Article in the Echo, August 7
2008
Work for Love Massage Project Gets Underway
Michelle Saffer
Fourteen women, one from Ocean View and 13 from
Masiphumelele are being trained in massage as part of the
Work for Love initiative by a group of parents of the Imhoff
Waldorf School.
Since the beginning of 2006, a group of health practitioners
linked to the school has been working for love, running
regular free sessions at the Pink House in Masiphumelele,
where people can have a massage or a tarot reading or just
relax.
Now the 14 people have successfully completed section one of
a six-month Healing Art of Massage course, run by Elaine
Hackner.
They have been coming every Monday night for training and
every Tuesday morning to practice what they have learned.
“ All want to continue the course,” said Elaine.
“The course works on quite a few levels. The students are
using what they learnt on family and friends and instead of
reaching for a bottle of pills when they have a headache or
a backache, they are using massage.
“They are also working locally, in our wellness mornings,
and what they are learning is a potential means of
employment,” she said.
“There is an inspiring story of the mother of a paraplegic
who has been working on her child (using massage) as often
as she could.
“Her child was due to have an operation to help her walk,
but now she might not need the operation and is making good
progress walking. The massage - among other factors - seems to
have helped.”
Another woman is using her new skills in her work as an Aids
counsellor.
For the most part, the women are unemployed or in part-time
employment and the “chair massage” they have learnt to do
could be perfect for businesses.
These massages are done clothed, in a sitting position, so
could be done in the work environment during tea break or
lunch break.
“It would be nice if local businesses became interested,”
said Elaine.
If you would like to try out a bit of stress release in the
work environment, contact Elaine on 021 780 1558.
Level two of the course - focusing on full-body massage - began
at the end of July and Work for Love are looking for
donations of towels or blankets or massage tables.
There is always a need for volunteers offering alternative
health care at the Pink House on Tuesday mornings, 9 am
– noon.
To find out more about this or Work for Love, contact Nicola
on 021 789 1342
