News

News

Fall/Winter 2009	Ama will be gifting 5 FREE MASSAGES to her clients! For every massage session you have paid for between June 29 - Dec. 30, your name will be entered into the drawing. This includes gift certificates you have purchased for others and if you referred someone who came in for a session as well. Names will be drawn by Feb. 1, 2010 and must be used by the end of May. One win per person.

Summer 2009	~ Somatic Experiencing® training for Trauma Healing ~ Ama has recently been accepted into this 3 year program, beginning June 26, 2009. Somatic Experiencing® is a body-awareness approach to trauma. It is the result of over forty years of observation, research, and hands-on development by Dr. Peter Levine. Based upon the realization that human beings have an innate ability to overcome the effects of trauma, Somatic Experiencing has touched the lives of many thousands. SE® restores self-regulation, and returns a sense of aliveness, relaxation and wholeness to traumatized individuals who have had these precious gifts taken away. Peter has applied his work to combat veterans, rape survivors, Holocaust survivors, auto accident and post surgical trauma, chronic pain sufferers, and even to infants after suffering traumatic births. The Foundation for Human Enrichment - FHE is a non-profit, educational and research organization dedicated to the worldwide healing and prevention of trauma. It provides professional training in Somatic Experiencing® and outreach to under served populations and victims of violence, war and natural disasters. There are approximately 5,000 SE® Practitioners across the globe. ~ Lesbian and Bisexual Cancer Survivors Needed ~ It is widely known that a breast cancer diagnosis can have far reaching effects both socially and emotionally. Less well understood are the ways in which a breast cancer diagnosis impacts the well-being and quality of life of women who have historically been under-served by the medical community. Lesbian and bisexual women are one of these under-served populations, and little research has been done to assess their health and well-being as breast cancer survivors. Identifying their unique needs by asking questions related to health and well-being in a survey will help researchers to develop culturally appropriate survivorship programs for these women. The information gained from this research into the well-being and quality of life of lesbian and bisexual breast cancer survivors will be used to develop programs and services designed to reduce health disparities. If you choose to join this study, you will be asked to take part in a phone survey that will last approximately 35 minutes. The survey can be taken from anywhere in the country. Questions about your health, medical history, sexual orientation, and demographics will be asked. One hundred women are needed for this study. The study is being run by Ulrike Boehmer, PhD, at the Boston University School of Public Health. You can sign up for the Variations in the Health Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors study if you match ALL of these main categories: • You identify as lesbian or bisexual, or as a woman who partners with women. • You were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2000-2005 • You were at least 21 years old at the time of diagnosis • You were diagnosed with DCIS, or stage I, II, or III breast cancer • You have only been diagnosed with breast cancer one time, you have not had a recurrence • You have never been diagnosed with ANOTHER invasive cancer, other than breast cancer The researcher may ask you additional questions to be sure that this study is a right fit for you. Contact: info@armyofwomen.org

Spring 2009	~ Safe Cosmetics Presentation ~ May 30^th 4-7pm, Massage Therapy Institute in Davis Call Ama for details, and check out Pure Prevention and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics ~ Advanced Scar Tissue Mobilization Class ~ Ama will be furthering her skills again, May 23-24 with Jamie Elswick at MTI in Davis. ~ Girls to Grandmas Mother's Day Weekend Retreat ~ May 8^th 5:30 pm - May 10^th 1 pm Hosted by Amy & Ama's Almost Famous Traveling Northern California Wellness Retreat Series. For more details, click on the Retreats page. Please email Ama if you have questions or want registration information. ~ Ahava Dead Sea Spa Day ~ Ama will be doing massage for the Jewish community at Stanford University, in honor of Israel Pride Week: Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day), and Israeli Independence Day (Israel's 61^st Birthday). Sunday, April 26 2009, 2:00 - 4:00 pm Rimon Lounge in the Koret Pavilion at the Ziff Center For more information contact talk@stanford.edu Co- sponsored by Vitality

Winter 2009	~ February Massage Special! ~ Gift certificates are now available for Valentine’s Day. For the same price as a regular massage ($120/1-hr on the table or $160/ 90-minutes), this massage package includes a free 10-minute Sauna, a vase with a rose, a gift bag with a glass heart-shaped tea-light holder with gently scented tea light, a sample of super food chocolate Nugget (see below), and an organic lollipop & fruit roll. This package is valued at over $130. Treat yourself, someone you love or you can both come in for a couple’s massage, and receive healing bodywork next to each other. Either way, it will be sweet. Please contact Ama for gift certificates or to set up your appointments. Reserve early for best scheduling options. Gift certificates may be used anytime. Valentine's package available while supplies last. ~ Super Food Chocolate Now Available for Sale! ~ XOCAI^TM Products are: Made with cacao that is unfermented, sun-dried, non-roasted, non-alkalized, non-lecithinized, and cold-pressed High ORAC Value = Antioxidant-rich Packed with Phytonutrient Flavonoids, Amino Acids, Essential Fatty Acids, Minerals, Vitamins & Fiber May be suitable for Diabetics, Gluten-free and Vegan eaters Nuggets and Omega Squares available now. More products available by order. EAT CHOCOLATE, FEEL GOOD, MAKE MONEY! Join my team and become an Associate. Make a 5-minute info call to (212)990-6027 and visit www.thechocolatecd.com

Fall 2008	~ Oncology Massage Certification ~ Ama officially graduates from this 300 hour specialty certification program on November 15th at the Massage Therapy Institute in Davis, CA. ~ Healing Journeys ~ Cancer as a Turning Point, From Surviving to Thriving - www.HealingJourneys.org Sacramento September 13-14. It is a wonderfully healing 2-day free program directed by an incredibly inspiring woman, Jan Adrian. The "mission is to support healing, activate hope and promote thriving" and this event does just that for people living with cancer and their caregivers and family members. Colleagues of Ama will be providing massage at this event. Pre-registration recommended.

Summer 2008	~ Massage at Camp Tawonga ~ Once again, Ama will be providing massage at 3 family camp programs near Yosemite National Park, on the middle fork of the Tuolumne River (www.Tawonga.org): Summer Family Camp ~ August 21 - 24 I'd Rather be at Tawonga ~ September 5 - 7 Grief and Growing ~ September 12 - 14 ~ Sliding Scale ~ Beginning in June, Ama's 3-tier sliding scale for a 1-hour massage (1.5-hour session time) is as follows: $120 - 80 for the general public $120 - 60 for cancer patients out of treatment between 6 months - 1 year, and postpartum women up to 6 months after birthing $120 - 40 for cancer patients & those post treatment up to 6 months, and pregnant women For those who can afford to pay a little more, please do, as your extra dollars help Ama cover costs and support those who cannot otherwise afford to pay for healing bodywork. This an an opportunity for inter-community support!

Spring 2008	~ Complementary Oncology Massage Clinic ~ Ama is volunteering 55 sessions as part of an Oncology Massage Certification through Isabel Adkins, who will be consulting with Ama and reviewing her work. This is a free service. Please call her to discuss your situation and set up an appointment. Donations are appreciated but not expected. Ama is building her private practice, so if you are happy with your massage sessions, referrals of others are appreciated.