This is not exactly giving a lot of lead time because, well, until recently, I was not planning on running a 15K this weekend.  But as it turns out, I am now running a 15K this weekend, and said 15K race supports a charity, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington and Alaska (RMHC for short).  RMHC supports seriously ill children and their families by providing a supportive and comfortable "home-away-from-home" where families can stay while they are traveling so that their ill child is receiving critical life-saving care at one of the regional children's hospitals in either Seattle, WA or Anchorage, AK. 

I am asking my community to help me give support to these families in their time of hardship, with a donation to the charity, as part of the fundraiser connected to the 2013 Seattle Hot Chocolate 15K.

To donate to my fundraising effort, please follow the link below.  As an added bonus, the first ten people who donates $60 or more using the link below (and does not do so anonymously) will receive a free 1-hour massage appointment at Warrior Massage, in appreciation for their support.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE FUNDRAISING PAGE.

Visitors to Warrior Massage may note a new addition to the staff, though you would be forgiven for NOT noticing him, as he is the strong, silent type. 

Lord Guan Yunchang epitomizes Honor and Loyalty, subdues demon spirits, and protects the righteous.  Warrior Massage patrons can rest easy while in the clinic, knowing that Lord Guan watches over them, wielding the legendary Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his right hand (this symbolizes his righteousness; Chinese police officers' depictions of Guan always show the halberd in his right hand... Triad depictions, though no less reverent, show the halberd in Lord Guan's left hand).

As shown in the photo above, he also does a fantastic job of holding up my collection of industry journals, and making the joint look a whole lot classier.

Massage therapists often have a lot of weird stuff in their office, that all too often goes unexplained.  Usually, the stuff in the office is about THEM - the therapist - and what makes them feel comfortable, grounded, and happy in their workplace.  I wouldn't lie and say the stuff in my office is any different - but I'd love it if that stuff could serve the same purpose for my clients.  I want Lord Guan to give you the same comfort and succor he gives me.

Firstly, let me answer the question most everyone reading that title is probably asking:  CAM stands for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and refers to any kind of medical treatment that you won't (or probably won't) find in an MD's clinic.  This includes massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, guided imagery, reiki & energy healing, meditation, herbal medicine, and a whole gamut of other things.  If it's not surgery, drugs, or physical therapy, it's probably considered CAM.  And yes, it is usually a derogatory term when used by the medical establishment.  But that's a discussion for another day.

A US Army-sponsored study by the Samueli Institute published at the end of January indicate that in 2012, nearly 45% of active-duty military personnel use CAM therapies to deal with stress and pain, as compared to only 36-38% of civilians from comparable studies.  The CAM therapy most commonly used by the military respondents was massage therapy (14.1%).  

The mission of the Samueli Institute is to produce scientifically meaningful research on healing, and to facilitate the adoption of wellness and healing modalities as part of the healthcare system.

Find Samueli's original article here.

Just a quick pointer to the new Policies page on the website.  Please check out Warrior Massage's policies on Cancellations, Patient Privacy, and Gratuities.

The astute observer may note other changes and updates to the site, but there will be more on those later.

As always, feedback is welcome and encouraged.