Vision: Being

About 15 years ago we articulated the school’s vision:

              ”  To  instill in each student, the marriage of informed honed skill and a giant heart of compassion, united by a spirit of service.” 

The  spirit of service is about being not doing. It’s not only about skills or techniques or what we’ve learned about structure and function. It’s about serving from our center, our core and observing what is present with compassion.

What do you love about your experience here?
A student, who is completing our program today, wrote in response to that question: “I like the person that I’ve become and it’s been an enlightening journey”.

The school’s unique contribution is our commitment to a holistic, client-centered approach not only to teaching massage and skincare but also in our day-to-day function as an organization. Remaining true to the vision while growing a business isn’t easy. It’s about work.

“Human relationships are why we are here. Through them we grow and awaken. Our purpose here in this school called earth, is to remove all the fears that block our true nature, love, from emerging and expressing itself. We accomplish this through our interactions with others. Though this may be somewhat more obvious in our family and social relationships, this is no less true for the relationships in our work-lives. Nor are these work relationships any less important to our learning process. Though relationships take many forms, each comes with the same lesson, to teach and learn love, for that is what we are here.”

Robert Roskind, In the Spirit of Business

Leticia Allen

From misfit to Ms. Fit

Well, maybe not really Ms. Fit, but at least more fit than previously. I am going to tout the benefits of a personal trainer and a fitness program. Athletic I’m not, nor do I ever intend to be so inclined, but frequent falls up and down the stairs led to the grim realization that my brain was not communicating with my skeletal muscles effectively. This is not good! Due to a number of different events over the course of a life and a gene pool spilling over with connective tissue compromise, I find myself Read the rest of this entry »

Swedish Massage Series: Intro

One thing that I find interesting is the popular reputation Swedish massage has for being a modality well suited for relaxation, but not much more. It’s interesting to me because I’ve always thought of it in therapeutic terms. Each Swedish stroke has a physiological effect which can have a very therapeutic benefit. How one applies and combines the various effects of these techniques during the course of a session determines the treatment’s overall effect on the body.

How does one determine whether a particular protocol is appropriate?

The answer is another question: Do the physiological effects of the techniques Read the rest of this entry »

Time Management

Time is such a precious commodity. Without time we would not have anything to judge different periods of our life that really make a difference. Most massage therapists, aestheticians and cosmetologists are really challenged in this area because they are normally creative people. Creative people tend to not have as much structure as some other people in different professions.

It has even been a challenge for me to always stay abreast of what is going on the industry, doing financial paper work (which is HUGE), meeting new clients, maintaining clients, nurturing necessary relationships with close friends and relatives, and don’t forget time to go to the gym.

I have found that the easiest way for me to maintain my sanity and manage my time effectively is to Read the rest of this entry »

Where the fruit is

Writing this blog will be challenging for me but I do hold the belief that we grow whenever we venture beyond our comfort zone. Frankly, I don’t enjoy writing and I’m inclined to be shy. But it was my idea to create this blog site so I’m climbing out to the skinny branches. And I’m going to have fun.

With almost 27 years of growing a business Read the rest of this entry »