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By Lisa Jisa
In 2015, I was finally properly diagnosed with Lyme disease (and many of the co-infections that come with it). I had been misdiagnosed for close to 15 years! I lived in Phoenix for much of that time, and Lyme wasn’t on the radar there. I still have a lot of family in my home state of Wisconsin, and the potential is that I got an infected tick bite on a trip back, although I never saw the classic bulls’ eye rash. Lyme disease brought on numerous crazy symptoms. I was in pain often but could never explain why. My muscles hurt, my joints hurt, and I often had headaches. At one point, I developed a case of vertigo that was so horrible, the recovery took weeks. My eyesight was affected. I had anxiety that would come and go, and shortness of breath at times. Other crazy symptoms would pop up and leave, making it difficult to figure out what was wrong. I developed all sorts of food allergies and intolerances. And exhaustion would sweep over me in waves where I couldn't keep my eyes open or even get off the couch. Strangely enough, during those years I also felt good enough at times to run marathons and even a couple of 50k trail races. The symptoms would come and go. My guess is that when I was running at high volume, I was sweating out toxins regularly and keeping Lyme at bay. Lyme disease is a strange thing. It can lie dormant in the body for years and then decide to rear its ugly head during times of great stress. It took 26 years for me to realize how unhealthy my marriage was and find the courage to leave. High levels of stress were taking a toll on me, both mentally and physically. I won’t go into details here (although if you want to know more of that story, you can find it on my blog at www.lisajisa.com ) To combat the stress, anxiety, depression, and pain I so often felt, I turned to massage. It was the only thing that consistently helped. It drives me crazy when people think of massage as simply a fluffy luxury, because I believe that getting a massage every 2-3 weeks for a few years literally kept me alive. (Note: I have always been a highly sensitive person and hesitate to take “regular” medications because of the potential of adverse reactions in my body. So I couldn’t just reach for painkillers or anti-depressants and had to find natural alternatives.) Massage has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The soothing strokes from a caring therapist can help to reduce the pain as well. The Gate Theory hypothesizes that nerves can only carry one signal to the brain at a time. If the “good” feeling from a massage stimulates nerves to reach the brain faster than pain signals, they get through the “gate” faster and can block those feelings of pain. My youngest daughter and I moved to Littleton in 2015 and that’s where we found the doctor who saved our lives! (Yep she was diagnosed with Lyme, too, and in fact I may have given it to her when I was pregnant…) It took two years and thousands of dollars, but I am Lyme-free and forever grateful to Dr. Bob Arne! www.arnewellnesscentercolorado.com When Lyme is caught early enough, a few rounds of high-powered antibiotics usually knock it out. Lyme was diagnosed way too late for that to have helped me (or my daughter). And I am allergic to most antibiotics. I am so grateful to have found a natural way to get through Lyme and its co-infections. We used herbal and natural remedies, spent time in a far-infrared sauna as part of detox, and used a RIFE machine. That’s a bio-electric machine that can be set to programs of different frequencies that can target Lyme and its co-infections, among other things. It sounded crazy and kooky until I tried it. You hold small metal rods in each hand and the machine delivers little “zaps”—hence our nickname for it, the zapper! (I still use it for Candida and various other things.) We moved to Wisconsin in 2016 to be closer to more family. As divorce proceedings began to get underway, it became evident that I was going to need a job. My first stint in college was for degrees in elementary education and Spanish. I taught at a school (in Wichita, KS) until my son was born. After that, I stayed home to raise my children, even homeschooling my oldest two all the way through high school! I didn’t want to go back into the traditional classroom and was at a loss as to what I should do. My daughter reminded me how much I loved massage and how much it had done for me, and also mentioned my great back and foot rubs! :-) I attended the program for Therapeutic Massage at Madison College and graduated in 2018 at the age of 51! To celebrate Lyme being officially gone and the divorce being final, I decided to train for Ironman. I had watched a friend compete a year earlier and was inspired. That’s a 2.6 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. I trained while simultaneously attending massage school. What a crazy year! My hope was to arrive at the starting line healthy and happy and knowing I was well-trained enough to finish the race. And I was…although the choppy Lake Mendota water that day slowed me down, and I was only 6 miles from finishing the bike course when I was told I was out of time and had to exit the course. I cried and told the officials I was a runner and knew I could make up the time, but alas, my Ironman debut was over. (I’m still an Ironman in my mind! And I don’t ever need to do that again!) I worked at a massage place in Madison that catered to cyclists and triathletes until I was ready to open my own place in the small town of Pardeeville where my daughter and I lived. I loved my clients and running my own business. A bad car accident in December 2020 slowed me down…After taking a few weeks off, I quickly discovered that if I gave more than two massages per day, I couldn’t move for the next two days. Then mold was discovered in our apartment, and the landlord wasn’t going to do anything about it. I’d lived in two other homes that had mold (part of the reason it took so long to get through Lyme treatments. Mold wreaks havoc on the immune system.) I knew I couldn’t stay there. My daughter was finally able to attend college in person, so I decided it was time for something new. I sold or gave away most of my earthly possessions, except for what fit in the car with my toy/mini poodle puppy and me. We moved in with my parents in Durango for what I call “Sabbatical 2021” as I healed, physically as well as mentally and emotionally again. I am grateful for that time to heal inside and out because I became stronger than ever! In December 2021, I moved to Pagosa Springs. In January 2022, I happily stumbled upon PMAB and loved it—the philosophy of the benefits of massage as more than just a luxury, and the wonderful co-workers. What a great place to be! There you go—how I got into massage and came to be at PMAB! Other things to note: I’m also a flower essence practitioner. Remember the RIFE machine that was set to different frequencies? Well, flowers have their own unique vibrations, too! I make essence remedies as a natural way to combat issues such as anxiety, depression, grief, etc. There is no scent, as no part of the flower is actually in the bottles. It’s just the energetic vibrational frequencies. I’m putting together a new business and website, so be on the lookout for more information! And…I got my first novel published in 2019. Pearls of Winter is a story of love, life, loss, forgiveness, and moving on. The main character, Olivia, needs a fresh start after her plans are abruptly changed. And so she goes to Africa for something completely new! I’ve been to Africa four times and used some of my personal journals as reference to describe the beautiful country of Uganda. Bookends in downtown Pagosa carries my book, as does Maria’s in Durango. Or you can check it out on my website with a direct link to Amazon! www.pearlsofwinter.com And last but not least, I am a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. It’s because of His love, mercy, and forgiveness that I am here. Without faith and hope in Him and the prayers of many friends, I never would have made it this far. But the Lord’s plans and purposes prevail!
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Healing Circles with Rise Above Violence
By Stefanie Little 2022 is nearing the end, and with that we are also celebrating our first full year of Healing Circle Workshops - a joint effort between Rise Above Violence and PMAB + Movement. This year we have explored so many different healing modalities, all specifically aimed for trauma survivors looking for alternative ways to find growth and healing. This year we have offered workshops on self-massage, reiki circles, flower essences, the art of council, sound healing, and various forms of movement. Back about a year ago, at the end of 2021, the two organizations sat down for some brainstorming. The weekly peer-supported talk therapy women’s group wasn’t working, but we knew that survivors in the community were searching for something. We talked about how Rise had been doing this work for so long, that now we have a community of trauma survivors who may well be long past the immediate crisis of their situation, have moved on, stabilized their lives, and no longer required Rise’s services necessarily, but there was still healing to be done. We realized that survivors are moving more towards alternative healing methods to continue that deeper personal work. These Healing Circle mini-workshops came into being for that purpose. How we heal from trauma is different for everyone; one may feel pulled towards sound healing as opposed to art therapy, while another may greatly benefit from some guidance on self-massage, rather than energy work. Oftentimes, you won’t know until you give it a try! PMAB + Movement hosts these workshops once a month for free for any trauma survivors. They take place every 4th Thursday of the month from noon-1pm at the PMAB studio. We feel the holidays are just as important for grounding and healing as any other time of the year (perhaps even more so for survivors), and our workshop for this month, on December 22nd at noon, will be based around gentle yoga and meditation: “We will do gentle yoga for grounding as well as some heart opening poses, to prepare ourselves for Loving Kindness (Metta) Meditation for oneself. It will be 20-30 minutes of guided meditation after asana practice, for some extra support for oneself, gift giving for oneself, before the holiday! Led by Andrea Peltier.” We are already gearing up for 2023 - with January’s workshop topic about personal transformation, and we have hypnotherapy and homeopathy on the calendar as well! If you or someone you know is a survivor in Pagosa, searching for community and alternative healing, we hope you will join us at PMAB for these amazing, transformative, and healing mini-workshops. If you have any questions, feel free to call PMAB at 970-903-9278. These healing workshops are just one way that Rise works with the community to support victims and survivors. Advocates at Rise also offer safety planning, emotional support, help victims navigate the legal system, and much more. Research shows that supportive services that are trauma informed are the best way to get to those who have experienced domestic violence on the path to healing. Rise Above Violence is a 501c3 non-profit that provides 24-hour support and advocacy services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault or other forms of violence, serving around 400 victims each year. Rise also works to eliminate violence through education for youth and our community. All programs and services are free and confidential, including emergency prevention education and empowerment programs. Visit www.riseaboveviolence.org for more information or call 970-264-9075 to talk to an advocate today. Healing Circles with Rise Above Violence
By Stefanie Little The holidays are traditionally a time to get together with family and friends, share food, exchange gifts, practice gratitude, and celebrate the cold, snowy season. For trauma survivors, it can be a difficult time of year too, it could mean having to see family that may be toxic, or it could feel like a very lonely time of year. The holidays can be stressful enough, even without added family trauma to handle. If you or someone you know is searching for some extra self-care, some extra healing, and some healthy community this holiday season, PMAB is the place for you. Rise Above Violence has been teaming up with PMAB + Movement once a month to host Healing Circles at the PMAB studio, which are mini-workshops designed to introduce survivors to different healing modalities - such as movement, energy work, or art. For this month, the Healing workshop will be on Thursday, November 17th (a week before Thanksgiving), from noon-1pm, and we will be hosting a Drum Circle! Feel the beat of your heart and the rhythm of your soul. Bring a hand drum if you have one - we will have extras plus other rhythm toys. No experience necessary. Led by Michelle Chapman - pipe band drummer, violinist, and yoga instructor. This Drum Circle workshop is a perfect way to learn how to use your body, your hands, and your soul to express yourself in a healthy upbeat way! Maybe we’ll even get up and dance to our heart’s desires too. We are so excited to host this particular workshop right before the chaos of the holidays commences. These workshops are FREE to attend for survivors in our community. With the exception of this month’s workshop being on the 3rd Thursday of November, the Healing Circles take place every 4th Thursday of the month from noon-1pm. If you or someone you know is a survivor in Pagosa, searching for community and alternative healing, we hope you will join us at PMAB for these amazing, transformative, and healing mini-workshops. If you have any questions, feel free to call PMAB at 970-903-9278. These healing workshops are just one way that Rise works with the community to support victims and survivors. Advocates at Rise also offer safety planning, emotional support, help victims navigate the legal system, and much more. Research shows that supportive services that are trauma informed are the best way to get to those who have experienced domestic violence on the path to healing. Rise Above Violence is a 501c3 non-profit that provides 24-hour support and advocacy services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault or other forms of violence, serving around 400 victims each year. Rise also works to eliminate violence through education for youth and our community. All programs and services are free and confidential, including emergency prevention education and empowerment programs. Visit www.riseaboveviolence.org for more information or call 264-9075 to talk to an advocate today. We look forward to sharing some healing energy with you! By Stefanie Little
I’ve had the honor of being a part of many different communities in the course of my life. For over a decade I was a semi-professional belly dancer, performing and teaching in and around our Denver home base, and in various festivals on the west coast with an amazing and well-known tribal belly dance troupe. The belly dance community is tight-knit and supportive, and I gained life-long friends during my time as a dancer within it. But over the course of time, I started to see and experience some behavior within the community that wasn't what I had expected, and caused me to doubt my participation within it. I suppose I had already started to energetically step away from dancing when I suffered a hip injury that knocked me out the game, basically for good. I mourned for a time, but looking back now, am grateful for my time and experiences as a dancer during what was mostly a very rough and traumatic period of my life. Belly dancing provided me some light and community and some connection with my body during a time when my personal life was causing my body quite a bit of abuse and trauma and destruction. Without dance during this period of my life, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to stay afloat. For that, I am deeply grateful. (And I still dance to this day in my tiny living room! Just not on stage anymore :) ) The majority of my professional jobs from my teens into my adult life have been working with animals. You name it, I’ve probably done it! Veterinary hospitals, doggy daycares, grooming, training, zookeeper, wildlife rehabber, wildlife surveyor. The community of humans who choose to care for animals for their job, now that’s a pretty rad group of people. Do what you love and get paid next to nothing for it! And again, I made life-long friends in this line of work (including meeting my husband!). And again, the flip-side: a lot of heartbreak and death (especially in wildlife rehab), and a lot of humans with a lot of issues of their own. After nearly 15 years of working with animals, my emotions were shot, and I took a break. By this time, my now-husband and I had moved to Pagosa Springs from southern Utah, and had started our life as tiny-home off-grid homesteaders! To say we both found a new sense of belonging, and pride, and wholeness, is an understatement. After a series of dysfunctional “normal” jobs in Pagosa, I landed at PMAB. And wouldn’t you know it... I found my community. Lauren and Jenn’s vision for PMAB has always been whole body health, but I’ve seen it turn into more than that. I’ve watched it turn into a safe space for people to be truly who they are, for them to open up and allow healing to happen, and to feel like they have a space to walk into where they won’t be judged for *anything*. We’ve watched our clients take healing into their own hands, and feel empowered and educated enough to do so, confidently. Personally, I’ve found friends I can trust with my own trauma and healing. If I can walk into work, and tell my boss (my dear friend, really), “I’m sitting heavy in my trauma today,” and she gives me a hug and some coconut water (because I need to stay hydrated and get my electrolytes!) and tells me to let her know whatever I need today, AND asks what will bring me joy today?? (And a couple hours later makes sure I’ve had a chance to sit and eat). Now THAT’S community. That’s a level of openness and respect that can’t be faked. This is what PMAB is really all about. We provide not only the best therapeutic treatments in town (massage, reiki, and chiropractic, to name a few), but we give anyone who walks through our doors that space to be themselves, whatever that may be, to feel safe, to feel heard, and to heal. What does community mean to you? What drives you to be a part of a community that speaks to you? And what can we do to help provide that space?  Not only did people miraculously survive the accident that smashed this car flat—but massage therapy played a huge part in the healing and recovery for one of the passengers. More on that story a little later. Consumers may be tempted to trim their wellness budgets when economic times are tough. Yet a recent national consumer survey showed most wellness-minded people are committed to maintaining the health benefits they experience with massage. It makes sense— the better you feel, the better job you can do of caring for yourself and your loved ones. Massage plays an important role in reducing stress and strengthening the health of each individual. When people feel their best, they are more likely to be able to face the challenges that difficult times present. With greater health and peace of mind, people can face difficulties with poise, clarity of purpose, and strengthened emotional reserves. Truly, massage is more than a luxury—it’s a vital part of self-care that has a positive ripple effect on us as we work, play, and care for others. In economically challenging times, it is vital to invest in preventative healthcare. The last thing you want is to get sick, have to take time off work, pay expensive medical bills or get behind on regular bills; all leading to more stress. The following are all the health-related reasons why adults should be including massage in their family budgets and schedules. Massage therapy: • Boosts the immune system. • Reduces anxiety. • Reduces the flow of stress hormones. • Improves sleep. • Improves energy levels and reduces fatigue. • Improves concentration. • Increases circulation. • Improves self-esteem. • Reduces frequency of headaches. • Releases endorphins. We can talk about the benefits of massage until we are blue in the face! Most people are aware of the benefits of massage already. The truth about massage is that it is unique to everyone. Everyone experiences something different from massage; from different massage therapists, different times in our lives, different body types, different reasons for receiving a massage, the list goes on. As one of the co-owners of PMAB + Movement, I can tell you that I know on a personal level the incredible healing benefits of regular massage treatments. Remember that smashed car picture at the top? At 18 years old, I was in the passenger seat when we went head-on with a semi. I came away from the accident with severe hip injuries which led to a lack of mobility. Everything from simple things like tying my own shoes, to not being able to do the things I love anymore - hiking, skiing, etc. - were suddenly inaccessible to me. Physical therapy got me to 50%, massage got me to 85%, and adding movement got me to 98% over the course of a decade! During this healing period of my life, my massage treatments were at times intense, but they were also goal-oriented and injury-specific. Now, I receive massage as a way to maintain my body and health, and for general relaxation. Also, I now have the opportunity to learn from other massage therapists via their own skills and experience. All of this led me to attend massage therapy school on Kauai in 2006 after experiencing first-hand the healing effects of regular therapeutic massage treatments, as well as regular yoga and movement. Fast forward many years later, and my partner and I have created Pagosa Massage & Bodywork as a way to bring this important and crucial healing modality to our local community. Watch the video below to learn a little more about my journey with massage therapy! I hope my story inspires you to take more control of your whole body health and wellness. Anything from severe injury to stress-related aches and pains can benefit from regular massage treatments. If you are interested in getting your own massage journey started, call us at 970-903-9278 and find out how we can help get you down the path of healing and wellness.
Do you have a massage therapy story you'd like to share? Tell us in the comments! |
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