Friday, July 30, 2010 I Welcome Visitor
Welcome Visitor! | login/logout
 

   

Most viewed stories
Dietz pitches school levy proposal
Roundbank acquires failed New Prague bank
Photo Gallery: Relay for Life 2010
Waseca man wins $10K lottery prize
Gardens open for viewing
Athletes and fans will gather for Waseca Triathlon Sunday
Maher finds purpose in Comfort Touch
Posted: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 10:07 pm
Email Print
Maher finds purpose in Comfort Touch

Linda Maher, owner of Avalon Massage & Wellness, provides massage therapy to Dan Von County News/Ruth Ann Hager

Ruden while Chris Olson sits beside him in the living room.

By RUTH ANN HAGER
Staff Writer

WASECA — Linda Maher finally understands why she survived a devastating crash on Highway 14 in 2001. She didn’t exactly know what her doctor meant when he told her, “God wanted you to live.”

Now she said, “I found my purpose.”

Her purpose, she said, is to bring comfort to the 30 developmentally disabled people who are now her regular clients.

Five years ago when Maher purchased Avalon Massage & Wellness in downtown Waseca, six of her clients were developmentally disabled. When she visited their residences, Maher would announce her arrival, “It’s The Massage Lady,” because that is what they called her.

The name stuck and that’s how Maher continues to announce her arrival.

Just inside the front door of the Elm Homes residence she visited Thursday, one of her clients was at her side before she could take her coat off.

“Who wants to go first?” she asked Chris Olson and Dan Von Ruden.

Von Ruden, the older of the two men, graciously allowed Olson to be the first to receive his massage.

Seated in front of a television in the family room, Olson alternately smiles and frowns as Maher massages his head, shoulders and hands.

“Good job, Chris. Good job,” she tells him.

Half an hour later, Maher moves to the living room where she massages Von Ruden’s arthritic hands and knees, his shoulders, neck and head.

“Does that help?” Maher asks. Von Ruden says it does, then tells her about his plans to go ice fishing.

“They know I’m safe,” she said about the comfort level she has developed with her clients.




Maher holds a BA; she is a trained Reiki Master and is trained in Comfort Touch, which was developed for Hospice and the elderly.

“When I learned Comfort Touch, I found a way to access this needy population. They have responded with many stories of love and appreciation. My Comfort Touch instructor encouraged me to write about my work. She was also important in getting my thoughts published for the massage and body workers who receive Massage & Bodywork,” she said.

In the January/February issue of Massage and Bodywork, Maher writes about her experiences in an article titled “Stabilizing Touch - Massage for Developmentally Disabled Clients,” which runs alongside a piece by her instructor, Mary Kathleen Rose. Maher said it is an honor for her to find her name in print.

She writes that massaging the developmentally disabled can make a huge difference in their lives. And while the work is demanding physically, spiritually and emotionally, for her it is a labor of love.

“It is more important that the recipients of loving touch be recognized as people who can provide more than what has been customarily expected,” Maher said. “I have learned so much from them. They have given me so much love in return.”

After Maher completed Von Ruden’s massage last week, he was invited next door for supper.

“A resident of that home also has arthritis. He looked at me and said, ‘Good. Linda can make me feel better.’”

Although he wasn’t scheduled for a treatment, Maher worked his hands.

“As I finished working, Dan stepped into the living room. He walked in front of me flexing his left knee, ‘my knee feels better.’ Then the two arthritic men started to discuss their treatment and what I did when I worked with them,” Maher said.

“It was one of many moments that make me smile. Working with this population is both humbling and rewarding.”

Maher’s article on Developmentally Disabled Clients may be read at www.massageandbodywork.com



Ruth Ann Hager is at 507- 837-5446 or rhager@wasecacountynews.com.
Share: 
Guidelines: Welcome to the Waseca County News community. Please keep your comments civil. Don't attack other readers personally and keep your language decent. We reserve the right to delete comments at any time.
Member Opinions:
By: DieselFitter on 1/12/10
You GO girl !! Keep on truckin. From a fellow zaney, LM massage fanatic. "I don't know what I'd do without your help to keep this old body moving".
Thanks SO much.


 
Login and voice your opinion!



Video

Photo Galleries

Waseca Marching Jays Fall Preview
20 images / created on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 9:08 pm

View all galleries>>
Buy photo reprints>>

I35 Marketplace Home

Featured Business:
Top Jobs | Top Homes | Top Cars 
Part time
Experienced Cook
Educational
TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR
Sales
Insurance Sales
Production
Le Center, MN
Waseca Public School
Building Technology Support
Trades
Green View
ages 55 +
Case Managers
TWO Full Time
Healthcare
Lake Shore Inn
Part time Office
Waseca Public Schools
Federated Insurance
Client Contact Center Representative
Part Time
Part time permanent
Cargill
Process Technician
Healthcare
Part-time Direct Service
Maintenance
Trades Maintenance Technician
Direct Care
Healthcare Direct Care Staff Opening
Copyright © 2009 Waseca County News 
 
213 2nd St NW, Waseca, MN(507) 835-3380
Copyright Statement | Privacy Statement | Terms of Service
Making Web Design Easy Since 2001
Newspaper Software, Magazine Software, HOAs, Trade Associations & Community Website Software  |  Email Marketing, E-Commerce