Rhonda Funes BIO

Meet Rhonda Funes, one of the leading reflexologists in Beverly Hills and the current Education Chair of the Reflexology Association of California. A featured teacher and lecturer, Rhonda will help you develop the skills and confidence necessary to address the nerve-rich areas of the feet. Offering both basic and advanced reflexology techniques, this video provides specific information on reflex correspondences and detailed examples of correct thumb and finger articulations.

Rhonda Funes is a graduate of the American Academy of Reflexology, and currently teaches at the Massage School of Santa Monica and the Shiatsu Massage School of California.

Rhonda Funes - Reflexology

How long have you been a bodywork practitioner? What made you decide to enter the profession and to specialize in reflexology?
My first real experience with reflexology took place in 1987, almost 16 years ago. An old boyfriend who was miserable with an undiagnosed strep throat, but who refused to see a doctor for treatment was my motivation. I knew that a therapy called reflexology existed, and he just happened to have a book on the subject. Together, we poured over its pages and discovered that the reflex areas for the throat region are accessible in the great toes. Of course, I had a desire to touch and to help this person with whom I was involved, so I decided to give it a try. I located a tender region on one toe, and pressed on that spot for about ten minutes. At that point, my friend announced that one side of his throat did not hurt any more! We were both amazed, but I was more than surprised: I knew at that moment there was something for me to learn here.

What are your credentials and how did you earn them?
Well, immediately after the experience I just described, I called the American Academy of Reflexology in Burbank, California, to inquire about training. I started with a weekend workshop in which we learned all about feet and engaged in some tactile classwork. I enjoyed the experience immensely and knew I wanted to learn about hands and ears. So I enrolled in and graduated from the American Academy of Reflexology in Los Angeles. The program was advanced and included coursework that integrated feet, hands, and ears in more than 100 hours of training in touch techniques. After I graduated, I became a member of the first group of reflexologists to be certified by the national board, a self-monitoring organization that developed a testing and certification process that is used nationwide. Today, I am a National Board Certified Reflexologist and a state-certified instructor of reflexology. My training in this and many other touch modalities along with a diverse practice have contributed to my developing and teaching curriculum on foot reflexology for several massage schools in the stateof California.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work in reflexology?
I make a positive difference in the life of every person who comes my way. I know this because of the feedback I receive from my clients. For example, one of my clients, a very active sports enthusiast, suffered a severe sprain and multiple bruises and scrapes during a bike ride. His sprained foot was causing him a great deal of discomfort. When he called me, I told him that the sooner he received reflexology, the quicker he might experience healing. He came in immediately, and I worked on his feet, hands, and ears. When we next talked "two weeks later" he told me he was completely pain-free the day after his reflexology session! In fact, within one week of his visit to me, he participated in a triathlon. I see this all the time: Actual physical changes and shifts occur in attitudes, bodies and spirits after reflexology sessions. I think of the time I spend with clients as genuine exchanges between two people, joint efforts. My satisfaction comes from the fact that they leave with all kinds of new ideas and feelings, and ultimately beneficial change is initiated.

What advice would you give to some one who is considering becoming a reflexologist?
Do it by all means. Reflexology is the fastest-growing requested bodywork. Why? People experience a small taste of it, and then they go back to their massage therapists and ask that more attention be devoted to hands and feet. Also, reflexology is the most mobile and the least invasive of the bodywork therapies. It can be applied to the largest segment of the population: from infants, to adults with injuries related to computer use or sports, to those for whom physical movement is restricted. Although a massage table is usually used to apply reflexology skills, it is not absolutely critical that a special table or chair be available. Through this therapy and minimal application of touch, a bodywork practitioner can encourage a state of health, a feeling of peace.

Finally, can you tell us what gifts you have received from your practice of reflexology?
With pleasure. Perhaps the greatest gift I've received is the realization that touch is the most profound way of connecting with another human being. With a small amount of skill, one can create comfort and positive change in someone else's life. Not only have I made my living through my practice of reflexology, but also I have taken a marvelous journey of self-development and self-enlightenment. I have learned and continue to learn a tremendous amount of information about myself and other people while practicing this healing therapy.


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Peggy Horan Bio

Peggy Horan, one of the founders of the Esalen massage technique, practiced and taught massage at the Esalen Institute for over 30 years. She was also the Director of the Esalen Massage Crew during the filming of the Esalen Massage video program. According to Peggy, what sets Esalen Massage apart is the presence of the practitioner, the quality of the touch, and the focus on the client. Developed at Esalen, a workshop and retreat center built around natural hot springs in Big Sur, California, Esalen Massage is a holistic practice known for its healing and nurturing touch, combining long strokes, gentle rocking and stretching, sculpting of deep musculature, and the precision of acupressure. Learn more about presence, touch and focus, how to recognize your partner’s body, mind and spirit, and how Esalen massage supports and nurtures both client and practitioner, in this up close and informative interview with Peggy Horan.


Learn more about the healing power of Esalen Massage in this article from American Fitness magazine. More


“This beautifully filmed video
opens the door to the world of
Esalen massage and brings
to life its art and spirit.”

-Peggy Horan,
Director, Esalen Massage Crew

Peggy Horan - Esalen Massage

Q: What is the origin of Esalen Massage?
P.H. The origin of Esalen Massage is in Swedish massage combined with the influence of early Esalen leaders, Charlotte Selver and Bernie Gunther who taught sensory reawakening.

Q: What is unique about Esalen Massage?
P.H. What sets Esalen Massage apart from other types of massage is the philosophical approach. For the massage  therapist, the work is a meditation, a time to quiet the mind, and attend to his or her intuition, and to be fully  present in the moment with the client. The magnificent setting of Esalen with the hot baths perched on the cliff  above the ocean, and the rhythmic sound of the surf, creates a very special ambiance that enhances this process. The Esalen Massage video was filmed entirely in this spectacular, outdoor setting and it features firsthand interviews and photography of massage work with many of our massage practitioners or therapists.

Q: Lets delve more deeply into the philosophical approach that is central to Esalen Massage and bodywork. P.H. The most important thing philosophically is the presence of the practitioner and the complete focus  on the client and on the session. When we teach, we really encourage people to learn how to clear themselves, clear  their own energy, and to be centered in

Q: What is the most important aspect of the Esalen style?
P.H. The most important aspect style wise or technique wise is not technique at all, but the quality of  the touch. We`re referring to the presence of the practitioner and the ability of this person to tune into the client, to be sensitive, and to pick up messages. Of course, we talk to all clients before we work on them, but  it`s just as important to be able to sense in, and to be present enough to hear the messages that come through  the body.

Q: Peggy, tell us more about what you mean by the quality of touch.
P.H. Here at Esalen, we teach people how to touch. What I mean by that is how to touch with sensitivity  and in a non-intrusive and nurturing way. We teach people to enter the energy field of another person with sensitivity  and respect. Its important to move through that energy field gently and with awareness before making physical contact. The first touch is held for a moment before the movement starts.The client begins to relax and trust in the practitioners hands. At this crucial moment, clients will often take a deep breath and begin to relax as their internal voices say, I feel trusting and comfortable. This intuitive connection between the massage therapist and the client is thus established.

Q: Peggy, that ties in with something you said during the shooting of the Esalen Massage Video about intention being a big piece of the work; do you want to talk about intention too?
P.H. Yes, in the beginning and all through an Esalen massage session we keep intention in the foreground  of our mind. If a person is here for a particular type of healing, we keep that in mind; if a person comes in and  says they're exhausted, they need some rejuvenation, or they need to replenish themselves, we hold that thought  and try to give from the place in ourselves that allows the energy to pass through to and to refill them.

Q: So, massage is a form of nurture at Esalen. Would you say Esalen massage helps to foster a sense of well  being and connectedness?
P.H. Our Esalen massage practitioners do get positive feedback about this. Many clients, particularly those  who may be sad or may be experiencing profound life changes often need a lot of kindness and loving understanding.  We consciously but gently try to ease this heaviness of spirit with the massage. If a person wants a lot of nurturing,  whatever it is that they ask for, we keep that in our thoughts. Even if nothing is specifically requested, the intention from my point of view is still to maintain a clear channel, so that I can tune into the client and give them whatever is needed.

Q: Some people, unfamiliar with massage, may have the expectation that there is a sort of generic, say, 45 minute massage. What you're conveying is that it is really much more interactive. . .
P.H. Yes, it is an interactive experience and a lot of it is interactive on an energetic level. I mean we  do of course converse and ask our clients, Are you comfortable on the table? Is the pressure all right? But a lot of it is energetic.

Q: Ellen, another Esalen massage therapist, speaks about engaging all the senses and letting the mind relax. In her words, healing takes place in the space created by relaxation. How does this work?
P.H. We work with clients on a physical level, teaching them about breath if they don't know how to do it  effectively. For many people, positive suggestions about how to relax and how to breathe can definitely enhance a healing experience through massage.

Q: So as far as the philosophical approach, the real hallmarks of Esalen Massage are?
P.H. The presence of the practitioner, the quality of touch, and meeting a client where they are. In other  words, were not starting with a predesigned judgment about how we can fix this person or how we can make their  posture better, or how we can fix anything. Were there to work with them and what happens, happens; so its not  a goal oriented session. For example, I wont say, I'm going to completely release the tension in your back and  you're going to feel great. No, nothing like that. We meet the client where they are physically, spiritually, mentally.  We work with people from that point and accept where they are. Were not trying to fix anything, but trying instead  to balance their energy, fill them in a way that they need, and help them to of course, relax. Its not a goal oriented  massage.

Q: That's an important distinguishing feature. You've talked about intention, the quality of touch, the interactive approach. How does Esalen massage incorporate different types of bodywork?
P.H. Although Esalen has its origin in Swedish massage, over the years our massage therapists have studied  all kinds of different massage work, such as Polarity, Traeger work, Reflexology, Acupressure, Shiatsu and many,  many different types of massage. All of us have taken different aspects of other disciplines and incorporated them  into our own style with the result that all of us work in a slightly different way. Each massage therapist puts  their personal imprint into their work, synthesizing their knowledge, experience and personal preferences. My style  is more old school, classical, Esalen massage. Another therapist, C. C., for example, has a most amazing style that's really his own.

Q: What aspects of style do you all share?
P.H. We all share the philosophical approach that we talked about earlier, and we all work slowly, in a rhythmic way using long, flowing strokes to integrate the work and give a feeling of wholeness to the client.

Q: You talked about the origins in the 60s, is there anything else that you'd like to add about the evolution of Esalen massage?
P.H. It has evolved and changed in many ways over the years and Yet his process is ongoing. I think that's  the bottom line, that Esalen massage will continue to evolve and change as long as there are new practitioners  who bring different techniques with them. Philosophically, it hasn't changed a lot over the years but technique  wise, style wise, it has changed.

Q: So the consistent philosophical approach characterizes Esalen Massage, but encourages collaboration and  is open to a continuing evolution of technique?
P.H. It does evolve. We all learn from each other; we watch each other; we pick up moves from each other.

Q: Peggy, you were very involved in putting together the Esalen Massage Video. It must have been challenging  to incorporate all the elements of Esalen Massage into one, 85 minute video. Is the video an introduction to Esalen  Massage, or is it a highlights, how would you ... ?
P.H. How would I describe the video? I would say it is an introduction and a guide for people who have never  experienced Esalen or Esalen Massage. For people who have studied it, it can be used as a teaching tool. It touches on a lot of the philosophical principles of our work . It gives you an outline of the type of massage that we do without too much detail.

Q: So it can be of benefit to both beginners and professionals?
P.H. Yes, I have had many professionals comment that they're very, very interested in the video because  they've heard about Esalen Massage. We have professionals, who are interested in our approach attending our massage  training classes all the time here at Esalen. For professionals who haven't been exposed to Esalen Massage, its a wonderful teaching tool.

Q: So what would you say is the most important benefit of the Esalen Massage Video?
P.H. Its spreading the gospel of nurturing touch in a touch deprived world. As C. C. says at the end of  the video, Everybody wants to be touched. There are a lot of people out there who aren't getting touched and aren't  touching. So hopefully, it will help to bring touch back into our culture.

Q: Could we provide suggestions for viewers on how best to use the video? Should they follow it sequentially?  Describe the easiest way for someone to use the video?
P.H. Watch it through from start to finish, and get a sense of what it is. Then set up a table. If you don't  have one, you can work on the floor or a bed, but the floor is difficult because you can't move around. Begin to try to follow along with the practitioner. If the detail work is too much, then begin with the long strokes and  see if you can just get the feeling of the Esalen Massage. Its all about feeling and quality of touch. If you can  begin to sense the rhythm, in the long strokes and begin to feel the flow of the massage, then you can come back  later and pick up the detail work. That would be for the beginner. For a professional, I recommend doing the massage on a partner or colleague, following along with the video right from the beginning.

Q: What does the video offer to massage therapists who have already trained in Esalen Massage?
P.H. We highly recommend the video for students who have experienced massage instruction here at Esalen. Its instructional and it provides a wonderful visual reminder of the movement, the touch and the spectacular physical  beauty of Big Sur. Its great for people who have participated in Esalen bodywork classes because it reinforces  the essence of our massage training.

Q: Tell us about the new Esalen Massage and Bodywork Association (EMBA).
P.H. It is a professional association that we recently started. It's membership will consist of our graduate  students and teachers. The organization will send out newsletters, referrals and information on training worldwide. So its set up as a professional association as well as a governing body for worldwide training.

Q: Will you certify massage practitioners so that they can legitimately claim training in Esalen Massage?
P.H. Esalen, the name, is now trademarked, so anybody practicing Esalen massage will have to back it up  with a certificate. The EMBA will also be instrumental in protecting the use of the name and the quality of the work throughout the world.

Q: Does training in Esalen massage benefit people involved in other healing and health related professions?
P.H. I cannot overemphasize the importance of learning how to touch. Anybody involved in care-giving or  health care could benefit. A lot of what I learned in massage translated beautifully into my midwifery practice.  My massage training was wonderful preparation in terms of learning how to touch with great sensitivity as well  as patience and the ability to be present with a woman in labor.

Q: How far can we go in talking about the healing aspects of Esalen Massage?
P.H. I think so much has to do with peoples beliefs. Touch heals and either you believe that or you don't. There's all kinds of scientific research in progress that backs this up. At Esalen, we know this; we know touch  heals, we see it happen here every single day. We see people leave a massage session feeling completely different  and rejuvenated. We try to arrest a sense of alienation from ones body or a feeling of dissonance between mind  and body. Our goal is to move the client from dark to light, or from feeling terrible to feeling wonderful. Change happens in a massage; people may want to call it healing. We know it works. We know healing happens. We see it;  we feel it. We believe it.

Q: Do you think its a catalyst to self-awareness?
P.H. Its a catalyst for self-awareness; its a catalyst for change. During the massage, we gently make clients aware  of their holding patterns, and help them to get in touch with their breath and their feelings. A lot of self-discovery  happens during a session. We try to awaken the client on the table to places that are tight, to places where they  may be holding their breath, or to places where they may not be breathing effectively. All of this is reflected  back to the client to help them effect positive change.

Q: Is there research and information available that scientifically backs up the benefits of massage?
P.H. Touch creates a sense of well-being. Look at all the studies that have been done on babies. They die without it. How much more graphic, scientific input does anybody need? The work of Ashley Montague, who wrote a  book called Touching, talks a lot about this. Yes, its sensual and pleasurable and yes it reaches much, much deeper  layers than the skin. Were working with the body, mind and spirit. A lot of our work is intuitively based and therefore difficult to quantify. We do try to quiet our minds while we work so that our intuition can come more into the  foreground.

Q: Peggy, can we discuss the issue of nudity at Esalen? How do the Esalen massage therapists deal with this  in a way to increase the comfort level of their clients?
P.H. We drape during massage. The one thing that makes a difference here at Esalen are the hot springs baths where people usually enjoy a soak prior to their massage. Nudity is a little easier and more natural here as a result. People feel more comfortable with it.

Q: But its not something that everyone conforms to?
P.H. No, not at all. When we teach our students to take Esalen Massage out into the world, wherever their world may be, we tell them to go very gently and to introduce people to massage in the most non-threatening way  possible. Massage someone's foot or hand. Take massage into your world, heal your friends, go into the hospitals and touch your loved ones in any way you can. You don't need a table, a sheet or oil to spread love in the world through your hands.

Q: How important to massage is knowledge of anatomy ?
P.H. Well, I think its important. Anatomy can certainly be studied on an ongoing basis for its informative value throughout a massage career. But I don't think that's where we start. I think it is very useful and important  to know anatomy at some point. We spend about 12 -15 hours on anatomy in our training and we always have charts and skeletons present, but we don't spend a lot of class time lecturing on anatomy. Its something students can  learn on their own. We devote more training time to hands on work.

Q: Peggy, have we missed anything important? Do you have any final comments about the Esalen approach to massage?
P.H. We approach our work with reverence and we believe it is an honor to touch another person deeply in  the way that we do.

Thanks so much, Peggy.


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Sherry Galloway BIO

Sherry Sanders Galloway is a nationally certified massage therapist, a certified member of the AMTA and a registered nurse (R.N.) A long-time member of the acclaimed Esalen® massage crew at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA, Sherry has taught Esalen style massage for the California AMTA chapter and she has extensive experience teaching sports massage. A R.N. for more than 20 years, she has worked closely with people suffering from medical, physical and psychological trauma and has taught nurses and paramedics, as well as bodywork professionals. Her educational background includes course work and training at Los Angeles Harbor College, UCLA, California State University at Domingues Hills and the Esalen Institute.

Sherry Galloway – Head, Neck and Shoulders

How long have you been a bodywork practitioner? What made you decide to enter the profession?
In March of 1989, I began an entirely new and different second career as a certified massage therapist. For almost twenty years before that date, I was an emergency room R.N. My work life was frenetically busy and intensely stressful. In addition, I was a marathon runner who occasionally received therapeutic bodywork to heal strains and sprains. It was a full life. Too full. One day, realizing that I was approaching burnout, I decided to take a friend's advice and sign up for a five-day workshop at Esalen. I needed to reassess my life and the direction it was taking. The workshop included about four hours of massage instruction. I also received several massages while I was there. And I started to think: I can do this. I can create a whole new life as a massage therapist. It seemed like a perfectly natural change in direction, from nursing to bodywork.

What are your credentials, and how did you earn them?
Once I made the decision to change careers and become a massage therapist, I enrolled in and completed the Esalen certification program, which meets the California requirement of 130 hours of training. Since then, I've earned a 500-hour national certification that allows me to practice anywhere in the country, and I maintain a level of continuing education, so that I can renew that credential every four years. In addition, I am a certified member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Finally, I maintain my status as an R.N. in California.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering becoming a bodywork practitioner?
Before giving any advice, I'd ask one question: "What is motivating you to do this work?" If the answer is "money," I would probably say, "Look, the work is hard; it's emotionally and physically taxing. There are easier ways to make a buck. Find another path." I think it's absolutely essential that anyone who is contemplating a career as a bodywork practitioner recognizes the intensely demanding nature of the work. If the person truly understands this, then I would pass on lots of pointers. For example: Learn everything you can about anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. If you don't understand how the body works, you can't work with the body. Also, avoid injury to yourself. Build up your strength. Learn correct body mechanics. Get movement training. And be careful not to overbook. Last and perhaps most important—have some kind of spiritual or grounding practice to sustain you.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Without a doubt, it's the contact with people and the connections that evolve. People trust me with their naked bodies. They come to me with physical or emotional conditions that are causing them to feel fragmented and distressed, and I have an opportunity to work with them so that they leave feeling whole. It's terrific compensation to hear a client say, "Oh, I didn't know I could feel so good." Or, "It doesn't hurt any more." Although my clients are not actually sick, I honestly feel as though I'm engaged in healing work with them.

What do you think is your most distinctive characteristic as a bodywork practitioner? In other words, what do you bring to the client's experience that sets you apart from other massage therapists?
I'm fortunate to possess two distinctly different qualities that combine to create a unique experience for the client: First, my medical background, the years I spent working as a nurse, gave me grounding and strength in the technical aspects of the profession. Second, I am by nature a motherly, nurturing kind of person, a caretaker with a heartful and empathetic sensitivity. The fact that I'm able to integrate these characteristics and produce a truly healing session for the client is what distinguishes my work as a massage therapist.

What is the greatest gift that you have received from your work as a massage therapist?
Once again, I would have to say it's the personal contact. The love and trust that I get from my clients is a tremendous gift that enriches my entire existence. I have clients who've been coming to me for 12 years, who've made me a vital part of their lives. These are people who have become friends. They call me on my birthday; they actually care about me. When a client looks at me and says, "I feel like a new person," I feel as though I've fulfilled the trust that person has placed in me. That's my reward and the reason I can't imagine not doing some kind of healing touch work.


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Val Guin Bio

Val Guin is an internationally-known, certified massage therapist who has been doing bodywork for over 25 years. She is a founding member of the Santa Monica Center of Healing Arts where she maintains a private practice. Val is the Executive Director of the IPSB (Institute of Psycho Structural Balancing), California College of Massage and Bodywork in California, which features the IPSB Massage Technique

Learning is exciting with Val, a gifted teacher who is frequently invited to present seminars and instruction at AMTA and other massage training events. The intuitive nature of her massage technique is reflected in the visual style of the FOREARM DANCE DVD, which enhances the quality of the learning experience. 


During my massage career of over two decades, I had to develop an effective way to sustain my clientele, teaching schedule, and my own health. – Val Guin

Val Guin - Forearm Dance

Val, let start’s with your description of Forearm Dance.
Forearm Dance is a technique that incorporates the benefits of widely used massage therapy modalities while putting remarkably less strain on the practitioner’s body. It saves your hands, improves your body mechanics and increases your strength, so you can work on more clients each day and have more fun doing it.

What will viewers learn from the Forearm Dance DVD? Learning Forearm Dance techniques can enhance your career by bringing more energy and ease to your work. Work it into your current routine, or offer Forearm Dance as your full body massage.

You’ve created Forearm Dance by synthesizing different things from different experiences, whether or not they’re specific to traditional massage.
Right. It has to be efficient. When I watch people work classically, I see that they’re really working too hard. The problem lies in their heads. The client will say, “Please work deeper on me here or there,” and what they don’t understand is that it’s not about pressing deeper with your tools—it’s about being in touch with who you are, so you can channel the chi efficiently enough. It’s about using all the systems of the body to get to what you’re going to do.

And we’ve all had uncomfortable massages, when you’re like, “Oh, when will this end?”
As bodyworkers and as professionals we develop our beings—our total beings. They say that the body is like a hologram—if you can touch one molecule of the body and change it, then you have the potential to change the rest of the body. So you have to be very mindful, very present, very willing to feel, and very willing to be intimate and connect with another human being. And so many people are afraid of that.

Is the concept of “being present” taught in massage school?
Not enough. There’s so much to learn in massage school in such a short period of time. But learning the techniques I teach in Forearm Dance can not only enhance the experience for your client, but also help you to better enjoy the massage experience.

Tell us a little bit about your personal and professional background.
Well, the school I teach at now is the school that I went to, IPSB,
The Institute of Psychostructural Balancing [the International School of Bodywork]. Everything is about body usage there. You learn the first third of the yang form of Tai Chi—we’re at the table and we are following the Tai Chi mode, and everything is about using your body: think, sync, melt. You use your intellect, your heart, and your grounding center.

What were some other formative experiences of yours?
I started out in physical therapy. I was a restorative nurse at the Spastic Foundation in Sylmar. I was only 19 years old, and I was making such a breakthrough with these people. When I went there they said, “you can’t help these people, don’t even try,” but my history had been that, you know, miracles can happen.

And were you doing massage therapy there?
Yes, I started by doing massage. I touched these people. I listened to them—I listened to them cry, I listened to them express themselves, and I heard their pain. This one boy couldn’t even wheel his own wheelchair. By the time I left, this kid could wheel his own wheelchair, because I helped him develop his upper-body strength. But the interesting thing was that it wasn’t just through exercise. I did everything the physical therapists told me to do, but that never helped him. It was really through touch that he came alive—and through listening, and being present with him. And it was around that time, when I was out Christmas shopping, that I was hit by a drunk driver.

Were you just a pedestrian on the street?
No, I was driving my mom’s brand-new car, actually. The driver of the vehicle that hit me ran a red light and came right into my door. It was a harsh blow to my career, not to mention to me personally, because I was making such headway with the people I was working with.

So there you were, feeling like you were on the cusp of helping these people, when all of a sudden you were the patient.
It was an extremely frustrating situation. I wanted creativity out of my doctors, which I couldn’t find, and from the physical therapists. I didn’t realize that the treatment and recovery protocols would be so routine, so “you can’t do this and you can’t do that,” and I wasn’t getting any better.

Describe your comeback from this accident situation.
Well, the odd thing was that it was intermittent. For a couple of years I couldn’t hold a glass, because I never knew if it would drop. So if I were out to dinner, it’d be plastic. Or I’d be walking down the street and all of a sudden lose the legs.

So it was both your arms and legs that were incapacitated.
Yes. But embarrassingly so, because it would happen when you least expected it. And the pain—constant pain. So I got what I call a “recovery job”—I went to work at a YMCA because I’m athletic. And you won’t believe this. They made me wear a dress.

Oh, come on.
Yes! And stand behind the counter and hand out the uniforms to the women. And I’ll tell you something. My mother always said that no matter what you do, always do it over 100 percent, so you don’t have to regret it. So when I went there I thought, okay, I’m going to wear the uniform to show that people can look good in this uniform. I also got some of the uniforms changed, because they were too dorky. And I learned the name of every single woman there, and their goals.

From there, how did you wind up at IPSB?
Well, there was a woman at the YMCA—Robin—who did massage. And I told her, “You know, I love touching people. I love helping people.” And she said, “Well, I’ll show you some stuff!” So I was working on her foot and she just sat straight up and said, “You’ve got to go to school.” And I was like, yeah right—where am I going to get that kind of money? But one day I got this card from employees and members of the YMCA and I opened it up and it said, “With a little help from your friends.” Checks, money, change all fell out of this card—enough to go to school. And Robin checked out all the schools and said, “You’ve got to go to IPSB.” IPSB is all about body-mind relationships. It’s about growth and learning massage—how to become more of yourself while also helping other people.

In the Forearm Dance DVD, you help people deal with body mechanics. How did your ideas about this evolve?
During my training, I learned Tai Chi and proper body mechanics—how to use your body appropriately. Whether you are picking up a cup off the table, opening a door, or massaging somebody, it’s important to be mindful.

That would be considered an intense schedule for most people.
Oh, hugely so. Most people say five massages a day is too much. But you have to know what to do to revitalize yourself. And that can be tricky. Some people tune into what their own needs are better than others.

Did you face other career setbacks?
Well, I lost the use of my arm when my daughter, Natiya, was about seven. I already had a bodywork practice, and I was starting to teach.

So this was many years after the accident.
Yes. I had chest pains, and my arm just got weaker and weaker over hours of intense discomfort and pain, and then it just didn’t work.

Was it your right hand or your left hand?
It was my left hand. So I was able to work with my right hand. I got up the next morning, took my daughter to school, and put my hand around my back or up front like Napoleon, and kept working. I figured out how to do a full-body massage with one arm. Some of the people I was working with said that they didn’t even realize I was doing that. I realized that I couldn’t do some of the techniques I learned in the foundation classes without my other arm.

So you created your own “Plan B” massage technique?
Exactly. I started doing more of a dancing move, because I needed the momentum of my lower body. It was amazing, because then I had more energy. I managed to integrate elements I had done previously. Amazingly, my back didn’t hurt anymore, everything started to elongate, and it was fun.

Sounds like a classic case of “adversity is the mother of invention.” How did you go through the process of restoring use of your essentially lame arm at that point?
You know, honestly, no one could help me. Nobody knew why it was happening. Doctors tried to trace it to the chest pain, and couldn’t find a connection, which of course concerned them. The only thing they could trace was damage to the spine—I’d been in a couple of car accidents by then, and I had spinal meningitis when I was a kid.

So it could have been a lot of little things kicking in collectively.
Right. I didn’t realize how much scar tissue was in my spine until years later. I also didn’t really realize how much compression was in the spine—I started at five-seven and went to five-five after that accident. But I learned yoga—Scaravelli yoga—, which contributes to my ability to move. Vanda Scaravelli, who was from Iyengar, gave it a female bent. It taught me to elongate—the thought of elongation.

Was your arm gradually restored, or was it all of a sudden “back”?
It was very gradual and very uncomfortable. It felt like being asleep and waking up every day. You know, like when you sit on your legs too long? If there had been no feeling at all, that would have been one thing, but it was alive and just not active --very odd. So I kept thinking that the nerve was smashed or the nerve wasn’t communicating, and by that time I knew how to meditate and I would try to move my fingers. I would try to activate it—to make an isolation with some type of isometric. I would massage it constantly, and that was it.

So, with self-massage and acupressure and sort of Tai Chi-type movements, you designed your own self-recovery exercises.
Yes. My goal was “how can I keep this alive?” I think I was in a state of denial, because the doctors were saying, “If your nerve dies, you might lose your arm. Not just lose the use of your arm, but lose your arm.” I don’t think I really got that. But what I did understand was blood flow. This I knew from being at the Spastic Foundation. If something doesn’t move, then you move it. If somebody’s atrophying, you move him or her, whether they can do it themselves or not. So I would move myself. I would move each of my fingers and say “Hel-lo?” I’d just keep talking to them.

How long did it take to restore complete functionality? Two and a half months, although it was still weak. But that had its benefits when I started using it for massage. It was kind of a drag arm, which really taught me about the power of yin and yang. You’ve got a yang pull and a yin pull, and this was so yin that I noticed that my yang pull didn’t have to work as hard—it was more efficient.

Can you explain this concept further?
With yin and yang, you’re not just doing exactly the same thing with two arms—you’re really working with them in different ways. The yang can only be yang because there is yin, and the yin can only be yin because there is yang. If you try and have two yangs all the time, all you get is deep, poky, why-are-you-hurting-me massage. I first explored this concept in massage school. Also, at IPSB, a kahuna—a Hawaiian healer—came to school to do a demonstration. He was amazing, because he put his hands under the body, flipped the body, turned the body, and made it seem so magical and powerful. He looked like he could do anything without hurting himself. That was in the back of my mind, I know.

Do you have any personal philosophy you’d like to pass on to your viewers?
Life is fun! Feeling and using your body is fun. When your body feels free and strong, you can use it to do just about anything. When we are too full or feel compressed within ourselves, it’s difficult to be present with others, and we are unable to move in and out of their energy. As bodyworkers, it is absolutely essential that we enter each day, each session, each moment, with openness, compassion, empathy and freedom for our clients and ourselves.

- This Q and A includes excerpted interviews with Val Guin conducted by Natiya Guin and Jan Liverance, edited by Emma Ingrisani.

View flash video clips of Val Guin's Forearm Dance DVD, visit Forearm Dance.
At Peace Media is the exclusive wholesale distributor of Val Guin's Forearm Dance DVD. For more info, please contact sherry@atpeacemedia.com.


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Jane Irving + Therese Jennings – Spa Instructional Programs

Tell us about your two Spa Instructional DVD’s, Salt Scrubs and Mud Wraps and Head to Toe. What is the appeal of these programs to massage therapists?
Jane: It is a dry room technique that can easily be incorporated into any existing massage practice. Clients who already enjoy your massage work may be interested in trying spa treatments.

How did the spa elements—treatments like the mud wraps—evolve into your massage practice?
Jane: Therese and I were interested in the spa industry and we read several articles about massage and spa trends in Massage Today and Massage Therapy Journal. Up until then, if you went to a spa and you got a salt scrub or a mud wrap, a technician who had no experience in bodywork administered it. The majority of Massage school curriculums do not include spa instruction. Therefore, we directed and produced these DVD’s to fill that void and provide continuing education.

How did you choose the spa treatments for the DVD programs? Jane: We decided to keep it simple, to focus on a couple of exfoliating treatments and mud wraps.

Once you decided the need existed for spa treatment instructional programs for massage therapists, what came next?
Jane: We researched the industry and realized that a spa treatment instructional DVD geared towards massage therapists did not exist. We created an outline, wrote a script, hired a videographer, and produced the DVD’s.

So it’s sort of spreading the gospel of your own personal experiences and what works best for you and your clients. Do massage therapists in studios as well as in massage client’s homes easily administer these techniques?
Jane: Yes. When we thought about creating some instructional programs, the idea was, “what don’t we want to do? What don’t we like about instructional DVDs?” We’re busy too; we realize that time is money so we’ve tried to make what we do as simple and easy to duplicate as possible. We tell you what products to use and how to use them. We show you how to prepare your workspace, how to handle your client and how to deal with the mud and scrubs. It doesn’t have to be messy or complicated because we guide you step by step through the process. You want to learn it, and you want to do it. And you want it to be simple. That’s what massage therapists like about our DVD programs. As soon as you pop the DVD into your player, within seconds you’re getting instruction.

Tell us about the healing properties of salt scrubs and mud wraps.
Therese: In a salt scrub the exfoliation process sloughs away dead skin cells , promoting cell renewal and increasing circulation. The re-hydration process restores moisture and balance to the skin while increasing circulation.
In the mudwrap the mudding softens the skin, the resting period promotes relaxation while increasing circulation, and many people believe the mud helps to draw out impurities.

Are the ingredients used in salt scrubs and mud wraps all natural?
Jane: The ingredients we recommend and use are all natural and safe for use by anyone.

How do you source ingredients that you use for these spa treatments—what would you recommend to other massage therapists? Jane: We recommend that they find a line of prepared spa products that they like, stick with it, and buy in bulk.

What’s your take on the effectiveness of homemade products—if therapists want to try doing it themselves?
Therese: I think homemade is great if you understand essential oils and their therapeutic effects and properties—and if you have the time. For us, it’s not cost-effective—buying all the separate ingredients and spending the extra time. With homemade scrubs and mud, you also have to be cognizant of the shelf life and freshness of your ingredients. What is most cost-effective in our experience is to purchase a reliable product that you can depend on—that’s going to be the same each time. You’re also dealing with people who have allergies and sensitivities to different things, so for us I just think it’s just safer and easier.

Are there any fragrance elements that you add to your products?
Jane: Yes, we scent them with essential oils.

Are there any scents that are particularly popular or that you use with real frequency?
Jane: Well, if we’re doing something around the holiday season we’ll do pomegranate-cranberry, which is a nice scent. If we’re doing something in the summer, we’ll do mango-mandarin, and if we have men, we’ll do green tea and lime, because it’s fresh and not real perfume-y. If we do a bridal party, we’ll probably use lavender to bring down the anxiety of the bride and the bridesmaids. Spa parties are a lot of fun.

So it sounds like it’s really the whole experience—it’s not just the massage, it’s all the little extras that make the difference.
Jane: Yes. When our clients are here, they know we’re giving them our undivided attention. It’s all about service and offering the extras.

Initially you were gearing these spa treatments toward tourists, but over time have you found that the appeal is broader?
Jane: Yes. Today, many clients who enjoy massage and bodywork are also interested in related spa treatments and people everywhere appreciate good service. Let’s face it, spa treatments have become mainstream. People think, “I don’t have to be a multimillionaire to be able to have a spa treatment. I deserve it.”

Tell us a bit about yourselves, and how you got involved in massage therapy and bodywork.
Jane: I have a degree in Therapeutic Recreation, and I’ve always been interested in health. I think the two classes I liked the most in college were anatomy and physiology. Somewhere along the line, after I graduated, I bumped into an old friend of mine, and she said that she had just graduated from massage school. I thought that sounded interesting. The following spring I entered a massage program.

And this was at the Institute of Massage Therapy in Boston? Jane: Yes. After massage school I worked at a chiropractor’s office on Cape Cod. I spent my first five years doing injury work, and then I went on to the Benjamin School in Cambridge.

And what was the experience like there? Was it a question of building on the skills you had acquired in massage school?
Jane: Yes, it was. When I went to massage school, you learned Swedish massage. That was it. Massage school now is very competitive, so people who go to massage school say, “why would I learn just Swedish when I can learn 10 things over here?” The long and the short of it is that I learned Swedish first, which was good, and then I only learned injury work and deep tissue work. Then I moved to Maine.

And Therese—what is your background?
Therese: I studied restaurant and hotel business management at Purdue. I actually grew up in Maine, and came back here and was working in a restaurant. I was good friends with the owner, and a friend of hers came in one day who was a massage therapist. I thought that would be interesting, found a school in California, and studied sports massage and Swedish. Then I decided that I missed Maine, and moved back.

Do you have any other advice for massage therapists who are interested in what you do?
Jane: I think the message that we’d like to get across to other massage therapists is that whether you’re just getting out of school or if you’ve been practicing for a long time, if you want to integrate spa treatments in with your massage work, it’s very easy to do. We’ve massaged tourists who’ve spent a week at Canyon Ranch—who’ve gone to the most beautiful spas in the world, and yet they still come and see us in Maine and they love the work we do. You don’t have to have a lot of expensive equipment to do what we do. People want and appreciate personalized, gracious service and a “can do” attitude. It’s our belief that any massage therapist or bodywork professional, out there who wants to “kick it up a notch” and add some services, can do it. Your clients will love it.

We would like to add some information regarding spa parties.
Our second DVD is geared towards spa parties. “Sparties” The treatment allows the client to remain clothed and still enjoy a pampering spa teeatment.
We offer consulting services. Massage Therapists interested in offering spa parties may want to contact us for more information regarding this service.


- This Q and A was conducted and edited by Emma Ingrisani.

View flash video clips of these Spa Instructional DVDs, visit Spa + Beauty DVDs and click on your choice of DVD titles.  At Peace Media is the exclusive wholesale distributor of Jane Irving and Therese Jenning's Spa Instructional Programs. For more info, please contact sherry@atpeacemedia.com.


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UP CLOSE INTERVIEWS
We work hand-in-hand with experienced, talented
bodywork professionals who are talented practitioners
and teachers of a wide array of massage and bodywork
modalities. Discover what inspires and motivates these
talented, inspired massage and bodywork professionals
in the following Up Close At Peace interviews.

Elaine Calenda – Frozen Shoulder Syndrome
Art Riggs – Deep Tissue Massage
Rhonda Funes - Reflexology
Peggy Horan - Esalen Massage
Sherry Galloway - Head, Neck & Shoulders
Val Guin - Forearm Dance
Jane Irving & Therese Jennings - Spa
Instructional Programs
Pat Mayrhofer - Stone Massage
Kate McBride - Foot Massage
Connie Scholl - Chair Massage