Smells and Bells

During the first week of May, we started a new unit: Touch. First, we had a massage therapist employed by professor give a presentation about her line of work. We also read The Deepest Sense by Constance Classen, which gave a history of touch in the Middle Ages. The masseuse’s presentation covered how she first got into the field, as well as how different massage therapies work on a patient. A memorable part of the presentation was the raki energy exercise with Ann and her sore shoulder. Three people got up, placed hands on her back, and directed positive energy at her shoulders. When they were done, Ann said her shoulder felt better. How? I could write this off as a placebo effect, but touch, after all, is the deepest sense. Touch is emotionally interconnected to our well-being, studies show babies need touch to develop healthily. In a theoretical sense, the raki energy exercise seems plausible because touch facilities the connection between two bodies, transferring warmth and go...

           Our guest speaker focused on the practice of massage. Now what first comes to mind when I think of massage, is being in the Caribbean  at some extravagant spa with palm trees in the background and cucumbers over the persons eyes. However, during the lecture I was really able to see how massage can be viewed as a serious practice which is used to relax ones mind and body.            This highly focuses on our sense of touch, since massage involves ones body, touch is always used. In class we did various exercises that come from the practice of massage to help us relax when stressed or relieve muscle tension when in pain. It was really cool to see volunteers come up in class and show how the touch of several peoples hands could relieve joint pain on ones shoulder. Another thing that was told to us during the lecture was that we could even do some of these practices on o...

Anyone who has met my dad would be surprised to know that some of his closest friends are women who practice all kinds of movement and touch therapy. His friend Celine is a massage therapist in addition to being certified in reiki. I grew up with her making house calls and giving my family different soaps and products for healing and wellness. His other friend Traca is a yoga instructor and energy healer who works with both of us to strengthen our bodies and spirits. She told me about Kripalu, a yoga and wellness center in Western Massachusetts, and encouraged me to go. And so when Elizabeth Robinson came into class, saying I was excited was an understatement- this was material that I was very familiar with and excited by. I have always been a big supporter of the healing power of massage and reiki, and have hoped to incorporate these more natural remedies into my own practice after college. Kripalu in the summer Elizabeth Robinson's passion for JourneyDance surprised me b...

I have received one professional massage in my life. It was while I was on vacation in the Galapagos, and it was a part of the cruise deal we got. I am a notoriously stingy person, so the idea of shelling out money for a massage is tough for me to deal with, because I feel like I can spend the money on something physical and substantial instead. The massage therapist speaker, however, made me revisit this idea. I was pretty nervous before the massage actually, which was pretty funny. I had no idea what to expect, I was afraid the woman wouldn't speak English and then I wouldn't know what to do, or that I would tip an incorrect amount due to the cultural differences. My mind was going a mile a minute. In hindsight, this was a giant waste of energy because the entire purpose of the experience was to relax, but once I walked into the room, the anxiety dissipated. I walked in and laid down on the table, and this kind old Ecuadorian lady began her work. I was surprised to find t...