My Travels to the USSR (now called Russia) in 1989
Since I began my career as a sports massage therapist in 1984, I have traveled the globe with amazing athletes, teachers, coaches and have been honored to meet some very extraordinary people who have accomplished amazing feats with gold, silver and bronze medals to prove it. I was fortunate to be part of a group of sports massage therapist and chiropractors in 1989 on a good will mission to the U.S.S.R to study sports massage at the University of Moscow. It was a once in a life-time opportunity and I and my clients embraced it for me. They all pitched in to help me go on this trip. The U.S.S.R was just opening up under President Mikhail Gorbachev called “Glasnost”. We were their guests for ten days and treated as dignitaries. I studied sports massage at the University under Anatoly Birokof, the head instructor for sports massage. I met him several years later in San Francisco when he was aloud to attend a Touch for Health Conference I was doing a book signing at. It was a nice surprise and I learned a bit more Russian from him.
We stayed at the sport hotel that was built for the 1980 Olympic Games, which we did not attend. We were taken on many tours of Moscow, including the Borshev Ballet, the Moscow Circus, a boat trip on the Moscow river and then we got to walk around Moscow visiting many landmarks including Red Square. Because the U.S.S.R. was new to visitors, the people were not use to meeting Americans or hearing our voices. I met so many nice people and through our interpreter, were able to share conversations. Sometimes just a hug was a great gift. They were at first a bit shy but once we said hi, they came right at us and were as anxious to learn about us as we were to learn about them. What a cherished moment for all of us. We were making history and bridging a gap of peace and friendship with people, a country I grew up believing was our enemy.
One day as we approaching the steps of the university, an old woman was sweeping the steps with a stick broom and she stopped when she heard our voices. She must have been in her ’90’s. She asked our interpreter who we were and from where and when she heard we were from the America, she looked at us in disbelief! Shock held her as she touched our arms and looked into our eyes. She was talking a mile a minute and telling us she thought we were monsters. She never knew different. Our interpreter told us her story as fast as this woman was talking. It was long before we were born but so fascinating. I thought I reliving the Russian Revolution! History and bridging a gap again. We hugged her and said thank you for her being here to tell us her story. We were the same as her. Just spoke a different language, but the language of caring, love and peace that we all brought to the new U.S.S.R.
In the 10 days I was in Moscow, I shared my massage expertise and I hope made a difference with those I met and touched. Making a difference is to “Heal It Forward” and touch another and help them heal: hug them, let them know you care and are there for them.
I look at our healthcare today and prevention is not part of it. We all deserve to make the choices we want to remain healthy and vibrant and stay out of the hospital. I saw all kinds of preventive care in the U.S.S.R. and it was routine. Complimentary therapies should be included in a system to keep costs down. Those that want to choose massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathic methods, energy medicine (Touch For Health) therapies should have the right to do so for their best possible healthcare. And it is cost effective in the long run if you stay out of the hospital and a doctors office.
I teach self care and with “Healing It Forward”, is another way to move toward a system of people helping people to have a quality of life without pain and dysfunction. I hope everyone will invest and learn something from these therapies that can assist another to heal. Touch someone, hug them today, make someones life feel better each day.
Wellness is everyone’s right and responsibility to help reduce the cost of healthcare. Learn self care techniques as they take very little time to do.
My travels taught me about sharing, touching and healing another just with a smile, a touch and love. That is what my travels have taught me and so much more. You go far away, half way around the world to a county that in itself is still struggling under government rules that are not always the best for its people. It was trying to open up. These people were, are, just like us, wanting a good quality of life and health. They touched us as we touched them.
At our farewell dinner, athletes from many years back who had won gold, silver and bronze medals, their coaches and military generals, came to honor us. We studied their techniques, there customs and shared laughter and touch. They greeted us with respect for what we came to accomplish in our studies. We were applauded and toasted.
I received a beautiful certificate that I will always cherish. But most of all I will cherish the new friends I met, the gifts, both received and given. The gift of Touch is so powerful that it can heal and bridge two nations in peace, love and health. Maybe it can heal the rest of the world if we reach out and touch another.
So a commercial I once heard said “Reach Out and Touch Someone” and now “Heal It Forward”!
Peace be with you
Namaste
Kate