 Folks, it’s that time again and we’re back with the next instalment of our interview series with our marvellous Massage Therapy team. This go round, the spotlight is on our Neighbourhood Massage’s own Kim Hartford, who has been in practice as an RMT for 25 years, is a longstanding member of our team with a very loyal fan base. When Kim is not busy helping her clients feel better, she’s likely to be found adjudicating the registration exams for the newest crop Registered Massage Therapists at the CMTO, spending time with her family, or behind her camera capturing as many beautiful images as she can. Now here’s our Kim… -- What is the most rewarding aspect of working as a RMT? The most challenging? The most rewarding aspect of being a massage therapist is having someone arrive at the clinic completely frazzled from life’s stresses and pains, and realizing when they leave that I have been able to rid them of those issues, if only for a little while. The most challenging thing is the physical aspect. I have been in practice for twenty five years now, and for the last few years it has become more difficult to keep my own muscular ailments in check. I need to listen to my own advice about massage, exercising, getting enough rest and eating right. What drew you to the profession and what keeps you in it? Growing up I spent my days in the gym, which led to me studying Kinesiology at the University of Windsor. While there I volunteered at a physiotherapy clinic monitoring the various therapeutic machines used to help the athletes get back on track. Luckily, I also ended up taking a course that dealt with Athletic injuries and various ways to treat them. This was my first experience with learning about massage. I quickly realized I enjoyed the hands on approach to treating injuries as opposed to using machines. With massage therapy in addition to treating the injury, you also treat any and all areas of discomfort resulting from the body’s attempts to compensate for the pain from the injury site itself. I believe you should treat the body as a unit, because one area can’t function well on its own. Massage therapy allows me to treat my clients holistically – mind and body. Knowing that I’ve helped my clients by relieving their pain, improving their mobility and making them feel better overall, is what keeps me in the business. What unique skills do you bring to the team at Neighbourhood Massage? What would you say is your area of expertise in your practice as a therapist? Having a Kinesiology degree gives me greater understanding of how the body functions and which areas to target when various conditions are presented to me. I have also taken courses in Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue Neuromuscular Therapy and Craniosacral Therapy, which gives me a variety of techniques to draw on when treating clients. No two clients are ever the same, so being able to adapt treatments to address each client’s specific needs is important to my work. Over the course of my career, I have developed the ability to read the muscles and work at the level each individual needs. Deep tissue and Sports Massage are my areas of expertise, though I also work well with younger children because of my experience with my own kids. Staying active and being proactive about your healthcare will go along way to maintaining a high quality of life as you age. Kim Hartford, RMT What is the most common complaint your clients come in with and how do you help them deal with it?
I would say the most common ailments my clients come in with are upper back and neck pain. By combining deep tissue massage, fascial release, stretching, and low grade joint play of the shoulder blade and spinal segments, I’m able to reduce pain and restriction in these areas. For years I’ve been telling my clients to set an alarm on their computers to remind them to step away from their desk every hour or so, and now the research is backing me up. Our bodies are meant to move and recent studies show that sitting all day can really be detrimental to your health. The decrease in circulation that occurs with long bouts of sitting greatly increases the risk of developing a multitude of physical ailments. Anyone who works at a desk needs to make sure their work station is configured ergonomically and vigilantly watch their posture, to reduce the stress on their body. Finally, I always stress the importance of exercising regularly to my clients, even if its just going for a long walk and stretching afterwards. If you’re not living an active lifestyle, you really need to figure out what type of exercise works for you, so you are more likely to get moving and stick with it. What is the one piece of advice you wish all your clients would follow consistently to improve their overall health and well-being? How good are you at following your own advice? As I said before, always keep moving! Movement is essential for our bodies to function properly as we age. Take my father-in-law for example. He lived an active lifestyle until he was 90 years old, exercising every day to keep his joints moving so that he could ultimately do the activity he enjoyed most – golf. He also acted quickly, getting treatment for any aches or pains that arose right away, so he could get back to the golf course sooner. I try to keep active and give myself a break when I occasionally lose my way. Life gets busy sometimes and I know I will get back to it eventually. -- Kim can be found at the clinic Tuesdays 11:30am until 7pm, Wednesdays & Fridays 10am to 4pm, and Thursdays 10am to 1:30 pm.
1 Comment
 Those of you who’ve been our loyal fans for a long while now will definitely be familiar with Esperanza Pabon. Her warm, friendly demeanour and skillful hands make her one of most popular therapists at our clinic (as anyone who’s ever tried to book an evening or weekend appointment with her at the last minute can easily attest to). Esperanza’s specialties include Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue massage, and Thermal Palms treatments, as well as providing her clients with massages that are both holistic, and physically healing. But enough of the preamble. Without further ado, I give you Ms. Esperanza Pabon… What is the most rewarding aspect of working as an RMT? The most challenging? I love the fact that my clients come in feeling uncomfortable and stressed, and always leave feeling better. It’s great to know that an hour or so spent with me really boosts their mood and decreases the discomfort they feel. On the flip side, I really enjoy my work, so the most challenging thing for me is that as time goes on I feel the limitations of my own body more and more each day. Being an RMT is definitely hard on the body. What drew you to the profession and what keeps you in it? I’ve always enjoyed helping people so finding a profession that allowed me to do that was important to me. Knowing that I help others to get relief from their pain and generally have a better, more relaxing day makes me feel good. Also, having the independence to create my own schedule is a big bonus. What unique skills do you bring to the team at Neighbourhood Massage? What would you say is your area of expertise in your practice as a therapist? I’ve been in practice for 15 years now, and during that time, in addition to being able to create great rapport with my clients to make them feel comfortable, I’ve developed my ability to discern each client's unique needs. Now I’m pretty adept at figuring out what massage techniques and pressure will work best for the conditions my clients present with. As far as my unique skills, I’m the only RMT at the clinic who is certified in Thermal Palms Massage, which is a great alternative to Hot Stone treatments. During a treatment with Thermal Palms I use heated soft hand-held sachets, that mold and contour to the body really well, to perform the massage. As with Hot Stones, the added heat helps to alleviate chronic muscle tension and induce deep relaxation. Don’t wait until the last minute, when you are in extreme pain or discomfort, to see your massage therapist. Be proactive about your health and well-being by establishing a consistent self-care regimen including: regular exercise, getting enough sleep and taking time out to get the treatment your body needs well before aches and pains set in. Esperanza Pabon, RMT What is the most common complaint your clients come in with and how do you help them deal with it?
Pain in their shoulders, neck and lower back due to long hours spent behind a desk in front of computer is the most common complaint people come in with. To ease their discomfort, I focus my massage on the main area of complaint, and then integrate the rest of body into the treatment. This helps to make my clients more aware of where the pain starts and ways in which it can spread throughout their body. Generally, I advise my clients to be mindful of their bodies – specifically their posture and any build up of tension in their muscles – while working. I also constantly remind them to stretch daily, and to use cold or hot hydrotherapy as needed. And in cases where their symptoms persist, I always encourage them to seek treatment from other alternative healthcare practitioners like chiropractors, physiotherapists and osteopaths if their symptoms persist. Name up to three things you believe/know your most loyal clients keep coming back to you for? My clients keep coming back to see me because they know they’ll consistently get a great massage, and because I always take the time give them tips to prevent or minimize their pain or discomfort so they can take charge of their own health. But more importantly, I think my listening skills, approachability, and positive outlook really make my clients feel at home. Esperanza is available on Tuesdays 100-700pm, Wednesdays 400-700pm, Thursdays 200-600pm, Fridays 100-600pm and 1000-400on the last Sunday of each month.  Hot Stone Massage is a therapeutic massage modality that incorporates the use of stones with traditional massage technique. Typically Basalt stones, of varying size and shape, are warmed in sanitizing water and used for this remarkably soothing treatment. These smooth volcanic rocks have a high iron content, enabling them to conduct and retain heat well.
Every Hot Stone Massage begins with the therapist warming up the client’s body with Swedish Massage strokes. Stones are then placed on points along the spine, and used to massage the muscles and soft tissues of the body. As each stone cools, the therapist replaces it with another warm one. Changing stones frequently throughout the massage to maintain the level of heat, allows the therapist to readily access deeper layers of tissue, maximizing the tension relief and sense of calm the client experiences. The Benefits of Hot Stone Massage There is an ever-growing body of research that confirms the positive effects of massage on the cardiovascular, lymphatic, integumentary (including fascia), musculoskeletal, endocrine, nervous and digestive systems. Adding Hot Stones to traditional Massage Therapy treatments enhances those benefits by:
Is Hot Stone Massage Right for Me? If you've been thinking about booking a Hot Stone Massage, but are unsure if it's right for you, consider the following. This type of treatment is recommended for individuals who:
Hot Stone Massage is NOT recommended for:
N.B. The list above is not comprehensive. It is important to inform your therapist about any medical conditions you have, to determine if Hot Stone work is safe for you. Tips to Optimize Your Hot Stone Massage Experience: Though Hot Stone Massages are definitely therapeutic, the added cost of the treatment may make it seem like an indulgent luxury to some. With that in mind, follow the tips below to get the most out of your Hot Stone Massage session.
Hot Stone Massage treatments are provided by Beverly, Kim H. and Bisa at Neighbourhood Massage Therapy. |
Your Friendly Neighbourhood RMTWe love providing massage therapy to the best 'hood in Toronto! Archives
July 2016
Categories |
RSS Feed
