Two week training completed!

I am having a hard time believing that our class has ended, and that I'm not just having another Saturday between weeks of intensive coursework.
The entire thing went off without a hitch.
Twelve people of mixed backgrounds, languages, levels of education came together in a sacred space to learn the art of healing touch. And, they did...quite well. I don't know how they did it, but after just 65 precious hours together in a temple/classroom, they each have learned to give a full body swedish style massage freckled with some trigger point, reflexology, and thai yoga massage. I'm very proud of my creations (smile).
The photo here is taken from above on the roof of the temple. This is the formation we made with the tables everyday to practice.
The graduation ceremony was during the last hour of class yesterday. We circled around a table, which had 12 certificates of completion named for each of the participants, placed face down. There was a plate of handmade chocolates, one for each of us that had been prepared by some of the members of our community here at Inanitah. They toasted the cocoa pods and ground them down, added tapa dulce (something like raw sugar), and other tasty ingredients and WOW! instant chocolate high, pure and simple. Anyway, I digress.
Each of the participants turned one of the other certificates face up and presented it to them along with a chocolate. We danced, hugged, laughed and cried (ok, I was the only one who cried).
If the local participants are going to go further with the work, they will come here tomorrow and Gaia and I will detail them on the next steps before getting placed for work positions. We are thinking they will have to do around 20-30 clinic hours to continue practicing. This will mean that Gaia will arrange bodies to receive inexpensive massages. (think $3-5./hour). The piddly amount by US standards is actually an almost dangerously high amount of money for Ometepe residents. The standard working wage for physical labor, construction for men or washing clothes for women is about $1-3/hour. Once the students complete their clinical hours, complete with feedback forms, they will be placed at one of the hotels here that is looking for regular massage therapists. There, they will be able to make as much as $6-8/hour. Gaia asked me to return to teach more in the late winter/early spring and I am planning on it.
Now that we have tables to work from, there's lots of possibilities. Thank you.
Justin, our videographer, has taken lots of really cool video of the training and of the local students speaking to you in Spanish saying thank you. I am looking for a place to post these and will hopefully do so shortly.
Love pouring from my heart to yours.
Valerie Hope Cherrin

December 1, Day 8 of 10

I am blessed to be able to be a part of this experience. The students have quickly picked up on a full body Swedish style massage in 5 days. They became familiar with a combination of techniques in a pre-made protocol and have memorized and utilized them to give wonderful, relaxing hour long sessions. Days 7 & 8 were the beginning of deep tissue work. Day 7 went into working on the hips and low back, getting into specific points. Day 8 (earlier today) we did the shoulder girdle the same way. Pointing out specific techniques to open the shoulders and allow release. They were all so excited for this work, as so many of us carry deep stuff in the shoulders.
Tomorrow we will do some thai table work and if there is time spend an hour or so on some basic reflexology. Friday, our last day will be an opportunity for them to do a clinic, working on people outside of the class. New bodies! These people will mostly be workers around Inanitah, local men and women who do a lot of the construction and chores working for Paul and Gaia. At the end of that day, we will have a closing circle and "graduation" where they'll get certificates for the course and we can eat chocolate! :)
Justin is taking interviews with some of the students, which we will post either here or a link to it from here so you can see what they have to say about their experience.
Waves of gratitude coming your way...