Happy Holidays from the Soft Mechanic!

Thanks so much to all those eager folks who contacted me to cap off their year with a well-deserved treatment.  I’m officially booked for the rest of 2010!  

For those of you who are still hankering for a tune-up , how about starting the new year off with, you guessed it, a celebratory massage?  I’ll be back in action on Tuesday January 4, 2011 and welcome your appoinment inquiries.  You can reach me at (416) 831 -6719  or  michelle@softmechanic.com.  

In the meantime, weather permitting, go make yourself some snow angels.  Optional, but highly recommended accessories:  Mom’s ancient knee high Sorels (for Ottawa-sized snowbanks), a paper bag full of doughnuts, someone to help you out of that snowbank once you’re done.

Last minute appointment availability Dec 14-17

 

Attention spontaneous appointment makers!  Here is your chance to fit in a treatment this week.   Can you feel your shoulders drop down about 2 inches, in anticipation?  Goody.

 

Currently still up for grabs:

Tuesday December 14:   4:30-5:30 pm

Wednesday  December 15:  anytime between 11:45 am -4:30 pm, or 5-6 pm

Friday December 17:  2:15-3:15 pm, 3:45-4:45 pm

 

If any of these times work for you, contact me and I’ll confirm that the appointment is still available as  soon as I can.  Here’s how to get in touch:

Calling is best if you are looking for an appointment for the same day.  (416) 831 – 6719 I’m able to check my phone messages faster in between treatments.

Emailing is great  if you’ve got a day for some back and forth.   You know I’m pretty fast at responding.  michelle@softmechanic.com

I’ve still got quite a few appointments available for the last week of December and will be posting them periodically.  Don’t hesitate to email me with your appointment inquiry.  It would be great to see you!

 

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a year full of abundance, adventure and great health!

I’m off for a wee break over the next two weeks and will resume regular office hours on Thursday January 14.  I will still be returning calls and answering emails if you have any questions or appointment inquiries.

My rates will be changing effective January 1, 2010.   Please check out the updated fee schedule on my website by clicking here.  75 minute treatments are now available, for those of us who agree that an hour goes by too quickly!

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

When art and anatomy intersect

This weekend was a visual feast of local arts and crafts at the annual City of Craft event, held this year at the lovely Theatre Centre.   A quick walk  along Queen West yielded some unexpected riches of the anatomical/art variety.  Riffing off my last post about the giant colon and the awesomeness of unusual anatomical models as educational tools,  how could I not feature the fine specimen below?

Is that intestine made out of chenille? Organs and bones never looked so cozy!

One of many art installations included in the City of Craft, Lab #4 is the creation of Saskatchewan-based artist Shanell Papp.  Her current work focusses on the aspects of  fragility and vulnerability that the human body and textiles share.   You can read more about her work right here and you can see it in person at The Knit Cafe in Parkdale.

In a similar vein, click on the link to see this knitted digestive system by Oregon-based Matie Trewe, which has been in my “weirdly awesome” folder for awhile now.   Junior high would’ve been way more fun  if something like it had been part of  my science or home ec curriculum!

For those who might be put off by the more graphic nature of the Body Worlds exhibit, this may present itself as a less macabre introduction to Anatomy 101.  Here are some internal organs, you might just want to cuddle up to and get to know better!  Is my enthusiasm catching on yet?   Aww, c’mon.

White Coat, Black Art

The Giant Colon: encouraging you to discuss the "unmentionables" with your health care providers.

 

White Coat Black Art is a show on CBC Radio One that has been piquing my interest as of late.  Hosted by Dr. Brian Goldman, the program takes you behind the doors of doctors offices and ERs to demystify the world of medicine.  I find it a really accessible show that engages listeners with lively interviews, lots of humour and surprising candor.   The show aims to ” explore the tension between hope and reality: between what patients want, and what doctors can deliver.  Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals will explain how the system works, and why, with a refreshing and unprecedented level of honesty.”

Most recent episode  topics include talking about “the unmentionables”  with your doctor (the intro starts with a clip from the family guy that is priceless), the sanctity of patient confidentiality with the rise of celebrity docs doing television and writing books about their careers, violence on the job: the occupational hazards of working as paramedic, and how the health care system treats obesity – from the perspective of those who specifically treat obese patients and the doctors who are obese themselves.

White Coat, Black Art airs on CBC Radio One Saturdays at 10 am and replayed Mondays at 11:30 am.
You can also listen to the podcasts here .