It's Marathon Training Time

If you are registered as a charity runner for any Marathon between NYC and Boston (November thru April), then I will give you 26.2% off any massage service. If you make a donation to my fundraising page, I will discount your massage by your donation amount (up to $50).

A Great Review - THANK YOU

Here is a review posted about me on Yelp.com

What I really appreciated was Stefanie's genuine skill...she really knows what she's doing and is obviously highly trained in anatomy with the strength and know how to really do the job. Plus, she has a positive and accepting kind of energy that also puts you at ease. Something she did that no one else has ever done was to show me how I could correct a common muscle issue I have, between sessions. That has been great to know to get me through.

Thank you for sharing such kind words. My ability to continue providing quality service as a massage therapist depends on people knowing I'm here, so please keep sharing the benefits you experience from massage.

Thank you, @StefanieLMT

Changing My Hours at Point (Acupuncture Clinic)

Today is my last day as an employee of Point - A Place of Wellness. I've enjoyed working with @Sigal as her Clinic Coordinator / Office Manager but the time has come to move on. I will still be able to see/treat clients at the clinic but am now available to provide mobile massage services during the day.

My new outcall hours are (by appointment only):

Sun 7p-10p

Mon-Thur, Sat 7a-2p

Mon, Wed, Fri 4p-9p

My new clinic hours are (by appointment only):

Mon-Thur, Sat 7a-2p

Mon, Wed, Fri 2p-7p

I am still working with Massage Masters in Sherman Oaks if you prefer the day spa experience but am always honing my therapeutic skills.

A reminder about the modalities I use: Swedish, Shiatsu, Acupressure, Reflexology, Craniosacral, and Lymph Drainage.

I am certified to provide TMJ & Carpel Tunnel treatment, Pre-and-Post-Sports massage therapy, Physical Therapy assistance and perform Pregnancy and Oncology massage.

My full body massage rates are $90/1 hour, $120/90 minutes, $150/2 hours.

My chair massage rates are $20/15 minutes (3 person minimum)

Thank you to everyone who has supported me at Point.

LA Marathon Marathon Special!

In honor of the 25th Los Angeles Marathon, I am offering a $25 sports massage to registered participants!

Sports Massage includes:
Reflexology and Acupressure: Feet
Lymph Drainage Massage: Legs and Feet
Deep Tissue Massage (if appropriate)
Trigger Point Therapy (as needed)
Stretching: Legs, Hips, and Low Back

This sports massage should take approximately 30 minutes.

You can upgrade to a full-body massage for an additional $25/per half-hour. Please bring a copy of your registration confirmation (or race bib after the race) to the massage to receive your discount.

Valentine Special

Those of you who follow me on Twitter (@StefanieLMT) have seen some colorfully tagged discounts offered. The discounts are my way of saying thank you for your support. The most recent ones have been:

#Castle #Chuck #Dollhouse #Firefly discount - $45/hr #massage Saturday Mornings! Text 818-634-7925 to book appointment at this rate

and on my Facebook fan page

Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy is available for onsite chair massage. Boost morale, increase productivity, and help your team make it through pilot season! ** Reasonable rates ($120/2hrs - $270/6hrs) ** Licensed Therapist ** TV & Film set experience ** Schedule 2, 4 or 6hrs Call or text 818-634-7925 to schedule.

Remember, my regular rates are almost twice what is currently advertised and will return February 8. If you want to lock in my services at these rates, schedule now. Thank you, again, for your support.

Stay healthy,
Stefanie, LMT

Massage Modalities - Swedish

Based on classic european massage techniques, this full body massage helps soothe and relax tired muscles and balances circulation. It is not a specific step-by-step protocol, but rather, a style of massage that can be adapted to a therapists preferred style and the client's immediate needs.

Generally performed on bare skin, Swedish Massage is characterized by long, fluid, progressively firmer strokes toward the heart. These strokes can be performed with lotion or oil to reduce friction and prevent chafing and are usually following by a kneading technique called petrissage to help break up adhesions and facillitate myofascia release. The client is fully draped during a swedish massage keeping the muscles warm and protecting the client's modesty. Swedish massage can be performed over clothing, also. When working with a clothed client, therapist wll usually use a large piece of silk (like a scarf) instead of lotion or oil to reduce friction and maintain a fluid technique.

Many therapists finish a Swedish Massage with tapotements, a percussive tapping to reinvigorate the muscles and ease the client back to alertness. (Though I've never heard of a client complain about "massage fog.") Some therapist take a section by section approach (smoothing, petrissage, tapotement, re-drape area and move on) when performing Swedish Massage. The pressure and speed utilized with Swedish Massage is determined by the goal of the massage and the condition of the recipient. A relaxation massage generally uses lighter pressure and a slower speed than a therapeutic massage. A Swedish Massage can utilize Deep Tissue techniques which I can talk about in my next blog post.

Stretch to Reach Your Goals

I've posted an article on my Bodywork Blog that explains a couple of stretches you can do in the morning to maintain your health and prepare yourself for day.
They are very simple and even the sleepiest of sleepy-heads can do them without worry of injury.

Here's the link. http://artbodywork.blogspot.com/2010/01/to-reach-your-goals-one-must-stretch.html
Tell me what you think.

:) StefanieLMT

Holiday Special continued into New Year!

Happy Holidays! As my way of giving Thanks I am offering my biggest discount ever to help you recover from the holidays:

50% off  my regular massage rates!

Normally, a full-body massage is $90 for the first hour and $30 for each additional half-hour but through the month of December, AND NOW THROUGH JANUARY 16, I have appointments available at $45 for the first hour and $30 each additional hour. This means for only $75, you can get a TWO-HOUR FULL BODY MASSAGE  or two ONE-HOUR massages for YOU AND A FRIEND!

Call or text me at 818-634-7925 to schedule your appointment or book one for a loved one.

Stay Healthy!
Stefanie Ibanez, LMT

P.S. get the latest specials by following me on Twitter @StefanieLMT

State Certificate or City License?

A little FYI if you heard anything about the new certification process for massage therapist.

The State of California recently adopted a statewide certificate program for massage therapists. It is a two-tier system that will phase out to a single certificate system over the next two years. It is an optional program that allows bodyworkers to by-pass most local permitting requirements. The keyword here is "most" as you will see.

If you can document that you have completed 250 training hours from an accredited school (or 130 professional work hours as a therapist and 120 school hours), you can use the title "Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP)". If you can document that you have 500 training hours from an accredited school, you can use the title "Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)". For some reason, you can NOT apply any work hours (practical, in the field experience) to the 500 hours required to use the "CMT" title.

I am a LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST with over 454 training hours from accredited schools and 2 years practical work experience. The City of Los Angeles requires me to have 3 pieces of documentation to work as a massage therapist.

1. Per the Los Angeles Police Commission, I have a Massage Technician permit that allows me to perform massage therapy. 
2. I have another permit form the LA Police Commission to own a Massage Business; this allows me to work for myself or as an independent contractor for a spa or clinic. It also allows me to hire other massage therapists if I wanted to. Many therapists avoid getting this by saying they are working in a clinic or spa for someone else.
3. The third document is related to the second but issued by the Office of Finance - a business permit. This how we pay our taxes. Some insurance policies require a copy of this in order for therapists to obtain liability coverage.

Many of my colleagues are under the misconception that if they get a state certificate, they will no longer need the business permits issued by the city but this is not true. I was informed that a therapist may change his or her status from city-permitted technician to state-certified practitioner/therapist, but only if (s)he does not have private clients. If a therapist has private clients (clients who pay the therapist directly instead of the clinic or spa), he or she needs the business permits (items 2 & 3).

Because I am a therapist (not just in title but in deed), and because I had to renew my City permits anyway, I have opted not to persue State certification at this time.

Half-Price Holiday Massage Special

Happy Holidays! As my way of giving Thanks I am offering my biggest discount ever to help you beat holiday stress:

50% off my regular massage rates!

Normally, a full-body massage is $90 for the first hour and $30 for each additional half-hour but through the month of December, I have appointments available at $45 for the first hour and $30 each additional hour. This means you can get a TWO-HOUR FULL BODY MASSAGE  or two ONE-HOUR massages for YOU AND A FRIEND for only $75.

You are worth it. Massage isn't just a luxury perk anymore, it has been clinically proven to have a wide range of medical benefits also.

• Activity-related soreness. Athletes receive massages after exercise, especially to the muscles they use most in their sport or activity. Massage helps increase blood flow to your muscles and reduce soreness after exercise and other strenuous activities (like shopping, holiday packing, cooking for 20+ friends and relatives, etc.).
• Anxiety. Massage reduced anxiety in depressed children and anorexic women. It also reduced anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in adults trying to quit smoking. For the 40 million Americans with an anxiety disorder, this may be a particularly stressful time and can prevent them from taking part in what should be a joyful season.
• Pain. Pain was decreased in people with fibromyalgia, migraines and recent surgery.
  
• Alcohol withdrawal. Massage during withdrawal from alcohol has shown benefits when combined with traditional medical treatment by increasing feelings of support, safety and engagement in the therapy.
  
• Immune system. People with HIV who participated in massage studies showed an increased number of natural killer cells, which are thought to defend the body from viral and cancer cells.
• Cancer treatment. People with cancer who received regularly scheduled massage therapy during treatment reported less anxiety, pain and fatigue.

Show how much you care for your loved ones by giving them the gift of a massage. Thank mom for cooking a great Thanksgiving supper having me give her a massage while you take care of the post-holiday wrap-up. Reward yourself and your employees for a successful year with massage gift-certificates or chair massage at your office. Prepare yourself for the December parties and shopping and odd work-hours with a stress-reducing relaxation massage.

Reducing My Business's Carbon Footprint

For "Blog Action Day", the topic was Climate Change.

Granted, Blog Action Day has passed, but with world leaders meeting in Copenhagen, I thought I could still take this opportunity to share how I have managed to reduce my company's carbon footprint.

As a mobile massage therapy company, Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy is occasionally required to have the therapist drive to clients' homes or offices and sometimes the "office" is a community event or movie location. When I started my massage business, I drove as far east as La Canada and north to Sunland, south to San Pedro, and west to Woodland Hills. Even with a well maintained Honda Civic, that's a lot of miles and far too much time on the L.A. freeway.

• By limiting my service area for individual massages to a 6 mile radius of Studio City, I have been able to reduce my driving and provide BETTER SERVICE to my local clients.
• By offering DISCOUNTS TO COUPLES and GROUPS, I am able to help more clients more efficiently and cost effectively.
• By encouraging clients to buy their own table and linens, I reduce the amount of items I need to carry.
  

So, those things are a benefit to me, but how do they benefit you?

• Reduced time driving: creates a MORE FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE so I can accommodate last minute bookings more easily.
• Group Discounts: YOU SAVE MONEY! At home spa parties are fun and relaxing and a great way of getting the benefits of a professional massage in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Chair massage in your office makes for energetic, less stressed, more productive employees.
• Owning your own table reduces the amount of gear I have to gather together and transport and set up which allows me to SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOU. (I also offer a discount to clients who do this.)
  

How much time your massage therapist spends in her car may seem minor to some, but a relaxed therapist is a ready therapist, prepared to help you reduce stress, relax, and improve your general well being.

My LA Marathon Page Just Needs You

So my first official group training is this Saturday in Pasadena but I already went to Runyan Canyon last Saturday with my friend Keri. We did ok!

If you can't join us for training, click the FirstGiving badge and sponsor me! I need to raise $1000 before January 4, 2010 in order to participate in the group training and run in the L.A. Marathon.

I've thought up some incentives to encourage you (which would encourage me). I've chosen incentives that require effort and/or courage on my part and would be beneficial/entertaining to you. Please remember any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated as it helps provide much needed patients services here in Los Angeles.

You donate - I provide:
  $  250 - 1 hour table massage
  $  500 - 90 minute table massage or
              up to 2 hours chair massage at your work or event
  $1000 - 2 hour table massage or
              up to 4 hours chair massage at your work or event

The first 3 people to donate over $100 can choose what I sing (or don't sing) at Kareoke at the Brass Monkey on my birthday November 6.  Please realize, I am a Massage Therapist, not a singer, but hey, it's for a good cause!

My Team Life Without Lupus fundraising page is http://www.firstgiving.com/stefanielmt. Any amount you donate is greatly appreciated.

The Big 26.2

In honor of my 40th birthday, to honor my friends Liz and Elyse who are living with Lupus, and in memory of our friend Tara, who passed away 1 year ago from complications due to Lupus, I am training for the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon to be held Sunday, March 21, 2010.

I will donate 10% of all regular price massages to Lupus LA, the West Coast division of the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation founded by renowned physician and author, Daniel J. Wallace, MD. My goal is to raise $1,000.

As many of you know, last year I walked the NY Marathon in 9 hours 25 minutes. This year I will run/walk the complete Los Angeles "Stadium-to-the-Sea" course in 4.5 hours. I have 5 months to train and I am using the Jeff Galloway book Marathon as my guide again but instead of working out 2 days per week, I will walk 2 days per week, run one night per week, and train with the Lupus LA team on Sundays. Think of how much longer and stronger my massages will be with all that cardio!

I will post periodic training updates on my Bodywork Blog or you can follow me on Twitter @StefanieLMT.

If you would like to join Team LA Lupus as a runner or sponsor, please contact me via email at StefanieLMT@gmail.com. The team is also accepting walkers and runners for the 5k Saturday, March 20, 2010.

Stay healthy!
Stefanie Ibanez, LMT
Los Angeles, CA

http://www.lamarathon.com/charitylist.html
http://www.lupusla.org/about-us/
http://www.twitter.com/StefanieLMT

Every Body Deserves A Massage Week (July 19 -25)

ART is now at Point-A Place of Wellness! Together, we're celebrating Every Body Deserves A Massage Week July 19 - 25, with Half-Price Massage and a great Acupuncture discount!

A 1 hour massage at the clinic is $45
Each additional half hour is $20

Take 15% off any regular price Acupuncture treatment when you prepay your massage and acupuncture sessions.*

Point-A Place of Wellness is located in the Barclay office building at Laurel and Weddington north of the Country School (5301 Laurel, Suite 247).

Call 818-508-8955 to schedule an appointment.

Point's acupuncturist, Sigal Meyuhas, is a California Licensed and Board Certified Diplomat of Acupuncture and Herbology by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), specializes in Traditional Chinese Orthopedic Medicine and is a Certified Practitioner of Japanese Acupuncture Techniques and the Japanese School of Hara Diagnosis.

Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy (ART) is a wellness massage practice specializing in stress reduction, repetitive motion injuries and restoring fitness. ART's massage therapist, Stefanie Ibanez, is licensed by the City of Los Angeles with over 450 training hours, 1400+ clinic hours, and certifications in Shiatsu, TMJ Treatment, Sports Preparation/Rehabilitation, Chair Massage, and Deep Tissue.

*Acupuncture must be booked after massage.

In Memory of Titi Titi

This is a personal note about why I Relay For Life each year with Relay for Life of Studio-City/North Hollywood at Walter Reed Middle School.

Junior High was when I first lost someone to cancer. I saw my aunt go into remission every couple of years but the time between remissions got shorter and shorter until cancer changed my family as I knew it.

Titi [tee tee] is Spanish for "Auntie" and even though my other aunts were addressed by name (Titi Chede, Titi Ivi, Titi Norma...), Esther Naomi Ibanez-Delgado was known simply as Titi. If you asked "which Titi", you were answered with an emphatic, exasperated "Titi TeeTEE!" as if, "could there be any other?".

She was a cool, glamorous aunt who went to discos and Club Med. She went to Cancun before it became a Spring Break destination. She lived in The City (NYC) and worked at Revlon. My older cousins got the best make-up from her. (I wasn't old enough to wear make-up.) I remember she had three earrings on one ear and five on the other.

She had a place on Metropolitan Oval in the Bronx that was my definition of a good apartment until... well, actually, to this day.

My reason to Relay is to join people around the world celebrating survivors, remembering those we've lost, and supporting the lifesaving mission of the American Cancer Society.

We ALL know someone affected by cancer.

Please make a donation or join my team. You are helping deliver the hope that future generations will not have to endure cancer threatening the lives of their friends and family. You have the power to fight back against a disease that affects millions.

To mail in a donation by check, please click here to print an offline donation form.

Or you can join us! The Relay For Life of Studio City/North Hollywood is a fun-filled overnight event held at Walter Reed Middle School designed to celebrate survivors while raising money for research and programs of your American Cancer Society.

One day. One night. One community. One Fight. Relay For Life is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million people- to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer; remember loved ones lost to the disease; and fight back against a disease that takes too much. By participating, you honor cancer survivors, pay tribute to the lives we've lost to the disease, and raise money to help fight cancer here in your community.

How May I Help You?

I offer my massage skills in a clinic setting or on an out-call basis at your home, office, or event. When having me come to you, please be aware of what amenities are available and what your goals for the session are to determine the best type of massage for you. I can pamper you or help you heal or a combination of the two. How we proceed is up to you.

Are you looking for a therapeutic or relaxation massage? I employ multiple modalities when giving a massage including Swedish long strokes, shiatsu acupressure, pretissage, and deep tissue techniques. Different people and different muscles on the same person react differently to these techniques. Your last bodywork session may required invigorating deep tissue or trigger-point therapy to release localized tension (a knot) but this time you may need a more soothing Swedish style to reduce post-workout inflammation or you might need to be stretched to realign you body and repair damage from poor body mechanics or repetitive motion injuries.

Do you have privacy? A private space that is at least 8'x11' is needed for a full body table massage. This allows you to maintain your modesty while getting on and off the massage table. While I keep my full body massage clients draped (covered by a sheet), Los Angeles law requires that you wear underpants even under the drape. A private area also allows you to focus on enjoying your massage instead of worrying about who can see you. Chair Massages are done fully clothed and require less space; approximately 7'x7' is usually enough.

What is your pain tolerance level? Some massage therapies are more invasive than others and will cause discomfort, even bruising (like cellulite reduction massage). This does NOT mean "no pain, no gain!" What it DOES mean is you may have to use mindfulness strategies (like deep breathing and visualization) or schedule more than one session so the massage will help you recover and not cause injury.

How much time do you have? How long do you want the results to last? I put these questions together because some techniques work (provide relief) faster than others. Unfortunately, how fast a technique works can have a directly proportional, inverse relationship with how long the results last. My first massage school instructor presented this dilemma to us as the pain-time-value pyramid; while all three are important you have to be able to sacrifice one to achieve the other two.

Example: Your back is in complete spasm and tender to the touch.

If the immediate goal is to quickly reduce the pain (Pain+Time), we may have sacrifice "Value" in the form of the pain may return and require multiple treatments. If your goal is release the spasm to restore your range of motion and you can live with the pain, then a more aggressive technique can be used to get you moving again, but you will be sore.

The course of treatment is ultimately determined by you.

1 hour full body massage = $90

each additional half-hour = $30

in clinic discount = $10 off session

Chair Massage (2 hour out-call) = $65/hr

Chair Massage (4 hour out-call) = $60/hr

Chair Massage (6 hour out-call) =  $55/hr

I will work hard to give you what you want as well as what you need. Call or text me at 818-634-7925 to schedule you appointment.

If you want to make a appointment...

I was just offered (and accepted) another shift at Massage Masters Therapeutic Day Spa. I now work on Tuesday evenings from 3:30p-9:00p.

If you want to schedule an appointment with me you can call Massage Masters and request me during the following times:

Saturday: 4p-9p
Sunday: 10a-6p
Tuesday: 3:30p-9p

If you would like come to my clinic or schedule an appointment at your home or office, you can contact me directly to schedule an appointment during the following times:

Monday: 7p-9p
Thursday: 3p-9p
Friday: 9a-9p

Remember, I not only offer Swedish, Russian, and Sports Massage, but utilize Shiatsu, Acupressure, Cranio-sacral, and stretching techniques to facilitate relaxation and eliminate both stress-related or injury specific pain.

Thank you to all my clients for sharing your experiences with my employers and your friends. I will continue to study to provide the highest quality therapeutic massage.

Gimme an "A"!

I earned and received an "A" in Biology. Now I am registered for Anatomy class at Mission and have to decide where to study Chemistry (both Valley and Mission are now full; there may be some begging involved.)
I visited Columbia University for their Doctor of Physical Therapy orientation. As competitive a program as it is, I was actually reassured by what I heard. Yes, getting into a master's program will take me two years instead of one (the joys of going to school part-time while trying to earn a living), but I have the necessary skills and have a good chance of getting into their program.

Back To School

So I completed my BIOLOGY class at Valley College. I went into the final with a 90% class average and think I only got 4 questions wrong on the final. (Gimme an "A"!)

I'm registered for ANATOMY at Mission College. I'm trying to sign up for Chemistry or Physiology but the computer thinks I don't have the prerequisites. I will have to register in person in order to prove I have a Bachelor's degree already and successfully completed the required coursework.

Word of advice: always keep your receipts when paying the government - they sometimes lose things.

About Me

I'm a Licensed Massage Therapist looking at graduate school programs and striving to be a credit to my profession. (Trust me, I'm not as earnest or Pollyanna as that sounds but, well ... you've been warned.)

I'm a hard worker and like to have fun with my clients. I want them happy to carve time out of their schedules to take care of themselves and, in particular, glad they chose me to help them. I work with all types of massage clients: secretaries, executives, athletes, actors, musicians, housewives (even the desperate ones), and students. My specialties are Stress Related Fatigue and Repetitive Motion Injuries.

I retired from a 20 year retail career and semi-retired after 15 years in the corporate world. I quickly completed my 300 hours of massage training and scored very well on my Los Angeles licensing exam. Most of my training was based on Swedish and Russian modalities, so I completed an additional 50 hours in Shiatsu massage. I'm now working for myself and LOVE it!

Well, this is enough for my first post.

More later.