Did you order bamboo tool kits?

If you ordered Bamboo-fusion solid bamboo tool kits at the KY AMTA convention in March, I'm pleased to let you know that you'll finally be getting them!

I expect the bamboo sets to arrive at my office in Cincinnati tomorrow (Tues, June 29), and I'll mail them out by the end of the week.

A few spots still remain for my August 2-3 class in Cincinnati.

Ashi-Thai benefits

Why take Ashi-Thai?

• It helps your client's circulation.
• It's easier than doing hands on Thai.
• Ashi-Thai is very good to loosen up your client prior to a massage.
• Receiving Thai on the table is more comfortable for most clients than lying on the floor.

More benefits listed soon! www.affinitymassages.com has our class schedule.

About Ashi-Thai classes

What is Ashi-Thai? It's a variation of traditional Thai massage. Typically, the Thai practicioner "palm walks" the client's body, which can cause pain in the therapist's hands and wrists.

In Ashi-Thai, the therapist stands on the massage table and uses his or her Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy bars for balance. She will use her legs to maneuver the client into multiple positions. This enables the therapist to protect her arms and wrists when moving the client through various movements. The client remains fully clothed on during the process, and no lubricant is applied.

Ashi-Thai is a great method for warming up a client and stretching them out prior to a deep tissue massage. It can also be done as a stand alone method for an hour or more.
My Ashi-Thai classes are scheduled starting October.

You can visit my website, www.affinitymassages.com for dates. More info coming soon!

1 space in Bamboo class

As soon as I get the 2 registrations that are supposed to be coming any day now, I'll just have one space available in my August Bamboo-fusion class.

More class dates at www.affinitymassages.com/bamboo_classes.

Bamboo class in August

I still have space in my Bamboo-fusion class in August, the 7th -8th. Trying something new in the next few months: if you have a group of four or more massage therapists interested in taking our bamboo massage class at one time at my studio in Cincinnati, I'll give you a 10% discount on each person's tuition.

That's $40 off tuition, and the bamboo with educational DVD are still included in the price. All four people must have deposits paid in order for each therapist to receive a discount.

My email is fredettemassage@fuse.net, and website is www.affinitymassages.com . Click on the Bamboo classes tab for more information about our massage courses and dates for continuing education!

Get a massage

Sometimes we as massage therapists forget how good we make people feel. Take time out to get a massage from a good LMT that you know. Try something that you haven't received any training in, even.

I just got a massage the other day, 90 minutes. Yum. Of course, she found muscles that I had forgotten about. Sure felt good. Try it yourself!

Another great idea is to take a CEU class for massage therapy. You'll no doubt get some extra work done. You can receive loads of work by taking either Bamboo-fusion or Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy classes. My website, www.affinitymassages.com, has specific information.

Kentucky AMTA convention

I'll be at the Kentucky chapter of the AMTA convention this weekend. It's at the Crowne Plaza in Lexington. Come try a free sample of our famously luxurious barefoot massage, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy.

Those attending the convention get a coupon for class in their goodie bag...

www.affinitymassages.com has info about classes. My class in April is the last one until August.

Buying bamboo plants

Interested in buying bamboo plants for your yard? They provide beautiful scenery as well as privacy. The following information was taken from Burt Associates Bamboo at www.bamboo.com.


DWARF BAMBOO
These beautiful bamboos offer a variety of leaf colors hard to find in the taller bamboos.Many are useful as potted plants,bonsai and bonsai companion plants. These species present a range of heights from several inches to several feet. They are appropriate for Zones 5 to 10 and are all running bamboos. The height to which they will grow in Zones 5 and 6 will be substantially lower than the listed maximum height
MID-SIZE BAMBOO
Use these bamboos as screens, decorative specimen plants for the garden, foundation plants or as portable screens or specimens in large containers. These are grown for their culms and are the classical bamboos. In every instance the beauty of the culms (canes) will be apparent. If you need a privacy screen, a fast growing bamboo, this section will fill your need. They do best in sun
MOUNTAIN BAMBOO
Look in this very valuable group to find hardy, clumping bamboos as well as clumping bamboos for warmer climates and interiors. These bamboos originate in the mountains of South and Central America, China and the Indian sub-continent. The Fargesias are among the hardiest of bamboos and all are useful in shade; some in sun as well. If you are in a northern state and need an evergreen screen that requires no control, The Fargesias are perfect for you. The Borindas, Chusquea and Drepanostachyum do well in warm states. Himalayacamlamus prefers cool nights. These latter, more tender bamboos, but not the Fargesias, are excellent interior plants.
TIMBER BAMBOO
Here are the giants ranging from 40 to 100 feet at maturity with culm diameters of 3 to 7 inches. They are the classics, the bamboo you usually picture when you think of bamboo. The clumping timber bamboo can be grown in a relatively small space, but give the running bamboos ample room. As they become established, they all very rapidly increase in size. These all do best in full sun.

www.affinitymassages.com doesn't give too much information about the actual bamboo plant, but you can learn more about our classes there!

Bamboo training

I just finished my instructor's training on Bamboo-fusion massage with founder Nathalie Ceceilia in Florida. What a wonderful modality. Can't wait to try it on my clients when I get back into town next week.

www.ashiatsuworkshops.com/bamboo_massage has info on classes.