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Observations, Social Anthropology, Mirth, Mayhem, & Much More
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ojkeehnen@aol.com
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In 1999 I decided it was time for something different. I was in need of change but unsure as to what that would be. Retail had lost its appeal. I wanted to do more. In retrospect I was eager to somehow earn a living by making the world a better place. So I chose to do it one body at a time.
In 2000 I graduated from The Chicago School of Massage Therapy. My areas of study included: General Stress Reduction Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Acupressure,
Seated Chair Massage, Body Mobilization Techniques and Stretching, Optimal Performance and Sports Massage, Client Assessment and Reeducation, and Special Population Education
One of the most rewarding aspects of my training was my outreach work for AIDS Care Chicago. Over the course of my 16 months volunteering there I logged in over 120 hours of volunteer work performing two full-body massages per week on clients impacted by HIV. Adapting the sessions to various client contraindications and considerations as well as cooridnating the work with assorted alternative health care professionals was excellent experience. However, the real rewards lay elsewhere. The gratitude I was shown by these individuals was so empowering. It really felt like I was making a difference. As icing on the cake I was awarded CSMT's annual Outreach Award for Excellence for my work there.
My education was more than I could have dreamed. My sense of compassion was significantly awakened, my self-worth and ability to help was enhanced, and the heightened focus on touch literally changed the way I looked at (and felt) the world.
Since then I have taken several additional education courses in the field. These are: Entering The Dreamtime: A Shamanic Exploration presented by The Chicago School of Massage Therapy in March 2003. I attended a oone day workshop conducted by Bob King on Applied Kinesthetic techniques. I also greatly enhanced my skills with a weeklong Shiatsu/Thai Massage seminar in March 2005. In December of 2005 I got my training in prenatal massage from The New School for Massage.
I continue to find great satsifaction with massage as my full time labor of love. I am Nationally Certified, State Liscensed, and a Member of AMTA and feel very privileged to be able to do this work. Slowly but surely I hope I am helping to indeed make the world a better place one body at a time.
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You're in Good Hands
with Owen Keehnen
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