Caring Palms Massage and Reiki is looking for a female therapist(s) to add to its staff of talented individuals. This person could be full or part time. Caring Palms pays 50% of the billed amount before discounts. All discounts come out of Caring Palms' end. All tips go to the therapist in full. If you are interested, or you know of anyone that might be interested, please have them call Brian at the studio at 904-246-2206, or email him at brian@caringpalms.com to schedule an interview.

by Brian Dean 

I had a friend and client in the other day who I have not seen in a good while. While she was here, she said something remarkable. In fact, it was so remarkable that I had to repeat it and expand upon it.

She said, "Love by the heart, not the gender." Now, setting aside that my friend has been considered gay, this is a unique, yet proper way of looking at things, and not just in who we love, but who we consider for anything from friends, to who we associate with, to partners. I mean, shouldn't we consider people based on their heart, not their sex, or size, or looks? Isn't their heart and mind the most important part of who they are?

Now, my friend has come off a relationship with another female, and is now dating a male. So I asked a question. (Now since she knows me, and knows that I don't judge, she answers any questions because she knows they come from actually curiosity, nothing more.) She responded with this line that she credits to the TV show "The L Word". Love by the heart. Just that much says tons.

Setting aside gender, this is how we should be looking at people all the time. Too often, people are judged by their weight, by their looks. But that outer shell is not the real person. To see the real person, you need to see what is on the inside, what lies in their heart and their mind.

Maybe when one looks at others, they instinctively judge on a baser, sexual attractiveness. Maybe that is what drives people to go to some and shun others. And that is done in all too many situations. I can remember going to a hot stone massage class many years ago. As we partnered up, the "pretty people" grabbed each other quickly so those that were not as perfect would have to work together. But what they lost out on was getting to know some very nice people.

We've seen this in high school and all areas growing up. Isn't it always the ones no one wants that get picked last and end up playing right field? But that got carried on to adult life.

The problem is that sexual attraction is good for some things, but not everything. Too many relationships start with that, and when that has run its course, there is nothing left to sustain a relationship. Where if people get together based on what is inside, those relationships tend to last longer and be more meaningful.

I remember taking my first Temple Lomi class years ago. There was a new girl nearby that was not skinny. As no one was working with her, I invited her over to work with me and the person I was working with. That person is still a good friend to this day as well as a wonderful therapist and all around good person.

Love by the heart. It makes so much sense and is profound beyond belief. It says that one sees someone's heart, no matter what gender. But that also transcends shape and size. It transcends looks. It transcends a lot of things and allows one to see the true person. It says so much. If you judge people (and we all do to some extent), judge by the heart, nothing more. Allow yourself to see the true inner person, not the outer wrapper.

I saw something recently that fits right in. It said "I don't judge people by their looks. I judge them by whether they're an asshole or not."

Love by the heart. Allow by the heart. And in return, give by the heart. You'll find that no truer form exists, and you'll get to know some really great people.

The following is a list of currently scheduled classes.  This class is a two-day class worth 12 CE hours for massage therapists.  Each class (unless otherwise marked) currently has a status of 'Scheduled'.  This means that a date has been set, but no one has signed up for it yet.  Once a deposit has been received for a class, the status will be 'Confirmed'.  The 2015 schedule is as follows:

• May 19 - May 20  (Tuesday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Wednesday 10:00am - 4:00pm) 
• June 20 - June 21  (Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Sunday 10:00am - 4:00pm) Confirmed
• August 18 - August 19  (Tuesday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Wednesday 10:00am - 4:00pm)
• October 17 - October 18  (Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Sunday 10:00am - 4:00pm)
   

All classes are scheduled to be held at the Caring Palms Studio.  Should the location change, that change will be on the website and students notified. 

Maximize your results with less effort. Utilize the science of martial arts and apply it to massage. Advanced Body Mechanics and Techniques for Massage Therapists, is designed to reconnect the massage therapist with proper body mechanics and techniques while putting a new twist on things and showing how to get more pressure with little effort. While it does go over some basics, it takes body mechanics to a new level where every move involves the use of the therapist's entire body so they can work without hurting themselves. The class being part lecture, part hands-on practice takes positions, centering, and the proper use of body strength from Japanese martial arts and applies them to the art of massage therapy. It also shows how to focus one's energies to increase their strength with simple exercises meant to teach the student how to 'think' beyond where they are working so they can get deeper into the client and to channel their energies to the point of thought. The student will learn how to focus their energies and use their body to do deep work and not get hurt. This class will help anyone to work deeply with less effort no matter if one is 90 pounds or 250 pounds. This class is for both the seasoned therapist and the new therapist. It will show moves everyone does, but in a new light as well as moves many people may not have seen before. The idea is not to dictate how to practice, but to show better body mechanics which the therapist can adapt to what they do. This is true whether they adapt all of it or just part of it.

 
NCBTMB and Florida Board of Massage Approved for twelve (12) Continuing Education Hours (CEUs)
Class Cost: $300  

This class is for licensed massage therapists or anyone that regularly uses massage in their practice.  For those looking to learn basic massage for relaxation for their partner or friends, see the website on the Massage For Couples classes. 

To sign up for classes, go to the website and select Continuing Education, Advanced Body Mechanics and Techniques, and Class Schedule to see additions and changes or to sign up.

Caring Palms has one room for rent to a holistic arts practitioner.  This person could be a practitioner of herbalism, reflexology, hypnosis, massage or any similar modality.  If you know anyone interested, please have them call Brian at Caring Palms.