Vibrant  health and vitality in one's golden years is a  treasure. In my early years I believed the western medical postulate that such a treasure was determined by one's genes. Based on my family's health (two generations of colons removed followed by cancer), I was convinced that my chances of vital health past 30 were very slim.  Today I believe quite differently- that health and vitality are a hallmark of a lot of great choices.  When I meet someone well into their 60s, 70s and 80s, vibrant and alive, I am always curious to learn what they are doing and what choices they have been making that have generated such health and vitality.
 

In my life, some extraordinary Wayshowers come to mind, who not only have attained amazing vitality into their 60s, 70s and 80s but they also gifted me with the keys to their longevity and vitality a good 30 years ago when I first became their bodywork student. Now 25 years later, as we celebrate the 25th year anniversary of the Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute under my directorship, I take this moment to acknowledge the mentors whose wisdom and insight form the underpinnings of our core curriculum.

  

My first Wayshower was a man named Fred Friend. I happened to enroll in Fred's Reflexology course at the local YMCA while studying Theatre at UCSB. Fred was  in his 80s and perhaps the most vibrant and alive 80 year old that I had ever met. Fred became a Reflexologist in his 70s in response to his wife's diagnosis of terminal cancer. Rather than accept that diagnosis, he took a weekend course in Reflexology and began practicing what he learned on his wife three hours a day. Several weeks later she walked out of the hospital in complete remission. Ten years later he was still practicing and then teaching Reflexology.

 

 

The following year I booked a Polarity session with a vibrant woman named Mary Sullivan. Mary's work rocked my world with her amazing  Polarity sessions. She opened my awareness to  the wireless anatomy that precedes the physical body- known as our electromagnetic fields and flows, which give rise to the ten zones of Reflexology and assorted energy maps. Her tutelage in Polarity Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage and Pregnancy Massage are now core components of our curriculum . Thirty two years later Mary is as vibrant as ever at 70- still practicing and teaching  bodywork. We are thrilled to note Mary will be back in SBBTI's classroom this summer for Intro to Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. 

 

In that same year I met a maverick Acupuncturist,  named Roger Jahnke. Roger  introduced me to the potency of cultivating vital energy through Qigong. Roger distilled the complexity of Medical Qigong, traditional Chinese medicine and Western Medicine into an elegant text titled the Healer Within. I embraced the simplicity and profoundness of  this approach to healing and created our Massage Practitioner Program curriculum around this core tenant that self healing is available to all when we activate the body's innate self healing mechanisms through the time honored practices of gentle movement, massage, deep breathing and deep relaxation. Roger continues to present his work on an international platform at world reknowned educational retreat centers, now well into his 60s.  

 

The following year, I met Phil Selinsky,  an indefatigable force to be reckoned with - now practicing bodywork - 7 days a week, often 8am-11pm, straddling 5 cities up and down the state, well into his 70s. Phil's energy level, seemingly boundless, he attributes to fine tuning his human "machine" giving it the very best nutrition and staying tuned to the energy of the cosmos. Phil created the first semesterized 1000 hour Holistic Health Practitioner Program within the state, a curriculum that  in his words "translated PAIN into English."  I sat at Phil's feet for many hours at his Institute and later at mine receiving Phil's distillation of how to own and operate this multidimensional vehicle we call the human body to be pain free and vital. 
 

Much of the curriculum that we have offered these past twenty five years is based on the gems and insights that I learned from each of these mentors while in my  twenties.  

I am happy to report that in the past 25 years 1000s of grads have embraced this curriculum through our bodywork programs and are now happily thriving and many still practicing decades later. 

  

Whatever stage of life and vitality you find yourself, we invite you to consider  including the giving and receiving of bodywork and daily life practice of holistic health principles. See below for more info on our upcoming courses, programs and clinics. We also invite you to stay posted to our upcoming 25th year celebration.
 
 

To your health and vitality,

 

 

Katie Mickey

Director of the Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute

 

"I have been practicing since 1977. I'm 70. I love doing body work. It is a huge part of my life. It keeps me healthy. I give and receive body work as well as eating well, taking herbs,etc. Acupuncture, cranial, polarity and Chinese herbs are in my daily life. It's a blessing."

~Mary Sullivan, L.Ac, RPP, MFCC,

Instructor, Presenter for  Real Bodyworks: Cranial Sacral Therapy

 

"Understand Qi, Access Qi, Cultivate Qi.  It is the essential fuel behind all intention and action.  It is the awesome power of the Universe within you... Qi is your edge in sports, business, relationships, and personal performance.  Tai chi and Qigong are powerful tools, profound yet simple, that will assist you in fulfilling your intentions, needs, goals- even your dreams!" 

~Roger Johnke, O.M.D.,

Author of The Healer Within and The Healing Promise of Qi

 

"Bottom line, the universe is always In balance. Essentially when we put nature out of balance nature will return with a vengence The best thing to do is to stay in tune with nature. This machine was designed to build itself from its environment and fix itself  when it breaks. If it cant do that you have either kept something from t that it needs or put something in it that it doesn't need. We don't have total control over the time we have here  this planet, but we do have total control or the quality of the time we have on the planet."

Phil Selinsky, ND, Author of The Human Machine, A Trouble Shooter's Manual 

           No class: Jul 21
Clinic: Sep 1- 15 (Tue) 5:45-8:45pm
 

This 60 hour course offers the core of what you need to know to address any area of myofascial pain efficiently and effectively. Myofascial trigger points are characterized by referred pain...  Learn more 

Class: July 27-Aug 4 (Mon, Tue, Wed) 9am-4pm

Clinic: Aug 4 (Tue) 1:45-4:45pm
 

Tuesday & Thursday at 5:30-9pm  (sessions at 5:45, 6:45, & 7:45pm)

Wednesday & Saturday at 1:30-5pm  (sessions at 1:45, 2:45, & 3:45pm)

Clients are charged $40 per 60 minute session.  Therapists receive $20 per session.

• Copy of SB city Massage Permit or CAMTC certificate
• Copy of your up to date Liability Insurance
• City Business License
• Resume
• Business Cards (optional)