Christopher and I were meant to be Massage Therapists. He may have grown up in Phoenixville, PA and I in Tulsa, OK. He grew up in the Borough and I on a farm but, we had some incredibly similar experiences that led us to Massage Therapy and Bodywork.
We both had the experience of hands on care by the way of Osteopathic Manipulation at a young age. Christopher was fortunate to have Osteopathic Physicians as family members. I was fortunate to have Osteopathic Physicians that became close family friends.
It may seem surreal looking back on it however, it makes perfect sense now that I had an Osteopathic Physician teaching me to massage my Mom’s neck and back at by age 7 because of a very bad auto accident she had, and explaining physiology to my by age 11.
I remember telling the Physician once that I tried to fall off the horse right but, my bones didn’t move fast enough to miss that barrel. I was kinda banged up to say the least and only 11 years old. He took the time to explain this to me. He said Bones move where muscle and tissue move them, bones stay were muscle and tissue hold them. Then he had me breathe and he did that incomprehensible, subtle thing that let everything in my body slide back to normal. I do know there is a lot more to this now but, for me to remember this reminds me how an amazing caring Physician can impact one’s life. Maybe this one of the reasons I became a Massage Therapist and not an Osteopathic Physician or Chiropractor?
When I was in high school I recall saying to the Physician “This is better than shots, why don’t you do this all the time?”
He said he would if he could but, it wasn’t always appropriate. He went on to explain that practicing Osteopathic Medicine meant that he needed to do anything and everything in his training to appropriately help people. I think this was my first inkling of passion, commitment and scope of practice.
I remember one of the Physicians moved to a big new fancy office and started taking only insurance in the 60’s. Back then healthcare insurance was an amazing new thing better than sliced bread! The other Physician stayed in his home office only taking cash. They both thought it was the best for them and their patients. One said insurance was the future and the only way anyone would be able to professionally practice medicine. The other said if depended on insurance that he would have to work harder, for less money and not be able to spend as much time helping not as many people. Food for thought during these times of change and the coming affordable healthcare act.
When I graduated Massage School in California 1989 and returned to Oklahoma I had the privilege and honor to do massage for these wonderful two Physicians that took care of me and my family for so many years. I also had the benefit of working with a number of other Physicians; as clients, as a student in their hands on classes and right beside them in the athletic training room at a D1 University.
Chris and I both had excellent training in Massage Therapy & Bodywork. We are absolutely addicted to continuing education and keep going to classes and learning more all the time. Sometimes we just have to stop and recognize where our paths began and how wonderful this shared journey is.
Please remember, we are prepared and committed to fighting your pain with our bare hands, rooted in experience and winged by hope.
Give us a call at 610-906-2322 or book an appointment online at http://www.phoenixville-massage.com/