Sore back muscles have been eased by their healing hands this year at the Renaissance Fair in Moscow and the National Lentil Festival in Pullman. On Thursday during a health fair, weary University of Idaho students experienced the same therapeutic massage to ease the tension and stress of college life. Members of Hands Around the Palouse, a coalition of alternative health-care practitioners, are working to let others know about the benefits of massage -- one back at a time. Pullman resident Cathy Marra, a licensed massage practitioner, is president of the member coalition which was established in March.
This week, Marra is putting the finishing touches on the third edition of a directory of licensed massage practitioners and oriental practitioners in Moscow, Pullman, Colfax, Lewiston and Grangeville.
The book includes a list of practitioners and their areas of expertise. It also has a glossary of techniques. Marra started the coalition as a way to meet other practitioners in her field and to find out what other health care alternatives were offered in the area. She said the coalition is a way to increase her professionalism and increase the professionalism overall for the community of providers. Through the coalition, she is offering continuing education courses for massage therapists and eventually would like to open up the sessions to the entire health-care profession and the public in some instances.
The group has monthly meetings and will distribute the Hands Around the Palouse booklet to area physicians, pharmacists and other health-related businesses willing to carry the information.
The group would eventually like to join both the Pullman and Moscow chambers of commerce and be a resource for employers who are looking to bring on-site massage therapists into their business. Marra said the group is interested in new members and also wants to do more community service at area events and festivals as well as agencies, such as senior centers and fire and police stations.
