Janie Crick, LMT & Integrative Healer

Introduction: I bet you all are wondering what “Integrative Healing” actually means. Over the past some-odd-years of my life I have picked up an array of healing modalities. In Western Massage, I practice Deep Tissue, Swedish, and Rolfing Techniques to provide a therapeutic and focused massage session. In Eastern Massage, I practice Thai Bodywork, Zen Shiatsu, Cupping, Guah Sha, and Acupressure. I also have training in Traditional Chinese Medicine (which correlate with the same Meridians of Acupuncture), Aromatherapy, Chakra Balancing, Reiki Energy Healing and New Paradigm MDT. Mix them all together and you get me! What can you expect in a typical session? This is what a typical session may look like with the Integrative Modalities: 10-15 Minute In-take of what’s going on. This is where we discuss any physical ailments as well as emotional, mental, and spiritual stagnations that you may be experiencing in your day-to-day life. I am a firm believer that healing is based in all of our realms of Mind-Body-Spirit. In this interview, we talk about anything and everything. If it feels relevant to you, then it is relevant to me. A common question I like to ask during our in-take may be “How do you feel in your body today?” or “How has your sleep been in the past week?” Discussion of Treatment. I really enjoy the element of education in my sessions. This is the part of our session where we discuss where our treatment may go based on information observed in our In-Take. There are many different Meridians that may have stagnation based on specific areas of pain, specific emotions affiliated with that pain and even elements of Feminine/Masculine and Yin/Yang energy. For example, the Small Intestine Meridian (or channel) correlates with the actual function of the Small Intestine organ. This Channel is located on the back of the arm and runs over the shoulder blades bilaterally, up the neck and infront of the ear. The function of the Small Intestine is to sort. It decides the nutrients (of food) we want to keep in our body, and the waste we want to move out. This channel can have stagnation if you are in a place in your life that needs some sorting. “What do I need to keep, and what do I need to get rid of?” When we discuss this educational element of what may be going on in your body, it gives you an opportunity to reflect on the different aspects of your life that may correlate with these functions. I will also give you a step-by-step introduction of what we will be focusing on in our session. The Integrated Session. This is the part where the healing happens. My sessions aren’t like the typical massage that you may receive at a Spa or Massage Envy. These customized sessions focus on the treatment that is best for YOU today. Because these sessions are customized, No session will ever be alike. Why? It’s just the same as how we practice yoga. Our Tree Pose on the right side may feel completely different from our Tree Pose on the left side. It also may feel completely different today than it did yesterday. This is because we are ever-changing beings. I feel that your sessions should be ever-changing as well. You may have Essential oils this session, a Sound Meditation next session, or even a practice of PNF stretching geared towards Sports Massage. After the session. One of the most important elements of healing is reflection. This allows the mind to understand and process what has happened in the body/spirit/mind/etc. A few bits of homework that I like to suggest are: Drink lots of water. As we get things moving in our body, it is important to keep our muscles hydrated for continued healing. Journaling. It is important to do this within the next 12-hours of your session. Write down anything and everything that comes to mind after your session. How you feel in your body/What emotions you may be feeling/A memory of someone you haven’t thought of in a while. There are no coincidences in healing. Everything that comes up plays an important part in the things we need to release and the energies we want to manifest. Reschedule. While this may sound typical of any bodyworker wanting to maintain clients, I also want to empower you to maintain progress. If you are interested in booking multiple sessions at a time, I have set up Session Packages for clients get more bang for their buck while also maintaining a consistent schedule of sessions. You can see these packages on my website. And Finally, Practice Gratitude. One of my favorite yoga teachers once told me this, “Yoga doesn’t always make you feel good, but it will always make you feel.” OH! HOW THIS RESONATED WITH ME! I’d like to add a little on to that quote. Gratitude is the key that turns problems into blessings, and the unexpected into gifts. It’s important to get in the habit of saying thank you, even for the “problems” in our lives, because these challenges are valuable lessons we can learn from. Sometimes sessions can be frustrating because they bring up vulnerability from a number of areas in our life. You may get angry with yourself for a “lack of progress” or even for an injury that doesn’t seem to heal. Be gentle with yourself and practice gratitude for where you are. Healing doesn’t always make you feel good, but it will always make you feel. Have gratitude for wherever you are in your healing process. Be gentle with yourself I am most excited to work with a client who is interested in their own wellbeing. Clients who show up on time and eager to learn and heal themselves. I also really enjoy that each client I work with is different meaning that each massage I give is tailored to you! How awesome!