One of the coolest things about being a massage therapist (then spa owner) and now spa consultant is that I often get to try new kinds of massage, bodywork, alternative treatments, skin care and body treatments. In fact, I have probably had more treatments and modalities than most people even know are out there.

 Just thinking about it today I recalled many different massage styles I've tried including Amma, Swedish, Neuromuscular Therapy, Deep Tissue, Myofacial Release, Trigger Point, Acupressure, Ashiatsu-Bar Therapy, Reflexology and Lomi-Lomi. I've also had Rolfing, Dynamic Structural Learning, Jin Shin Jitsu, Polarity, Reiki, Cranio-Sacral Work, Body Talk, Feldenkrais, Trager, Mayan Abdominal Massage, Watsu, Bowen Work, and many others I've probably forgotten.

But yesterday and today I had Rossiter, specifically to help some pain I was experiencing in my forearms and hands. It kind of happened unexpectedly. A friend and colleague, Kathy Howard, who is now a Rossiter instructor had come by my office to tell me about a class she is planning to offer and to ask my help in promoting it. The next thing I knew I was receiving my first session right there on my office floor lying on a yoga mat.

How can I explain Rossiter? It is not really like massage...closer to acupressure or Shiatsu in terms of the way it is applied, but then only done to one or two areas in a session. I am on the floor while Kathy stands and applies pressure to specific body parts...in my case, my arms...with her feet. She balances herself with the wall and a block and tells me often that I am in control of how much pressure she uses.

She goes through a particular sequence in which I tense certain areas and move my right arm and hand as instructed (coached, really) while she applies pressure to a specific point. This combination of actions helps the connective tissues in my arm stretch and release. Between steps she has me wiggle and stretch my arms a bit and take a few deep breaths before laying back on the mat for the next step. At the end, the arm she worked on feels much lighter than the one that has not been treated and it seems to hurt less too. She tells me that she will see me again tomorrow to do the other side but to notice how different my arms feel in the meantime. Great saleswoman, she.

I did notice a difference and when she came back today, I was ready for side two...the bad one. It was...how can I say it...intense. The left side was more restricted I guess and in some areas quite tender. But I wanted to do the whole session anyway to see if it would help.

The answer...yes! My arms and hands felt much better after she was done and still do even after a couple of clients and a lot of typing. I plan to see her for some more sessions to continue the improvement in my arms and tackle a few other areas. And so I want to spread the word to suggest that others who are in pain give this work a try.

I also want to help Kathy promote her upcoming classes. They will be primarily for massage therapists but can also provide CE credit to dental assistants and personal trainers. Rossiter can also be taught to the public in introductory and shorter class sessions for use on friends and family.

Kathy is quickly filling her 2008 teaching schedule, but would appreciate hearing from anyone who might be interested in bringing a class to their area or attending the ones she is already planning. If you are interested in contacting her, please email her at Kathy@rossiter.com. You can also learn more about this work at www.rossiter.com. If you're in pain or know someone who is, I hope learn more about it and give it a try.