10 reasons why a massage is the best gift ever.

1) Always fits.
2) Won't have to be exchanged.
3) Good for all ages.
4) Won't clutter up a home.
5) Never goes out of style.
6) You don't have to unpack it.
7) You don't even have to wrap it!

8) Leaves you feeling better then you were before.
9) Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
10) It is the gift of good health - without which everything else is pretty useless.

And now available to purchase online at SwanseaRMT.ca

When life throws you a curve: Managing Scoliosis

This is a topic that I can speak about from personal experience, both as an RMT and as a patient. While my spinal curve may not be extreme, it IS typical of what I see commonly in my practice and does affect me personally on a daily basis. For as long as I can remember I have had back pain, most likely a combination of unfortunate genetics and poor posture from a lifetime of slouching from being so tall (I'm 6 ft). On my Mother's side it is known as the "Karpiak back" since almost everyone has chronic and often crippling back problems. As a young girl my Mom knew I would be at a disadvantage so she encouraged me to exercise and use physical therapy, which is where I was first introduced to Massage Therapy, Chiropractic and Physiotherapy. Over the years I have found a few things that help ease the pain, short-term and long and have watched, felt and experienced profound change on my massage table when doing scoliosis treatments. It is more common then you may think and often I am the first person to mention the curve in my clients spine. As RMTs we are in a great position to notice these sometimes subtle changes and help educate our client so that they can best take care of themselves. 

First you must understand a little bit about scoliosis. Scoliosis, by definition, is a medical condition in which a person's spine curves from side to side. If viewed from behind the person's spine appears to have an S or C shape instead of being perfectly straight as it should be. It can be either congenital (you are born with it) or idiopathic (acquired later in life, cause unknown but can be the result of another condition). 

Want to know which yours is? Grab a friend and try this easy test: 

- ask your friend to feel your spine when you are in a seated position (they should feel the curve from side to side as they follow your spine up your back with their fingertips)

- bend forward as far as you can and have them feel your spine again 

- if the curve remains while you are bent it is congenital 

- if the curve disappears, it is idiopathic

What causes scoliosis? For some it's the result of bad genetics, for others the result of another imbalance in the body such as one flat foot, one leg being shorter than the other or the consequence of years of bad posture. And sometimes, most frustratingly, there isn't an obvious reason at all. 

Scoliosis can present in many different ways throughout the spine as you can see above. Take a close look at the posture in each image and how it is affected by the scoliotic curve, particularly the balance between the right and left shoulders and hips. The image on the far right is of an S curve type scoliosis. Notice how the posture looks balanced but the spine is far from being straight. This is often our body's way of trying to correct a problem - when we have a curve in one part of the spine, another curve appears to balance the posture. It certainly doesn't eliminate the pain or problems though! 

A lot of the pain associated with scoliosis comes from the muscles that surround the spine and from the direct affect from the curve itself. When the spine curves, all of the muscles on the inside of the curve (concave) become tight and begin to pull on other parts of the body where they attach such as the hip, ribs and shoulder. The muscles on the outside of the curve (convex) are overstretched and irritated and generally weakened. You become very a-symmetrical and over time this curvature worsens as your muscles get even tighter, weaker and your posture is pulled more and more out of proper alignment. 

But wait - before you panic and feel doomed to pain and suffering, take a deep breath and relax. There are all kinds of things that you can do to correct this imbalance and manage your pain and discomfort. And the good news? They don't have to cost a fortune. 

1) Hydrotherapy: basically, the use of heat and cold for a therapeutic purpose. One of my favourites is the basic salt bath, it has amazing restorative powers. There is nothing like a good, hot, salt bath to take away the aches and pains. Salt is also relatively inexpensive and easy to come by and helps to detoxifying your muscles and joints while infusing them with essential minerals. I prefer himalayan sea salt but you can use dead sea salt or epsom salts. The basic recipe is 1-2 cups for an epsom salt bath, 1/4 - 1/3 cup for a sea salt bath, add it to hot water and soak for 20 minutes. You can also find relief at the end of a heating pad targeted to your worst area or an ice pack when you've overdone it and have inflammation. And when you have a chance - saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs will be your best friend. 

2) Massage Therapy: whether massaging yourself, getting massage from a friend or a professional RMT, it is a great tool to have in your healthcare regime. Tools like the Acuball and Acuback (above) are handy for at home care and giving yourself relief any time of the day or night (they even heat up!). There are many different self-massage tools out there, but in a pinch a hard tennis ball or even a dog toy (believe me I've been there!) will do the trick. The general idea is to focus on the concave side of the back to try and relieve the pressure on the muscles there. You will be using your body weight to apply pressure onto the ball and in turn your muscles to get the relief you desperately need (be careful to avoid the actual spine itself). I also recommend seeing a professional Registered Massage Therapist about once a month to keep everything on track and in alignment. They have very specific training and know exactly how to release shortened/tightened muscles and can even apply joint mobilizing techniques to the spine itself. It's pretty amazing how much of a difference massage can make on scoliosis. Since a lot of scoliotic curves are there because of imbalances in the muscles, you can reverse it significantly or even entirely by releasing those imbalances.

3) Spinal Mobilization: with Scoliosis, the more mobile you are the better for both the short-term and the long. Keeping your spine loose and limber is key to your wellbeing. The yoga pose above is one that I recommend to my scoliosis clients a lot, it's called "Cat/Cow". Think of arching your back like a cat and then bending the opposite way and upwards to "Moo" like a cow. Go back and forth 10x every day. Another great exercise in this position is to curve your back from side to side, turning your body into the shape of a "C". And don't forget to add spinal twists to your routine! I would also recommend seeing a professional - either an Osteopath or Chiropractor on a regular basis. They are spinal specialists who can loosen areas of restriction in your back. I've felt a huge weight lifted off my back on many chiropractic visits and thought "no wonder I was in so much pain!". Aim for about once a month for maintenance. 

4) Strength Training: long-term, strength is your best bet. The stronger you are the more able you are to handle day to day physical stresses and manage your pain and mobility. The only trick? Not to overdo it! Which is why I recommend starting with an expert such as a Physiotherapist, Clinical Pilates Instructor or a Personal Trainer with a strong medical background and knowledge. They can get you started and do it safely and effectively, which is important because your training will be a little bit asymmetrical. The focus is on increasing strength to the side of your back that is overstretched and weakened (convex), which will help bring your spine back into alignment. The "Superman" exercise above is easy to do at home and can be done just on one side of the body. Simply lay face down and bring your arm and leg up at the same time, engaging the back muscles and then release back down. Repeat 10 times. 

5) Regular Stretching: it's free, you can do it almost anywhere and it feels oh so good. It's also an important part of self-care for scoliosis. Focus your stretches on the concave section of the back and spine, aiming to release the tightened sections of muscle on that side. Torso lengthening stretches like the one above are ideal. This video by Elise Browning Miller is a great start for home practice: Yoga For Scoliosis 

6) Postural Awareness: Pay attention to how you do things during the day - are you sleeping or sitting often to one side? Tend to use one side more then the other? You know that old saying if you keep your face like that it will stay like that? It's true! The more time you spend in a certain position, the more your body will tend to stay in that position. So every day, make the conscious effort to move and stand in a straight alignment. Imagine that there is a piece of string running through your body all the way up through the top of your head. And like a marionette you are being pulled up and lengthened. Many scoliotic curves are caused by improper posture, so by changing your postural habits you can often change the scoliosis altogether. It's not easy, since many of our bad postural habits begin in adolescence and our very hard to break, but day-by-day make your best effort to recognize these bad habits and change them and along with strength training and stretching it will become easier over time. 

For more information or to book an appointment please visit: SwanseaRMT.ca

DIY Holiday Decor

I know this isn't exactly massage related but I loved this creation that my talented Mother and business partner Beverly made so much I just had to share! Come see it in person at the clinic over the holidays more info at SwanseaRMT.ca 

Time to make: several hours (depends on how big you make it!)

Materials: 4 large coloured Christmas balls (these are Martha Stewart)

                15 empty glass ornaments (can get at a craft store)

                 Peacock feathers

                 Silver ribbon 

                 Clear fishing line

                 S hook 

Preparation: Fill the empty glass ornaments with the peacock feathers and ribbons (or anything else you like). Tie a long piece of fishing line to each ornament. 

The tricky part: Hang the S hook up and start tying the ornaments to it so that they fall at different lengths. My Mom somehow managed to get the clear ornaments to spiral around the coloured ornaments which is not an easy thing to do! We got our handyman to install a hook in the ceiling above the stairs at the clinic earlier in the week and hung it from that. One of the first clients to see it was amazed we made it ourselves and wanted to buy one! This is a great entrance statement piece. 

Touring Toronto One Treatment at a Time

I was recently inspired by an article in Massage Therapy Canada Magazine's fall publication written by Jules Torti, RMT. In it, she talks about some bizarre treatments around the world, 2 of which can be experienced right here in Toronto. I don't know why I never considered taking advantage of the most multicultural city in the world to sample the wide range of treatments out there, but I will now!

I'm a bit of a self-professed spa junkie and one of my favorite things to do is travel and try different treatments - the more bizarre the better. I wrote about a lot of my experiences in Thailand in this blog and have been to many of the top spas in Ontario and a few let's just say more interesting nooks in the city. I've been scrubbed in a Turkish bath, soaked neck deep in mud and been poked and prodded in places I didn't even know could be massaged - and it all leaves me wanting to try more!

Unfortunately due to time and money restraints I'm not able to spend more days experiencing the health treatments the world has to offer. But I'm putting this out there, universe, one day I would love to be paid to travel the world and write about spa and health treatments. If you think it, it will come, right? A girl has to dream!

Next stop - a Russian Banya in Mississauga: South Western Bathhouse. Stay tuned!

Relaxation massage - a blessing or curse for the massage industry?

Massage Therapy is one of the few health professions that bridges the gap between strictly therapeutic and relaxation/stress reduction. You wouldn't think of calling your chiropractor if you were stressed and wanted to unwind, would you? Or your Dentist because you had recently dealt with a loss in your life and needed some TLC? You wouldn't expect to see a Physiotherapist at a spa, either. But you could see a Massage Therapist.

We RMT's live in this hazy world somewhere in between "service" and "therapy" that is sometimes a tricky place to be. RMT's are employed in a wide range of settings from hospitals to high end spas and everywhere in between and because of this there is often a confusion within the public as to what massage is and also how to behave as a client. For example, one issue that has come up in the industry is tipping and whether or not it is appropriate or necessary to tip your Registered Massage Therapist. The College Of Massage Therapists of Ontario cmto.com that governs the profession, while not having a formal position on tipping, does asks registrants to "carefully think about how accepting a tip contributes to the perception that Massage Therapy is not a regulated healthcare profession but part of the service industry." This is why, in my clinic, we have instituted a no tipping policy for all services. We simply tell our clients to "come back or send a friend", because that is the best tip we can get. It is amazing how often the clients at our clinic are surprised at this and ask us why not? We simply explain that just as you wouldn't tip your Dr. or Chiropractor, you don't need to tip your RMT. A fair portion of the population does not know if RMT's are health professionals or service providers. Think about that for a second and think about how that affects our profession as a whole. RMTs are often not taken seriously by other health professionals - people who are governed by the exact same laws as we are, the Regulated Health Professionals Act RHPA. If they won't take us seriously, how can we expect the general public to?

It is both our blessing and curse that we are present in health and spa settings. We may not be taken seriously sometimes but we are, increasingly, everywhere.  Have you ever looked at a spa menu before? Have you ever NOT seen massage on that menu? On the opposite front, how many Chiropractic or multidisciplinary clinics do you know of that have several RMT's working for them? We are the bread and butter of both the health and spa industries and most people still have no idea about the range of conditions that can be helped by Massage Therapy - psychological, physical and emotional. We are able to help with all three and treat the body as a whole - body, mind and soul. And this is why the massage profession is booming. There are more schools popping up then ever before, the demand for RMT's is high and there are more jobs available, in a wider range of settings. But how do we define ourselves as RMT's if we don't know where we fit in? It's not always easy! I've had a hard time justifying certain treatments that present as mostly "relaxation" to my fellow colleagues and staff. I've not been taken seriously at times. But as I thought about it a little bit longer I realized that relaxation massage should be something to stand up for, be proud of. In my mind, "relaxation massage" is just as therapeutic as any "medical" massage treatment. And here is why:

Stress is a silent killer. Heart disease and stroke (which can both be caused from prolonged stress) are two of the three leading causes of death in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2008). Massage reduces stress and lowers blood pressure allowing our "rest and digest" parasympathetic nervous system to kick in which handles many of our internal body processes. Sadly, most of us are in a stressed state a large portion of the time (fight or flight sympathetic nervous system). Stress is ok in small doses, like when you need to make a deadline or are in a situation where you need to run for your life. But staying stressed all the time is deadly. Chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol that over time puts you at risk for numerous health problems such as anxiety, depression, heart disease, sleep problems and weight gain. It's like your body is constantly in "attack" mode and doesn't know how to shut off, as if you were running from a bear 24/7. And we get so used to feeling that way that it seems normal when it is far from it. Relaxation massage treatments in particular can help stop the stress cycle and allow your brain to switch off, returning to the "rest and digest" state that we should be in most of the time. Not to mention the fact that most clients that are in a stressed state are also suffering from chronically tight muscles, trigger points and other musculoskeletal complaints that massage can help with.

So the next time you write off a relaxation massage as being too "fluffy" - think again. It may just be what the Doctor ordered.

Peter Rabbit Nursery

My Peter Rabbit themed nursery by request! 

Cooper & Benny guarding the crib

A new beginning

With baby in the hospital

A lot to catch up on! I had my baby on Dec. 27 2012 and he's a healthy baby boy named Connor. Nothing went as planned, just as everyone told me it would. All those hynobirthing classes, breathing practice, natural induction methods and well laid out plans went totally to waste. I ended up with an epidural, a c-section and not being able to keep my placenta to have made into dehydrated capsules (it was whisked away to the lab for some unknown reason). I was almost 42 weeks, never dilated past 4cm and my big boy (10.1 lbs!) was just not coming out the usual way, no matter how hard I tried and how long I laboured. But that's ok, because he's with me now and both of us are safe. It took a bit of time to mourn the birth I wanted and never had but I've come to terms with the fact that I tried everything possible and waited as long as I could and that it was the safest choice. Better luck next time?

The recovery wasn't as bad as I was expecting and within no time we were trucking out to the Bloor Jane Restaurant for breaky, making 4 generations to go to the local greasy spoon. (if you are a local, you will know these people well!)


I was also getting my first massage from Melanie McIvor, RMT (who also gave me my last massage before I gave birth) at Swansea Massage Clinic two weeks after having Connor. And it was much needed! I now totally understand all of the new Mom's who come in with the dreaded "Mom shoulders" - between carrying an infant, breastfeeding and all the aches and pains from having a baby and recovering, it really is awful. I always gave a great pre and post-partum massage before, but it is always nice to walk in your clients shoes for a while to really understand where they are coming from.

I've joined the "Mom-club!" It's still hard to believe sometimes that I'm a Mother, but it's amazing how easily it comes. He's only 2 months old and I already feel like so much more of a pro at this baby stuff. I'm loving every minute (well almost every minute to be honest!) and have bonded so much with my little man, I couldn't imagine life without him. It's so wonderful watching him, watching my husband with him (they are adorable together) and settling into this beautiful family life. We couldn't be happier with our addition, it really has made our love together even stronger.

Connor at 2 months

And as much as I love being home with him, it's time to return to work. I've missed being at the clinic and all the great staff and clients, although it's hard to leave your baby especially so young! But that's the life of an RMT and small business owner and as of today I am officially back on the schedule. Just part-time for now, Sundays and 2 evenings a week (Thursday & Friday) and the occasional Saturday when someone else needs me to cover a shift. It's been 3 months since I've massaged at the clinic and I'm sure a lot of my clients are missing me. Don't worry, thankfully massaging is like riding a bike - you never forget how! I clipped my nails short again yesterday and I'm ready to throw myself elbow deep (quite literally) into work again. See you all soon!

How to get the MOST out of your Massage

Yes, your Massage Therapist does the heavy lifting, but there are many things you can do to maximize the effectiveness of your treatment beyond the massage table and even increase the benefits. 

Some tips to keep in mind: 

1) Time it perfectly: 

Your body needs time to rest, heal and process all that great stuff that has just been done to it. Ideally you should allow yourself at least a few hours of quiet time after your treatment. Think of your RMT as a facilitator, pointing your body in the right direction - over the next 24-48 hours your body does the actual healing. Give it the best chance possible by not rushing out right after your massage and doing a million errands or heading back to work. Scheduling your treatment at the end of your day, work week, or at a time when you don't have much to do afterwards is the best thing you can do for yourself. Saying that, if you are in absolute agony - don't wait. It is much better to get a massage at a not quite ideal time, then not get a massage at all. There's no reason you have to spend more days in pain just because you can't get in after work. But if it's not a rush, try and schedule your massage on a day and time where you can simply relax afterwards. 

2) Arrive on time: 

This kind of goes hand-in-hand with #1. When you are scheduling your massage, try and book it at a time when you know you can make it. There's nothing worse then missing out on the full hour of treatment or stressing about making it there on time. Sometimes the RMT will be able to go a little bit over if you are only a few minutes late, but usually they have another client booked after you and will have to cut the session short. This isn't ideal for many reasons, first - you are stressed and anxious when you arrive and not in a relaxed frame of mind, and secondly - you are missing out on valuable treatment time that you may desperately need. Also, most businesses will still charge you the full rate if you are late, as that time was reserved just for you. Try and arrive a few minutes early, take a seat and let yourself begin to unwind, have a sip of water and set the stage for your massage. 

3) Drink plenty of water: 

You've probably heard this again and again, but really, water does the body good - especially where massage is concerned. Why? It's simple. Our bodies need water to work properly and efficiently and massage is as demanding as exercise, especially when you are having deeper work performed. Properly hydrated muscles are much easier to work on, respond more quickly to manipulation and have the ability to remove wastes much faster. One of the biggest effects of massage is an increase in circulation, and along with that is the release of water, salt and other minerals and energy by-products, such as lactic acid from the muscle tissue. It is especially important to drink water immediately after your massage and during the next few hours to assist in the removal of any waste materials that were released. This will help to prevent muscle soreness or stiffness and give your body a fighting chance at repair. Be extra vigilant about drinking water if you have had deep tissue or lymphatic drainage as part of your massage. 

4) Communicate your needs: 

While we may be able to find knots you never knew you had, or muscles you never realized existed, we are not, in fact, mind readers. The more you can tell your RMT about what you want or need out of your massage, the better it's going to be. Generally you will be asked before your session, "What can I help you with today?". Take the opportunity to be as honest with your therapist as possible, indicating which areas you want them to focus on and what you would like to get out of the massage. With the right information, your RMT can suggest a specific treatment plan to meet your needs as closely as possible. Sometimes it is better to focus an entire session on a particularly bad area then massaging a little bit of everywhere. Or perhaps you want a full body massage, with a few minutes of extra attention to your upper back and neck that is bothering you. Be as specific as possible and you will get more out of your massage. Also - don't be shy to mention anything during your treatment that may be relevant. Finding the pressure a bit too much or not enough? Say so. We would much rather be corrected halfway through then not give you the treatment you were after. Sometimes its hard to tell how much pressure is exactly right for you, or if we are on the exact knot that was bugging you. 

5) Have a salt bath: 

You've probably heard this one as well, but it really does make a big difference after your massage treatment. Just as water helps remove toxins from your body through your kidneys, so does a salt bath but through your largest organ - your skin. Having a hot bath is good, but its the addition of mineralized salts that really does the magic. Salt helps to draw out impurities through your pores while at the same time feeding your body with essential minerals, many that our bodies cannot produce themselves. This helps to detoxify your muscles while giving them the "food" they need to properly repair. It will also cut down on the amount of stiffness and soreness you may feel after a particularly deep massage and actually moisturizes your skin. I generally recommend natural sea salts because they contain a higher number and assortment of minerals and are naturally produced, but you can also use epsom salts which  contain magnesium and sulphate. Try and have the salt bath the day of your massage, it doesn't have to be right away but before you go to bed is ideal. If using sea salts add 1/3 - 1/2 cup to a hot bath, if epsom salts you will need 1-2 cups. Soak for 20 minutes and then pat dry, do not rinse off the salt water on your skin because it will continue to absorb and do good things for you! Make sure to stay properly hydrated with lots of water. 

For the love of Massage

At the Bloor/Jane Diner (A family favourite!) 

I'm officially back at work and have been doing massage treatments for almost 3 weeks now. It feels great to get back into the thick of things so to speak and I'm feeling stronger every day. I've really missed being able to massage and the magic that it brings. Being able to help people really is something I excel at, am inspired by and is a huge part of who I am. Not being able to work has taken a toll on me physically, mentally and emotionally. All it took was treating one client and I felt like myself again, I literally walked out of the room with a huge grin on my face, practically skipping with joy at how wonderful it is to make people feel better. It made me realize I'll never be able to stop massaging entirely, at least not for any length of time.

Being an RMT and being able to make a difference in people's lives, even a little bit, is something I'm very proud of. Big or small, every time I help someone I feel a little bit better about myself. Even though my job is physical, it fills me with energy and inspiration every day. I've learned so much over the years from my clients, grown so much as a person and continued to expand my skills as an RMT. The learning is never over and that's what I love the most about this profession. You can always learn something new and will never get bored of your work, especially when you love what you do.

My problem is being able to share that knowledge with my fellow RMT's, because I really only have so many hours in the day and so many clients I can treat. All of my new knowledge is useful of course in my own treatments, but I want to help so many more people and in order to do that I have to teach. Its a new role for me, one that has happened naturally and one that I hope to nurture and expand upon. Designing and teaching courses is a whole new ball game but one I want, need and very much hope to explore. It's a challenge for me and unexplored territory but it's challenges like this that help me to grow as a person.

Every time I reach a bridge in life where I want to do something but don't yet necessarily have the skills or means to do so, I find a way, or work my way towards that goal until it happens. Again and again I've surprised myself. Many of my goals are too large to ever happen in a week, month or even years but as long as I continue to dream, work towards my goal even in a small way all the time, eventually I will get there. This, I know and have proven to myself to be true. I try to remember that when my dreams seem so far away and so hard to make true. I've already accomplished almost every goal I've set for myself in life, so what is stopping me?

For those that are interested in seeing me for a massage these are my new hours:

Monday - 12:45, 4:30, 5:45, 7:00
Tuesday - 12:45, 4:30, 5:45, 7:00
Wednesday - 12:45, 4:30, 5:45, 7:00
Thursday - 12:45, 4:30, 5:45, 7:00

Book Now!   - To see my hours and availability search by Staff - Dylan

Hope to see you all soon!

Yours in health,

Dylan McEwen, RMT 

Family Matters

Many of you may have been wondering where I suddenly disappeared to and especially why I've been absent from the clinic and from the booking system. At first it was because my Mother had a very bad health scare and I had to take over the business and reception in her absence. And then I became unwell myself, including my own trip the hospital and have had to cancel all of my appointments until I get my health back in control. I know many of you have been very concerned about me and wanted to know what was going on and if I was going to be ok and until now I couldn't really say but...

I'M HAVING A BABY!!! 


The bad news is that this little miracle has been making me very, very sick. The good news is that it is all for a good reason. Many of you, especially my pregnant clients and new parents, know that I have been planning for a family with my husband of 4 years for a long time and we are very excited to be making our dream a reality and entering the next stage in our lives together. What I didn't plan for, however, was getting this sick. I was hoping to be able to work for the majority of my pregnancy, right up until the last month or so when I got too big and too tired to be able to massage. I didn't expect my first few months to be as rough as they have been.

Everything started out great, but around week 6 the nausea and vomitting hit me like a brick wall and I've been fighting it ever since. And we're not talking about a little bit of morning sickness that a few crackers and ginger ale will fix, we're talking about all day, sometimes all night, sometimes uncontrollable, unstoppable vomitting that even prescription medicine couldn't keep entirely at bay. I've had it so bad I've had to go to the emergency room on more then one occasion because I couldn't get it under control. And when it was under control, the waves of nausea were preventing me from doing much of anything.

To say I've had a rough several weeks would be an understatement but what I feel the worst about is missing out on being there for all of you. I've simply had no choice but to stay home and focus on the health of myself and my baby. We couldn't really tell anyone officially what was going on until I hit that 3 month mark and after everything was confirmed by that first ultrasound and I hope you can understand why we have been a little vague about this "bug" that I came down with. Now that I know everything is going ok for my little "bug" I wanted to officially announce the big news. My Mom is thrilled by the way as this is her very first Grandchild!

Thankfully I've had a great team of RMT's helping out in my absence and I hear they are taking very good care of you and my Mother has been running the business pretty much by herself, like a champ. We also have two new RMT's in the clinic, Alicia and Kelly W. as well as two new receptionists, Rachel and Liz who you may have already met. The good news is that I am doing better and will be returning for bookings very soon. I just have to build up my strength a little bit after all this absence and make sure I am 100% before I take any bookings just in case. If all goes well it looks like I will be back at the beginning of July, if not sooner. My hours will have changed slightly, but I will be there and will update you on the details as soon as its all official. I appreciate your patience at this time and especially appreciate everyone that has asked about me and sent their well wishes, it means so much right now!

I can't wait to get out of the house and return to a more normal schedule! I miss treating so very much and especially miss all of my wonderful clients and being at the clinic. I hope to see you all soon and look forward to catching up and helping out with all of your healthcare needs.

Sincerely,

Dylan McEwen, RMT 

How to shop in Bangkok

On my last day in Thailand, before flying out of Bangkok, I made sure to visit the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market. http://chatuchak.org/  From everything I’d heard and read about this was THE market to shop at, the kind of place so large that any other would pale in comparison. My husband and I set aside most of our last day to basically shop until we dropped. We did as suggested and arrived early to beat the heat and the crowds. 

An outdoor portion in the middle of the market.

It’s hard to tell how big this place is because most of it is covered. Unlike all the other weekend markets I had been to in Thailand, you couldn’t look at it all in one glance. There was hardly any way to orient yourself. As soon as I thought I knew where I was, I was completely lost and confused again! It’s mostly all indoors with row upon row of stalls containing anything and everything you could ever want to buy. There’s no real way to navigate this place, so we would just follow one aisle for awhile and then randomly decide to go right or left. I have no idea if I saw the whole place or not, it’s nearly impossible to do so. And god forbid you see something, don’t buy it and then decide you actually do want it and try and find it again. Not. A. Chance. According to their website the market covers 27 acres, is divided into 27 sections and contains more then 15, 000 booths selling goods from every part of Thailand.

I had already purchased a whole wack of massage supplies, lotions, soaps and essential oils for the clinic so this day was all about buying last minute souveniers for myself and my friends and family. And getting rid of the last of our Thai money (not that there was much left). I bought a bunch of really cool printed t-shirts, some small pieces of art, a statue, bell and a larger suitcase to put it all in, including my smaller, overstuffed suitcase that I had originally brought with me. But the coolest thing I bought in the entire market was actually from a small table outside. These weren’t offical booths and seemed almost garage style with small tables and blankets full of all kinds of random stuff. I just about lost it when I found one table full of antique Thai photographs. I collect old black and white photos so this was an exciting find. I spent quite a bit of time flipping through them all, pulling out all the photos that I was drawn to. I had to stop myself from buying all of them they were so cool! Photos from weddings, funerals, graduations, vacations, worshipping at temples, families at home as well as monks and nature scenes. There were a bunch from the 60’s that made me laugh, with Thai women dressed to the nines with giant glasses and pumped up hair. Of everything I bought while in Thailand, these photos meant the most to me. It’s an odd thing to collect I know, but in some way I feel like I’m keeping the people, moments and memories alive. It’s also a very affordable hobby. I also bought a stack of replica photos of the current King and Queen, also in black and white, from another booth. 

Sunday picnic in Bangkok. 

After several hours of non-stop shopping both of our backs were starting to give out and we decided to take a break and get some lunch. We found a little “restaurant” on the outskirts of the market and I had a tasty bowl of noodle soup and Byrd had some stir-fry with rice. There is a big park right next to the market so we wandered over to rest our aching feet and backs. It was a beautiful park and all the locals were out in hoards enjoying the perfect sunday. And my oh my do they ever know how to picnic! As soon as I walked in, a woman was offering me a straw mat to lay on for 20 baht. There are all kinds of people wandering around the park renting mats, each one marked as theirs. For 20 baht you have a huge straw mat that you can lie on for as long as you’d like. When you’re done, just walk away and they take care of it. There are also people wandering around with food, drinks, snacks and there are bbq meats and soups by the entrance. So basically you can come to the park with absolutely nothing and have a great picnic! Why don’t people do this in Canada?? It would be great on the island or on the lakeshore on a beautiful summer day. It certainly came in handy for us on our big shopping trip.

One-eyed pigeon in the park.

Mid-day rest.

Food and drinks for sale. 

You really can shop till you drop... 

Once we rested a bit and were feeling a bit better we left our mat and headed back to the market to spend a couple of more hours shopping. By mid-afternoon it was starting to get crowded and hot so we treated ourselves to some popsicles and a slushy to help cool us down. I got to spend some time wandering through the animal section, oohing and ahhing at the adorable puppies, kitties and bunnies. I never did find those baby squirrels I read about but I did see more dog outfits, accessories and toys then I ever had! We got lost, found and then lost again. Picked up all the gifts and souvenirs we wanted to. And then finally thew in the towel, feeling like we had barely cracked the surface. Chatuchak weekend market - you did not disappoint!

Don't think these would make it past customs. 

Lanterns. These were at all the night markets.

Fake flowers. 

Yummy popsicles!

Dried goods. 

Mountain of pottery. 

Really convincing fake food. 

Designer doggie. So cute I just about died. 

This guy looked just like my dog back home when he was a puppy!

Bunnies. 

Bubble machines. 

This gives a whole new meaning to "dog purse". 

Some interesting t-shirt art... 

Performing magic tricks for a crowd. 

The afternoon crowd, glad we came early!

Cat on a hot tin roof (literally).

And off to our next destination - Wat Pho!

Last day on the beach

Just a few photos to share with you from our last day, not much to say really other then I was hoping to be able to climb skull mountain but we quickly realized our footwear would not suffice... and you will shortly see why! Enjoy. 

Fishing boats docked at low tide. 

Two dogs that followed us out to the ocean, playing all the way. 

Beautiful and hardly a person in sight. 

Play date!

Skull mountain. 

Offerings. 

Shell offerings. 

Jellyfish washed up onshore. 

Skull mountain. 

Found sand writing. 

I see these propped up everywhere but am not sure of the significance... 

Woman picking for something... crabs, shells, mussels perhaps?

Cactus growing on the top of the cliff. 

My handsome husband striking a pose on the beach. 

The entrance to skull mountain - just a few ropes and wood tied together... 

An artsy shot my husband took of the ropes. 

Shell encrusted rock. 

The sun starting to set. 

I think this may be the skull in skull mountain.... 

The alternative path - not any better!