Hour 14

Date: May 4th, 2013
Patient: Nanene Kainoa Ching Garcia
Body Type: 5'8'' fit

It's been a long time since I've seen our paddling club and it was really great seeing everyone again. When everything was dwindling down, I gave my coach, Auntie Nan, a shoulder and back massage.

I've been massaging people who are close to my age, but this is my first time massaging an older adult. She's been paddling since she was in high school and she's in her forties now (she won't tell me exactly how old she is). She coaches my age group, 19 and under, as well as the adults. She looks over the entire club.

I was just relaxing with my teammates and I pretty much just start massaging people randomly. It's become a habit. At the end of the year party last year, all the girls slept over Auntie Nan's house and I just gave everyone massages. Again, this is before Capstone and before Mang Adring mentoring me. I just did it because I just wanted to help. I ended up massaging about 20 people. So everyone calls is "The Gaea Massage." So now the club knows me as the back rubber and massager.

Anyway, a couple of my teammates were surprised that Auntie Nan never received a "Gaea Massage" before so I gave her one right then and there. She was still wearing her jacket, so I wasn't accustomed to massage people through clothes, but I did my best.

Right when I started she was already impressed. She was impressed at how strong my hands were and she assumed it was because I played volleyball. I clarified and told her that I've been training and practicing hilot for my senior project. Then throughout the massage I explained what hilot was and why I chose to do it.

I found a knot above her right shoulder blade and she tensed up at first, but when I massaged it out, she relaxed. She was really happy that she finally got a "Gaea Massage." Pretty soon, I had a line forming behind her.

She was one of the only people that didn't have any previous experience to compare it to, but she said that it was great and she's looking forward to a full body one.

Even though she's an older adult, again, everyone has the same muscles and the same bones so I just stuck with what I knew and tried to help her out. I can feel my hands getting stronger and I'm getting more comfortable with the body and how to better relieve it.