• March 12 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm  Confirmed
• April 9 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm
• May 7 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm
• June 11 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm
• July 9 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm
• August 6 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm
• September 10 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm
• October 8 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm
• November 12 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm

The following is a list of currently scheduled classes.  This class is a two-day class worth 12 CE hours for Florida massage therapists.  Each class (unless otherwise marked) currently has a status of 'Scheduled'.  This means that a date has been set, but no one has signed up for it yet.  Once a deposit has been received for a class, the status will be 'Confirmed'.  The current schedule is as follows:

• May 14th - May 15th  (Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Sunday 10:00am - 4:00pm)   Confirmed

• August 13th - August 14th  (Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Sunday 10:00am - 4:00pm) 

Note: Check with the hotel for special room rates.  

Body Mechanics and Advanced Techniques for Massage Therapists is designed to reconnect the massage therapist with proper body mechanics and techniques showing how to work without hurting oneself and how to apply deep pressure with little effort.  The class being part lecture, part hands-on practice uses theory, stances, centering, and the proper use of body strength from martial arts and applies them to the art of massage therapy.  Students will learn how to focus their energies and use their body to do deep work with less effort and not get hurt.  This class will help anyone to work deeply with less effort no matter if one is 90 pounds or 250 pounds.  This class is for both the seasoned therapist and the new therapist.  It will show moves everyone is familiar with, but in a new light as well as moves many people may not have seen before (which have been taken from Lomi Lomi, Esalen, and other styles).  The idea is not to dictate how to practice, but to show better body mechanics which the therapist can adapt to what they do.  This is true whether they adapt all of it or just part of it.

During the Reiki 2 class last weekend, we talked about sending energy to others not present (as in distant Reiki).  The students kept asking... how does energy know where to go?  How does someone direct it? 

Energy moves through intent.  One's intention makes energy move (and we're not just talking Reiki).  This is what we are taught.  We learn through visualizations and ideas that we can move energy.  We do this to help others.  Every time we put a hand on someone's shoulder to help calm them, we are actually sending calming energy to them.  Our intent is to calm, and that intent creates the energy and sends it where it needs to go.  Every time we feel an emotion, that is energy and it is broadcast to those around. 

Energy follows our intention.  Healers learn that.  Their intention makes them a better healer by letting people know that they are safe, and that they care.  Whatever we intend is where we send energy.  So...

Energy Flows

Where Intention Goes.

There is something that we want to do.  It could be a task that needs doing, or an improvement that we want to make, maybe even in ourselves.  The questions is... do we get motivated, or do we get inspired?

There are lots of forms of motivation, and they range from the positive to the negative, but mostly, I think we use the negative.  For example, the motivation to put a fountain in the yard would be the nice view and sounds of water moving.  At the same time, motivation to lose weight could be the doctor telling you that you will die in a few months unless you do. 

When we think of motivation, we generally know of some problem or negative occurrence that will happen if we don't do what we are trying to get motivated to do.  Losing weight has its negative health concerns.  Paying bills has its negative financial concerns. 

People who motivate us to do something tend to do so by telling us what will happen if we don't (ask any drill sergeant).  We constantly refer to someone lighting a fire under our backsides to get us going. 

But the world is full of negative consequences.  "Do your job or you'll be fired."  "Practice or you'll lose the competition."  "Wear a helmet or you'll get hurt."  What this does is make us act out of fear.  And while we've heard that fear is a great motivator, isn't there enough fear out there already?  Wouldn't it be better to have a positive reason?  Wouldn't it be better to be inspired? 

Inspiration comes to achieve something positive.  Artists are inspired to create art, not (usually) because they are motivated by money.  That person looking to put a fountain in their yard would be inspired to do so for the pleasure of having something nice and pleasant. 

Those that inspire us do so through positive example and reinforcement rather than threats and warnings.  They make us reach out, to be better, to want change and make that change happen.  They make us rise for the betterment rather than acting out of fear. 

Good teachers inspire students to be better, to get good grades, to learn.  Bad teachers motivate students with fear of failure.  I think everyone has had their share of each.  Those that inspired you made you want to learn the subject as they made it interesting.  Those that didn't taught their subjects in an uninteresting manner and then harped on you to get better grades. 

I was inspired to write this based on a comment from a client.  It was eye opening and profound.  I hope this article came across the same. 

So, what inspires you today?

At Caring Palms, we pledge to do the best work we can at every session.  We not only do this to continue to earn your business, but because we believe that you deserve the best care possible every time you are here.  This is true whether it is massage, or energy work, or classes.  This is our promise.  This is what we will continue to do.