In January, we had our first Reiki class of the year, and while these students were on fire, it was someone vaping in the bathroom that set off the fire alarm at the beginning of class. Just when we were ready to start, the fire alarm started blaring, and it was loud. The last time that happened, it was at lunchtime, and we just went outside and waited for things to calm down. We were about to do that when they finally stopped the audible siren. But then we had this flashing light behind me, blinking every second. That was bad enough, but each time it blinked, there was an audible click, like a ticking second hand on a clock.

After about 15 minutes, they got everything reset, and this time the fire department did not have to come out. I always try to make my classes interesting, but now spirit is trying to up the ante.

Caring Palms has set the class dates for the first eight months of the year, as announced in the last newsletter. All classes dates have been solidified with the hotel, registered on CEBroker, and are available for sign up.

In the first eight months, we have three Reiki 1 classes, three Reiki 2 classes, two Reiki 3 classes, and a Reiki 4 class. We also have a firm date on an Advanced Body Mechanics and Techniques class. (Even though this class is needed by most everyone, it has not been well attended in the past even though the 35 people that have taken it loved it. Should this class not get any students, it will not be offered again. So if you are interested, sign up early, and get others to sign up as well.)

You can register for any classes from the full website (not mobile) either Classes, Reiki, Register for Classes, or Continuing Ed, either Reiki or Advanced Body Mechanics and Techniques (whichever you desire, then Register for Classes. Because these are being held at a hotel, a minimum of four (4) students is required for each class. We also need to know early so that the hotel can be notified in case we need to cancel. So don’t wait til the last moment to sign up.

You can see the list of class dates in the articles below.

Valentine’s day is coming up this month. Saint Valentine, patron saint of love. Yes, a day to show your loved ones that you care about them. At least, this is the marketing hype we are being told to believe by companies that sell greeting cards, candies, flowers, spa gift certificates, and many more. Yes! This one day is set aside for love. But why shouldn’t we show love every day?

Love is an emotion, a feeling, a vibration, an energy. Why should we limit expressions of love to one day a year? But what is an expression of love? Is it giving someone flowers? Or chocolates? What if an expression of love were simpler than that, like maybe a kind word, a caring touch, a note of support?

There seem to be two motivators in this world, and they are complete opposites… love and hate, and each can be melted down to something akin to like and dislike, or they can be put to extremes. One is a positive affirmation creating a higher vibration. The other is negative, creating a low vibration, or frequency.

When we reach for the higher vibrations, we take ourselves above the din and chaos. We are able to see clearly all the details of everything happening around us. The way energy works is that as things increase in frequency, they become lighter and start working and creating better realms. Spirit works at very high vibrations. It is with love that we are able to connect with them, feel their presence, their guidance (and yes, they are trying to guide us through this life we are creating).

While yes, it is nice to show those you love how much you care with some expressions on this day of the year, think about spreading love all year round. Say a kind word to someone, or several someones. Smile at those you meet or pass on the street, or in the stores. Spread that positive energy. Make someone’s life a little bit better, even if it is just for a moment.

Be that positive force. Spread love, and joy. Raise the global vibration. All it takes is a moment. Love those moments.

I get a bit frustrated sometimes when I talk about love (and do my best to live up to it) to see people talking about hate, especially when the group they represent is supposed to be teaching love.

Let me start this by saying that we should defend free speech, allowing people to say what they want. I also feel that whatever religion you choose is right for you if you feel it is whether it be Christian, Buddhist, Pagan, Muslim, Spiritualist, or whatever. I’m not going to try to convert anyone.

Almost all religions, at their core, teach love, love everyone. So, why do some teach hate?

What started this was a new article of a local Christian church that is making its members sign a declaration starting that they are against anyone who qualifies themselves as LGBTQ. If they don’t sign, they are “asked” to leave the church. And I wonder why they would do this.

While I try not to bring negativity into this newsletter, there are times I feel I should take a stand. So my statement is this…

If your religion preaches hate, it is time to find a new religion.

After all, I prefer spreading love.

Since people do not see the t-shirt designs too often, a new shirt will be featured each month.

The following is a list of currently scheduled classes. This class is a two-day class worth 12 CE hours for massage therapists. Each class (unless otherwise marked) currently has a status of 'Scheduled'. This means that a date has been set, but no one has signed up for it yet. Once a deposit has been received for a class, the status will be 'Confirmed'. The schedule is as follows:

You may sign up for any of these through the website, or over the phone with a credit card.

All classes are scheduled to be held at the Caring Palms Studio. Should the location change, that change

will be on the website and students notified.

Maximize your results with less effort. Utilize the science of martial arts and apply it to massage. Advanced Body Mechanics and Techniques for Massage Therapists, is designed to reconnect the massage therapist with proper body mechanics and techniques while putting a new twist on things and showing how to get more pressure with little effort. While it does go over some basics, it takes body mechanics to a new level where every move involves the use of the therapist's entire body so they can work without hurting themselves. The class being part lecture, part hands-on practice takes positions, centering, and the proper use of body strength from Japanese martial arts and applies them to the art of massage therapy. It also shows how to focus one's energies to increase their strength with simple exercises meant to teach the student how to 'think' beyond where they are working so they can get deeper into the client and to channel their energies to the point of thought. The student will learn how to focus their energies and use their body to do deep work and not get hurt. This class will help anyone to work deeply with less effort no matter if one is 90 pounds or 250 pounds. This class is for both the seasoned therapist and the new therapist. It will show moves everyone does, but in a new light as well as moves many people may not have seen before. The idea is not to dictate how to practice, but to show better body mechanics which the therapist can adapt to what they do. This is true whether they adapt all of it or just part of it.

This class is for licensed massage therapists or anyone that regularly uses massage in their practice. For those looking to learn basic massage for relaxation for their partner or friends, see the website on the Massage For Couples classes.

To sign up for classes, go to the website and select Continuing Education, Advanced Body Mechanics and Techniques, and Class Schedule to see additions and changes or to sign up.