Pat Blythe – Celebrations…..

It’s Tuesday night and ain’t got no money…..no….wait…..wrong song! It’s Tuesday night and I’m just starting my column….that’s it. This one will be short and sweet (so to speak). My lovely daughter-in-law Colleen has just finished giving me a Thai “massage”. The word massage is in quotes because it’s not really a “massage”.

I gotta say, Christ almighty!!!! It’s wickedly good but almost painful, especially if your muscles are completely f**cked up like mine are….especially in the shoulders and back….and calves…..and bum….yep, the upper bum….basically my entire body….even my toes. But, I feel better after her Thai massage than I have from any other “regular” massage I’ve received as of late. I wonder what my muscles will be shouting at me tomorrow though? Colleen is going through the certification process in Chang Mai , Thailand to become a licensed Thai massage therapist. She’ll be heading back there the end of July to complete her studies. Right now I have her to myself right here at home and it’s lovely! She can practice on me any time.

My beautiful and talented daughter-in-law Colleen Thornton singing with Pat Kelly

Traditional Thai Massage or Thai Yoga Massage does not involve oils or lotions. The recipient remains clothed, lying on the floor on a firm mat or mattress and, rather than rubbing or massaging the muscles, the body is compressed, pulled, stretched and rocked. Yoga-like positions are combined with deep static and rhythmic pressures. The massage follows designated lines (“sen”) in the body, seeking the various acupressure points. The legs and feet of the “giver” are used to position the body or limbs of the recipient. Sometimes, while the hands hold the body in position, the feet do the massaging. A full Thai massage session typically lasts two hours or more and addresses the entire body. This includes fingers and toes, ears and what I call “back walking”.

The founder of Thai massage is said to have been Shivago Komarpai, the Buddha’s physician, over 2,500 years ago. However, the history of Thai massage is a bit more complex than the legend of a single founder. There are a combination of influences from Indian, Chinese and Southeast Asian cultures and traditions of medicine. The art is not only a therapeutic method of healing but maintains health and well-being as well. You could say it’s a celebration of the body and the mind.

Drawings of acupressure points on sen lines at Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok

Some of the physical benefits of Thai Massage include:

• Increase blood circulation, lower blood pressure
  • Good for muscle relaxation, increase flexibility in your muscles, increase mobility
  • Improve breathing
  • Improves posture, balance, corrects body alignments and dissolves energy blockages
  • Help arthritis and back pain,
  • Help tone the body, strengthen joints and fight diseases, including chronic joint problems
  • Slows the aging process

Some of the mental and psychological benefits include:

• Clear and calm your mind
  • Reduce and relieve stress and anxiety
  • Raise the energy level and stamina
• Achieve better health, increases health and vitality.

It is not for faint of heart! …..but I highly recommend it.

….and thank you Julian Taylor for serenading us with your new tunes from Desert Star including my summer favourite (see below). The double-album will be officially released in October of this year with a celebration at Lee’s Palace. Thai massage anyone? What a fab way to spend an evening.

Heard Good Things – Julian Taylor Band

A Little Bit More – Julian Taylor Band

P.S. Julian wasn’t actually here in person….but it would have been nice……

The weekend….ah yessssss…..the weekend. July is now upon us in all its hot, sunny, rainless glory and both Canada’s “pants” and the U.S.’s “hat” have managed to make it through their various celebrations (Canada Day and July 4)….. all in a single four-day weekend…..and come out the other side. I headed west to London and then to my sister’s cottage in Kettle Point. The third celebration was my great-nephew’s first birthday. Cameron (known as CamJam by his grandmother, my sister Carrie) took it all in stride including the complete and utter destruction of a birthday cupcake. Time with mom, sisters and family was long overdue and too short.

Happy Birthday little guy. Love you!

Sarah Smith performed on Sunday night at Birch Pines campground in Kettle Point and I managed to take in the first set before heading back to mom’s in London for the night, and then home to Toronto on Monday. It’s always a pleasure to see Sarah and the band. She loves what she does and it shines through when she’s on stage. She has such a connection with her audiences and is one of my favourite artists. Sarah (without the band but with bass player Ken Ross) will be performing at Taste of Colombia on August 14th.

Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith & Ken Ross

Finally, last Wednesday I finally made it to the Orbit Room to see LMT Connection. I’ve been meaning to catch their performance for such a long time and I finally had a window of opportunity. LMT’s music is on regular rotation on my cell phone and blasts through my speaker at home. Together since 1989, LMT Connection are a Niagara-based funk and soul trio (their horn section reside in New York). The band is Leroy Emmanuel (lead vocals and guitar), Mark Rogers (drums) and John Irvine (bass). The amazing sounds Irvine produces from his bass resonates and reverberates up through your body, creating a swell of physical emotion that literally pushes on to the dance floor. Constantly on the move, LMT have played over 5,000 shows, toured Europe several times, opened for BB King on his 80th birthday, shared the stage with Al Green, Tower of Power and released five self-produced albums independently. You can see these funky guys most Wednesday nights at the Orbit Room. Check before you go, they may be on another one of their whirlwind tours.

L-R John Irvine, Leroy Emmanuel and Mark Rogers

Bodies couldn’t stop swaying to rhythm and the LMT sound. As the song goes “shaking hips at my fingertips….”. (Dirty Loops, Sexy Girls) …and this time, no camera. I met some wonderful people and simply enjoyed the company, the music and of course the dance floor.  To hear the songs I’ve been listening to over a speaker come to life was really was truly awesome. Funk really is the final frontier.

Funk is the Final Frontier – LMT Connection (BB Kings 80th birthday)

Curtis – LMT Connection

….and now for a little nostalgia…..I have no idea what the entire playlist is on this one but Best Hippie Tunes of All Time makes it worth listening to.

Best Hippie Tunes of All Time – Various Artists

Cheers!

All photos except LMT Connection and the Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok by Pat Blythe, A Girl With A Camera “The Picture Taker”

Sources

YouTube, Wikipedia, my camera, AllMusic

=PB=

Pat’s column appears every Wednesday.

Contact us at: dbawis@rogers.com

In “real” life Pat Blythe has spent the past 32 years as a consultant and design specialist in the telecommunications industry. After an extended absence Pat is now heading back to the GTA clubs, immersing herself in the local music scene, tasting what’s on offer, talking to people and writing once again — sharing her passions and her deep love of music. Together for 34 years, Pat also workedalongside her late husband Christopher Blythe, The PictureTaker©, who shot much  of the local talent (think Goddo, Frank Soda and the Imps, Plateau, Buzzsaw, Hellfield….) as well as national and international acts,  Currently making her way through 40 years of Chris’s archives, Pat is currently compiling a photographic history of the local GTA music scene from 1975 to 1985. It continues to be a work in progress. Oh…..and she LOVES to dance!