SheSue Experience » What’s It Like?

White Water Rafting on the Rogue

SheSue — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:07:03 +0000

My daughter and I ready to raft.

White Water Rafting Plan on getting wet and having an exciting time while riding the rapids on a raft. My daughter and I tried out white water rafting on the Rogue River. It was my daughter’s first time on white water, and my first time on a raft.

We chose Noah’s Rafting out of Ashland in southern Oregon. They’ve been in operation since 1974 and they offered pickup at your hotel. They offer several different trips on the Rogue and Klamath Rivers. I chose their introduction to whitewater rafting trip. Which provides lessons plus put us over some exciting rapids.

We were picked up right on time by two Eriks; the driver and the guide. The driver was a retired long haul truck driver, a very amiable fellow. I was continually amazed at how he maneuvered the van in and out of traffic while pulling the raft on a trailer. The guide was also very outgoing and friendly, sharing with us his 20 years of rafting experience.

Our Guide Erik

Once on the water, the guide talked to us about safety, describing different scenarios and how to react such as what to do if you fall out of the boat. We then learned about paddling through demonstrations and hands on training. Synchronization was the key. We were all supposed to paddle together. We got pretty good on the flat river, but once into the rapids, our synchronization was way off.

It was time to head down the river. As we moved along, he described the rapids we would be encountering. The rapids are ranked based on difficulty on a classification scale of I-VI; I being mellow and VI being unrunnable (as he described it only those with a death wish would try). Our trip would include class I-IV rapids.

Class IV rapids.

The guide did most of the paddling. We went through a couple of mellow rapid sections before getting to a class III, which we paddled through. A few more mellow sections, then we got to a class IV. It was here we were required to wear our helmets. We were asked to paddle getting into the rapid, and then we just hung on while the guide got us through the biggest part of the rapids. Yee Haw! Being flexible, the raft rode the water like a bucking bronco. It was a little scary seeing the drop you were about to go over, but you were into it so fast, you didn’t have time to get really scared. We all came out smiling.

A short distance later, we pulled out of the water for our snack break. The food was great! The driver has set everything up while we were on the river. The spread consisted of fresh vegetables; hummus, spinach dip, chips, toast and homemade cookies along with water, lemonade and iced tea.

As we were eating, another raft came through the same class IV rapids we just made it through. They weren’t so lucky. The raft got turned sideways and two people rolled out of the raft. They shot down the river, showing the sheer power of the water. Our guide told us earlier that rafting is fun and exciting, but it’s not Disneyland. It must be taken seriously, proven by what we just witnessed.

Back on the water, we went through a couple of mellow rapids, then another class IV. All too soon, our ride was over. We pulled out of the water and were driven back to our hotel. Our guide described Noah’s all day trip on the Klamath as having much more exciting rapids. We are definitely planning on that trip for next year.

I would highly recommend Noah’s for your river adventures. If you go, be sure to ask for Erik for your guide.

Hypnotherapy, What’s It Like?

SheSue — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:24:38 +0000

First of all, no, you don’t cluck like a chicken. Though at one point in history hypnosis was more of a side show, getting people to do stupid things like clucking like chicken, that’s not what it’s about anymore. Instead, hypnotherapy is used for relieving addictions, anxiety, and chronic pain among other issues. I had been having trouble focusing and making decisions. I read about hypnotherapy and decided to give it a try.

The basics behind hypnotherapy are that if you are in a very relaxed state, your mind is susceptible to suggestion. During your therapy session, while you are in this relaxed state, your therapist will tell you things like you hate cigarettes or you have self confidence. Your mind will absorb these thoughts and take them as true.

Also during this state, you may be asked to remember past experiences in the hopes of discovering what thoughts you have buried that are blocking you today from moving forward. These thoughts are buried in your sub conscience. You do not realize they are even there until the therapy session reveals them. At this point, the therapist will help you get rid of the negative thoughts.

I went to visit Lexi Parrott in Portland, Oregon. First we talked about what I wanted to accomplish. She asked a lot of questions, then explained a little about what hypnotherapy was all about. She explained that I would be awake during the entire session and totally aware, just in a relaxed state. I had my choice of lying back on a chaise lounge or on a bed. I took her suggestion of the bed. She put headphones on me with meditation type music playing softly in the background. The headphones helped block out any outside noise. She also had me put on a sleeping mask, once again to block out any light.

She then started talking in a soothing voice about relaxing and breathing deeply. She had me visualize a nice place. She had me going down paths and then she did a countdown. She started with 25 and counted backwards. Now I was kinda in a “this is not going to work” state of mind. But when she got to that countdown, I visualized going down this swirling black hole. When I got to the bottom there was a pair of feet in ballet slippers up on her toes, spinning. We talked about what this represented. I decided it was about my mother who was a perfectionist. And to my astonishment, there I was at about age 5.

Lexi had me talk to the little girl. The little girl agreed to guide me. At this point, I had been under for nearly an hour. It was time to come back to reality. It was at this point that I realized how relaxed I had become. I couldn’t really feel any of my body parts, I was so focused on my visions. Lexi explained that it was while in this relaxed state that I finally was able to get into my subconscious. I had not been able to remember anything about my childhood beyond 6th grade before this point. Needless to say I went back. I needed to discover what this little girl (me) had to say.

The next couple of sessions were very emotional. I discovered my fear of my mother, of wanting so badly to be perfect for her. I also discovered that, though I knew deep down that she loved me, she never verbally expressed it. I never realized how much I needed that reassurance. I went away from these sessions feeling depressed for several days. This is normal as you are dredging up painful memories. But the depression would not last long, then I would feel much better as though something had been lifted off my shoulders.

I did a few more sessions to get me moving in the right direction for finding more self confidence and clarity. She had me find a “power animal” at one session. I have a very vivid imagination, so often came up with wild visions as distractions. The first animal that came up for me was a cow! I laughed. I did not want the cow as my power animal. But the cow flew away and I was guided by a dragonfly down my black hole before revealing my power animal as an elephant. As you are moving through your own meditations, you use your power animal as a guide, asking it to show you where to go. By focusing on a power animal, you are able to stay clear of distractions.

Since starting to see Lexi, I have added some of her therapy techniques on my own. With my vivid imagination, I often use visions to help me sleep, relax or get me out of a bad mood. Lexi taped a couple of my sessions. I play them when I’m feeling down and it picks me right up. I had tried going to some group therapy sessions with other women going through the whole empty nest issues, but had trouble telling my problems to others. With hypnotherapy, I did not have to face anybody except myself. It makes you find the negative thoughts you have been harboring, then you get rid of them. Best of all, no side effects.

For more information on hypnotherapy, check out my squidoo page.

Climbing Mt. St. Helens – What it’s Like

SheSue — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:56:08 +0000

Climbing a mountain has always sounded fascinating, but it has always looked like too much work. All that gear you have to pack, all the talk of oxygen depletion. But who can beat the views. And what an accomplishment!

When the opportunity came up to climb Mt. St. Helens, I took it. This mountain is only 8,363 feet tall. I’d hiked up around 5-6,000 feet. I figured I could handle it. I went with a guide which I would definitely recommend to anyone who has not had experience climbing. My son and daughter and the guide’s wife rounded out the group.

This is not like hiking. You have to get a permit to climb which you purchase in advance as they only give out so many per day. Even after you have your permit, you have to watch the weather reports. If the weather is inclement, you will not be permitted to climb.

The average time to climb up and get back down is 10-12 hours. My guide didn’t want to be hiking uphill in the hot afternoon, so we went up to a parking lot which is used by climbers and skiers the night before. It was at about 4,500 feet. This was in May, so the parking lot was still covered with snow. We spent the night there. We were high enough that our backpack stoves weren’t terribly efficient.

At 4:30am we were roused out of bed. After breakfast we were fitted with crampons. We used the arch style which only went across the instep of our boots. Crampons are steel teeth that bite into the snow to keep you from sliding around. We also carried ski poles. These are used for a little extra energy when climbing at the higher elevations and as a brake when coming back down.

The first part of the climb was easy. It was on a nice path with a gradual climb. This path led up to the trail that goes all around the mountain. We started out in partial snow, but were soon in full snow. The crampons came in very handy. The further we climbed, the trail grew steeper and the more effort it took.

Around 6,500 feet we were out of the trees. There were long stretches of loose rock with no snow. This was more difficult to climb on than the snow by far. By this point I was struggling. The trail was very steep. I had to pace myself. I’d count out 25 steps, then stop to rest. Very slow going. The guide’s wife opted out here. She found a rock and went to sleep.

Unfortunately it wasn’t much further when my daughter about passed out. She was having a very hard time breathing. Around 7,000 feet or so, I turned around with her. My son went on with the guide. He made it to the top and got to see the crater. My daughter took a nap. I enjoyed the views. Breathtaking!

When my son and the guide got back down, we had a lunch, then it was time for fun! Glisading down the mountain side. We had purchased those real cheap rain ponchos. You sit on the poncho and use it like a sled. So much fun! Before we started, we had lessons on how to use our ski poles for a brake. Then off we went! So much better than the climbing. By the way, the rain ponchos weren’t terribly effective at keeping us dry.

When we got into the trees, we had to revert back to hiking. By this time we are all pretty tired. We took 11 1/2 hours to do the climb. Would I do it again? Yeah, I’d love to see the crater up close and personal. If you go, be sure to hook up with a guide. Go in late spring when there is still snow most of the way. Climbing on that loose gravel is bad news. Bring lots of water and sun screen!

For more information, check out the Mt. St. Helens website.

Visiting the Chiropractor – What’s it Like?

SheSue — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:43:39 +0000

A little over a year ago I started having pain in my left hip. I had been training for the Hood to Coast walking marathon, but naturally, pushed through the pain. It only bothered me when I was going down hills. I made it through the marathon and relaxed my training, but still had the pain. Now it bothered me during my pilates and aerobics workouts. Time for a trip to the chiropractor.

I had to fill out the usual extensive medical questionnaire. Then they took my blood pressure and weight and height. Then I sat down with the therapist. He was very kind. Had me to a bunch of moving this way and that, stretching, bending while he felt my bones. He felt that it was probably back related, not hip.

He got out his nifty bendy spine and demonstrated what he felt was going on. He talked about how each disc is surrounded by a cushion. If the cushion gets squishes, the discs would too and this caused pain.

He then put me on a massage bed. This is a small bed with a hole cut out right in the middle of your back. A big roller comes up and massages your back while you lay there. He also put some electrical impulse pads on my hip and my neck since that bothers me all the time. I also had a heating pad. So while I lay there getting massaged, the impulse pads would send out little zaps every so often. They were kind of prickly, then it would intensify, then lessen up again.

After about 10 minutes of this, I met with the therapist again. Since I had a history of arthritis, he said he didn’t want to “crack” me. Instead he would position my arms or legs in certain ways and squish me. Kind of like a big body hug with your arms and legs all tangled up.

My neck he did a lot of stretching all different ways. Then he smoothed on bio-freeze, a topical lotion to ease inflammation. He said that just like all things meant to move, if they don’t, they get stiff. That’s what was happening to my neck. He also talked about my work. I do a lot on a computer. So we talked about ergonomics. He felt that a lot of neck tension was due to me not having arms on my chair at home. This would cause a lot of pull on my neck and surrounding muscles which caused pain.

He said I had a long way to go and scheduled me for the next week. At the same time, his goal was to get me to the point where I learned some simple exercises to do at home so I wouldn’t have to return. All in all, it was an easy appointment. Some pain when he did his manipulations, but I felt so much better when I left. For more information about chiropractic therapy check out Naturally Healthy You With Chiropractic Therapy.