I promised you an update on my trip to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and here it is.  These two lovely therapists from Josef's School of Hair Design there organized my class and I thank them very much!  Amber and Jenn were wonderful hostesses, serving as drivers, assistants, and overall ambassadors for North Dakota.  I was very warmly received and the class of dedicated massage therapists with whom I worked were excellent students.  They braved Blizzard "Ali" on Sunday which was unlike anything I've seen in Wisconsin.  The 60mph winds whipped the relatively small amount of snow on the ground (about 8 inches) into rock-hard walls that cars could not drive through!  It battered my hotel window so hard that the heat had a hard time keeping up, but come Monday morning it was clear, if cold, and my plane took off without incident.  Whew! 

We explored hot stones and massage with great enthusiasm.  The students were very tolerant of my penchant for always including information on the importance of body mechanics and self-care.  And we delved into essential oils and hot stones work as well.  Everyone left with their new stone and oils sets and new ideas to try out with their clients.  I wish them all well!  

I am now promoting this course for other massage schools.  Amber and Jenn have graciously invited me back to possibly teach myofascial skills or a separate therapist self-care class.  I'm already putting together some of the background research for the myofascial class.  It's invigorating to me to travel and teach in another part of the country.  Right before I left a colleague said to me, "You'll never meet more genuinely nice people anywhere than you will in North Dakota."  I had never set foot in the state before, but now I know from every experience I had there that she was right.

I wish everyone reading this peaceful and blessed holidays!