by Paul Vachon
Many of you with whom we’ve worked have heard us encourage the use soft and progressively harder rubber balls for self massage of the bottom of the feet. In our culture of shoes, it is very common for our feet and lower legs to get rigid and the muscles weak. Hard soled shoes don’t allow for the natural bending and twisting of the feet which relates all the way up the body. We often forget how to spread or grip with our toes. The additional confining of our walking to only flat surfaces also takes out movements that are common and natural with uneven ground. If you’ve ever walked on cobble stone roads or a bumpy trail and found it difficult, it’s probably due to a few factors. Either you were in high heels, which I have to say are not the best functional shoes ever created. And/or your feet and lower legs were not accustomed to the constant change of surface. With more minimal shoes and flexible soles, we begin to feel the ground under us, and as a response the muscles in our feet and legs learn to quickly adjust and respond to the changing terrain.
Last year while visiting Manhattan for Amber’s strings camp, I went to the YMCA nearly every day and with those visits was able to try out several classes of which I’d never heard. I was like a kid exploring a new playground for the first time!! One of them is M.E.L.T. It is a class which utilizes foam rollers and rubber balls to work on the myofascia, to create length and increase suppleness. I liked this class so much I asked where one could get trained to teach classes. Unfortunately there are only classes in NY and CA so I’ve not made it to any of the trainings. It’s not cheap, either. If anyone would like to sponsor me to get trained, I’ll come back and teach classes!
As a member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, we receive weekly updates and news articles. One of them had to do with MELT and offered $10 off the regular price for the Hand and Foot Treatment Kit. I’m planning on purchasing a set myself and know there are several of you who have voiced interest in this kit.
“Sue Hitzmann’s M.E.L.T Hand and Foot Treatment is a self-therapeutic system that can address neck and low-back pain, arthritis, bunions and carpal tunnel syndrome. It removes stress through neurofascial techniques, taking no more than 15 minutes, 3 days a week. The kit includes six M.E.L.T treatment balls, and a Bunion Reducer band as well as a one-hour instructional DVD and 24 page instruction manual. M.E.L.T. is available for $39.95 at www.meltmethod.com.
You can get $10 off the kit through Feb. 28th, 2011, using M.E.L.T.-MBM as a coupon code.” I am not affiliated with this company, but feel our clients, friends and family could all benefit from this! If you have any questions please call or email at 288-2662 / paul at ammatn dot com.
Yesterday, Amber met with the fabulous ladies at 
Kingsport City Schools are out today because of snow, but we’re open. . . .
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