The only feature not quite ready is my newsletter archives & photo album.  If the office ever slows down, I hope to get a chance to finish it. 

It’s March, the month that is completely unpredictable here in New England.  We could have a snow storm tomorrow followed by a sunny day in the 60’s.  I’m just glad that February is gone. I’m a bit tired of “record breaking”When the snow comes down as hard as it has, I end up cancelling every client and then trying to reschedule them into some alternate spots. I can only imagine what the airlines go through...

Here are some important items this month:

First:  You may remember that Congress changed the rules regarding Daylight Savings Time a couple of years ago. This year, March 14th is the day to turn your clocks ahead one hour. 

Second: Coincidently, my other office in Old Saybrook will be open again on Sunday March 14th.  One Sunday each month I offer my services to the residents of Middlesex County, at least until I decide to retire from Greenwich.  So, if you know of anyone along the Shoreline who’s in need of some healing hands, please forward this newsletter on to them.  In April, I’ll be working in Old Saybrook on Sunday April 11th.  The chef from Apple Rehab of Saybrook won the annual Chili-Fest that ran Saturday. The charity they represented was Meals on Wheels. Old Saybrook was packed with people tasting 31 different chili recipes.

Third: Saturday time slots are still hard to come by.  However, cancellations can occur and I always post the Saturday time slots on my website.  Please check the “Important News” page on my site for the most current information.

Lastly: The first week of each month is typically my busiest, since my monthly clients overlap with my weekly and biweekly appointments.  The last week of each month is usually the best time to grab a last minute appointment.  Cancellations do occur, so I offer a 24-hr standby list for anyone who is interested.  You can also ask to subscribe to my “Monday Morning” mailing list, which lists any open spots that might be available in a particular week. 

Last month I mentioned that I’d recently taken a class in stretching clients on my table. I forgot to mention a tip that all of you should use.  Physical Therapy research is showing that a stretch should be held for a count of 15, not the 5-8 seconds that many of us were taught. When you hold the stretch for 15 seconds, you may feel a second release of the muscle somewhere between in the 10-12 second range.  Feel free to try this at home.

For all my whining about not knowing which road I should travel next for my educational requirements, everything came together earlier last month.  I wrote about abdominal massage in the January issue and that brought on a flurry of questions from readers. Then I got a postcard in the mail announcing a program in Visceral Manipulation that will be offered in April in CT. I was familiar with the program from my training with the Upledger Institute, but I never intended to study any of those programs.  It seems the universe had a different plan for me.  When I continued to have clients mention abdominal issues last month, I knew my fate was sealed, especially when the deadline to enroll was Feb. 15th. I’ve already begun reading my next textbook... what fun!

Visceral Manipulation is another “light touch” therapy that affects the body deeply. It was developed by an Osteopath & Physiotherapist – Dr. Jean-Pierre Barral, involving functional biomechanics.  It is a method of evaluation and treatment which is based on the concept that each of our internal organs rotates on a physiological axis. Anyone who has given birth can attest that their abdomen “doesn’t feel quite right” for some time after delivery. The focus of this training is on the abdominal cavity, including the organs, their membranes, ligaments, innervations (nerve connections) and how they relate to each other in the abdomen.  Mechanical tensions pull on the surrounding tissues and can add to all sorts of disorders.  Just imagine how fibroids or cysts can push or pull organs from their normal positions, causing a multitude of problems. Visceral Manipulation can be used to treat bloating & constipation, acid reflux, pelvic pain, bladder incontinence, back pain, migraines, sciatica and post-op scar tissue.  And of course, on more advanced levels it can also help with emotional issues (as many of you have found when I perform SomatoEmotional Release).

My class is in late April and will require that I shut the office for a few days, but I’ll post all that next month.  And of course I’ll have a lot more to say on this in May.

There are a couple of new studies (mostly in Great Britain) that are showing some very promising effects in treating Autism,  ADHD and some psychotic disorders with fish oil.  Scientists found some children with low omega 3 fatty acids levels displayed more behavioral problems, temper tantrums, and learning difficulties.  It’s said that the brain is comprised of 70% fatty material and requires fatty acids to function normally.  You might ask why flax seed oil wouldn’t help, since it is also high in omega 3’s. Evidently it needs to be high quality animal-based oil which is also high in EPA & DHA levels. It has to do with the difference between long-chains and short chains. The amount given was 1.2 grams daily.  While this isn’t news to some of you, it was to me.  And it got me to thinking... Back in the Dark Ages, when I was a kid, I can’t remember anyone being diagnosed with Autism.  But back then we were forced to take that wonderfully disgusting cod liver oil, which happens to be high in omega 3’s and Vitamin A.  I’ll bet that many of you have never had cod liver oil since people stopped using it in the 60’s, when coincidentally, Autism began to rise.  As always, check with your doctor first. High doses of fish oil may promote bleeding.

“Hey Ted, where did you hide that pot of gold?”

They recently had some fun trying out for ads with Pedigree DentaStix. Pedigree allows you to put some dentures on your dog. 

If you go to http://pedigree.com/oralcare/denture-your-dog.aspx?mId=34533603.2  you can see Ted in action. And if you go to  http://pedigree.com/oralcare/denture-your-dog.aspx?mId=34534476.3  you can find Allie's demo tape.  Best of all, your own dog can try out for a future commercial. There are easy directions when you visit the site.

This isn’t quite “off the table” since it’s about my table.  If you’ve been in for a session recently you may have noticed that I’ve added to the table padding.  Though I didn’t have any complaints, I personally felt that my table was getting a bit too hard.  I hope it isn’t too soft now.  Just don’t call me Goldilocks...

I’ve been a fan of the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” since its inception. Capt. Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie was a constant, living on cigarettes & coffee for days without sleep.  He had the typical gruff exterior with the heart of gold. It was only a matter of time for his lifestyle to catch up to him. Phil passed away early last month. He will be sorely missed. Be the first to email me with his knick names for his sons, Jake & Josh and you’ll win a gift certificate for a 1-hr session.

The kids were thrilled to see one of their cousins on TV during the Westminster Kennel Club show. Wire-hairs are sometimes bred with smooth dachshunds to produce specific colors. But when wires are bred to other wires, an occasional smooth is born due to recessive genetics.  Though she didn’t win the Hound Group, Dixie is a granddaughter of one of Ted’s sisters.

If I were in charge of our school systems, I’d revamp the subjects children learn. Of course the most important classes are still Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.  But I feel they should focus on topics like Personal Finance and how our Government actually works (or doesn’t).  The two topics are so important together.  Obviously, many kids don’t learn this at home.  The personal finances need to start in the elementary schools and build as they approach High School.  When do so many people get into financial trouble?  In college!  Because they’ve had everything taken care of by others up until that point.  I can’t tell you how much it bothers me when I go to the grocery store and have a total of $25.78.  I give the clerk $31.03 and I get a look like I have 2 heads.  They don’t know what to do with the “extra” 3 cents, until I tell them to plug it into the cash register and I get $5.25 in change. (I need those quarters for the parking meters).  So many people can’t seem to do the simple math, let alone deal with large numbers.  I read that one doctor has over $550,000 in debt from a variety of school loans and other sources. Once you learn to live within your means, then you wish our governments (local, State & Federal) would do the same.  None of our governments have a magic pot of gold (Ted & Allie do – though they keep it hidden). I don’t care if you believe in raising or lowering taxes.  If it isn’t accompanied by a cut in spending, we all still end up in debt.

I have to say that I am sorry to see one school program end. The Swim Program at the Hamilton Ave School was relatively inexpensive.  Learning to swim is an incredible confidence booster and the child learns a life skill in the process.  The kids used to come to the pool as I was finishing up my morning laps. To see the initial terror in their eyes change to joy in just a couple of days was worth the price of the program. I’m certain the confidence they gained gave them a boost in their other classes.  Not any more...

Here are some of my favorite quotes for this month:

“There are many things that I believe that I shall never say. But I shall never say the things that I do not believe.” -- Immanuel Kant

“Knowing others is wisdom; knowing the self is enlightenment.” -- Tao Te Ching

“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” -- Albert Einstein.

“How do we keep our inner fire alive? Two things, at minimum, are needed:  an ability to appreciate the positives in our life – and a commitment to action. Every day, it’s important to ask and answer these questions:  ‘What’s good in my life?’ and ‘What needs to be done?’” -- Nathaniel Branden

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call (203) 253-5576 and ask for Bob Jensen.  You may also email me: healinghands@snet.net