Massage Warsaw- Massage Therapy – Warsaw Acupuncture

Tag: travel

  • Vacation Time! Again?!?!

    I find this a bit hard to believe too.  I just got back from Cuba less than a month ago and here I go again?

    My sister and her family are headed to Spain and invited me in the best possible way (wink wink)…. an offer I couldn’t refuse (though I tried and tried and tried and tried……… then suddenly gave up).

    So, as it is, I leave tomorrow for Tarragona, Spain for a week of nanny and tour guide work.  It was a quick and hasty decision, but the arrangements have been made with clinics and clients.  I will return in a week and plan my first work day as Monday February 15.  Yes, Family Day.

    I must say though, I am finally starting to enjoy the benefits of being self-employed.  February is a slower month, so the perfect time to go.  I was invited on Monday.  I accepted the invitation on Wednesday, and in less than 24 hours had informed the clinic, rescheduled clients and bought a ticket.  And, tomorrow I’ll be leaving on a jet plane.

  • Natural Health Care Comes to Cuba

    When we think of Cuba, certain incongruous images come to mind: sandy beaches, salsa music, and poverty.  But while the typical visitor to this little island nation is busy soaking up rays and drinking one too many Cuba Libres, poor little Cuba has been quietly accomplishing something that few western countries have been able to do: Develop a health care model that provides free universal health care blending and balancing western medicine with eastern, natural medicine.

    Cuba’s health care system has always been a priority for Castro’s government.  Article 50 of the country’s constitution states: “Everyone has the right to health protection and care. The state guarantees this right by providing free medical and hospital care by means of the installations of the rural medical service network, polyclinics, hospitals, preventative and specialized treatment centers; by providing free dental care; by promoting the health publicity campaigns, health education, regular medical examinations, general vaccinations and other measures to prevent the outbreak of disease.”

    Here are some stats:  The average life expectancy in Cuba has risen from 63 years in 1955 to 78 years in 2007.  The infant mortality rate has dropped from 1960’s 54 deaths per 1000 children to 6.5 per 1000 in 2007.  In 1957 Cuba had 128 physicians and dentists per 1000 people.  In 2005, those numbers had swelled to 627 doctors and 94 dentists per 1000.  To put that into perspective, the USA in 2005 had 225 doctors per 1000.  In fact, Cuba performed better on all 3 criteria when compared to the USA.

    But as a massage therapist and acupuncturist, I am more interested in how alternative or natural medicine was integrated into their health care model and offered free to all.  The idealist in me would like to believe that Fidel or Che hatched up the idea while savouring a perfect cigar and planning their utopia on earth, but their medical miracle was born out of disaster and necessity.  In 1992, the USA increased its trade embargo against Cuba by passing the Democracy Act which made it illegal for foreign subsidiaries of US companies to sell goods to Cuba (it was already illegal for American companies to sell goods to Cuba).  It also forbade ships that had docked in Cuban ports from docking in any US port for 6 months.  This, combined with the collapse of the Soviet Union and Soviet support and trade as well as Cuba defaulting on its foreign debt in 1986 made it very difficult for Cuba to purchase medical equipment, supplies and medicine.

    Dr. Fe Bosch
    Dr. Fe Bosch (right)

    The Chinese character for disaster is comprised of two other characters: one is the character meaning danger, the other means opportunity.  With aspirin and other western goods being either unavailable or unaffordable, Cuba adopted a natural approach.  Dr Fé Bosch had been sent to Sri Lanka and Vietnam in 1984 to study eastern medicine and the possibility of incorporating elements into the national health system.  In 1992, the Ministry of Public Health approached Dr Bosch with a new proposition: develop a training program in acupuncture and natural medicine for the country’s doctors.  In less than 2 years 20,000 health care professionals had been trained and Cuba was on the road to integrated health care.

  • Cuba and the Art of the Business Trip

    I just got back from Cuba a week ago and let me tell you, it was just what the doctor ordered. The warm tropical air, amazing music and friendly people were just what I needed to get through another Canadian winter.

    I didn’t go to Cuba just for fun though. I turned the vacation into a business trip for research, promotion and training. Cuba offers something very unique that I hope my readers will appreciate. Cuba’s health care system is free for all Cubans. You might remember that scene from Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko” where he takes a boat load of Americans without health insurance to a Cuban hospital where they receive the care and medication that they couldn’t afford at home. Cuba’s health care system is also a great example of a fully integrated health care system that blends eastern and western medicine offering citizens free access to massage, acupuncture and herbal medicine.

    Turning the vacation into a business trip might sound like a bit of a downer, but it actually added to the experience. I didn’t go to Cuba for the beach and sun. I was far more interested in seeing the culture and getting some insight into their way of life. Arranging the interviews was a wonderful way of seeing a side of Cuba that I would have never seen otherwise. It added to the sense of adventure.

    The added tasks of gathering info for the articles did take some extra work. It took me a couple of days of asking around to arrange doctors, massage therapists and acupuncturists who were willing to meet with me. And it took a bit of hunting to find these people as well. For one interview, I ended up literally going in circles for two hours before I was able to find the hospital I was looking for. The work took up much of my time during the day, but it was such interesting enjoyable work that I really didn’t mind. Plus, I still had my nights free.

    One of the bonuses of turning vacations into business trips is the tax deductions. As the trip was for business purposes, the full cost of the flight, transportation, accommodations, and business related expenses as well as half the cost of meals were tax deductible. And let’s not forget my brand new digital SLR camera for some shiny new pictures for the website. Many people think that a $1000 expense will mean a $1000 tax savings, but in reality you only save the taxes on the expense and not the entire expense. This means that a $1000 expense will translate into a tax savings of $300 – $400 (30% – 40%) depending on your tax bracket. While the trip isn’t free, it still ends up being a good deal.  The camera is treated differently. I won’t be able to write off the full cost right away. Instead, I’ll have to write off a portion of the cost every year for a few years.

    Be careful though, to qualify as a tax deductible expense, the trip does have to be for legitimate business purposes. And, of course, you will need receipts for all the costs you want to deduct.  For more information on claiming travel expenses, visit the Revenue Canada Website.

    How does my trip qualify as a business trip? First of all, I researched enough material to write a series of 3 or 4 articles for my website, which is my primary means of promotion and advertising. Hopefully the unique content of the articles will help raise the rankings of the website as well as attract a new audience. Second, from interviews and from receiving treatments, I was able to learn a few new approaches and techniques that I can incorporate into my practice.

    If you like the idea of the working holiday but aren’t interested in journalism, why not take a course? There are quite a few massage courses that are being offered in Mexico and other tropical destinations. Perfect for getting away and minding your books.

    PS:  I was just about to hit the publish button when I received an email from Jenings.com advertising their workshops on myofascial release of the the shoulder and lumbar regions.  The seminar will be in sunny Arizona (not exactly sea, sun and salsa, but at least it won’t be 20 below).  Here is the link http://cts.vresp.com/c/?jenings.com/a65343c641/38b4e1cddf/c397c05a8f

  • How to Travel Without Low Back Pain

    The weekend road trip to Montreal seemed like such a great idea until 500km later when I stepped out of the car and found my entire low back in spasm. I almost couldn’t straighten up and was starting to walk with a limp.  Oh how I was almost tempted to go into some downward dog yoga poses right there in the parking lot in order to relieve the pain.  Luckily I didn’t have to resort to that.  Just walking it off a bit and moving around loosened it up.  But it did remind me of a common complaint from my clients and also a condition I lived with for a few years.  Most importantly, it inspired me to write a blog post to help out all those summer travelers.

    One big reason why people start to suffer from low back pain on long car rides is inactivity.  Our bodies are not meant to be immobile for hours on end.  Our muscles need to move about, contract and stretch in order to remain functional.  Inactivity decreases blood circulation, waste removal and nerve conduction to the muscles resulting in muscles that are irritated and sore.

    If immobility is the cause of pain, then surely some motion must be the cure.  From suffering years of low back pain, I developed these exercises that always did the trick for me on car or plane rides.  Try some of these on your next journey and you will see the improvement.

    Tips for Preventing Back Pain

    • Stop frequently.  You can take a breath of fresh air, enjoy the scenery, grab a snack, etc, etc.  But most importantly, you are stretching out those muscles and moving them in a natural fashion and boosting blood circulation.
    • Keep hydrated.
    • If you’re stuck in a car seat, wiggle a little.  Crank up the tunes and start jiggling!  It’s good for your health!  You might not be inspired enough to break out into a full blown fist pumping dance session, but some slow gentle motion can greatly help you stay loose. Here’s how:

    Mobilize Your Lower Back

    1. Start by raising your left hip then lower it.  Then raise your right hip then lower it.
    2. Then try twisting your left hip forward then back, followed by the right.
    3. Arch your lower back so that your bum sticks out a bit more.  Next round your lower back.

    Exercise Your Gluteal Muscles

    1. Now you can start working your gluteal muscles.  First of all, you want to squeeze both glutes together.  If you do this right you might feel yourself lift off the seat a bit.
    2. Next try squeezing just the left gluteal muscles.  It might help to push your left foot into the floor at the same time almost as if you are trying to raise that left hip off the seat.  Now try the right and alternate back and forth.
    3. If you are feeling especially adventurous, turn the volume up to 11 and just dance without any shame.

    Safety First

    1. A few things to remember for safety sake:  To avoid accidents it is not recommended to do these exercises if you are driving.  To avoid being locked up, try these moves by yourself first so that you feel comfortable enough doing them in a way that doesn’t attract too much attention in public (the key is slow, small movements).

    It might seem a bit strange at first, but with some practise it will become second nature on those long trips.  And by the way, I did these exercises on the ride back from Montreal and was amazed at how I felt no traces of back pain when I stepped out of the car in Toronto.

    If you find the pain too intense or long lasting, you might need a massage or acupuncture treatment.