Knees of My Heart

Since pre-season is now officially OVER, I scheduled myself for a Deep-Tissue Massage today. It was wonderful!

The thing people don't often realize about deep-tissue massage is that it is not completely relaxing and comfortable. To me, even this is wonderful. I may be the only person alive who analyzes a massage while they are getting it. I think about the muscle it is massaging, I stay very aware to see where my knots are and I even am keenly aware of my massuse's technique. This is my favorite type of massage for one (well, two is seems now) very specific reason...the giant knot permanently present in my trapezius muscle, from my neck to my shoulder on the right side of my body. When I worked at Lenape in 1996 I began losing feeling in my right hand. I saw my general doctor, who advised getting a massage to relieve the giant knot, thereby restoring feeling to my hand. I always know it is time to go back when the tingling begins in my pinkie and ring finger on my right hand. I say it is now two reasons because as Ali (I usually go see someone new each time, just because I have to see whomever fits into my schedule) found a medium-sized knot in my left shoudler, in the exact same spot. I also seem to have added lots of little knots all over my body - along my shins, the arches of my feet and the ENTIRE trapezius muscle, in such places as under my shoulder blade, along my shoulder blade and along my rib cage including MY ARMPIT!

Seriously, who gets knots in their armpit?!?!?!? The thing I look forward to most now, besides knowing someone is going to push, prod, dig and mash into the lump (now two) in my shoulder(s) is when they massage my knees. I know that sounds very strange. I mean, it's not like you EVER hear anyone say "Geez! I'm so stressed and tense. I need a massage on my knees."! If I hadn't ever had a massage, I might never ever have known I like having my knees massaged. I could've spent my whole life with the tension just building up and building up in my knees. And then what would've happened?!?!?!?! The first time I went to a professional massuer and they rubbed my quads (thighs) and then began rubbing my knees I thought, "How odd! A massage on your knees!". After he finished the first knee I realized how much bettter it felt than my untouched knee. When he got to the second leg, I could actually feel tension just melting away. Who knew there was tension there?!?!?!? It never occurs to me again until I'm on my way to my massage appointment. Then, secretly I begin saying "Oh goody! My knees will feel SO good soon."

We all know I am a bit "unlike most other people" (some may even venture to use the word strange :) ), but I know now I am not alone. Jill went with me today and had a massage in another room, by another person while I was having mine. In the car on the way home, I told her I secretly enjoy the massage on my knees. "Me too!" she replied. "Who ever thought you held tension in your knees?!?!?"

I am off to drink the gallons and gallons of water to flush the toxins out of my body and to keep my muscles from aching and bruising from the immense workout it has undergone so far today. I am also going to head out to pick up some things from the store for our family get together tomorrow. I'm so excited, 'cuz I've got full functioning, feeling good, relaxed....knees. :)