Belonging Matters

From the Director: It’s June Already? 

As we hit the halfway mark of the year, it’s a good time for KCHA to embrace the opportunity to take a breather and do a little mid-year review. It’s like pressing pause and looking back on how far KCHA has come since January. Taking a moment to check if we’re still on track with our goals and tweaking our plans for the rest of the year is an important investment in ourselves and our goals and commitments. 

We are certain that whether thinking about your own wellness or the wellness of others, engaging in a conscious pause for reflection is sure to recharge your spirit, too!

Alumni Spotlight: Meet Haley Graves
As a KCHA graduate and a seasoned massage therapist with a decade of experience, Haley has honed her skills and developed a unique approach to massage. Her passion for helping people achieve comfort and relaxation in their own bodies led her to found Traveling Therapeutic Touch, a full-service mobile massage business. What sets Haley apart is her commitment to ensuring clients’ well-being, which is why she brings the soothing touch of massage directly to the comfort of people’s homes. This personalized service includes a complete setup featuring a massage table adorned with soft linens, quality massage cream, and carefully curated music to enhance the overall experience. Haley’s joy comes from consistently working with clients and fostering a connection that goes beyond a one-time session.

Recognizing the demands of the modern world, Haley extends the benefits of massage beyond residential spaces. Traveling Therapeutic Touch provides on-site chair massages to offices and event spaces, reaching out to the community and making wellness accessible to individuals in their busy work environments. This outreach has not only allowed Haley to share the therapeutic benefits of massage but has also become a means of building a stronger, healthier community.

In addition to traditional massage techniques, Haley introduces innovative modalities to further enhance the relief provided. The inclusion of hot bamboo and Gua Sha adds a unique touch, offering clients additional avenues for relaxation and physical rejuvenation.

Haley believes in massage’s transformative power and its ability to improve physical and mental well-being. With a decade of expertise and a commitment to personalized care, Haley continues to spread the joy of relaxation, one massage at a time, making a positive impact on the lives of the Kalamazoo community.

Explore the gift of Traveling Therapeutic Touch today!

As we welcome the month of June, we are greeted by the warmth of the sun and the promise of long, sunlit days. June symbolizes a time of light, growth, and joy, inviting us to embrace the fullness of life and celebrate connections with loved ones.

For massage therapists, June offers a unique opportunity to align our practice with the natural rhythms of the season. As the transition from spring to summer unfolds, we witness the culmination of growth processes both in nature and within ourselves. It’s a time when the efforts and energies invested in the earlier months begin to bear fruit, reflecting a period of achievement and fulfillment.

At the heart of June lies the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, when the sun reaches its zenith in the sky. This celestial event is a celebration of light, symbolizing enlightenment, clarity, and the triumph of light over darkness. As massage therapists, we can draw inspiration from the solstice to cultivate a sense of balance and harmony in our practice.

Just as the sun finds balance in its journey, so too must we find equilibrium in our lives. June calls us to strike a harmonious balance between action and rest, giving and receiving, and the external and internal aspects of our lives. It’s a reminder to nurture ourselves as we nurture others, finding moments of stillness and reflection amidst the busyness of our days.

As we embrace the radiance of June, let us draw upon the sun’s life-giving energy to renew our spirits and infuse our practice with vitality. Let us celebrate the vibrancy of the season and the connections that bind us together, fostering a sense of joy and well-being for ourselves and our clients.

~MJ Cobb: KCHA Staff Writer & Editor, she/her/hers

Bask in the sun’s warmth and the beauty of the season, finding inspiration in the light that surrounds us.

Myofascial Components of Head, Neck, & Shoulder Pain Class: October 12-13      

Have fun while earning CEUs and exploring deep tissue structures of the upper body that are often the root of most client pain.

Join  KCHA as we host Pete Whitridge, BA, LMT. Founder and Past President of the Alliance For Massage, Pete has dedicated his career to helping establish high standards in massage therapy education and teaches throughout the U.S.

This  two-day class offers a multi-disciplinary approach, including  orthopedic assessments, fascial stretching, and myofascial techniques. During this training, you will enhance your skills, deepen your  anatomical knowledge, learn techniques to alleviate chronic pain and  collaborate with clients. Take the first step toward renewing confidence  in your ability to promote pain-free movement by registering via email today!

Be sure to check out our updated calendar, which includes public events hosted by KCHA, including opportunities to participate in Yoga for Massage Therapists, CranialSacral Wisdom Classes, Post Natal “Closing of the Bones” Workshop, The Art of Marma Therapy: Ayurvedic Acupressure, and more!

Welcome the gift of renewal and receive a massage at Kalamazoo Center for the  Healing Arts Student Massage Clinic. Students are nearing the end of their training and ready to provide public sessions. 

The sessions are relaxing, and the price can’t be beat! 

Gift certificates are available, as are monthly specials. Check the booking site for more details.