Once in a while, I get some awesome feedback from regular clients that have had dramatic life changes through my work, this page is dedicated to these letters of Gratitude...
The pain just wouldn’t go away. My back was killing me!
Weeks of seeing a chiropractor showed no signs of improvement, I was losing my mind with all my inactivity, and the medication I had been taking for the past couple months was losing its effect. What must I do?! I was on the verge of giving up – I was at a loss for what to do to get my life back.
I was attending weekly physical therapy sessions to gradually stretch and strengthen my muscles. The sessions were a good first step, but the progress was minimal. I went ahead and purchased a gym membership and set up several sessions with a personal trainer. She exclaimed I was one of the most motivated individuals she had ever worked with … and I was! I even attended the yoga classes on a weekly basis to improve the stretching I was doing on my own. The personnel at the gym facility saw my face nearly every day and I knew everyone there, even the cleaning staff! But as much as I worked out and improved my daily habits, the pain was relentless.
That’s when I met Kristine. As the spa director at the gym, she saw me coming on a regular basis, and could not help but notice my plight. “Have you ever tried massage therapy?” It never occurred to me that I would want to look into massages. She inquired about my situation, and the injuries and pain that I was experiencing. She wasn’t just trying to sell herself of her work, she showed a GENUINE interest. She talked to me about the various types of massages, and how the muscles in the body can spasm and tighten if not given the proper attention. That was precisely my condition! We decided to set up an introductory session for half and hour and then decide what to do afterwards from there.
Naturally I was a nervous wreck going for my first ever massage, but Kristine did a wonderful job in welcoming me, explaining the procedures, and guiding me to relax. And I couldn’t believe how much I needed that massage! Even though it was a half hour session, I felt a VAST improvement on my condition. Kristine also explained to me that even though I was feeling the pain in one location, the cause of the pain could be another location. The body always tries to compensate one part for another part that is injured. All the muscles in the body are interconnected, and all feel the pain. By trying to work on all areas of my body, I felt all the tension that had built up everywhere and realized so much more I have to work on myself. Needless to say, we scheduled an hour long appointment as early as possible.
I am proud to say that from that point on, I have been seeing Kristine on a regular basis. She opened my eyes to a whole new world of therapy via ayurveda and massage. Her kindness and genuine interest in wanting to help people has made her not only my therapist but also my friend. Honestly, it makes my day that much better because I look forward to our session. Our 90-minute sessions have gone from once a week to averaging once a month. And I am EXTREMELY HAPPY to say that the pain is gone. I can participate in the activities that I was left out of for the past year and a half. Even though I am more cautious about it, I can play sports again. I do have my life back … and I have Kristine to thank for it.
Tariq N. July 2009
