I’ve learned so much more about massage theory and home benefits since my last posts. I can’t wait to share. Well, here’s to my new commitment!

Also, let me know if you have any topics you want me to cover. You can just drop a comment below.

More blogs around the bend!

I caught my first parade already, and saw Bourbon street for the first time since college. I can’t tell if it’s more wild now or then.

Yes, I flashed!! You have to do it once in New Orleans. LOL I think it’s the breast city in the world for that.

But I will tell you what, I also had the most amazing four hand massage of my entire life.

It was totally unplanned. My girlfriend Jill arranged for a birthday massage surprise at the Ritz Carlton spa. (what else could you give the “massage chick!”

I am not sure what made it so special but I will try to explain. The male massause started with my legs as I laid on my back. I asked for a hot towel in the right places instead of a sheet–my favorite– and they complied. The female massage therapist worked my neck, chest and arms. She also did my fingers with a special twist that felt amazingly sensual, almost a white good magic.

There was a mint massage oil, and when they got to my back, they worked on my legs, butt, and lower back at the time in almost the same spot. Usually four hands are not in the same area, but this massage worked great!

Ok time for thw spa pool at the hotel and bed.

Love ya dear, readers. Go massage a friend today!

Tell me where to go in New Orleans this weekend too!

I’ll have to keep that in mind for future postings. ;-)

Does anyone care to comment on what massage article they’d most like to read about? You name it, I’ll (probably) write it!

The tricky part can be getting permission. She didn’t want to suggest people call for an external therapist without a doctor’s knowledge, but she admitted to treating a few cancer patients against hospital mandates. Insurance concerns can be guiding factors in such cases when they shouldn’t be, she said. Hospitals can be worried they increase liability by agreeing to a non-medical procedure by a provider unknown to them.

Several hospital massage therapy patients of hers said nurses turned their heads to allow therapy for patients in their room. Of course in these cases a mobile massage table isn’t used, but most hospital beds work ok for massage.

Massage for hospitalized patients should be standard. It helps people relax, lowers blood pressure in many cases, and for those bed ridden or in pain, it can offer temporary relief.

Here are 10 Tips for Hospital Massage:

1) ask your doctor or nurse if massage could cause any problems given your healthcare situation.

2) if staff go so far as to say that massage could help, see if they will prescribe it and if your insurance will cover it. This could save you a bundle.

The following suggestions assume you are healthy enough for massage:

3) look for a state certified therapist;

4) ask hospital staff for a reccomendation for a therapist who visits that hospital;

5) look for a therapist who focusses on therapeutic massage more than relaxing or more aggresive techniques;

6) call therapists in the area and ask if they make outcalls and/or visit hospitals;

7) ask therapists for a good hospital massage therapist if they don’t offer this service, as they tend to know others in their field;

8) call the state massage association for a hospital massage recommendation;

9) consider calling a nursing home for elderly, as they tend to know the type of therapist who also work in hospitals;

10) enjoy your massage from your hospital room by asking for privacy and having a friend or family member to stand guard by the door.

To Her Coy Massage Table

O Little Table of Bethesda
How Many People Rested On Thee
How Many People You Have Supported

For Four Score and Even Some Four Hands Ago
You Were the One They Came to See, Not Me
Your Sturdy Wooden Legs Held Their Weight
Busy Days Would Melt Away

You Held Them Up Through
Wedding Planning Mishaps
New Jobs
Lost Jobs
Divorces
Sickness
and even a (smart rare) few just for health

There was that big man—do you remember the one?
His legs and his (arse might we say) rolled right off your sides
I really worried about you that day little table
I also worried I didn’t have insurance

Then there was the model and the actress
And Two Actors too!
Oh wouldn’t you like to know who!
I swore no names though
No complaining those nights
And I think I enjoyed those almost as much as you

Eick, and There Was the Time I lost You
You Wondered All the Way Down to the Beltway
I offered the cab driver a free massage just to bring you back
He declined until he saw you filled his truck
And then he declined anyhow

And then the stairs at the hotel!
Yikes.
Mobile massage tables like you
Were NOT meant to tumble down mile high Stairs

Well, we made it through that day, me and you
She even tipped us well , “my love” – I think she meant you
It was the new massage cushions
Nothing like some padding in the right places, lovey

And that college boy
On my Oh my Oh my
He wasn’t the only one to lift your covers just so
But he was the hardest one to miss
You were such a professional massage table that day, or two, or three
You never rubbed him the wrong way
The problem was I wouldn’t rub him the “right way”

Sigh Sigh

Funny thing was who followed that boy that day
A nun, don’t you remember?
You held a nun in all her birthday glory
I wasn’t sure to laugh or shriek as
The pendulum swung back and forth that day

So many stories, so many lives
You did your job well
For $196.45 plus tax and shipping
You earned me a living well
Four long years, days and nights.

I will miss you my first massage table
But on second thought, I will not
When you broke, you snapped
You crushed my foot, my toes, nails
All with the weight of that old Sap!!!

May You Rest in Pieces,
And to each piece, a thousand years to rot

I’ve got a new table now,
Shiny and strong
And on this one, the years run long

The foot work then moved to body work. (I wish I could have done a massage video of this dream–it’d fly off of YouTube, for sure.) Yes, OK, this therapist was pretty hot–but a girl can dream –RIGHT!

There were lavender and peppermint massage oils, essential oils added to regular oils for the non-initiated.

This sort of felt like one of those massage parlors, but then the ceiling to the room opened, and I saw an autumn sky. The clouds swirled as my breast massage began. (Ahem, yes, I think that came from my recent breast massage posting.)

I ended with a neck massage and a warm wash clothe being laid over my mid section.

Ahh, what a way to wake up, I must say. Tomorrow, I’m getting a massage appointment for certain, though I’m sure it will be a bit more tame.

Has anyone else had dreams of massage? Is this common AT ALLL? Do tell if so.

If massage can help musicians perform better, it can help about everyone perform better as they play out their daily lives.

We live in such hectic and stressful times that most of us forget to take time to love ourselves, care for ourselves. Massage, with all of the wonderful scents and feels of the many massage oils and the touch of the therapist’s hands, is a luxurious experience, sure. However, it’s also a very loving experience–loving of one’s self to slow down and feel the roses.

Valentine’s Day approaches. Maybe it’d be good to not only give a massage but get a massage for yourself!

The company is membership based and offers massage to members for about $40 an hour.

In 2006, the company reported a plan to open 10 locations. Currently, more locations are planned for the Dallas Ft Worth area.

The company seeks to have more than 1,500 location within four years.

Perhaps the stress of a depression might work in their favor….affordable ways to relax will definitely be in demand.

For more information, visit www.massageheights.com.