Abracadabra, You're Healed!
by Renee Bonjolo

My name is Renee Bonjolo. I have been a massage therapist since 1998. From the beginning, I knew there was a strong demand for my services: the modern world is busy, hectic, full of over the top stress and just working too damn hard, and people want a way to help interrupt this cycle that is both effective and enjoyable.

For quite a while, I encouraged clients to make major life changes to reduce their stress level. We would discuss the source of their life strains—mostly work, home, family, exercise regimen and just plain overdoing it. I would encourage my clients to work less, take more time for themselves, or curb their obsessive exercise or sports programs.

After many appointments during which I would request an update on their progress, they would tell me: "I just cannot work less," or "Golf season is almost over," or "As soon as the kids are back in school things will settle down". The conversation usually ended in their announcing "That's what you are there for."

Then I would respond with "my magic wand is in the shop" or "At the rate you're going, you're going to be my son's college fund."

I realized that my clients were not willing or felt unable to make a major change in their stress management, and that if I continued to try to change them and the world, my own world would become too busy, hectic, full of over the top stress and just too damn hard. What I could do was make a difference in how my clients felt, in hopes that this would create a domino effect. Meaning that if I could make them aware of what is going on with their bodies through massage and encourage a positive change, they would make the decision themselves to continue their body work and maybe a few other things in their lives. Perhaps it would not always be possible for them to make a major life change, but it should be possible to show them a way to continue their crazy journies without running themselves into the ground.

I routinely explain to people that professional athletes who use their bodies to excess get many types of body work all the time, and no one thinks this is unusual or pretentious. But when common people use their bodies and minds to excess they often neglect to get the body work that their bodies deserve and invariably need. We tend to be completely unaware of how hard we work ourselves day to day. The daily grind can be the most taxing of all sports. When the alarm clock goes off, it's like the starting gun for the day. Within the day, so many factors determine our stress level: work, children, meetings, appointments, phone calls, driving and all the glitches in between—such as car problems, co-workers and children off sick, appointments running late—leaving the rest of the day behind schedule. All this builds anxiety and toxins in the body, which in turn causes the muscles to constrict. Eventually there is pain. Pain is a positive response, a communication mechanism that tells us we need to do something.

This is where my magic wand comes in. I find once clients decide to give massage therapy a chance, they feel the amazing results it can bring. Imagine the benefits of lying still on a massage table, taking deep breaths while a skilled therapist works through tight muscles, stretches inhibited tendons and helps to remove toxins that have built up in the body due to physical and emotional stress. I have many clients who so look forward to this release of tension that the thought of their upcoming appointment triggers some relief. My magic wand, or their ability to start managing their own stress? Don't tell anybody they are making a life change on their own, it might scare them!

On September 1, 2002, I opened Body Central, a massage studio encouraging injury recovery, stress reduction and emotional unwinding through different forms of body work. Our menu now includes therapeutic -massage, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, hot stone massage, reiki, shiatsu, reflexology, yoga, meditation and facials.

Having a group of educated, experienced, and skilled therapists is beneficial to both the client and the practitioner. We learn more about the work that each of us does and are able to discuss the best course of treatment for our clients.

Massage therapy directly affects circulation and the muscular system. It can help lower blood pressure, produce endorphins (the body's natural pain killer), release tight muscles and tendons, bring nutrition to all areas of the body and ultimately positively affect all systems of the body. It helps process stress and flush the body of toxins. It is healthy in almost all cases. There are very few contraindications in massage therapy.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine that is getting a lot of attention from modern medicine. Why? It works. Tiny needles placed in specific points on the body create a powerful, healing response. The acupuncturist may use points on the ear, back, ankle, head to affect an area in an opposite part of the body, or an organ function, hormone function or emotional disorder. It is complicated and wonderful.

During craniosacral therapy the client is clothed. The therapy involves a light touch that directly affects the connective tissue. It unwinds the fascia—a dense tissue wrapped around all the muscles of the body (and many other tissues). This therapy makes a lot of sense because if the covering of the muscle is restricted, the muscle will in turn be restricted. This is an excellent modality for old physical and deep emotional injuries that have come to rest in an area of the body.

Reiki, also carried out with a light touch, balances the energy within the body. It is deeply relaxing and an excellent resource for injury and wound recovery.

Reflexology uses pressure to specific points on the feet and hands to affect different organs of the body.

During shiatsu the client lies on the floor on a special mat wearing loose, comfortable clothing. Shiatsu incorporates acupressure and stretching along meridians or energy pathways to move energy from areas where there is too much to areas that are depleted. It uses the yin yang theory, bringing balance throughout.

In hot stone massage, heated basalt stones are placed on the body as well as massaged with. The combination of heat, massage and the weight of the stones will de-stress even the most experienced Type A personality.

Body Central also offers therapeutic skin care, including skin analysis, facials, peels and treatments for men and women and teens. Our aesthetician also offers a full line of products to maintain healthy skin and treat problematic areas on a daily basis.

All body work helps guide the body through its healing process. Body workers promote healing on many different levels: from a sprained ankle, low back injury, fibromyalgia to depression, menopause and post operative recovery—although stress management is where we really shine. The thing people most often lose sight of is restfulness. Good old rest and relaxation can be one of the most powerful preventatives known to man. We like to think that sixty or ninety minutes of being on a massage table can be like taking a mini vacation for the soul. When you get body work, make another appointment before you leave. Getting in touch with your body can give you the power to know what it needs. Simply by making the decision to get body work, you are making a positive change in your life. But if you want to leave it to your therapist, no problem: magic wand technology is getting better every day.

Renee Bonjolo is a licensed massage therapist and proprietor of Body Central, located at 8 Livingston Street, Suite 9, Rhinebeck. Any questions or concerns about our modalities, or to make an appointment, please call 845-876-7222.