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Wupatki

It’s no secret that I love the outdoors and that I have an affinity for National Parks and Monuments. This past weekend, Jo and I decided to drive into Flagstaff, AZ and revisit two of my favorite places: Wupatki National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument.

Saturday saw us arriving into town, and after a quick bite to eat, make the short, 40 mile drive, to the park entrance. This Monument is paired up with Sunset Crater, and if time had allowed, I would have shown Jo the historic volcano and lava tubes the area has to offer. But with the sun setting fast and six separate pueblo ruins to see, I thought it best to spend time on what I thought was truly a great site.

It’s not certain when the area was first settled, but evidence supports theories that ancestral puebloans came to the area sometime after the Sunset Crater volcano blew in 1060. The Colorado Plateau isn’t the most hospitable area, but the ash and volcanic soil from the eruption made the land more fertile. I often find it a little humorous that historians call these settlers on the Arizona portion of the Plateau, Sinagua. The word stems from Spanish, meaning “without water.” Such was the case in many area, which made their farming expertise even more miraculous.

Wupatki Ruins

Wupatki National Monument has six separate ruins visitors can walk into or around. The largest is, of course, Wupatki. A guided loop trail that roughly takes about an hour to complete lets visitors get up close to this 100 room building, ceremonial kiva, and ball court. What makes this pueblo style dwelling interesting are the ball court and kiva. These two features are common throughout the Southwest and Mexico, but the incarnations here are markedly different.

Ball Court

First, the ball court is constructed nothing like those in Southern Arizona and Mexico. The ball courts there typically had open ends and were multi-layered. They often had large hoops that served as goals for the games played on the fields. Courts at Chitzenitza are so large that they compare to that of professional football fields. The court here at Wupatki was constructed for a special purpose. What it is, we still don’t know. Only that it is a self-standing masonry enclosure. There are no goals of any sort found and the structure was not covered, lending theory that it may have been used as a place for trading as well.

The Kiva

The kiva at Wupatki may have gotten its roots from the puebloans near Mesa Verde, but looks nothing like the sunken, covered structures found there. This large encircled area was also not covered, making it one of the few open air kivas ever discovered. It is assumed that this not only was a ceremonial place, but a common meeting room for the inhabitants of Wupatki.

T-Door

The other five ruins showcase typical puebloan architecture, including T-Doors. These structures were put in place for a number of reasons. First, the narrowing at the bottom forced those entering to come in at a slower pace, and thus offered some protection should they ever be attacked. Secondly, the overall reduced area, made it easier to retain heat in the cold winters and keep in cooler air in the summer. Finally, the narrower base also helped manage airflow, a requirement when dealing with fire.

Like all communities in the region, the pueblo was abandoned in the 1300s. The exact reason is still not known, but it is suspected that times were tough and scouts found favorable locations elsewhere. Descendants of these people are believed to have migrated to the Rio Grande River Valley and are still present in this region. They are known as the Hopi.

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Canyon Wall Riuns

On Sunday, we headed outside of town a few miles and stopped off at Walnut Canyon National Monument. While the inhabitants of these 300 separate ruins are lumped into the same category as Sinagua Puebloans, it isn’t certain the relationship they may have had with others in the region. These series of single room structures are very different from the cliff dwellings you’d see at Mesa Verde, Montezuma’s Castle, or even Tonto. They are more like single family units strung throughout the canyon.

The canyon itself is about 400 feet deep and offers great protection from the elements. There are some amazing views as well.

Walnut Canyon

In addition to the loop trail that takes you into the canyon, and up close to several of the ruins, there is an easier rim trail that allows some great views and a type-of pit house. For the complete album, click here.

Discussing the Topic

A good friend of mine from YouTube (OhCurt) asked me some questions regarding therapy I’ve been giving Jo’s father. In this video, I mention Myofascial Unwinding and Cranial-Sacral Therapy. Here are the associated Wikipedia entries:

Myofascial release (Myofascial Unwinding) is a form of soft tissue therapy intended for pain relief, increasing range of motion and balancing the body. Techniques include manual massage for stretching the fascia and releasing bonds between fascia, integument, muscles, and bones are applied. The fascia is manipulated, directly or indirectly, supposedly to allow the connective tissue fibers to reorganize themselves in a more flexible, functional fashion.

The fascia is a seamless web of connective tissue that covers and connects the muscles, organs, and skeletal structures, located between the skin and the underlying structure of muscle and bone. Muscle and fascia form the myofascia system.

Injuries, stress, inflammation, trauma, and poor posture can cause restriction to fascia. Since fascia is an interconnected web, the restriction or tightness to fascia at a place, with time can spread to other places in the body like a pull in a sweater. The goal of myofascial release is to release fascia restriction and restore its tissue health.

In medical literature, the term myofascial was used by Janet G. Travell M.D. in the 1940s referring to musculoskeletal pain syndromes and trigger points. In 1976 Dr. Travell began using the term “Myofascial Trigger Point” and in 1983 published the famous reference “Myofascial Pain & Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual”. Some practitioners use the term “Myofascial Therapy” or “Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy” referring to the treatment of trigger points, this is usually in medical-clinical sense.

Craniosacral therapy (also called CST, cranial osteopathy, also spelled CranioSacral bodywork or therapy) is a method of Complementary and alternative medicine used by physical therapists, massage therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors and osteopaths. A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which they say allows them to tune into what they call the craniosacral system. By gently working with the spine, the skull and its cranial sutures, diaphragms, and fascia, the restrictions of nerve passages are said to be eased, the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal cord can be optimized, and misaligned bones are said to be restored to their proper position. Craniosacral therapists use the therapy to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. There is no scientific support for major elements of the underlying model, there is little scientific evidence to support the therapy, and research methods that could conclusively evaluate the therapy’s effectiveness have not been applied.

One of the greatest pleasures I experience comes at the end of a meal at a Chinese Restaurant. Cracking open that Fortune Cookie and reading what wisdom awaits.

A long time ago, I learned that adding the phrase “… between the sheets!” makes any fortune better.

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In these hard economic times, I thought I’d take some time to share some tips on tightening your belt to make your hard-earned dollars go farther.

1) Lose the Land Line – Rely on your mobile phone or Internet calls. It’s cheaper and you don’t have to pay for redundant services.

2) Cut the Cable Bill – Don’t pay for TV when you can view the same programs for free at the network websites or on hulu.com.

3) Read the news for free online rather than paying for a paper.

What tips do you have this Valentine’s Day for saving money?

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The Grand Canyon

There may be seven Natural Wonders of the World, but one in particular is near and dear to my heart: The Grand Canyon. While often referred to as “the big hole in the ground” (something I have said myself), the Grand Canyon is much more than that.

This wonder began forming in ancient times on what is now referred to as the Colorado Plateau. The canyon is one of, if not the most studied geological areas on the face of the earth because it has three of the four geologic eras contained in its massive layered history. Its features include massive canyons, caves, and several major ecological systems.

The Grand Canyon today spans 277 miles (446km) and has an average depth of 4000 feet (1219m). At its deepest, the canyon drops 6000 feet (1829m) below the rim and 15 miles (24km) of distance between the South and North Rims.

Snow

The Grand Canyon is a World Heritage Site, but more importantly it stands as one of the crown jewels in the National Park System. It was first protected in 1893 as a Forest Reserve and later as a National Monument. On 26 February 1919 it achieved National Park Status, three years after the creation of the National Park Service. Today Grand Canyon National Park receives close to five million visitors each year – a far cry from the annual visitation of 44,173 it received in 1919.

As Grand Canyon National Park turns 90, I’m reminded of my first trip to this majestic place. It was in the summer of the late 1970s. My family and I drove up to the rim and toured the various outlooks. I remember not being impressed; after all, it was a big hole. Sure it had stunning geological features, but there was nothing that resonated with me.

But something kept drawing me back to the South Rim, and later the North Rim. Something compelled me look deeper into this natural resource.

I began studying the history of the Canyon – the people behind it. I also began hiking the trails. It was here that I first began to realize how special the Canyon was. In my opinion, one cannot really fathom the beauty or scope of the Grand Canyon until you drop below the rim. I don’t mean hiking to the bottom and up (something that is definitely an awesome adventure), but rather hiking in a quarter mile from the trailhead and seeing both the rim and the Colorado.

When you see both, the feeling hits you as to how small you really are.

If you ever get the chance to visit Northern Arizona, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to visit this natural wonder. Not only taking in the beauty, but also taking advantage of the artistry and educational programs developed by the Park Service. There are many things that make the Grand Canyon beautiful, perhaps the greatest are those five million that arrive each year.

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Sometimes people make excuses. Here are some imaginative pearls of wisdom.

What are some creative sayings you’ve heard over the years?

Congress has just delayed the switch to digital television… again! They seem to think that despite all the millions being thrown at this “issue” Americans don’t know what they need to do to still keep watching Oprah.

I can solve all their problems for a fraction of the cost.

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The Doctor Is In

Since returning to the United States, I’ve been conducting an extensive job search. While I certainly am enthralled about the chance to be the Island Caretaker of the Great Barrier Reefs, I also realize that I must pursue local opportunities to pay the bills. In my search, one of the topics that most often comes up is whether or not I’ll be resuming my business. The conversation usually goes something like this:

Client: STEVE! OMFG!!!! You’re back in the US! That’s Awesome! I’ve been reading your blog and watching your videos. They’re fantastic!

Me: Thanks. I’m glad to be back home with everyone again.

Client: So…. When are you starting your business again?

Me: I probably won’t.

Client: WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!!?!??!?!?!??!

Me: I enjoyed helping people all those years, but I’m just not interested in doing it as a business anymore. I’d rather simply use my skills as needed to help someone every once in a while.

Client: Awesome, because as happy as I was to see your awesome adventures, I’m really glad that you’re back. DON’T EVER LEAVE AGAIN!

Me: O.o

For those not all that familiar with my personal history, I owned and operated a Massage Clinic from 2002 through 2008. Now I use the term massage clinic in this post, since that’s what my business license was listed under. It also assisted my in getting clients through the Yellow Pages and other online searches. I, however, was much more than a massage therapist.

This was what was on the header of my website:

Welcome to Healing Chi Therapeutic Bodyworks, Arizona’s premiere center for pain management. When we think of pain management, thoughts often turn to mainstream medicine and “alternative medicine.” What most medical professionals fail to realize is that “alternative medicine” has been in existence for more than 5,000 years and that “western medicine” is the alternative to how most people in the world are treated every day.

The main difference between these two approaches is that “western medicine” most often seeks to address symptoms rather than root causes. This is normally seen by the vast array of drugs physicians prescribe in hopes that they’ll mask the symptoms long enough for the body to correct itself. This is quite dangerous, because while the symptoms are masked, the patient may aggravate the condition and actually make things worse. Using a comprehensive approach, we look to isolate the underlying cause and correct it, thus allowing our clients to progress towards their health goal.

What I did was a modern application of Chinese Medicine. Sure I did massage, but that was something that really didn’t require a whole lot of thinking. What I specialized in was finding the root cause of pain and eliminating it. Forever. The process was simple in my mind:

Healing Chi Therapeutic Bodyworks has crafted a 5 Step approach to not only address pain, but to eliminate it permanently. This is done by incorporating Traditional Chinese Medicine and 21st Century technology. This comprehensive approach goes beyond the symptoms and corrects the actual cause of the pain and discomfort.

Step 1 – Neurological Testing
Treatment begins by completing a complex series of neurological tests. These tests reveal the current state of the nervous system and discover if any abnormal signals are present. Erroneous signals cloud the body’s ability to function properly and can create dysfunctional systems (pain). Once the information is collected, these dysfunctional signals are corrected.

Step 2 – Structural Integration
Attention is placed on ensuring the spine, hips, legs, and other bones of the body are in their proper place. Rather than using hard, thrusting, and jarring motions, Cold Lasers and passive stretching are used to ease the body back into its optimal position.

Step 3 – Soft Tissue Therapy
This phase directly addresses the soft tissue around the painful areas. Using very light pressure, the various layers of tissue (skin, connective tissue, muscles, etc.) are relaxed. This is a key component of the pain removal process that is most often ignored by healthcare practitioners – but not here. As the tissue is relaxed, the body is retrained to accept its new pain-free configuration.

Step 4 – Herbal Therapy
This step provides the groundwork to allow the body to heal as quickly as possible. Since ancient times, traditional healers have used special herbs to promote health. Several herbal remedies have been shown to greatly enhance organ function and provide pain relief. A series of tests is conducted to determine which, if any, herbal remedies may enhance your recovery. These natural medicines have no ill effects and speed you back to health.

Step 5 – Self Care
The final phase of therapy allows the patient to be directly in control of their care. Key acupuncture points related to pain are discussed with instructions on how to use them effectively (without needles). With the body in proper position, muscles and nerves functioning properly, and herbal remedies providing additional support, these points enhance key organs and muscles and complete the recovery plan. In addition, stretching exercises are provided to assist in the ongoing relaxation of tight tissue.

See, it’s simple. The funny things would happen when my clients would refer me out to their friends. They’d try to explain what I did, calling it pushing, pulling, and pinching stuff. This wasn’t exactly the best sales pitch, so when I did get a referral they really didn’t know what to expect. I recently had such an experience.

A client referred a mother/daughter to me. The mother was suffering from some longtime shoulder injuries that resulted from a bad fall. In 9 minutes I had restored full range of motion and the pain had completely abated. When it was the daughter’s turn, she was very skeptical of the AK testing that I did, until I “turned” off her muscles. The process of doing that was met with a resounding, “HOW DID YOU DO THAT????? NOOOOOOOOOO WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!” She was further amazed when I asked her what difficulties she was having with her reproductive organs. That was met with a “WHAT?????????????????????? I just just had a hysterectomy! I totally didn’t tel you that!” Needless-to-say, that in 45 minutes all her physical problems were resolved.

I really do like providing the people with healing touch… just not as a business anymore.