(Archived from 2009)
Santa is a very hard working, high profile man.
His days consist of endless desk work and reading letters. During his peak season stress heightens as toy production increases.
Many months are spent watching the girls and boys, checking who’s naughty and nice. Then more planning, management meetings with his top elves, etc. He soon forgets to take deep breathes.
Finally, it’s Christmas time.
After the big day, he retreats on a hot summer vacation with the Mrs.
That’s when the problem starts. No sooner is he off the plane and ordering a ….. milk, his back goes out on him. He accepts it as part of the job and suffers. Never mind that Mrs. Claus is tapping her toes and biting her lip, disappointed that she’s missing out on the couples limbo party on the beach, again!
Every year it is the same story.
Well, one year the conditions were a bit extreme. The snow was a bit more slushy, the chimneys didn’t seem to be as clean, the head elf broke his arm and was out of work. Santa had a hard year.
During vacation, as Santa sat down at the…restaurant to order his…milk, he was in complete agony. Even as he sat, it took some careful maneuvering. Just as he thought about the future of Christmas with his terrible back health, a woman sitting near him spoke up.
He recognized her from a previous Holiday Icon Conference. It was none other than the Tooth Fairy.
He was shocked to hear that she, too had suffered from back pain. After all, what could be so strenuous about picking teeth from underneath pillows? She reminded him that due to inflation, her role is a stressful one. Combined with flying with lots of coins on one shoulder, she was a wreck.
She went on to tell her method of combating her pain. It included some pretty specific stretches and hydrotherapy. Santa decided to listen to her story and copy her routine. She looked like she knew what she was talking about, and she has remained on the ‘good’ list for centuries.
Day one of this new approach to Santa’s back health was OK. Day two was terrible. He could no longer walk, let alone lay in his lounge chair enjoying the beach. Mrs. Claus felt bad for him. She booked him an appointment with a registered massage therapist.
During the interview, he told his story in great detail, mentioning his new routine that he copied from his friend. The RMT stopped him and pointed to the muscle chart. Showing him the high number of muscles and potential different problems that he could have, he soon realized the mistake he had made.
After a successful first treatment, he listened carefully to the stretches given specific for his injury. He was somewhat embarrassed that they were almost opposite of what he had been doing before.
He hired an RMT to join his North Pole community and lived happily ever after.
One thing that Santa does do right is remember to laugh. (Endorphins, or ‘feel good’ hormones are released with laughter, just as with massage therapy.)
Ho, ho, ho Merry Christmas from Celtic Knots Family Massage Therapy.
(*Names and exact locations may have been altered to comply with confidentiality standards.*)
