massage
Qi-ssage & Stress
Funny, as I review all the wonders of massage (Mosby) I pondered the question… ‘If I were going to rename massage…what would I call it?’ ….After a few moments I wrote ‘Qissage’….as I continue to practice Qigong, naturally I incorporate Qigong practice into the massage experience (guided visualization, awareness breathing, circulating positive life energy flow…). I thought ‘better google it first’….sure enough, Qi-ssage is already being practiced under the same name! Wonderful! I LOVE Qi-ssage!
I am so blissed that I am starting the Esalen massage 28 day course next week! Since the longest I've ever been at Esalen before is for a 5 day workshop, does anyone have any suggestions for my month there? Things like maybe a nearby day hike (not too advanced but good views) for Sundays' off? Or anyone want me to say "Hi" to anybody already living there?
I can't wait for a month of peace and quiet and meditation and yoga and soaking!!!
On the road through Monterey ~ I’ve got the top down ~ sunscreen on ~ listening to Goo Goo Dolls, Hendrix and Petty ~ passing fields of artichoke and brussel sprouts ~ passing hidden surf spots. In Big Sur ~ on a twisted road ~ high above the ocean ~ sunlight shines through the pines ~ the Dead play rambling tunes ~ that flow like the scenery ~ changing around every turn ~ I arrive at Esalen ~ passing through a redwood portal ~ and follow a path leading down to the baths ~ Chloe greets me there ~ takes me up to the solarium ~ and gives me a massage that turns my body into jello ~ when she asks how I’m doing ~ I try to speak ~ but haven’t stopped drooling.
Massage: I lay down ~ shut my eyes ~ and on the back of my eyelids, I see images of ocean water moving between the rocks below ~ it’s more than just an ‘after-image’ ~ I’m right above the beach ~ and the images are moving with the sound of the water ~ strange ~ I lift my head and shake it from side to side ~ and watch other details of the bathhouse flash by ~ I figure it’ll fade shortly ~ and settle in for my massage ~ it was going wonderfully ~ then Chloe pushes in on the heel of my foot and suddenly I can see the outer edge of my heel ~ glowing ~ filled in with colored concentric circles ~ I stay focused on the image ~ it dissolves and in it’s place swirling colors appear ~ like someone taking an eyedropper of color dye and dropping some of it on the sur
I have 2 students who do not have the money to stay and do the 10-week massage certification workstudy is offering starting April 22. The cost is $2640. If anyone is willing to spponsor all or part of their fees, please let me know-maryanne.will@esalen.org.
Back a few months ago, I wrote a practicum into my graduate studies where I would observe and interact with students at The Village School of Northfield, in Northfield, MN. The Village School was a democratic charter school, k-12, where the students were completely free to determine the course of their days. They studied what they wanted, when they wanted, and how they wanted.
My experience with this wonderful and ambitious community changed my outlook on education, and exposed in front of me, the failing of our education system to allow and foster transformation of self. A 17-year old girl could read a book all day, every day, if she wanted, and had bosted reading 200 books in a year. A 16-year old boy showed me his passport with nine different country stamps. I saw seven-year-olds skiing fearlessly down hills. A visually impaired young woman creating the most heartfelt art. A fourth grader was doing an impromptu survey to see if the school could experiment with a week of no electronic devices. This was a typical day in this wonderful community.