Massage Santa Barbara

On Sunday December 7th, the Santa Barbara Yoga Center hosted a free massage and healing clinic for survivors of the recent Santa Barbara Tea Fire. "Yoga Studio 2" was home for the event, with therapists and treatment recipients making a continual, silent migration in and out of the room. At some times, as many as 10 or 12 therapists were in the room together, with tables and mats scattered about, practicing their respective modalities. It was impressive how quiet and healing of an atmosphere was maintained, in spite of the constant, but silent ebb and flow of therapists "coming on duty" and "going off duty", as well as their treatment recipients being ushered in silently.

In all, nearly 40 professional health practitioners contributed tables, equipment, and in most cases, hands-on sessions for the survivors - some as many as 3 or 4 one-hour sessions. Recipients numbered about 45 or so and included all age ranges.

Laís da Silva, owner of Santa Barbara Yoga Center said she came up with the idea...

to have the event on the Sunday night after the fire started. She had offered a special Restorative/Healing yoga class for those displaced by the fire. "There were so many of them that were students at the SB Yoga Center!", she stated.

"During that session, while they were all resting in restorative postures, a few teachers that were helping and myself, walked around the class touching, massaging, adjusting their bodies... That’s when I noticed how deeply they were taking in the touch, and how they needed that sort of ‘therapy’. That’s when I had the idea to offer a massage/healing open clinic."

When asked if she was happy with the outcome of the event, da Silva exclaimed,

"I was so happy with the outcome!! it amazing how it all flowed so smoothly: one therapist was sick and could not come, but another one showed up last minute, who took her ‘client’... We were short of a table, that had been promised, but somehow it all worked out because we kept playing ‘musical tables’ and it was worked perfectly..."

As for the therapists, many of them mentioned how wonderful it was to have the opportunity to help. Recipients were so moved by the generosity of everyone. One recipient said,

"I had tears in my eyes during the session, which opened me up to receive all this outpour of love & support."

Thank you, Laís and staff at Santa Barbara Yoga Center. Thank you for giving us therapists an opportunity to help the Tea Fire victims.

Click here to read one therapists impressions of the clinic.

Click here to visit Santa Barbara Yoga Center's web site.

Therapists...

Andrea Woodward MASSAGE TABLE
Angela Borda
Cheri Clampett
Corinna Gardner MASSAGE TABLE
Cybil Gilbertson
Devin Zahn
Diane Norcross
George Williamas MASSAGE TABLE
Jeff Mills
Joanne Weber Holden
Jose Carpizo
Joshua Milne
Julie Fiscalini
Kat Connors-Longo
Kathy King    REIKI
Katie Cleary
Katie Elliott
Laura Sacks
Lia Suzuki BAREFOOT DEEP TISSUE
Linda Saccoccio REIKI
Lindsley Wessberg   REIKI
Michele Nichols MASSAGE TABLE
Michelle Gysan PANHARMONICS
Nicole Koon
Patrick M
Paul Brown CRANIOSACRAL
Paul Wehrman
Randy Futa
Rich Heiser ROSEN METHOD
Robert J. Cumming ROLFING
Romi Cumes
Susan Davidson ALPHABIOTICS
Valerie Girard PANHARMONICS
Virginia Macedo HEALING TOUCH/TANTSU
Wendy Fox