Please PUSH Me Around!!!

Ginger Johnson, Happy Chemo! Founder

I've never been much of a push over. I tend to get things done when push comes to shove and have also been known to push my way through crowds. But when I was given the opportunity to experience Push muscle therapy, I was not prepared to like being Pushed around. Let me explain...

Judy Smith of Footloose Reflexology and Muscle Therapies recently joined the Happy Chemo! Network and as a new partner asked that I come experience her services first hand so I'd know exactly what other people could expect. When she said to come for a Push therapy session, I was very interested. Not only because I had heard from friends that she was amazing - but that she can also work wonders on your body. Oh yes, it gets better...


I've had headaches and upper back/neck pain since high school when I was a cheerleader. It's never gone away and I was told by one physician after an x-ray of my spine that my hips were off by 5 cm which was causing all the problems. I had learned to deal with the pain although my body pain intensified with chemo and since chemo I've continued to feel tight all over - especially when I wake up in the morning. I feel like I'm 90!


On Friday I went in for a two hour session of Push muscle therapy and well, let me tell you, my body hasn't felt this good in years!!! Years people. Do you hear me...years!


So what did she do to make me feel so great? She pushed me around. 


Judy is trained in Push Muscle Therapy which is a specialized muscle treatment that primarily addresses chronic or acute pain originating from muscle, tendon or soft ligaments. Push Therapy is not massage and you are completely clothed during your session. Using simple motions Push lengthens the muscle at its resting state and increases blood flow basically telling your muscles to let go of the tension.


You should know that this isn't a 'lay on the table and relax' experience. There was some discomfort involved. As Judy would work my muscles, they'd scream at me and resist the change. But Judy was receptive to that and told me to always let her know what I was feeling.


That's another thing about this experience...I was educated. Before she began, Judy showed me in a mirror how my muscle tension was affecting my posture. My right shoulder was about 2 inches higher than my left - I was seriously crooked! And when I looked at myself from the side view, even though I was trying to stand completely straight, my body was leaning forward so much that with a little touch Judy was able to push me forward. I was completely out of alignment and I didn't know it!


Judy worked my muscles and educated me throughout the entire session. When she was finished I couldn't believe how much better I felt. I left the session feeling 2 inches taller, no neck, back or hip pain and I slept like a baby Friday night. (Did I mention I've been dealing with insomnia too?) Then Saturday morning when I woke up, I couldn't believe it. My body felt incredible. I sat straight up - which usually I have to roll over. I almost jumped out of bed and went to tell my family how great my body felt and still feels. 


I'm officially a lover of being pushed around! I can't wait to get pushed around some more and try the other services Judy offers: Reflexology, Reiki, lymphatic massage, foot detox and more. 


Just so you know...Push muscle therapy may be able to eliminate the causes of pain from the following conditions: carpal tunnel, headaches, TMJ, leg or knee pain, plantar fasciitis, shoulder issues, low back ache, or hip discomfort.


I feel it would be 100% worth it to schedule an appointment and see what Footloose Reflexology and Muscle Therapies can do for you!!! I've never felt so good. 


Call Judy Smith (801) 529-8777 and tell her Happy Chemo! sent you. You'll get a 10% discount and an experience that may change your life. 

Gain Happiness by Expressing Gratitude

Ginger Johnson, Happy Chemo! Founder

Thank you. Two simple words that mean so much. But how often do we use them? 

As a mother of three young children I am often bombarded with 'Now', 'I want', 'Why can't I' amidst the other bickering like 'He touched me' and 'She's breathing my air!' which happens to be a personal favorite. But all the chaos of the day seems to vanish when my little 3 year old son (who is also my personal cancer marker) says 'Thank you Mommy'. Simple words with power and the ability to change the atmosphere in any situation when spoken with sincerity.

Expressing gratitude to those around us is vital to increasing our own personal happiness. How? Think of gratitude as a physical object. When we open our arms and extend gratitude to those around us, our arms are open to receive the love and support that they have for us in return. It can be a continuous cycle of love as we give and receive the gratitude that is in our hearts.

Everyone wants to feel appreciated and loved. I don't know anyone who says 'I am too appreciated'. We all love to be loved and one way to show love is by expressing gratitude and sharing our thankfulness for the blessings we receive.

And so to everyone reading this, Thank you. Thank you for letting us serve you. Thank you for supporting Happy Chemo! and our mission to make the cancer experience easier to endure. Thank you for fighting each day to survive and Thank you for the kind words and service you render others - even when your energy is low and your day seems grim. Thank you for sharing your life with those around you and thank you for being grateful for what you still have. 

"Oh my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts - it's what you do with what you have left."

May we live each day with thankfulness in our hearts for what we have and strive to express gratitude for it. Our lives will be happier as we do.

Managing Stress

Managing Stress
February 1, 2009by www.cancer.net

An illness such as cancer can be one of the most stressful events of a person’s life. The stress of cancer and its treatment is increased by family, work, and financial concerns, in addition to everyday stress that was present before the cancer diagnosis.

Stress has not been shown to cause cancer; however, chronic stress may weaken the immune system, causing other health problems and decreasing feelings of well-being.

Tips for reducing stress
Some sources of stress (known as stressors) are predictable and can often be avoided. Making small changes, such as planning your schedule carefully and reducing your workload, can help lower the number of stressors in your life. The following general tips can often help to reduce stress:

Avoid scheduling conflicts. Use a day planner or personal digital assistant (PDA) to keep track of your appointments and activities. When scheduling activities, allow plenty of time to finish one activity before starting the next. Don't schedule too many activities for the same day or week, especially activities that require preparation.

Be aware of your limits. Allow yourself to say "no" when people ask you to take on tasks you don't have time or energy to complete. At work, don't volunteer for projects that you don't have time to work on. Cancer and treatment may leave you feeling fatigued, and you may need to take on fewer tasks if your energy level is low.

Ask for help. Ask family, friends, and coworkers for help. People are likely to offer their help, so think about what you need in advance, such as help with shopping or picking up a child from school.

Prioritize your tasks. Make a list of the things you have to do (including work, chores, etc.) and rank them in order of importance, considering both things you must do and things that are important to you. If you don't have time to do everything, concentrate on the tasks and activities at the top of your list.

Break down tasks into smaller steps. Break large tasks or problems into smaller steps and approach the steps one at a time. This process can make seemingly overwhelming problems easier to handle. For example, instead of spending an afternoon cleaning your house, tackle one or two rooms each day.

Concentrate your efforts on things you can control. For instance, the doctor’s schedule and traffic are out of your control, even with the best planning. People who can remain flexible keep their stress low. Sometimes the only aspect of a problem you can control is how you react to it.

Get help with financial problems. Ask an oncology social worker or a financial adviser who is familiar with cancer for advice on dealing with cancer-related insurance and financial matters. Do not wait to seek financial help; late bills and debt can quickly become overwhelming if not handled properly. Learn more about financial support resources.

Stress management strategies
While you can reduce your overall stress, it is not possible to eliminate all the stress in your life. Stress management strategies help you feel more relaxed and less anxious. The following list includes suggestions of what you can do everyday to help reduce stress:

Get frequent, moderate exercise. Moderate exercise, such a 30-minute walk, swim, or bike ride, lowers stress when done daily or at least several times a week. Talk with your doctor before starting an exercise regimen. Learn more about physical activity and cancer.

Schedule social activities. Plan times to socialize with family and friends. Having supportive friends and family is one of the most significant ways to reduce stress.

Eat well and get plenty of sleep. Maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough rest will give you more energy to deal with daily stressors. Learn more about nutrition and cooking resources for people living with cancer and strategies for a better night’s sleep.

Join a support group. Support groups offer you the chance to talk about your feelings and fears with others who share and understand your experiences. You can also talk with a trusted friend, a counselor, or a social worker. Learn more about support groups.

Schedule daily leisure time. Spend time doing an activity you find relaxing, such as reading a book, gardening, or listening to music.

Do things you enjoy. Eat at your favorite restaurant or watch your favorite television show. Laughter reduces stress; see a funny movie or read a humorous book. Learn more about coping with cancer through humor.

Write in a journal. Writing about the stresses and events in your life provides a private way to express your feelings. Learn more about finding comfort through journaling.

Learn a new hobby. Engaging in a new and challenging activity gives you a sense of accomplishment and provides distraction from daily worries. Examples include enrolling in an art class or playing a musical instrument.

Relaxation techniques
The following techniques may help you relax when feeling stressed. These techniques must be learned and practiced to become effective. Most can be learned in a few sessions with a counselor. Many hospitals and cancer centers have classes to teach patients relaxation techniques. Some of these techniques can be learned by following written directions. These techniques can be done daily, as well as at specific stressful times, such as during a medical procedure.

Relaxed or deep breathing. A technique that involves deep, slow breathing while concentrating on filling the lungs and relaxing muscles.
Mental imagery or visualization. A technique for creating peaceful and relaxing images in the mind.

Progressive muscle relaxation. A technique that involves tightening and then relaxing muscles, starting at either the toes or the head and progressively relaxing all the muscles either up or down the body.

Meditation. A technique in which you learn to relax your mind and concentrate on an inner sense of calm.

Biofeedback. A technique in which you are taught to relax and control your body's response to stress by paying attention to signals from the body.

Yoga. A technique that focuses the mind on breathing and posture to promote relaxation and to reduce fatigue.