At Lha in Dharamsala, there were 5 women in our basic level massage class who learned a full body Swedish massage and chair massage in our week long intensive. They ranged in ages from 20-30 years old. The youngest was born and raised in India and her parents were Tibetan. The others had all journeyed from Tibet at different ages alone or with family members, but only one had any family there in Dsala with them. The rest were on their own!

Louise Sexton and students from Lha Charitable Trust

When we asked them why they wanted to study massage they all emphasized that they felt it was a very important way of helping themselves and their families stay healthy. For some it was to work on family members who were in pain (i.e. mothers, husbands, children). They said massage was an alternative to unavailable health-care options. Another was motivated by her own interest to become a teacher and to continue her studies in the sciences and health related fields. She was going to be moving to Germany to be united with her mother and siblings, to continue her studies and to work as a massage therapist. Her mother wanted her to study massage so that she could share her knowledge by teaching her mother what she learned. Her mother wanted to become a massage therapist, too! Several were hoping to find employment as massage therapists there in Dsala. One worked at a local hotel, Chonor House, that as you know is popular with American tourists and celebrities and she hoped to be able to offer massage to guests at the hotel in addition to her current duties. We have already heard from her and she is doing just that and doing well!!! Another was a mother of 2 who hoped to return to the work force and hoped to do that as a massage therapist.

All of our students, having limited or no previous education opportunities before arriving in Dsala, were emphatic about how important it was to them to be learning. Many of them were taking other classes at Lha; one had been studying there for 2 years. Their desire to learn was insatiable. They were impressive and quick learners with enthusiastic, open minds and hearts, fun loving spirits, and strong intuitions. Each of them were a blessing to Jessica Gumkowski and I as teachers.

20 Lha Students Graduate from BCMT Massage Therapy Training

Namaste,

Louise Sexton, Swedish Therapeutic Massage instructor