Journal

NEW FOR 2021: JOE'S MUSINGS ON BODYWORK, MASSAGE AND LIFE...

I have been writing and journaling off and on about my massage and bodywork thoughts and experiences for years. I thought that now would be a good time to start sharing them with the world...or at least a few clients and therapists! Reasons, Disclaimers and Inspiration


PS - Obfuscation: All of my writings about people or situations are changed enough to protect anyone's identity that might be in them unless someone is actually named. All of my writings include at least one thing that is not true, exaggerated or otherwise can not be relied upon to create a factual statement of any action or event. All of my writings about anyone specific are shared only with their specific consent. If you ever read something that you feel is about you and I have not talked to you about sharing it - it is most likely not specifically about you - but please contact me so that I can clarify anything that needs to be clarified.

The Power of Togetherness

By Joe Lavin • 27 Jul, 2023
The Importance of Community in the Massage Industry
Unbecoming: A Recent Client Experience/Connection

Unbecoming: A Recent Client Experience/Connection

By Joe lavin • 27 Oct, 2021
I absolutely love it when a bodywork session transforms into something unexpected and wonderful. These are some highlights of correspondence between me and a recent client of mine after our first session. Everything is shared with permission and you can see more of Tanith's paintings here.....
Posture Correction Shoulder Harnesses and Tape

Posture Correction Shoulder Harnesses and Tape

By Joe lavin • 27 Oct, 2021
I used to recommend some fairly intricate kinesio taping to help with posture modification for my clients but I have found that a simple posture correcting harness/brace does a fantastic job and are much easier to use. You do not need too heavy duty of a harness unless you have extra thick shoulder musculature, are looking for a more aggressive correction or are very active throughout the day. The nice thing is that you can try as many different posture correctors from Amazon as you want until you get the right fit and just return the ones that do not work for you.
The Gulf

The Gulf Journal by Joe Lavin

By Joe lavin • 27 Oct, 2021
I had an experience with a client shortly after a contentious moment in my country's political discourse (how is that for PC?) where I was actually compelled to end a session because I was not able to care for my client deeply enough to work out a better solution. So I wrote my client a letter which he has graciously allowed me to share here.,,,,
Some Questions Lead to Beautiful Answers...

Some Questions Lead to Beautiful Answers...

By Joe lavin • 27 Oct, 2021
My client asked me how I would describe our Primal Unwinding session and I replied, "Like a celestial dance." Later, I unpacked that a bit more....
The Massage Therapist and the Cheetah

The Massage Therapist and the Cheetah

By Joe lavin • 27 Oct, 2021
I took my daughter to the zoo the other day. We waited with the other people to see the cheetah walk out and stood in amazement as the cheetah did, well, nothing really. She just walked around, looked at us and then laid down. I imagined the cheetah wondering why there were people here to see her again, She didn’t feel that special. She had no idea what she was really made for, how fast she could run, what it felt like to be free, what a fierce predator she could be. She just had some sense that this crowd of spectators was interested in her so she should show up again, like she does every other day.
I Did Not Come To be Danced

I Did Not Come To be Danced

By Joe Lavin • 22 Jan, 2021
I want to share something I wrote trying to say thank you to a group of people that were a major part of my becoming a better bodyworker, toucher, connector and human being. It was in a five month training program with the Institute for Phenomenal Touch. It absolutely changed my life!
Body Rolling

Body Rolling

By Joe lavin • 22 Jan, 2021
I love body rolling and think it is far superior to the many popular “foam rolling” strategies that I see a lot of people utilizing. My basic premise is that using different sized balls with different densities to strategically roll on, under and around your unique, 3-dimensional body will allow you to apply just the right amount of pressure in the specific places that you need it as well as helping you do some amazing stretches. Plus you can take your body rolling equipment with you wherever you go. If you are a proverbial road warrior, just deflate to miniature soccer balls, pack a small air pump and throw them in your carry on.....
Happy new year!

Happy new year!

By Joe lavin • 08 Jan, 2021
It is 2021 and it is time for me to start sharing more of my thoughts about massage, bodywork and life with anyone who is interested. I do a lot of writing to process my thoughts about touch as well as my massage and bodywork experiences. Most of the time these writings end up living only in my journal or on my computer and I would like to give them a little more life, see how they blossom...or wither.
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