2/2/2015

Well finally finished my web page stormecenter.com  New designs and ideas will be posted. Classes are still available and new students are always welcome.  Just email me...marsha@stormecenter.com 

Here are a few new ideas

1st class

Awesome beginnings. 
What was the focus:
Casting on and learning the continental knit and purl stitches on circular needles

This technique will evolve into speed knitting with less wrist movements, smooth transition from knit to purl stitches as well as more projects smoothly knit in a shorter period of time. 

Holidays are approaching and summer is a great time for take along projects...keeping them small, try new yarns and have fun!

Next class is targeted for May 23 from 1 to 4 pm.  Pattern reading as well as charts will be explored.  Bring ideas or I will have some free ones ready.

Come join the fun and make your own gorgeously created ....anything!
Toys, shawl, sweater, gauntlets, socks, hat, slippers, lap blanket..the list goes on.

KNITTING FOR ERGONOMIC DENTAL HYGIENE

That little stress knot in your neck, back,  arms or  even wrists , OUCH!  
Ever wonder what you could do for it...Sure...Get a massage, stretch and maybe even attend a palates class.  All that is fine and helpful but actually we Dental Hygienists have our own special problem..."repetitive motion syndrome". Never heard of it?..well, look it up on the web.  

I am welcoming DH providers to join me in a new comfortable ergonomic way to enhance their meditative skills, bring back the natural positions of the body and start the creative juices flowing.  Come join me and other RDHs for a 3 hour hands on class. 

This class is going to be designed for beginners, experienced and reawakening knitters / crocheters.  All you need is the desire for a little time for yourself, allow yourself to open up join fellow DH professionals ....we deserve to share our creative powers.  

• The class will be held in my home and backed up by this interactive blog.  
• Biweekly classes will give us all a chance to practice, share and even wear / give our creative energies.  
• Details for signup will be forthcoming through the SFVDHS web page  
• Portion (10%) of each class will be donated to the SFVDHS Scholarship Fund to further RDH educational endeavors. 

WHY? 

Dental Hygienists work in a very sequestered environment plagued with unnatural movements, postures and nagging time constraints.  Please don't think Dental Hygiene is a dangerous profession..we in the field already know it is dangerous.  Working bent over a human body gazing into a germ infested moist dark space  8 hours a day 2 to 6 days a week.  Only the devoted, intelligent, caring and highly professional RDHs take on these tasks.  Most RDHs  work alone, a patient    gazing  up into the masked, louped eyes of the RDH and hopes for reassurance  they are doing an adequate job in home care and will receive a pain free dental cleaning.  ..little consideration is given to the operator's comfort.  

RDH's have to take care of themselves.  Focusing on patients 8 hours a day leaves little margin for error in personal comfort.  Which leads to mounting stress on the operator's body.  Working alone can be stressful in itself but being confined to an 8 x 10 room, computer the only communication devise and working under excessive time constraints, it is  a wonder the RDH can drive home at all.  

I must mention that the OSHA standards were designed to keep workers SAFE. Hygienists survive jumping the hurdles of a dental hygiene education, becoming proficient in dental hygiene processes, conquering time constraints of professional life and years of treating patients in different offices with varying equipment specs, ranging from antique to state of the art or even  works in progress (promise of new equipment in the near future).  When considering our own physical needs RDHs consider their individual body shape, stature and comfort levels.  Operator chairs have come and gone, back supporting vs kneeling chairs  or standing to deliver DH services are modes of DH delivery.  Range of motion is often sacrificed and can lead to spinal, shoulder and even wrist and hand problems.  Every year new ideas have come forth to wake us up from this impending danger.  Finally we realize the need for disability insurance!!!

About me

My name is Marsha Storme Center and let me mention here a few thoughts regarding my own career of 34 years in various dental practice settings. I did invest in disability insurance upon starting my DH career and 20 years in I unfortunately had to use it.  I am a "semi-colon" due to 2 colon resections  (CC survivor).  I have turned  my years of DH experience and skills to a more sharing mode of teaching clinical DH and love all my interactions with students, faculty and colleagues while  extending my life long learning as I learn something new everyday.  

I no longer work  private practice on a daily basis but I do see bad habits and the results of  bad habits on cohorts. 

I have been knitting for ...well, since I was 12 years old. I employ both Continental and American style knitting.  Read and  Write patterns and fit knitted fabric to make garments. Jewelry can also be made by knitting wire and adding beads...that's for later.

Felted work is a journey and fun to try.  I do not dye my yarn but if you do let me know!!  

I will have examples of some of my work and would help those in need of completing work.

Philosophy

I believe daily meditative moments awards us and enhances our lives as well as others we interact with, being a patient, partner, child  or anyone we interact with during the day.  Interaction both physically and meditatively can be the best of the best.  Knitting can be just this meditative activity..while also social, empowering  and creative it is Healthy and fat free!! 

Knitters and Crocheters of today are non sectarian.  Check the Web and YouTube and other search engines for a variety of talents. Early  knitters and crocheters were sailors creating nets to actually catch fish.   Sweaters were found comfortable and easy to repair as needed clothing for sea faring workers and this need created self reliance to use their skills which was then a popular skill for all to learn.  The DH text books suggest the use of knitting / crocheting to strengthen fingers, grasps and flexibility for DH students / providers.  Who knew!!?

I am looking forward to seeing many of the wonderful professional RDHs, friends and colleagues for these classes.  Lets take responsibility to help heal ourselves...together we are awesome!!

Happily....

Marsha Storme Center, RDH, RDHAP