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Dear Friends and Clients,

I hope you all had a lovely spring break!

To be honest, I wasn't *ever* going to mix my other love, pole dancing, with my massage practice because of the ironically similar social stigmas still obstinately clinging to both.

I CHOOSE TRUTH
And yet here I am, about to share with you, many who are near and dear to me and many who are simply acquaintances, the ways I've discovered that Massage Therapy and Pole Dancing reflect and elevate each other in my life.  In doing so I actively choose not to breath life into false notions about what it means to pole dance.  Pole has no more to do with prostitution or degradation than therapeutic massage does.  Pole dancing to me, in addition to a physical transformation, has been a meditation in self love and a channel to help others find the same.  I believe that by choosing not to live in fear of an outdated stigma, I am actively contributing to its demise, for the benefit of all my pole sisters, for the benefit of all the women (and men) who wish to reap the physical and emotional transformation available to them through pole, and for my promise to myself to live in Truth at all costs.  I trust in the Universe that this energy I put forth continues to attract only massage clients who are also aligned with my intentions.  I celebrate the truth in all I do as a healer by practicing massage and soon, by teaching pole dancing. 


IN THE BEGINNING
I spent years with chronic back pain from subluxation of the spine.  No amount of hatha yoga, massage, energy healing, acupuncture or even chiropractic alone could fully reach it.  Where grounded yoga fell short, I knew I needed to find a practice that came from within me, as opposed to having something done to me.  Practicing both pole and massage in perfect counterbalance with each other has been the ultimate counterbalancing, the healing of my body simultaneously from the outside in and from the inside out.  While the physical action of massage involves mostly pushing downward, the physical action of pole is predominantly pulling oneself upward.  Their physical requirements counterbalance each other.  When I became fully immersed in doing both massage and pole, only then did my back issues resolve.  I've found that neither my massage practice nor my pole practice thrive without the other.  Because I have both, I am a thousand times the person and massage therapist I would otherwise be. 

COUNTERBALANCE, BEYOND JUST BALANCE
Counterbalancing is the key to all that happens in our sessions.  In the same way that Symphonic Massage approaches pain patterns from opposing directions simultaneously, treating both the painful segment and its opposing partner segment(s), I believe that counterbalancing all you do is the key to thriving.  In the same way that inhaling happens wholly only when exhaling happens fully, the best parents are those who intentionally block off personal time, specifically so they can be at their most present and patient, when they are with their children. 

Balance is defined as "all parts being in collective equilibrium."  While the need for balance in our busy lives is common knowledge, "Counterbalance" is far more specific:  It acknowledges the potentially negative effects of a repeated activity on one end of the spectrum, and employs an activity specifically at the opposite side of the spectrum to counter it.  Two opposing actions or activities should cancel out strain from both and so multiply the positives derived from both.


A TIP FOR THE DESK-BOUND
When one works a full time "desk job," it is vitally important to actively counterbalance the assault to the neck and back that working alone can cause.  Anne, a software engineer, admitted to spending over 50 hours a week in front of her home office computer.  However, she was extraordinary in that her muscles held none of the tension that most others in her situation would.  She was clear that she actively works for it-- I'd go so far as to say that all the usual benefits of a massage she is able to create for herself, from within!  She has an extensive Pilates and stretching routine that she practices unflaggingly in addition to regular exercise.  Secondly, Anne does not actually sit at her computer, she walks in front of it on a "Tread Desk," (treaddesk.com) at 1 mile per hour, slow enough to do her work, and fast enough keep her energy moving, her Qi flowing so that with her exercises, none of the typical neck/back tension befalls her.  Anne sets a perfect example of counterbalancing!


HEALING THROUGH POLE
All I'd ever wanted to do, from when I was very young, was help people, animals, and the Earth.  When I finally started my massage practice, I thought,  "Hooray, I'm finally here, doing what I was meant to do on a daily basis.  Life is good."...

...Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that pole dancing would direct me to help others heal.  Never did I imagine that to teach pole dance successfully is to uncover and apply salve to carefully hidden soul wounds felt by almost all women.  I'll never forget the day I learned about a pole student who confessed that she drove to the studio 3 times, on 3 separate days, and only on the third day did she find the courage to enter the studio.

She was far from the only one to fear her first class so.  I've heard time and time again from women that they were terrified on their first day.  Pole teacher training at Vertical Fusion Studio (verticalfusionstudio.com) has included far more than how to teach techniques safely and correctly; the other half of our training is about how to help our students feel safe and supported enough to simply try, to hold space for women at their most vulnerable as they discover in themselves the grace of the Divine Feminine.

Just what is the source of all this fear?  The fact that pole dancing evokes everything that our patriarchal society has forbidden us to do from the day we were old enough to understand that we are not male: to move our hips, to stick out our butts, to be sensual, to command intuition, strength and power, to love our bodies.  Even in the era of feminism, women are still forced to suppress these which are our birthright.  It is scary, to step into the light, to step into position to topple the false foundation upon which one's whole life has existed so that a foundation upon authenticity can be built:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?'  Actually, who are you NOT to be?  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."  ~Marianne Williamson

With Blessings, Gratitude, and Love,
Norell

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OTHER SYMPHONIC MASSAGE NEWS: 
RATE CHANGE & LAST CHANCE FOR CURRENT PACKAGE DISCOUNTS!
To reflect the refinement of my techniques and celebrate all that my practice has grown over the past year, starting May 1st, 2012, my session rates will be as follows:

60 minutes - $70
75 minutes - $80
90 minutes - $90
(A limited number of slots per week will continue to be available with a sliding scale starting at $50/hour for those in financial need.)

The good news is that clients who have purchased Symphonic Massage Discount Packages before May 1st will not be affected by this rate increase for the duration of their package (up to 12 months) You could be receiving your 90 minute sessions for just $60 while others are paying $90!  You are even welcome to purchase a package to follow your current package in order to maintain current discounted rates.  After May 1st, package rates will also increase.  Here are the details:

Discount Packages
Whether you would like to book yourself a regular slot weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or book as you go, a discount package could be exactly what you are looking for!  Packages may be split between two family or household members, are non-refundable (cash /check only) and all packages must be paid for in full at time of first session.  The following prices are valid through May 1st, 2012.

It is definitely on my radar that noise has been an issue on some evenings and weekends because students (of Higher Alignment, whom I share the suite with) are not always informed that there is a session going on as they pass by the treatment room on the way to the restrooms.  I deeply apologize if you were bothered during a recent session.

I'm pleased to let you know that the issue has been discussed with management, who were very receptive.  A sandwich board "Quiet Please" sign has been ordered and is on its way.  It is my hope that clear signage right in the middle of the hallway fixes the problem and tranquility can reign.  I thank you so much for your patience and understanding around this!

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SPREADING THE WORD
Symphonic Massage is now on both Facebook and Yelp!  I invite you to help me network by "Liking" Symphonic Massage's Facebook Page, and/or offering up your testimonial to your experiences on my table.  Thank you so much for your time, thoughts, and effort.

Facebook: 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Symphonic-Massage/189763224461658
Yelp!: 

http://www.yelp.com/biz/symphonic-massage-boulder


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FINAL GRATITUDE
Writing this particular newsletter was a thought provoking leap of faith for me.  If it hadn't been for all the soulful, tender conversations I've had with so many of you both over the table and outside the treatment room, I probably wouldn't have written it.  While this newsletter focuses mainly on women, it's not my intention to leave the men out.  I know for a fact that for the healing of the feminine to occur, so must healing of the masculine-- a counterbalancing of both.  I'm saving that for another newsletter.  ;-)

If you know anybody who might enjoy this newsletter, please feel free to forward it.  I invite you to contact me if you would like more info on pole dancing.  I also honor your privacy and am happy to unsubscribe you if you wish.