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Health outside the box:
Marquette’s complementary therapies
This is the first in an occasional series about complementary therapies.
A tired woman ascends the steps of Marquette’s old city hall. It’s been a long day and she climbs slowly, but what awaits her on the building’s fifth floor will be worth it. That woman is me, and the place is Essential Kneads.
I’m received warmly by Kim and Bruce Kee, a brother and sister duo specializing in therapeutic massage and craniosacral therapy. Their corner of the fifth floor is quiet, and I’m led to Bruce’s massage table —more like a bed, really, with a sheet and blanket for optimum comfort.
Bruce begins my session of craniosacral therapy, a light-touch therapy that assists the body in self-correcting physical and emotional problems. He exerts no more than five grams of pressure (about the weight of a nickel), and before I know it, I am in a state of relaxation usually only achieved when I’m asleep.
Craniosacral therapy focuses on the soft tissues and fluid that extend from the skull to the tailbone. The end result is not what the therapist does, it’s how the body reacts, Bruce said.
“The body wants to reset itself into normal function,” he said. “It knows what it wants to do; we really just step back and let it do that.”
Kim said life experiences can alter the cranial rhythm and it may never get a chance to be corrected.
“When you have a trauma the body will either resolve it or store it,” she said. “We help the body reset itself; sometimes all it needs is a little assistance.”
The Kee siblings are seven years and one day apart in age and always have been close, they said. Although Kim has been offering craniosacral therapy at Essential Kneads for six years, Bruce joined her only a year ago and has been instrumental in making sure everyone who calls for craniosacral therapy can be helped, Kim said.
“I used to be so busy here that I’d have to turn people away,” she said. “At one point, I had fifty people on a waiting list.”
The effects of craniosacral therapy can last for up to seventy-two hours. Kim said sometimes the problem goes away in one session; however, it may take a few sessions for something chronic.
“It takes a while for the body to process things, but we keep it loose and entirely up to the discretion of the client,” she said.
In addition to craniosacral therapy, Marquette offers several other methods to achieve equilibrium within your body. Shanti Rose Colonics, located at 2292 US-41, offers colon hydrotherapy to rid the large intestine of debris and restore normal bowel function.
Rose said the importance of a well-maintained, functioning, healthy colon cannot be understated.
“The whole digestive tract is one long tube starting with the mouth on one end and ending with the rectum on the other,” she said. “We clean one end of the tube by brushing our teeth—imagine what would happen in the mouth if we didn’t—and the same thing happens on the other end of the tube when we don’t clean it regularly. The build-up of waste and toxins can have a detrimental effect on not only the colon, but the entire body as well.”
Colonics achieves this cleansing by installing purified water into the large intestine. Rose said people often are embarrassed to talk about elimination issues, but every effort is made before, during and after the treatment to assure personal privacy and minimize anxiety.
“Colonics has gone in and out of favor throughout history, at times being part of mainstream medical practice and at times being discounted as a credible procedure,” she said. “Currently, colonics is experiencing a resurgence as people are looking for ways outside the mainstream medical model to take back control of their own health…the equipment has improved dramatically so the procedure is now comfortable and promotes privacy.”
A registered nurse since 1985 and certified massage therapist since 2004, Rose opened her colonics business in 2007 and is certified through the International Association of Colon Hydrotherapy. She said the most common complaints at doctor visits are related to digestive issues.
“Our highly processed, rich diet results in a slowing down of food through the digestive tract leading to constipation, diverticulosis, gas and bloating,” she said. “Stress and unhealthy eating habits can lead to chronic conditions such as colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. Restoring normal bowel function is essential in treating these conditions.”
Colonic hydrotherapy clients are encouraged initially to have a series of three colonics to clean the colon thoroughly, Rose said, and afterward the frequency of visits is determined by the purpose of the therapy.
Another fast-growing complementary therapy in Marquette, chiropractic, is experiencing an increase in mainstream attention as well as public interest. Greg Nelson, a chiropractor at Great Lakes Chiropractic Center, said his office works in conjunction with a number of other health care specialists in the area . . .
—Becky Korpi
Editor’s Note: Before you begin any exercise program, consult with your doctor or health care practitioner.
Vandaments return for NCLL anniversary
The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning (NCLL) will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. on September 26 in Peter White Public Library community room.
“This is a special celebration honoring the NCLL, a lifelong learning organization that has provided educational opportunities to the Marquette area community for fifteen years,” said Dave Fitzgerald, NCLL board member and chair of the anniversary planning committee.
NCLL founder and former Northern Michigan University president, Dr. William Vandament is returning to Marquette to help celebrate the anniversary.
It all began in 1995, when then-NMU president Vandament presented the concept to John Argeropoulos who was with the department of continuing education at the time. Vandament knew of such institutes for learning when he worked in California universities.
“He felt there was a tremendous amount of talent, creativity and collective wisdom in the retirement community and it could be used for the establishment of such a program here in Marquette,” Fitzgerald said.
With others embracing that idea and a little seed money from NMU, NCLL was born.
“I fell into the idea quite naturally,” Vandament said. “It was simple to do and was good for a lot of people. We sent out invitations for volunteers, offered space and minimal staff support. The seniors mostly took it from there.”
NCLL program was blessed with a special kind of synergistic spirit right from the very outset, Argeropoulos said.
“I had recently completed a National Science Foundation Summer Institute on the Psychology of Aging and was highly motivated to become involved with an opportunity to implement my new knowledge,” he said.
The NCLL is member-directed, self-supporting and nonprofit. Its membership consists of people from a wide range of backgrounds, professions and careers, and is open to anyone who enjoys learning, new experiences and meeting people. Members plan, coordinate and provide informal educational programs and activities in a wide range of areas from a short history of the View Master to sailing on a three-mast wooden schooner, from AARP Senior Safe Driving to Keeping Our Children Safe and Sound.
“President Vandament had very strong feelings about the importance of meeting the needs of retirees, but he also realized the tremendous amount of talent, creativity and collective wisdom that this group represented, and he did not want this rich storehouse to be lost because of inertia or the lack of an appropriate forum,” Argeropoulos said.
The first three classes NCLL offered in 1995 were hiking and nature study, recreational writing and local history.
“Although we have now expanded to thick course booklets reflecting twenty-five-plus offerings a semester, the categories of those first three courses attract us to this day,” Fitzgerald said. “We still want to get out in this beautiful terrain, get our feet on the ground and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us. We still want hands-on learning experiences to enrich our lives. We still engage our hearts in a deep love and respect for our own special part of the world, the U.P.”
NCLL provides many classroom programs, as well as outdoor hikes and tours that are of interest to both members and nonmembers. In addition, NCLL members have several ongoing special interest groups that include astronomy, playing relaxed bridge, lunch-out-together and world politics.
“Our good fortune continued when we were able to quickly identify a core group of talented retirees who were drawn to the goals of the organization and who did the heavy lifting required for writing our constitution and bylaws as well as organizing our first set of classes,” Argeropoulos said. “Many of these pioneer members deserve much of the credit for the successful launching of NCLL, particularly Dr. John Frey who served two terms as our first president.”
NCLL has grown and changed over these fifteen years but continues to be an opportunity for making wonderful friendships, and a resource for continued learning, exploration and fun, Fitzgerald said.
The organization has approximately 200 members. Members contribute to the curriculum—mini-courses, one-time programs, outdoor activities and social events of local interest. A fourteen-member board of directors coordinates activities with four standing committees: curriculum, membership, publicity and finance.
As an educational rather than an advocacy group, NCLL sponsors educational programs and tries to avoid presentations advocating a single viewpoint, particularly if the topic is both current and controversial.
NCLL is affiliated with NMU and the Elderhostel Institute Network.
NMU has a history of working with the community and received the Carnegie Foundation’s community-engaged campus designation. Youth programs at the Seaborg Center, fitness programs, specialized training such as first aid, fitness and wellness testing are just a few of NMU’s outreach efforts.
In addition, senior citizens sixty-two or older, are eligible to receive a full-tuition scholarship—books or other fees are not covered. Senior citizens submit an application for admission to the College of Graduate Studies; however, the application fee is waived. Seniors register for courses in the Student Services Center in the C.B. Hedgcock complex. Participants will be asked to provide proof of age at registration.
Elderhostel/Road Scholar is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1975 to provide lifelong learning opportunities. Elderhostel was renamed Road Scholar in 2009. “Road” as in journey and real-world experience and scholar for learning describe the program based on learning from experts and enhanced by direct discovery of an idea, issue, subject or place.
Elderhostel was founded in 1975 by Marty Knowlton, a world-traveling social activist and former educator, and David Bianco, former director of residential life at the University of New Hampshire.
They based the idea on the youth hostels in Europe and Scandinavian folk classes taught by older individuals. Knowlton wondered why older Americans should be expected to disappear quietly into a mundane retirement. The program grew quickly.
In Marquette, the program remains true to this sense of community and affordability. An annual membership is $20, which is good from July 1 through June 30 of each year, although participants can sign up at any time during the year. Membership includes discounted fees and early registration. Course fees are used to cover costs and range from free to $27.50—non-member cost for the Spring 2010 Pictured Rocks Waterfall Tour, which was held May 13.
“Belonging to NCLL is a wonderful way to meet people with shared interests, both for longtime residents and for newcomers to Marquette. It is a time-tested community resource for continued learning, exploration and fun,” Fitzgerald said.
There are twenty-five offerings in the upcoming fall bulletin, the majority of which cost $4 for members and $7 for nonmembers, making participation available to most income levels. Some courses/programs cost more, like the schooner ride, but many are free and members are not required to participate in any given activity.
The group meets as a whole annually in the spring, and gathers informally in the fall and winter at its kickoff events prior to the start of fall and winter classes. Then throughout the year, participants simply see one another at various classes.
The complete schedule of classes is announced to members only about two weeks prior to each quarter through the newsletter. Individual classes are announced to the public just ahead of the class dates through the Mining Journal, Marquette Monthly and on local radio stations including WNMU-FM.
The NCLL curriculum is diverse. Its classes are designed to meet the needs and interests of the local community. About twenty classes are offered each fall, winter and spring quarter with a lighter schedule for the summer.
“My personal involvement in NCLL was a labor of love because of the nature of its mission and because of the high quality and dedication of its pioneer members,” Argeropoulos said. “It was also a bit of a surprise to discover how much I enjoyed pulling it together because I had spent the previous thirty years dodging administrative assignments in favor of my career interests in teaching and counseling,” Argeropoulos said.
“When I was a young professor I was into computers, writing programs,” Vandament said. “Back then it was Fortran. As my career advanced, I got away from computers. So when I retired I took a computer class at Long Beach. Now I’ve experienced both sides, administration and being a student.”
The September 26 event will feature music from Jim and Ray, who have been entertaining the Marquette community for more than thirty years. Light refreshments will be served and information will be available about upcoming programs. Interested individuals will be able to register for the fall semester at the event.
The event is free and open to the public. However, advanced registration is appreciated. Call 227-2979 to register or for details.
“Bill and Margery Vandament are coming from California at their own expense to help us celebrate this festive occasion,” Fitzgerald said. “Come and celebrate with us on September 26.”
“Margery and I try to get back to Marquette as often as we can, so I’m looking forward to coming back for this event,” Vandament said.
Upcoming NCLL Events
Monday, September 6: Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk
nct@northcountrytrail.org or 226-6210 for carpooling
Tuesday, September 14: General membership meeting
7:00 p.m. in the community room
Peter White Public Library, Marquette
Sunday, September 19: Fall picnic/hike/kayak/canoe
1:00 p.m. at Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming
Tuesday, September 21: Board of Directors meeting
7:00 p.m. in Conference Room
Peter White Public Library in Marquette
—Larry Alexander
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