The Gang...........

.......Day 1: The Precipice Drop

Last month I joined a team of intrepid trekkers....actually a bunch of ordinary folk looking for an adventure. We had all come together at Heathrow airport thanks to a company called Charity Challenge. Our chosen charity was Help the Aged. By the end of the trek we all felt about 100 & in need of their support!

We were joined by Miranda -a rep from Help the Aged who had a wonderful scattiness about her and a playful way of bringing the group together, and Trevor the masterful leader who has a wealth of experience -climbing to base camp Everest and organising community projects in far flung places around the World. We will call him "Rambo"(minus the hair).

The rest of us were a mixture of ages - from 23-60, some students, workers and retired. Together on that first day on the Wall we all shared the same feeling: awe at this magnificent sight of miles of miles of mountains dotted with a rough path and tumbled down wall. Little did we know that Day 1 was just the start of an incredible climb and endurance test. The path we started on had no wall either side...simply a sheer drop and enough room for two large size 8 hiking boots (mine). Sharon behind me spent most of the first hour staring at these fine specimens with as much concentration as physically possible. She has a big fear of heights. Oh dear! Once the Wall became more complete, the path widened out and we could start to mingle a little with the group.

I came on this adventure with friends of mine - Tracy and Mel. A few people came on their own...it didn't take long to gel with the group over the pain and the interesting country accommodation and toilet facilities. The Wall runs for about 4800 miles...we covered about 50miles. The distance is not the important part...it is the amount of steps you climb up and down. I never imagined in my wildest dreams i would be using my poles to literally wrench me up each boulder of a step (in places). I'm pretty tall at 5ft8 compared to the 5ft girls who at some stages of the walk crawled up on their hands and feet like little monkeys!

For the first 3 days we were blissfully unaware of any other tourists...our days starting about 8am with a coach journey to the part of the Wall we were climbing that day. So much of the wall is in ruins, so walking a continuous path is not possible. Camping up there is equally a "no, no" as you could end up at the bottom of a very large mountain with more than grazes. Our day began with Aaron...our chinese guide and his english name giving us a warm up in public with many intrigued local chinese. It was a saving grace and i was thrilled to have it! Then we walked in a funny centipede style way with big gaps in the middle, always stoppingto let the back legs catch up. Every view was breath taking and a camera moment. Sometimes we would see the path meandering into the distance so high and steep that we couldn't really believe we were going to follow it. We did - breathlessly. Our markers were the Watch Towers...they also became those desperate loo stops. I have never had such an exciting view & windy experience whilst relieving myself. Excuse the pun.

The end of the day was always an achievement, followed by anticipation at the next lodge we would be staying at. There were only two lodges in the country (two nights each). The first welcomed us proudly with the english National Anthem - the Beatles "Love, love me do"...it seemed funny on arrival but 4 hours later when we were attempting a siesta, the novelty wore off. It became our morning wake up call too. Awful. We discoved from Aaron how much the chinese love to karaoke. He had a good voice and happily sang whenever we needed some enertainment. The first time was slightly cringe making...i had egged him on to sing, not thinking in a million years he would have the guts. He did. It could have been a very awkward few minutes but he pulled out all the stops & in english.

Some highlights for others would have been the stunning colours of the autumn leaves, the cute children, the hospitality one lunchtime from a local family who let us eat in their courtyard and take photos of their home, the cute kittens and funny yappy dogs, the toilets and state of them, the group bonding, the lack of heating at one lodge & wearing a hat, gloves and fleece in bed, the bugs in the room, the 4* hotel in beijing at the end of the trek- the WHOLE GROUP, the smiles on the faces of the older chinese women in the parks while they danced to techno, sang crazy english songs their way and silently performed tai chi in an almost meditative state, the creepy crawlies on sticks they ate as snacks, and the temples with their exquisite decorative designs in rich reds, greens and blues.

What an adventure, what a group and what an interesting country. It keeps you guessing even after you have left. A mystery.

Do have a look at this site if you fancy a challenge: http://www.charitychallenge.com/

We are simply the feet that ‘walk’ the stones on the body” –

Jenny Ray, Stone Medicine Teacher.

As a student of Jenny’s Stone Medicine’s course I often heard the term stone walker. It is the term used by Mary Nelson, the American lady who converted the Native American way of using the stones to heal the body into a western model for clinics and spas in 1994. So much reverence and respect is given to these stones that you often wonder if they are living beings.

For Native Indians – they are just that – living beings no less valuable than the Trees that stand tall and proud- and so called the “Standing Tall Ones”, the animals that roam the land – “the Four Legged Ones”, humans that walk on two feet not four – “the Two Legged Ones”, the birds that fly high above us – “the Winged Ones”, the insects and reptiles – “the Creepie Crawlies” and the rocks – “the Stone People”. All are interrelated which reminds the Native Indians to be humble and allow only the “Creator” to be the healer.

Everything on Mother Earth is alive. Everything the Creator has made carries an energy that comes from the life force, the Great Mystery, Great Spirit or `Wakan Tonka Tankashilah` meaning Sacred or Holy Spirit Grandfather.

A Stone Medicine treatment is based on the original Lastone Hot and Cold Massage adapted by Mary Nelson from Arizona. The yin and yang of these stones creates balance and warmth – the ideal environment for healing in the body to take place. The hot dark basalt stones alone create too much heat which causes the body to work harder to cool down, much like adding some cold to freshen up a steamy hot bath that you have been wallowing in for half an hour or so. These basalt stones are from the volcanic regions of Native America and have been lovingly tumbled to smoothe off their edges. There are about 50 used in one treatment, each one having a place and a role. Grandpa stone is the sturdy one that takes pride of place on the sacrum when you lie on your front while Grandma stone sits in the heater overseeing her “children”. Chunky hand held ones, spinal flat stones, small flat face stones and the tiniest stones that sit between the toes all make up the set. The heat from these stones represent Summer (perhaps not an English one but a Mediterranean one!). After a little heat is lost on the body, they become Autumn.

In contrast the cold marble stones are the feminine energy in my mind – pure and white. These represent the Winter and through careful application create a warmer sensation than their partners the basalt. They surprise the body into pumping lots of blood to the area they have been added – so creating a place for reducing any inflammation in the body and healing any distressed tissues. Like the basalt, they come in all shapes and sizes. The half moons nestle into the neck ridding the body of neck tension, the heart shaped stone sits on the heart chakra, while the pillow stone is a place to rest a weary head. Spring time comes to the body after a few moments of cold on the body.

Stone Medicine is a ceremony. The therapist becomes the ceremony – smudging sage in preparation for treatment, clearing the aura with the feathers, and dancing with the stones. Everyone wears a “mask” at some point in their day – as a Mother, Wife, Father, Husband, or a Worker. Gently removing this mask allows the body the freedom to be open to the stones and their dance across the body. Native Indians or shamans are led by their Power Animals. Specific animals resonate with them and act as “guides”. So into the treatment comes the animals, the sounds of the crickets as two stones slide side by side, the dainty steps of the deer carefully placing one foot in front of the other while the horse trots and the bear takes big steps with a large paw like stone. Together they bring a different energy to the ceremony.

If you are curious to see what the treatment is like, give me a call on 07906186912 or 01491 577480.

Stretching is the important link between the sedentary life (desk jobs, driving) and the active life (exercise,walking the dog, cycling to work).

Before machines and the Industrial Revolution, people had to work hard to survive. Their outdoor work: chopping, digging, tilling, planting, hunting and all the other daily activities to put food on the table meant they stayed strong and healthy. Machines have made life alot easier but to the detriment of our health. Without any outlets for tension, our muscles become weak and tight, and we lose touch with our physical bodies.

Fortunately times are changing. We are discovering the joys and benefits of being active - GOOD HEALTH.

BENEFITS OF STRETCHING:

• Keeps the muscles supple


• Prepares you for movement


• Helps you to make the transition from inactivity to vigorous exercise without any strain


• It is incredibly important if you run, cycle, play tennis or any other strenuous sports for flexible muscles,


• Helps to prevent common injuries - knee problems (runners) and sore shoulders or elbow (tennis players)


• Encourages athletes to perform to their best ability

SOME POINTERS:

1. Relax and breathe into a stretch - it is a PEACEFUL past time


2. Aim to reduce your own muscle tension in a relaxing way


3. NO need to compete with your neighbour in the flexibility stakes (different bodies, different tension levels in the muscles)


4. Over stretching can cause injury if you are too flexible


5. The more you stretch the easier it is


6. Find a time that suits you..brushing your teeth in the morning (calf stretch), waiting for the kettle to boil at work (tricep stretch, neck rolls) or before and after exercise


7. No bouncing or pain! The tension should disappear as you breathe into the stretch

THE EASY STRETCH

1. Warm up first -walk, swing your arms, do some neck rolls to get the blood moving


2. Observe your breathing..exhale into the stretch and breathe slowly, no need to hold your breath, breathe naturally.


3. Count for 10-15 seconds to hold the proper tension for long enough. It will become second nature after a while


4. Do not rush


5. After exercise, stretching prevents muscle soreness and stiffness

ENJOY YOURSELF -YOU WILL FEEL FABULOUS AFTERWARDS!

Some of my favourite pictures that show the Seeing Hand students at work and play. More details in my previous blogs.

I am selling raffle tickets at Paula de Lange's Clinic- all proceeds to the Seeing Hands Charity for the day-to-day running of the clinic. A little goes a long way and the money goes straight into the charity as opposed to towards administration costs. The prize is a rejuvenating hot and cold stone massage. For more information about this massage please visit my web site http://www.vanessamansergh.co.uk/.

This is the third week of teaching the blind students at Seeing Hands in Pokhara. We have been making huge leaps forwards with the practical massage and a few leaps backwards with the theory.

The students have all been massaging volunteers - tourists and nepalis. They are so accustomed to their prepared speech which describes the treatments available (full body and half body massage) and the cost that getting them to simply say "lower body massage or upper body massage" has been a challenge in itself. I am not surprised. Their way of learning the theory is much the same - learning paragraphs off my heart without actually understanding the text.

When i think of the few nepali words i have learnt here - i am so impressed with what they are capable of. Mastering "up" oculo and "down" arculo took me most of a day and even now i am sure Sue (one of Seeing Hands founders) will tell me i am wrong. The reason for needing these two words is quite simple and scary.....

Ever since i arrived in Pokhara i wanted to take a boat ride onto the lake. I have watched the sun setting over the serene water with the back drop of mountains almost daily. The peace is palpable until you walk into a passing cow/dog in the street. On top of a smaller mountain (not the Annapurna range) there is a beautiful Temple that you can see on the days that are clear. It is known as the World Peace Pagoda or "stupa".

I decided to take the students on this boating trip last Saturday - our day off. Chiran's sister-in-law was in charge of one of the boats so we took hers. All the students looked so smart - dressed for a night out on the tiles - with heels, earrings and the boys wearing jackets and proper shoes. 3 hours later to my utter amazement we had not only paddled across the lake but had actually climbed up this steep, uneven path to the Pagoda. The sense of achievement was written on all their faces and the sweat pouring down mine! Crazy, mad, insane are some words that spring to mind. It was not my idea - but i am so fortunate to have shared this day with these gorgeous people. Coming down we laughed so much...Govinder charging as usual with Swasti on his arm - heels flying in every direction. I walked very slowly with Chiran and Laxmi and Chiran;s sister-in-law walked with her sister. On the lake coming back the girls started singing...everyone on the lake turned to watch and listen - such hauntingly beautiful voices floating across the lake. the boys joined in.

I was speechless......

For more information about Seeing Hands Charity-please visit: http://www.seeinghandsnepal.org/

Here i am in Pokhara - 2 weeks into my volunteering position at the Seeing Hands Massage Clinic. As usual at 8pm at night the electricity has just gone off...we all get to experience the "blind path" at some stage in Nepal! My torch has been my trusty companion.

Nepal truely does have a way of getting under your skin - quite literally. The students have completely won me over. From day 1 their eagerness to please the new volunteer was charming. The qualified therapists likewise. Chiran who is married to Anita, and Samrat eased me in gently. Their good standard of english has been a god send. Without them - teaching theory would have felt like trekking up the Annapurna mountains backwards - slow going!

The clinic is simply beautiful. Three rooms - a training room and two large treatment rooms - clean, tidy, spacious and welcoming. The therapists could not be more professional and efficient. There is even a bell under the couch to summon your therapist into the room when you have removed your clothes. A basket under the couch also contains a talking clock for time keeping and the lotion. I am learning a great deal about towelling techniques to protect the clients "sensitive areas" as they are referred to.

The students personalities are shining through now they are comfortable with me. Not always a blessing! Govinder - the goofy boy, all lanky legs and arms is proving himself to be a sensitive and gentle therapist when treating the ladies. Quite unlike his usual turbo charged self while learning the techniques with his partner Chiran. Chiran is definitely the cool customer of the group. Akready married at 20, he did not need to be shown how to undo a bra when massaging the back. Govinder and Samrat spend a good 20minutes learning this particular technique. Govinder's comment:"This is really hard work"! Chiran is confident, and capable much like Swasti as she prefers to be called for reasons other than you can imagine. She is defnitely the daredevil - the "wild child" in some respects who yawns the moment theory classes start until they finish. Laxmi is the sweet, shy, and very tactile member of the group - much stronger than she looks when it comes to giving a massage so Chiran discovered.

The routine has been estavlished. Every day starts with 30minutes of exercise - i'm still amazed by their spatial awareness. Govinder is the only member of the group with some sight and yet they all manage to do star jumps and jog on the spot without hitting each other. I have introduced some "core pilates" work as their postures are so important to protect their backs. My pilates teacher back at home would be proud (or horrified). My stretching mantra has reached Pokhara. The difference being i winess the 15 minutes of daily stretching and know it's being done properly!!! Theory follows and lots of breaks as the attention span is limited. They all love the practical work. Progress is huge one day and forgotten completely the next. Confidence is always there and an enthusiasm that is contagious.

As one American client commented - " I have travelled the world and had many different massages in many countries. Never have i had such a thorough massage. When are you bringing this idea to the States?". Praise indeed.

Namaste

Do scroll down to my first blog about Seeing Hands to read the introduction. These are the blind students i will be teaching in Pokara.

Back Row (left to right): Samrat, Anita & Chiran
These three have qualified and are enjoying their independence and income.
Front Row: Lalu, Laxmi, Chiran and Govinda

I have a week to go until my trip to Nepal. I had a good chat with Mel Cash (Principal of the London School of Sports Massage - LSSM www.lssm.com ) , Manicon and Joanne a few weeks ago as they have all been volunteers at the school. Looking at the pictures brought this trip to life. The view from the apartment of the snow capped mountains on a clear day is something worth savouring before my daily walk to work. My role is to polish "the rough edges" and work on any weaknesses the students may have.

My preparation for my teaching role in Nepal was an introductory weekend at the LSSM a couple of months ago. It seemed strange joining the tutors table and wearing the blue "i'm a tutor" t-shirt. I even sat at the back of the class with the students until asked to join the tutors at the front. After a couple of hours i was so enjoying watching the students at work, studying their posture at the couch and checking their massage techniques. By the end of the two day course i was quite attached to the students, to being back at "school" and learning from them. It does not matter how many hours are spent in a clinic treating clients, there is always room for revising old techniques and learning new ones. This is exactly how i feel about teaching the students in Nepal. I strongly believe they will be teaching me so much more.

My first day at Seeing Hands is Wednesday 25th February.

After much time spent treating clients with Sports Therapy Massage in a clinical way:

• Posture Assessment
• Joint Mobility
• Remedial Massage
• Stretch Program

I realised there was something "missing" from the treatments. On the whole it takes about 4-5 sessions to unveil the root cause of a chronic condition in the body. This means it has been a problem and a source of discomfort for a long time. When the problem does not disappear, it is time to try something different or refer to a specialist for diagnosis.

The element missing, in some cases, was the emotional and energetic side of a client. With the stresses and strains of every day life - from house moving, redundencies and unsettling relationships, it is no wonder the body becomes "unbalanced".

Hot and Cold Stone Massage is a "missing link" for those facing an upheaval or crisis at home or at work. To explain the history behind the stones in detail, please visit:
http://www.spavelous.com/EB/N071130/Hot-Stone2.html

Seeing Hands Nepal is a UK Registered Charity, set up to provide training and employment opportunities in massage therapy for young blind people in Nepal.

I am fortunate enough to be going at the end of February this year as a volunteer to teach massage to four students who are three quarters of their way through their course. I have a feeling they will be the ones teaching me!

I was introduced to Seeing Hands through my School - the LSSM (The London School of Sports Massage). The Principal - Mel Cash has recently come back from Nepal and is shortly going to be updating me on the students progress. Apparently they are a little "lazy" by nature.....they did not make it to School for a week after Mel left (no doubt recovering).

For more information about the School, the teaching and ways to help the Charity: please visit the web site:
http://www.seeinghandsnepal.org/

To discover what it is like to be blind in Nepal, visit: http://www.seeinghands.blogspot.com/