and so it begins again...

After almost two years of course after course online I moved to Halifax to meet the strangers in my computer who were grueling through the challenges of work, family, school and every other lovely thing life throws at you when trying to accomplish a large goal.

(its not jungle massage school)

So cute to look back 6 months to the first day we all met in class, all on our best behaviour getting to know each other, but it didn't take long for all of our true colours to come through. Met the most incredible women. Their tenacity, work ethic, intelligence are inspiring and I wouldn't be making it so far away from y'all for so long without them all.

(our first night of clinic)

I have survived the wildfires of Bella Coola and made my way back to Vancouver.

A summer full of fun and adventure as always. Moved west of denman, blessed my best friend at her wedding, apart of a major wildfire, visited schoolmate Katie in Seattle who i hadn't seen in a year(ish), found a beautiful studio for massaging.



Now recently back from a month visit in Bella Coola. Went home to massage and take care of the house and dogs while Mom went on vacation. Some beautiful weather, days in the yard, floating in the river, and watching a million movies i would never pay for in the city. The easy breezy usual summer time fun was interrupted by a huge lightening storm striking up multiple wild fires throughout our Valley, causing some to evacuate and our only road out of town to be closed. There was a great community initiative and i am even more proud to say I am from Bella Coola.





I have committed to the next 6 months at the studio for massage, and settling into my west of denman neighbourhood quite nicely. Next adventures, Pink concert in Seattle, Surf Trip to Costa Rica, and HeliSki season in Bella Coola. I am struggling but adjusting and appreciating the new life i have, where I am my own boss. I have inconsistent schedules but the freedom to live and work on my own terms trumps all obstacles.

First Month In

When I arrived in Vancouver, for the first time ever it didn't feel like home. Perhaps because i knew i wasn't staying and that i had no "home" anymore. Got to see my loverly brother right away and then started making the rounds. So missed you peeps. I knew i had made the right decision, even if it was influenced a bit by my bank account, to go back to Bella Coola, take some time out and then set up shop.



It's been 1 month since my first official massage! Taken place in the room set up in mom's place here in beautiful Bella Coola.



Spent the first part of the month, just relaxing, sleeping, playing with the dogs, deciding on wall colours and making dinners for mom. I was an enjoyable break and great to not be rushed into setting up work. We did lots of painting in the house and the room, did flyers,brochures and additional business cards from the gift of Aprils ( Moo for your own photo business cards), and finished the website www.lotuseffectmassage.com




I also was contacted to do massages for the heli skiing groups at the Coast Mountain Lodge, it is on a sign up basis but its a great gig for starting out.



Though I have the time to be busier and could use more moola I am pretty impressed with my first month. I've already learned so much from each client that makes me feel its hard to grow tired of this job, there is always something new or someone new to keep you on your toes.

I was asked to work my first "spa" party. Set up the table in one of their kids rooms, and massaged from 630-1030. had a blast. never bored, but a little tired once I actually sat down at the end. Had that endorphin rush to still enjoy it afterwards.

Sometimes I second guess that I should be so happy in doing this work, or the pay I get , or just being happy with a few massages. But quickly getting out of that train of thought.

That's the update for now. Still growing and learning. Next plan to get back to Vancouver and set up shop there. Keep ya posted.

Love Love

Done Done Done...school that is!

COSTA RICA MASSAGE SCHOOL
CLASS OF 2008
GRADUATION DECEMBER 13TH

December 13th was our official graduation. At a beautiful 5 star resort in Punta Islita. Over looking the ocean. We had two houses both unique and beautiful. We were treated to a 5 star dining experience including a pet baby spotted skunk that joined us. The directors hosted a cocktail party that turned into 9 naked girls in a pool under the full moon. The graduation ceremony was very intimate, only one class member had a partner come to it. The rest of us just soaked up each others presence till the 3:00am shuttle. To which 2 of the students ran out of the house nekked saying goodbye. I am surprised the driver didnt take us over the edge.

They had a slide show of photos through out the quarters, good memories! Another student and I made dreamcatchers to give to everybody. There were a few speeches and then the valedictorian speech. Again more tears and laughs. It was really great to hear the transformations people had and the unique personalities that blended so well together. After that we headed to the restaurant for our final meal.




The last quarter flew by until the final week. Where I just wanted to be home, had enough of studying and didn't want to go through the good bye process. It has been a true adventure.
We all became a bit closer and opened up even more. My last weekend there was filled with intense conversation and insane laughter, just the way it should be.

Took a road trip north east to Arenal Volcano. I drove a standard in Costa Rica....and rocked it. We didn't get to see any fireworks of lava but did get to hike an old lava flow.





I can not say enough how beautiful Costa Rica is, and I've only seen a few parts. For the most part the people are pretty accommodating and friendly. The food wasn't spectacular but still great, i may have been under the impression it was going to be "mexican" food and you could drink from the tap so that's a bonus!

Academically the classes were winding everything we had been learning into one, had a class of just practice tests and then a reward of the pool side BBQ. By the thirds test i was so aggravated I didnt want to think or read anymore! Lots of dinners our to celebrate the finals, and we tried our best to party and dance but we are more eaters. yummy dinners and then chill on the beach!

Though excited to get back to Canada and the real world I was also nervous and anxious. Feared that all the progress i had made would not stick once back, that resisting the negative and temptation would not happen. But i fully trust and view the obstacles in a different manner now and trust i have the tools to make it all happen!

There you have it, 4 intense months of personal transformation!

I am now back in Vancouver for the holidays, will go to Bella Coola to visit my mom for a bit as well. And then get ready to make beautiful spectacular appointments with me for massage or your friend or your loved ones or even just liked ones. Mama dulce has some money to make!!

I do have a website that still needs some work but its a good contact page and will be updated very shortly! www.lotuseffectmassage.com

Pura Vida,, Escuela Terminado

Where to begin, how about where I left off. Third quarter was not as taxing but very interesting. We learned Thai Massage and built the musculoskeletal system out of clay. Yes I played with clay at my school, along we resorts, kayaking, sugar scrubs by the pool, Water gun fight and BBQ pool party. The directors are big on a work and reward system and I have to say I am a fan of it as well!





There was a bit of drama through the 3rd quarter, though it worked out for the best in the end there wasn't the most positive vibe on campus. Half the class was basically off campus, but the last quarter we all became very tight again and got to another level in our training, massage and friendships.

I've learned and explored a lot down here. Tested many boundaries and over came a few fears and assumptions. One fear was of the ocean and its death trap waves. Samara has one of the best beaches for learning to surf, no reef and manageable waves. A couple of the girls that worked for the school I became quite close with and as a bonus they are both surf instructors. They made me a pro in 2 lessons and now I am sponsored by Roxy and surf diva. I had a blast, a few scary moments that really werent that scary and swallowed a whole lot of water.




The first road trip that wasn't through the school was taken up north to Playa Negra and final destination Tamarindo to attend a Buddhist meeting. The meeting was great andthe drive was beuatiful. 5 of us stayed in these little cabinas at the SwimSuit lady's property. She makes great swimsuits and dresses. Melissa basically is in business with her making 30 suits at atime and it turns into a little sweat shop weakend...you can imagine i just went to the beach. But i did get a dress made for graduation which you can see in the next blog.

A couple in the buddhist district had us meet them at their dive shop and took us to the meeting. It was primarily Italian members, the meeting was translated generously among the members into english italian and spanish. so great. The lady their was receiivng her gohonzon which is a beautiful symbol of committment, a great moment so lots of emotion! A universal family is a great thing to be a part of and draw wisdom and inspiration from.



I think that was it for 3rd quarter, socialized a lot more, made some close friends and got all A's. A great quarter!

True Colours and Birthday Cake

Dios mio the time goes by!


No straight A's this time, well all A's except for one B as i took a day off and apparently showing up to class is a big deal. Who knew.

I wish i had updated this sooner as it seems so long ago. We had some really cool instructors/classes last quarter. One in particular on craniosacral therapy. Which i thought was just a really intense head massage, i was wrong. Still not entirely sure about it but all i know is i experienced it fully in receiving. Laying on the table, seeing that the practitioner was only holding my body not moving it - i could feel my whole body roll away from the table. This is a very primitive description of my experience but it was incredible. As she held my sacrum i could feel it tilt forward and though i wasnt crying tears starting flowing, it wasn't painful but just a pure release and no more pain in that area. With this therapy one is invited to speak about what they are feeling or if they knew what the release was about if you dont know they say its your bodies choice to go through it again you dont have to.


We are getting so overloaded with information I do feel frustrated at times as it's just the surface. I want to know more! Not that we could handle anymore information in this time frame but I am excited for further training.

Now what kind of adventures have I been on. I did celebrate my birthday here, which was a lot of fun. The day was chill as we had school, I received 3 hours of massage between class and the monthly instructor massage, we watched the vice presidential debate and then went out dancing. I received my Bday package from April that day as well so i had a new party dress to play in also new clothes from mama. A day of being spoiled. Since i had such a release from massage there were no shots for the birthday just lots of dancing and foosball.




For our midway celebration and passport renewal the school took us to Nicaragua.


The resort was incredible, each house a different layout with a beautiful view. It is also called the stairmaster resort as 350 stairs take you to the top where the infinity pools are. You really had to be hungry or bored to venture off the mountain. The town itself was okay, I believe we have been spoiled in Costa Rica with a bit more social development and a better economic standing. Though neighboring borders Costa Rica is the richest of the central american countries and Nicaragua is the poorest. The trip there was beautiful, can't have a road trip now without volcanoes, just not the same.

The last day there I had a lovely combination of possibly sunstroke and eating something nasty. I was up all night loving on the porcelein and praying that it would be over before i borded the bus for a 7 hour ride. Dehydration kicked in and the kidneys kicked back. It took another couple days to fully recover, gatorade and me were best friends neat the end.

Little lax on the updating arent I. Vasically the last quarter was a little stressful, so I turned to Cubra Libres and dancing.

I committed myself to learning how to surf in November. A little scared now that its coming up, but something about those waves is calling me. As long as I come out alive I will keep you posted on that adventure.

We are our first week into the 3rd quarter and its a pretty easy one. Nice to have a bit of a break.

Feel like I am missing something here....oh well.

Miss you all and will be ready to come home in December!

love love

9 A's and a whole lot of humble pie

A crazy couple of weeks. We had our anatomy and physiology teacher quit on us. Im still a little shocked and unsure of all that went down. But seems some things were taken a little too personal and she may not have been the right fit for a school with a different teaching style. Sad though, cuz i really liked her...she was the female indian jones. So we all had to come together to get through the last part and teach each other along with a past student here.

As a regrouping exercise we were taken on a surprise kayaking trip. AMAZING i had never kayaked in the ocean before. Fun paddling through waves with your paddling partner who gets motion sickness. But Jade and I powered through and decided we should apply for the amazing race. We land on our island and are greated by 1000 or so hermit crabs, iguana's that eat out of your hand and pelicans. On the paddle back we saw a ginormous sea turtle.




This journey is turning out to be even more incredible than initially thought. I knew i was going to be tested academically but definitely came in headstrong on the self awareness aspect. I guess its not so much getting to know myself more but admitting and sharing.

On Friday we had a 5am sunrise ceremony for our personal inventory class. I dedicated my future to breaking down the lovely invisible and visible wall around me. I cried and let go in front of the class and Jill and Russ (our wonderful facilitators) Return home to a birthday breakfast for Stella, a written exam at 830 that I got a B on. Then our massage final, where we have 15 minutes to massage Jill. I wasn't nervous til about a minute to the massage. After I was done, she said she didn't want the massage to end and its not often she says this but that the cream has risen to the top, i had a gift. I then cried again (rule number 1 not to do in the massage room) All reassurance of the right path, the right decision and the right time. I came out of the room all red and puffy, perhaps a scare tactic to my other classmates waiting to give their massages ;)

Then our 4.5 day weekend began. A fun and dirty evening of dinner and revealing. Too much dairy ended that party for me early though.

Head south to Carillo another lil town, with a great beach. Where i caught a crocodile with Jade and Jenni. Jade attached scrap meat to a rope and hung it over the bridge into this river that runs into the ocean.
.

And lil croc about 5 feet came on by for a tasty snack. I got a chance to play with him, pulling on the rope as he does his death spiral. Apparently when the big fuckers come by it takes 3 guys to hold the rope. A couple huge crab came by for some pickings too.



Next day we went to Buana Vista another beautiful beach (is this getting redundant?) North of here to fish for crab. We crossed a lil river that may or may not house crocs..okay it does but there were non insight anyways;)




No luck with the crab but it was a beautiful walk and a new beach to chill on. Ran into some howler monkeys and a snake on the way back.

Evenings have consisted of some movies, hitting the lil pub that has pool, ping pong and foos ball.

And today our last day off I received a package of love from April.

Tomorrow starts a new quarter, we get more into the muscles and bones, learn craniosacral therapy and start our clinic orientation.

I think that is it for now.

Loving!