses cover the prenatal, labor and postpartum stages of pregnancy including high risk pregnancies. I hope to finish it by November of this year and yes, I will need a case study mommy.

Massage Boulder client follows passion, launches business

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:38:27 +0000

Soon to be mother of two and client of mine since the beginning, Monika Drake recently launched her photography website – Monika Drake Photography.

Monika has been been passionate about photography her entire life. No matter the occasion, it seems that she had a camera with her at every moment. After the birth of her first child she decided that it was time to follow her passion. She is a natural light photographer who specializes in children, babies, families, high school seniors, couples and maternity.

Monika is a joy and I encourage you to check out her website. I think you’ll agree that her work speaks for itself.

Massage and simple relaxation ease anxiety

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:20:54 +0000

A new study shows that patients who received a series of 10 massages over a period of three months cut their anxiety symptoms almost in half. The same study, published in the journal of Depression and Anxiety, also found that simple relaxation was equally effective. So was wrapping the subject’s arms and legs with heating pads and warm towels. All three treatments took place on a massage table in a room with soft lighting and quiet music. All three groups reported similar decreases in anxiety of more than 40 percent.

Massage, yoga and alternative therapies used to relieve pain

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:38:36 +0000

Found this article on active.com. I hope this helps explain, complementary vs. alternative and the growing bond between these therapies and western medicine when it comes to medical conditions like cancer. – jess

Dr. Michael Adolph
HealthNewsDigest.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When it comes to relieving the nausea, pain and fatigue often associated with cancer treatments, some patients look beyond conventional remedies to alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage and yoga.”And that’s just fine, as long as the patients let their oncologists know what they’re doing, before proceeding,” said Dr. Michael Adolph, a palliative medicine physician at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

“It’s always in the patient’s best interest to let their physicians know what they’re doing, so as to have the best treatment possible,” Adolph said. Complementary and alternative therapies are tools that patients may choose to promote wellness, help control symptoms and take control of what’s happening to them during their cancer experience. But not all complementary therapies can be endorsed for all patients.

Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, while alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Integrative medicine combines mainstream medical therapies with complementary and alternative therapies that have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective.

“The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, such as vitamin and herbal supplements, along with mind-body therapies, and others, has been gaining mainstream popularity in recent years,” Adolph said.

For example, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, established by Congress in 1999 as part of the National Institutes of Health, supports clinical and basic science research projects in CAM, with more than $120 million in funding in 2006. Congress began funding the study and validation of CAM therapies in 1991.

“Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of cancer patients acknowledge practicing some form of CAM at their homes, including meditation, guided imagery, prayer, dietary changes and exercise in an effort to improve their quality of life,” Adolph said.

“Patients report substantial relief, and we support patients in their endeavors to cope and conquer in cancer survivorship,” said Adolph, who specializes in alleviating cancer patients’ pain and other symptoms during and after the entire course of cancer treatment. “We’re here to assist oncologists with any suffering the patients have incurred with the cancer process and treatment.”

“Many patients often are hesitant to discuss alternative methods they’re trying on their own,” Adolph said. Yet good communication between doctor and patient is key to incorporating CAM safely and successfully as part of treatment, he said.

Some herbal supplements can cause unwanted drug interactions, provoke bleeding during procedures or alter the efficacy of certain cancer-fighting drugs such as chemotherapy, Adolph said.

Summer Travel for Moi

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:52:22 +0000

I have a few trips scheduled this summer which ultimately makes scheduling a bit nuts. But hey, these trips represent the well deserved break that I need in order to remain fresh, enthusiastic and energetic for your sessions.

First trip is this month, leaving June 22nd and returning to my practice on July 5th – heading to Idaho to support my husband as he races his 5th Ironman. And yes, my husband gets massage – every week as a matter of fact and we continually manage to keep him an injury free highly functioning zombie during his Ironman prep. This is going to be exciting, I will be updating MB’s facebook page throughout the race!

Next, I will be departing on August 5th for my annual east coast ocean fix and returning to my practice on Tuesday, August 17th. As a Pisces, Rat and water lover this vacation is nothing less than necessary. I plan to visit one of the neighboring islands, shop authentic Cape goods with my mom, love my little nephew Vinnie Louis and eat a ton of seafood (see photo from last year’s visit).

My suggestion is the earlier the better for scheduling and I will do everything I can to accommodate all requests.

Be well all and get your well deserved vacations scheduled too!

We are becoming more compassionate

Fri, 28 May 2010 19:13:28 +0000

I wrote this blog entry today for the BCMT.org blog but wanted to also share it with you – the words of the Dalai Lama are just too powerful not to spread around…

Although I am quite aware of the reality in the world today, I do pride myself on being an optimist and for my true belief in the inherent good within each of us. It’s simple, I was raised this way, for me, I have known no other method for working through life. As an adult I now see how all the twists and turns in life have taken to where I am today. Always focused on furthering the search for my true purpose I continue to follow my path with trust as well as caution.

A piece of this life purpose was revealed to me in the fall of 2009 when I traveled to Dharamsala, India on behalf of BCMT’s Massage for Peace service effort. This trip was nothing less than life changing for myself, my travel mates and the incredible friends that we met along the way. The intent of the group was to teach massage therapy to Tibetan refugees allowing them access to education, a new skill and increased hope for prosperity in their lives. What I found was that in many cases, I was the student. Learning about deep compassion and forgiveness, sincere dedication to truth and enlightened thought. Learning about their spiritual leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and their undying allegiance to him as children of his words. This experience opened my world to this culture, their leader and a beautiful new mindset.

A client of mine recently told me about an interview on the Today Show, I wanted to share that today. I hope that you are as captivated as I was when watching this and I hope you are as optimistic as I am about the future of our world.

Blackberry Scones: Oh my yum!

Wed, 19 May 2010 23:40:27 +0000

Similar to massage, these tasty treats will make you feel good but unlike massage these are an indulgence, not a necessity. In line with all of the cooking I do, I recommend going as organic as you can with these.

Blackberry Scones
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter (I melt and cool = easier)
1 cup fresh blackberries
3/4 cup half and half cream
1 egg

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2) Add butter into mixture of flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add blackberries and toss to mix
3) In separate bowl beat together cream and egg, and slowly pour into dry ingredients stirring with rubber scraper until dough forms. Knead just until it comes together, 3 or 4 times. Don’t overhandle.
4) Divide dough in half. On lightly floured board, shape each half into a 6-inch round. Cut into 6 wedges.
5) I like to sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar on top
6) Bake on ungreased sheet about 20 minutes at 375 degrees (convection oven: 16-17 min).

Serve warm!

Practice Optimism

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:13:23 +0000

An optimist is a person who generally believes that life on earth, people and events are inherently good, so that most situations work out in the end for the best.

My entire life I’ve been told that I am positive and optimistic. I agree I am, but it’s not without effort, conscious choice and lots of letting go. I understand quite well that life is full of challenges but I believe there is a learning experience within each challenge and always good things to take away. I feel that practicing optimism has allowed me to view life in a more balanced manner.

Here are some of the facts, benefits and bonuses I found online regarding optimism:

- Optimists have superior health
in a study of 99 Harvard University students, those who were optimists at age 25 were significantly healthier at ages 45 and 60 than those who were pessimists.

-Optimistic athletes have greater achievement
In a study of competitive swimmers it was found that pessimistic swimmers who were never satisfied with their times, always thinking they should have done better were prone to future poor performance. Optimistic swimmers didn’t have this vulnerability.

- Optimists experience less stress because they believe in themselves and expect good things to happen

- Optimists do not give up as easy as pessimists therefore are more likely to be successful

- Optimists live longer
A study of heart health showed that the heart of an optimist stays healthy longer than those of pessimists.

Practice optimism right now. Here’s a good article to get you started – READ ARTICLE