Hi, I’m Paul Lewis and welcome to my very first post here on MassageMag.com.  I would like to say thank you to Massage Magazine for this opportunity to be included with this group of talented bloggers and experts.  This blog will be focusing on various topics related to massage therapy including complicated case studies, techniques with proven success and the like. I will try my best to respond to questions or comments at least once per week, usually on Sundays.
I would like to tell you a bit about myself in hope that, you will feel comfortable enough to share your thoughts, post your comments and ask questions.   I hope that we can learn from each other and share experiences which only serve to better our profession.
I have been a fitness instructor for over 20 years and currently instruct a fitness class one day per week.  This class focuses on cardiovascular, strength, coordination, proprioception and movement.  I have lead classes and instructed master classes in movement and fitness in Canada, Japan and the United States.  As a Registered Massage Therapist, I am quite active treating clients at my home clinic, outcalls to hospitals, private homes and corporations.
I incorporate my 2 decades of Aikido training and knowledge into my treatment approach.  I run about 3 times per week and I hope to run my first marathon someday.
My activities also include volunteering massage support at sporting events and charities including supervision of student therapists.
My continual clinical experiences include, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, leg lengthening, pregnancy, hip replacements, knee replacements, MVAs, mastectomy, spinal chord injury, TMJ, etc.  I am no stranger to the continuing education field.   Just last year, I was able to present 11 workshops.  I am an approved provider in the United States, Canada and Great Britain.  This year I am scheduled to present various  Advanced Table and Chair workshops in Canada, United States, Japan and Great Britain.
My knowledge and experiences I hope to share with you through this blog.  When you decide to submit, you can choose to have your name and location published or left anonymous – it is totally up to you.   Please submit your questions to me at massagemag@paullewis.ca or www.paullewis.ca
Write ASK Paul in the subject line.  Also be sure to let me know if and how you want to be identified should your submission be posted.
My first official post will be coming soon.   Talk to you soon..
May 19th, 2010 at 2:15 am
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May 20th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Hi Paul, I’ve never done one of these blog things before but I have a question for you. I am a student massage therapist and I am treating my friend on the weekend. She is 5 months pregnant. The last time I treated her it was hard to find a comfortable position. It was not very relaxing for her having to move her so much! She has shoulder issues that makes sidelying uncomfortable and of course low back
pain. I just bought your DVD a couple of weeks ago and was wondering if I could use the chair for her? If so, tell me everything I need to know like
which way do I put her? how do I adjust to allow room for her baby belly? If I turn her around, how do I do her low back? Thanks, Amber
May 31st, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Hello Amber and thanks for your comments. First, let me thank you for purchasing the DVD and I hope it has been quite informative for you. Now, let me address your question about using the massage chair for pregnancy massage. Depending on what the client presents with, I will use either a table and/or chair when I am doing a pregnancy massage. Usually, after the first trimester I use the chair quite often because the clients are able to be in a position that is “face down” prone.
If you plan on treating prenatal clients in the chair, you must use a chair that allows for support in the upper thoracic “chest” area. With my chair I am able to interchange the chest pad to a sternum pad. The sternum pad is a triangular shaped pad (Kind I have) that gives support for the upper body and clearance for abdominal area. The techniques on the DVD are universal and can be adapted to the client and the symptoms they present with. So if you learn the techniques on the DVD that should help augment what you are learning in school.
Amber, you said that you are currently a student and I don’t know if you have learned about pregnancy massage. It would be advisable to asses and address the shoulder issues you mentioned your client has. In addition, it would be to your benefit to invite your friend to go to your school and you can treat her under the supervision of your teacher. Good luck with your studies.
October 28th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Well I guess I don’t have to spend the weekned figuring this one out!