Classes

At the same time I have been trying to shed myself of the last two weeks of work, I’ve been juggling two classes as well.

One of the classes is Fundamentals of Massage at BTC, where I’m a TA. There have only been four meetings so far, but I am enjoying it hugely. When I was in college, I did an awful lot of tutoring in Algebra, Calculus, entry-level engineering Statics and Dynamics, and I got a lot out of it. In many ways, I found I never really understood a subject until I had taught it to someone (or even better, several someones). Now I’m getting that experience all over again. I’m spending a lot of time thinking about all of the massage training and practice I’ve gone through over the past year, and finding words to explain what that meant to me and how I’ve internalized different parts of it.

It also helps that the two teachers I’m working with are more on the “woo-woo” side of massage, whereas I’m more of a clinical anatomy geek. So, I’m getting a little more accustomed to that side of the practice, and I’m also able to provide a bit of a balance to the class, helping them with anatomy questions and focusing more on the left-brain side of it all.

The other class is a Table Shiatsu class at De Anza College. I have a very strong appreciation for the massage program that has been assembled at De Anza, but I still feel like the classes at BTC are much better. But, De Anza is way cheaper, it’s way closer, and BTC doesn’t offer a class in table Shiatsu. Since I don’t plan on doing Shiatsu full-time, I really wanted exposure to it in a way that I could integrate into my regular bodywork on the table.

So far, I’m having to regularly remind myself, “Keep an open mind. Don’t try to analyze it, just soak it in.” I don’t have a particular affinity for the eastern modalities, and I am fairly skeptical of the meridian system in general. But, I like the teacher, and he’s making a real effort to present the information in an open, informal and reasonably grounded manner. So, it’s a stretch for me, but still quite worth it. I especially like the time and attention he spends on Qi Gong, postures and movements that are very evocative of Tai Chi and various martial arts. More motion and body awareness is a good thing for me.

Yay for classes! I’m looking forward to seeing these unfold.