Darren Hutchison, RMT

Over the past year I’ve reached a place where I’d like to expand my business model. I’m healthy and have a great active business, but want to take it to the next level. I really struggled with what to do. What do I add? Where can I improve on what I’m doing already? What new opportunities are there?

I had so many ideas and directions that I’ve wanted to explore, especially for a person like me who not only has a business, but a diverse background in marketing, advertising and business development.

What I realized that was; Yes! Having lots of ideas and ways to express them was good, BUT I needed to focus on ONE thing.
All my ideas and needing to explore them all, “Right Now” was holding me back and keeping me stuck in a place where I felt overwhelmed all the time.

To try and take every idea you’ve ever had and make them into some semblance of a focused business is not an easy task. I found the only way I could get anywhere, was to let a lot of stuff go.

Like many entrepreneurs’, I have no end to new ideas; big one’s, small ones, something different, or even something similar or related to what I was already doing. It’s not easy to let ideas go; but I realized in order to move somewhere, I had to.

By letting go and focusing on the next step, I could finally move my life forward.

It’s like a weightlifter, working with free weights. They could choose to lift a 25lb dumbbell 10 times over their head, or try to lift a 300 lb weight once over their head. Of course, trying to lift all the weight at once would most likely lead to failure or injury. Any professional trainer would tell you that would be a poor approach to lift weights. But in so many ways, aren’t we like that?

Instead of moving and expanding step-by-step on what we can do, we try to make all the changes at once and get frustrated when we fail or only get so far.

We try to lift all the weight at once, when all we need to do is focus on one step at a time. We have to plan our steps; making sure they take us in the direction we want our lives to go, steps that move us forward to our ultimate destination.

It’s important to have your vision clear and know where you are heading, but what’s most important is the next step.

You may have to let go of some of the weight for now, so that you can master where you are, integrating the skills you are learning in order to reach the next level.

A small step forward in the direction of where you want your life to go, is much more valuable than huge ambitions and intentions that keep you in the same place.

We build our buildings, brick by brick, stage by stage until they are finished. It’s the same with our lives. Step by step we can move our live forward; mastering where we are, recognizing the next step and letting go of the things that keep you from moving forward.

Pick a path, your unique path and start building the life you want to live, one small step at a time.

Darren Hutchison
Registered Massage Therapist
Soul Vitality
Lethbridge, Alberta

PS
You may have to let go of some ideas and ambitions forever. They may have been someone else’s dream for you, or even something you thought was who you were.
Other ideas and dreams, you may just have to put on hold until you’ve grown to a place where they are ready to be expressed.

If it’s truly an idea who’s time has come, you’ll be ready for the next step and have the power to act on it.

Darren Hutchison, RMT

Or felt a pain somewhere that you don’t ever remember hurting? Have you felt an urge or compulsion to move in a certain direction, but maybe thought it was only in your head?

Our body is constantly sending us messages, or clues to guide us along the path. Are you too busy to hear them?

Only you have the answer to the question, “What is my body telling me and what does that mean?”

I’ll often have clients say something like, “I feel like I’m carrying the world on my shoulders,” and as I’m massaging them I can feel their entire stress load in their shoulder.
Another client may say, “I don’t know what direction to take my life,” and I’ll notice that their legs and hips are restless, tired and overused.
We all carry a certain level of tension and stress in our body. Life is filled with both good and bad stress, but what are those constant messages our body is sending and we are not receiving?

Our bodies are constantly communicating and reaching out to us with messages that sometimes we don’t hear, but can feel through our body.

When we feel out of touch, Massage can be a connector for your body. It could be as simple as helping the feet reconnect to the legs, hips, heart and shoulders so that they function as one.

Massage connects the flow of energy of the body systems, eliminating blockages along the nervous, muscular and energetic pathways of the body, bringing us into a more grounded, body awareness state.

Not only does it connect the energy, but it helps reconnect our body and help us feel more complete and whole.

When we feel a strange disconnect with our body, it’s like we’re walking in a fog; not knowing where our feet are moving or what our arm is grabbing… or where our conscious and unconscious thoughts are taking us. We’re not in the driver’s seat.

Have you ever noticed how clumsy and unaware we can be in this state?

Using massage on a regular basis can help reconnect and energize the body, lifting the fog, bringing us into a whole new state of body awareness and moving us closer to our authentic self.

I often have clients with back pain ask why I work on their legs if the pain is in their back. Sometimes the symptoms are what we are treating, while we’re missing the cause. Our whole body is connected and the stress and tension in one area may be affecting another.

A whole-body massage approach keeps us connected in body, mind and spirit and helps us decipher the messages our body is sending out and what they may mean for us. The key is to stay connected and stop long enough to listen to what our body is saying to us.

Through our body awareness we’ll be given our next step along the pathway, bringing us closer to our authentic self.

Darren Hutchison
Registered Massage Therapist
Soul Vitality
Lethbridge, Alberta

Darren Hutchison, RMT

What can we expect in our first session?
* Will your headache be gone?
* Will the massage be painful and make you stiff the next day?
* What should you wear? Or do you wear anything at all?
* Will I be warm enough?
* What If I’m not comfortable with how it feels, or if I fall asleep?
We’ll answer these and many other questions about your first massage.

When I meet a new patient the first step is to fill out what’s called a Case History form, which provides me an overview of your health history and any conditions that may assist me in developing a Massage Treatment Plan.

It’s very important to know a little bit about you; get an understanding of why you are coming for massage and what your goals for having massage are.

I answer any questions or concerns you may have about massage or the treatment process.

I promote clear communication with every client, providing the option of canceling, or stopping the treatment at any time, for any reason if you are not comfortable.

We move into the treatment room. You’ll notice dimmer lights, relaxing music, some cushions, the therapy table, hangers and a basket for your belongings.
You will be asked to remove your clothes to where you are comfortable, depending on the treatment type.
For example – if you are scheduled for a 30 minute treatment of your back, neck and shoulders; you would be asked to remove any jewelry, remove the clothing on your upper body (including bra for women), then lay on the therapy table underneath the provided sheets. There would be no need to fully undress.
If you were having a one hour full body massage; you would be asked to remove any jewelry and fully undress to where you were comfortable (it’s perfectly fine to keep your underwear on), then lay on the table under the sheets provided. I would leave the room while you change.

You are treated with modesty and respect, using professional draping techniques to expose the areas of the body being treated and working within the boundaries of professional treatment protocol.

Initially I would do what’s called a scan of your body, which is a sequence of compressions with my hands from your feet to your neck. These gentle compressions give me feedback on where the tension is being held in your body and helps you get used to my touch.

I would put a heat pack on your back, neck or wherever heat was needed most to ease tension, and begin the sequence of massage strokes.
In the prone (face down) position, we usually beginning with the legs, low, mid, upper, back, shoulders & neck, undraping each section as needed. At about the midpoint of the massage you would be covered with the sheets, asked to turn over into the supine (face up) position and we would continue the sequence of the massage. Again starting at the feet, anterior legs, hands, arms, shoulders, upper chest and ending with the head, neck & face.

A variety of strokes are used, ranging from superficial to deep pressure and a variety of stretches and range of motion movements, designed to safely move and stimulate healthy tissue recovery.

Throughout the massage I would check in with you to make sure the pressure, or movements were not too painful or uncomfortable. I always work within my patient’s comfort and pain tolerances.

At the conclusion of the massage you are given a chance to stretch, just feel the massage for a moment before you get dressed and leave the treatment room. I leave the room and you are asked to just take your time as you get dressed and feel the body awareness from your massage.

I make treatment notes of the session that are recorded and updated in your client file to provide a road map for your massage therapy progress.
And when you leave the treatment room you will be provided with a bottle of water in order to re-hydrate and assist with the elimination of metabolic wastes in your tissues.
You may also be given some stretches, or exercises you can do at home that can help any challenges or issues that may have been discovered in the massage treatment.

Everyone feels a little different after receiving a massage, especially for the first time. Some feel energized, others maybe sleepy or groggy. My hope is you feel relaxed and more connected to your body.
It’s not uncommon to feel some stiffness later the same day or the next, particularly in areas that were found to be tender in the massage. It helps to stretch, stay moving and make sure you stay well hydrated as your muscles recover and repair from the treatment.

That is a walk through of what to expect for your first massage at Soul Vitality.

Darren Hutchison
Registered Massage Therapist
Soul Vitality
Lethbridge, Alberta

Darren Hutchison, RMT

One of the best examples is someone who comes to me for massage.

You’ve been really busy for the last couple of months and meaning to come in for a massage. You helped your brother move and the stress at work has been overwhelming, leaving you feeling pretty ragged and stiff. I do a body assessment and know you are carrying most of the stress and tension in your shoulders and back. You don’t have any inflammation, just tension in the muscles.

I put a heat pack on your back and shoulders to help the tissues relax, making them more pliable and easier for me to work on. I start with work on your legs, while the heat pack relaxes your back. I check in with you as I work to make sure it’s not too hot. When I’m finished working on your legs, I move to your back and begin massaging muscles that are warmed up, loosened and much easier to work with. Plus we’ve drawn new circulation to the area that promotes healing and the rebuilding of damaged tissue.

Normally I use a dry heat pack that covers most of the back and shoulders, but can also use a wet hot pack that penetrates deeper into the muscles (usually used on more serious chronic back pain).

The biggest benefits of using heat on muscles;
- to increase circulation to a specific area
- to loosen and relax tight muscles
- warm up what’s cold

We have many types of heat available to us; heat packs (grain, gel, cherry pits, etc), electric hot pads, warm cloths, paraffin baths, hot tubs and even a simple bath. Of course each has its own function and effectiveness,

But is heat always the best way to go? Not always!

Cold packs are best when you have an acute (fresh) injury, or if you are showing signs of swelling, inflammation or pain in a specific area.
Cold gets a bad rap because it’s not very comfortable, but it’s one of the best tools for pain management. If you have sore muscles, a cold pack to the area will reduce the swelling, reduce inflammation and dull or numb the pain. Plus, when the cold is removed and the tissue returns to normal temperature, it brings with it fresh circulation and promotes healing of the tissue. You must be cautious when using cold / ice pack in order to not freeze the skin. Short (2-5 minute) applications with ice direct on the skin, or Ice Therapy are very effective at reducing pain on very specific areas (hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder). Longer applications (15-25 minutes) of cold packs are also very effective, again being cautious to insulate the skin by wrapping the cold pack in a towel before application. Don’t forget, immersing your swollen joints in cool water, or using a cold wash cloth can still help your pain, especially if you find ice packs too uncomfortable.

Even a simple cool shower can be invigorating and be helpful with reducing your pain.

The key is to find what works best for you.

Whether its’ heat or cold, know that they can be used as effective tools in your pain management. Remember; Heat to loosen up tight muscles and increase circulation and Cold to reduce pain, inflammation and swelling.

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Darren Hutchison
Registered Massage Therapist
Soul Vitality
Lethbridge, Alberta

PS. As a massage therapist I use my hands, wrists and joints everyday. I use ice on a regular basis for pain relief after a hard day at the office.

One weekend I was putting in a new fence at home and used a sledge hammer to pound 2 foot spikes into the ground. It left my hands bruised and tender. Thinking I’d be ok to work, I did massages the next day with my hands still injured and did I pay the price. My hands were inflamed, and I was in utter pain.

Taking some of my own advice; I filled a large metal pot with cold water, added ice and freezer packs (the ones from camping) to the water, and immersed my hands in the cold water. Over a period of about 90 minutes I would put my hands in the water until I couldn’t stand the cold anymore (about 3 minutes), remove my hands and dry them with a towel, let them warm up to room temperature (5 to 10 minutes) and then repeated the process.
Not only did the pain go away completely, but the bruising was gone and I was able to work the next day with no further trouble from my hands.

In most cases warmth may feel much better than cold, but in terms of effectiveness for pain management; you can’t go wrong by using cold for pain, swelling, inflammation, and the promotion of healthy tissue recovery.

Darren Hutchison, RMT

In the beginning of my massage career I choose to focus my energies at being an expert of the basics of massage. My goal was to make sure that when clients came to me, they felt different at the end of their massage than when they first walked through my office door.

As my business and experience grew, I noticed that most of my clients came to me for the same reason; to have a full body massage that relieves their aches and pains and helps them to reconnect to their body. That became my platform.

Keep in mind; that in Massage therapy and holistic health there are hundreds of modalities and skill sets. If I tried to be all things to every client, it would make me struggle and would be the death of my business. I am what I am and have the skills and gifting that I do, resulting in people being attracted to that skill set. If I became so watered down and diverse, I wouldn’t really be a master of anything.

It doesn’t mean we have to stop learning, nor does it mean we can’t integrate what new skills we’ve learned into our lives. It’s the choosing of what skills to master first, to create a clear path and be constantly moving in the direction of your passion.

Whatever career path or skill you have chosen to develop, most times it’s becoming a master of some basic fundamentals (maybe 6 to 12 different skills), adding your own flare and style, with constant chiseling of experience over time that take our skills from being a novice to that of a master. The key words being, “skills and experience over time.”

It is impossible to be all things to everyone and letting go of that notion has been a key to growing my business. I’ve been a successful massage therapist since 2002, building a very consistent growing practice. I’ve watched clinics and “NEW” therapists come and go. Jumping into the market with all kinds of flare, training and skills, only to burn out and disappear in very short time.

Why is that? In my opinion, they tried to be all things to all people. Yes, most people can benefit from massage therapy, but not every person is the same, or wants the same approach to their health and pain management. When you try adapting to everyone, your message is that you don’t know who you are and what you uniquely can bring to others.

People choose their therapist for their own reasons, which we can’t control. When I go for my own massage I chose where I go based on what I need at that moment. Sometimes I want to be energized, or connected. Other times it could simply be aching muscles, or even meditative. Not every therapist can satisfy all those needs, so I tend to go to different therapists for different goals in my therapy. If I’m a male massage therapist (which I am) and someone is requesting a female therapist; instead of trying to convince them to come to me, being offended or feeling judged, I help them find a female therapist they would be comfortable with.

If I’m a Swedish Massage Therapist and someone is asking about Bowen Technique, Craniosacral Therapy, or any other modality I’m not trained in; I help them connect to what they are looking for.

Every one of us has something unique to offer; a special gift that only we can bring. Become a master in those skills you have to offer and find where you fit. There’s a place for all of us. Always remember that, right now, someone is looking for exactly what it is that you have to offer. Give yourself time and patience to develop your unique gifts and skills; then over time you will attract exactly who needs to come to you.

Darren Hutchison
Registered Massage Therapist
Soul Vitality
Lethbridge, Alberta