The Massage for Peace program by the Boulder College of Massage Therapy literally touches hundreds of people each year.

The non-profit massage school helps student share their healing hands with those living with illness, in poverty, and through war and conflict. Each year they offer 10,000 hours of massage free of charge to those who need it most.

As one alumna for the College, Becky Little explains Massage for Peace is “the simple act of reaching out and touching someone. Extending the love, care, and respect that comes from nurturing touch to another human being is a gift that enriches life. The gentle touch of a hand or a reassuring hug reduces fear, anxiety, and loneliness often felt in times of unrest and despair.”

A piece of this life purpose was revealed to me in the fall of 2009 when I traveled to Dharamsala, India on behalf of BCMT’s Massage for Peace service effort.   This trip was nothing less than life changing for myself, my travel mates and the incredible friends that we met along the way.  The intent of the group was to teach massage therapy to Tibetan refugees allowing them access to education, a new skill and increased hope for prosperity in their lives.  What I  found was that in many cases, I was the student.  Learning about deep compassion and forgiveness, sincere dedication to truth and enlightened thought.  Learning about their spiritual leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and their undying allegiance to him as children of his words.  This experience opened my world to this culture, their leader and a beautiful new mindset.

A client of mine recently told me about an interview on the Today Show, I wanted to share that today.  I hope that you are as captivated as I was when watching this and I hope you are as optimistic as I am about the future of our world.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo-pjhoYmbs

Aspen, an integral member of the BCMT community, was subtle but fervent and committed to holding the top bid on her basket of choice.   At the close of the night, much to her delight she walked away with her culinary arts themed basket.  Recently, Aspen checked back in with us after using one of her prize winnings, a gift certificate to the Culinary School of the Rockies.

Thank you Aspen, for being a part of this special celebration and for sharing your experience with us.

I wanted to let you know Dave and I used our gift certificate at the Rocky Mountain Culinary school in Boulder that we won at the silent auction for the school last July.  I also wanted to let you know how much fun we had.

I remember debating about going to the fundraiser because it was held so shortly after my mom passed away and I was just not feeling up for being social.  I went and now I couldn’t be happier that I did.  Dave has a passion for cooking and it brought me so much joy to see him in a professional kitchen with a Chef.  He was able to ask her so many questions.  I, of course, will benefit in the years to come from that one little gift certificate we won the bid on.  Thank you again for the efforts put forth to make the fundraiser come together.

Take care-
Aspen

Reiki Share Group @ BCMT

BCMT launched its monthly Reiki Share Group  on January 13, World Peace Meditation day. Since then,  it has grown to include  BCMT alumni, students, and Reiki practitioners in the community. Participants give and receive from each other in a supportive and tranquil setting at the College.

The next gathering is April 14th from 6 – 9  pm. Anyone with Reiki experience can come and join in giving and receiving Reiki in a spectacular environment of healing.  Participants should wear comfortable clothing, and bring water. For more information, contact Dona Hittinger: dhittinger@bcmt.org.

Not only was my first travel experience with massage safe, but it was also educational. As a student who loves to teach I volunteered to show the demo of neuromuscular massage to the Mayan massage therapist. Their interest, curiosity, and enthusiasm showed me how much we take for granted in the United States. I felt the same while watching their demos of Mayan Abdominal Massage. As specific and factual as my demo was, theirs was as rich with culture, trust, and experience. It was the first time I realized that we can learn so much about the body from different cultures as they all have different points of view and experiences.

As an individual I grew with every encounter, every massage, and every activity we embarked upon during this adventure. My most educational self moment was the traditional Mayan Sweat Lodge. I have never experienced something so profound and awe-inspiring as that night. It not only enhances who I am but it enhanced my class when I returned to school to undertake in my last quarter in Integrative Massage.

This trip was a crucial part of my time and educational at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy, and I thank everyone for their support of international study at a technical college.

—Jessica Shada, 2009 BCMT Graduate

• That touch is necessary for human growth and development
• That the calming hormone, oxytocin, is activated through touch
• That a permission process supports healthy touch and helps establish good boundaries.

Peaceful Touch® for children began in Stockholm in 1995. Currently, with more than 300,000 children receiving Peaceful Touch® on a regular basis, both parents and teachers see in children lower levels of anxiety and aggression, as well as improved concentration and better group functioning. Research has verified these observations.

To find out more about this groundbreaking program, visit the Peaceful Touch website.

So a team of us, 10 faculty, staff and alumni started fund raising to support her efforts on a larger scale. We raised funds individually and by participating in larger group efforts such as the Massage for Peace clinics in the spring. By September, we’d met our goal and were on our way to Dharamsala (via Chicago and Delhi) to teach 20 Tibetan refugees the basics of massage therapy.  I still can’t believe what we accomplished in such as short period of time. We raised enough to cover the trip and then some – a downpayment on giving back far into the future.

Crib in Baby Room, Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamsala, India

If there’s one thing I learned about this experience, it’s this: we all want to make a difference. It’s joyous to give back to the people, animals and plants we share the planet with. Given the opportunity and support, we can and do rise to the occasion. At BCMT, we’re looking at 2010 as another great year to serve locally and globally. Our latest local initiative is an internship at the Acorn School for Early Childhood Development. Students (supervised by Massage for Peace instructor, Gaye Franklin) will provide Peaceful Touch to little ones getting ready for nap time. Yup, getting a good night’s sleep or a siesta in after lunch, is yet another benefit of  receiving regular massage.

Sweet dreams,

Carol Brunelli, Massage for Peace Coordinator

Displaced Haitians set up tents in football stadium

The concept for a MERT Program started in 1989 following the California Loma Prieta Earthquake. During that disaster, more than 8,000 massages were given to disaster workers, demolition workers, grief counselors, highway patrol officers, and many others. Since that time, volunteer massage therapists have participated in numerous disaster responses.

AMTA MERT offers emergency management agencies and rescue workers the expertise of highly qualified, professionally trained massage therapists. To volunteer, therapists must:

• Maintain their AMTA Active Professional classification membership in good standing, and
• Have liability insurance coverage (included in your AMTA Professional classification membership).

A woman is helped after being trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building in Port-au-Prince.

MERT members may be working alongside individuals from the federal and state emergency management agencies, the Red Cross, the National Guard, law enforcement and other responding agencies. Long before the concept of MERT, emergency management agencies developed policies and procedures allowing them to respond cooperatively and effectively to disasters.

To volunteer, contact your AMTA chapter.

Reiki Share Group @ BCMT starts January 13, 2010

You can see testimonials and more information about the World Peace Meditation at reiki.org.   Please email me at dhittinger@bcmt.org if you are interested in participating in the Reiki Share Group scheduled for January 13 at 6:00. Please bring a set of sheets, we will have plenty of tables available.

Peace,

Dona Hittinger

BCMT's Massage for Peace Volunteers: Dharamsala, India

Donating one’s time to teach–anything–has an exponentially positive impact on the world. The 20 students we trained in September went to work immediately on their family members and friends, comforting them and relieving their pain. Some have found employment; while others are poised to do so with a bit more training.

Lha has just purchased a beautiful, new building. The vision for the new space includes expansion of their massage therapy training program. BCMT is proud to be considered a partner in this initiative. We hope to return to Dharamsala in 2010 with another group of exceptional teachers. We believe that education is the key to making the world a better place.

Want an idea for a New Year’s resolution? Volunteer your time as a teacher. Teach massage therapy. Teach computer skills. Teach English. Teach what you’re passionate about to those who can’t afford to pay for it , or have limited access to training programs. And remember: giving back always mean getting way more than you give. Just ask our Massage for Peace teachers: Christa Forsythe, Suzanne Carroll, Dona Hittinger, Jessica Shada, Gaye Franklin, Jack Vandenberg, Louise Sexton, Becky Little, and Jessica Gumkowski.–Carol Brunelli, Massage for Peace Coordinator