Pomegranate, Lotus and Plum

08/17/2016

Here's a Tui Na video that gives an overview of the practice, for those who were wondering.

http://www.massagenerd.com

08/17/2016

Clients often ask me how long I have been practicing massage. Although I first went to massage school in 2004, I have my now 21-year old son, Ngozi Rafae,l to thank for introducing me to the world of bodywork. Vimala McClure's groundbreaking book "Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents" opened me up to the potential of conscious touch to help form connections, to encourage growth and transformation, and to be a source of calm and comfort.

In 2008, I was struck by a car while in a crosswalk. The resulting injuries changed my singing voice, and put me back on the path of bodywork and massage. It took me a while to realize that the fracture to my upper arm reset the placement of my bones enough to pull those vocal structures out of whack. I wondered what was wrong with me, and I struggled to reset my idea of who I was, if I couldn't sing any more. It took me years to figure out that, although the shoulder was healed, the surgery required to fix it, and the compensation made by the bone, nerve and muscle around it, was causing the changes in my voice.

Massage therapy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, have been the keys to healing for me. Through bodywork - both giving and receiving - the connection between mind, body and spirit has been constantly affirmed and reinforced. I work with muscles and bones, as well as with energy ("chi", using the same points that acupuncturists use, but without needles) to address that connection. Traditional western-style work - with oil on skin - is supported with acupressure and Chinese-based "Tui Na" massage. Clothed sessions comprised solely of acupressure and Tui Na are also available, and are just as effective for addressing the same kinds of issues (and some that western massage cannot).

I hold certificates in:
Swedish Massage
Deep Tissue
Trigger Point
Chair Massage
Tui Na Foundations
Tui Na Yin
Five Elements Acupressure
Cupping
AcuFacial

and additional training in Pregnancy Massage and Ortho-Bionomy.

Please feel free to contact me via www.pomloplum.com!

There is the kind of comfort that is overt, and spoken aloud to the mind. A great meal, a wonderful stretch, the company of a loved one. And there is a mother kind of pleasure that is sublet, and perhaps a little harder to put words to. When your body becomes more integrated, when you stand a little...

08/16/2016

pomegranate, lotus and plum
pomloplum.com

03/24/2015

more about the wisdom of the body in movement.

I apologize but the camera stopped recording before I was completely done so the tail end of my speech was lost but no worries...I will be recording a Pt 2 s...

03/12/2015

Self-promotion is a skill, so here I go:

I am seeing people for Swedish, Deep Tissue and Acupressure bodywork sessions at

5212 Claremont Ave, Oakland CA, on

Tuesdays and Saturdays!

Feel free to contact me at mail@alisonjohns.com, or call me at 347-868-7423 to book an appointment.

12/28/2014

This video describes an acupuncture point on the body that I personally love and use all the time. One site says that it is good for "chest congestion, phlegm, coughing, throat spasms, sore throats, shallow breathing, difficult breathing, chest tightness, chest pain, anxiety, agitation and thyroid gland irregularities." I find it good just for
calming
down.

Try it.

Joseph Carter explains acupressure point Kidney 27, "Elegant Mansion" located where the clavicle and sternum join. This point is used to relax the chest, cal...

12/27/2014

love these!

Love them? Order these trendy handmade earrings here: http://www.naturalgirlsrock.com/products/brooklyn-baby-lightweight-handmade-earrings

12/27/2014

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/got-to-get-over-the-hump/

It is never too late to buy a gift certificate for an acupressure session or a relaxing swedish massage.

Ask about the sliding scale options!

Launching a Massage Business - and Getting Over the Hump.

11/28/2012

Organic room freshener for sale! Strictly botanicals, organic alcohol, water, and love. $12 - shop local, y'all. Send me a message.

11/15/2012

Our mission is to spread Oakland charm to the corners of the world. So this month, we’ve got a popup store at the Oakland International Airport! You can find our outpost in Terminal 2 (Southwest), open from 5:30 am (yikes!) till 8 pm, from now through the end of the month. We’ll have some of our favorite tees and hoodies, plus wares from other Oakland artisans and makers.