There's nothing like a good massage to elevate your mood and relax your body.
Our whole body smiles when we treat ourselves to the pampering that it has been
craving. Ellen Watson, the creator of Moving Ventures Schools (MVS), a
non-profit organization dedicated to training students in Holistic and
preventative healthcare, including massage, body work, yoga, dance and
meditation, knows all about this.
Ellen provides full scholarships for Balinese in need to do a one month massage
training course for both beginner and advanced levels. The core of the
curriculum focuses on a specific style of massage called Esalen. This is truly
a special and intimate massage in which the therapist executes by gently moving
your body in a kind of dance – gracefully stretching your legs and arms
while being totally present.
"Ultimately I believe that all people come to the table for healing. Some
may want a skilled body worker to fix something that is causing them
discomfort. If we body workers can both "touch the body & touch the
soul" we have created 'holy communion' on the table. In the body, our
connection with Spirit is experienced through the Breath. As somatic artists,
our task, whether on the mat, table, or dance floor is to engage our clients'
or students' breath. As a body worker, I spend focused time on opening my
client's heart: chest, back, sternum, spine, arms & hands. Keeping our
hearts open, regardless of who steps on them, is a life long practice,”
says Ellen.
As part of our annual 4/5 week training in bodywork, we take the students to
Senang Hati, to give massages to the residents there. This special needs
population greatly appreciates our attention, both from the heart, and the
release of muscular tightness due to use of crutches, wheel chairs, and other
aids used in locomoting. At this time, we don't have the funding to expand our
program with Senang Hati. They would love for us to come regularly, and train
some of their residents. We are considering how to include them in our 2009
training,” says Ellen.
In the last three years, Ellen has included four students a year in her
trainings from Kubca Smakta, a vocational school for hearing and speech
impaired youth in West Java. Of the eleven students who have taken this
training, all are happily and successfully practicing massage at their
school/home in Bandung.
If you know of a Balinese who wants to be a part of Ellen's program they could
contact Senang Hati by
email
