In this world today, there is so much violence, so much hatred, so much anger, so much fear. The level of stress in our country and around the planet is extremely high. And every day, massage therapists work on their clients, helping them to reduce stress and effectively deal with their pain. I think that massage therapists are models of peace and acceptance of others.
I have the wonderful opportunity and pleasure to teach CE classes to massage therapists and other healthcare practitioners around Arkansas and in other states. Over the past 7 years, I’ve presented more than 80 CE trainings, most of them for 18 hours each. In these classes, I’ve been privileged to work with close to 800 therapists, many of whom have been to two or more ROLMT trainings. And before that, I taught hundreds of students in massage school.
In the CE training I did in Springfield MO last weekend, I was reminded of the diversity of the participants in these classes. We had therapists from so many diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and lifestyles. Therapists that are Christians and therapists from other spiritual paths. Therapists that focus on science-based techniques and others that add energy work and intuition to their toolboxes.
This class reflected the diversity I’ve seen in so many of the trainings I’ve done over the years. There were young therapists who had just graduated this past year and some who have been practicing more than 20 years, with many in between. There were outgoing personalities and introverts. Men and women. Therapists that work in large massage clinics, spas, chiropractor offices, individual offices, and at home.
In this class, as with many others, there were therapists that do 25 or more massages a week and some that just do two or three. Therapists with tatoos on most of their body and those that would never dream of getting a tatoo. Therapists that are booked several weeks in advance and some that are still trying to figure out how to build their clientele.
And in all these classes, the therapists learn the techniques, trade hands-on sessions with various partners, and share their experiences. Even though there are always so many differences in beliefs and lifestyles, there is a sense of acceptance. Of sharing. Of caring. Of love.
When I’m in the middle of these trainings, I feel this sense of acceptance between the therapists in the room so much that it’s almost as if I can touch it – it’s so palpable! It’s a beautiful feeling. And from the feedback in the class evaluations, I know that the participants can feel it, too.
I just wish that those who harbor hatred, anger, and fear could spend some time in a room with a group of massage therapists. I bet that they’d find a way to experience peace and acceptance, even for a little while. Maybe that would be enough to spur them on to follow that path of peace and learn to accept others over time, even those that are very different than them.
I like to say that massage therapists are helping to bring about world peace – one client at a time. I do believe it’s true. And in my CE classes, I’m constantly reminded of how accepting massage therapists are, even of those who are very different. It’s a profound lesson for me, and it’s so beautiful to see.