More ISRM Volunteers...

In August, another ISRM-certified therapist called Paul Martin braved the monsoon rains to volunteer for Seeing Hands. www.restoresportsmassage.co.uk

Paul has done a fantastic job, bringing the students on leaps and bounds with both their theoretical understanding and practical massage skill.

Technique-wise they still need plenty of practice and guidance but their palpation skills and knowledge of different positions and strokes are dramatically improved and should get better still as their hands get stronger. With our usual teaching assistant ChiranJeevi away on leave, qualified therapists Samrat and Govinda got the opportunity to demonstrate their teaching skills, helping with translation and giving extra ‘hands-on’ training (Pictured is Samrat giving Hari a massage).

Paul’s daily yoga sessions were especially popular, with the qualified therapists eager to join in. Yoga helps them to develop their strength, mobility and posture, all of which they need to protect their bodies from the wear and tear of daily massage work. The girls in particular love practicing their postures and have mastered some tricky balances – pictured below (amongst other yoga pics) is Shanti using her core muscles to hold a difficult headstand.

Theory-wise they’ve now learnt three more systems, (circulatory, respiratory and lymphatic) and he’s worked hard on getting them to understand how these systems relate and work with each other.

They’ve also learnt the names, locations and actions of many more muscles, and have a new improved understanding of muscle structure (thanks to some intricate models Paul created using straws, clingfilm and glue).

Paul quickly went ‘native’, eating local, braving the roadside ‘chokpot’ and snacking on dried noodles as the students do. His camera was his constant companion and we are delighted to have some great pictures of all our students and staff (see shninpictures for more) – Govinda also took a great one of himself! (below)

Rob will now be training the students until our next volunteer (Andre Baptista from Portugal) joins us in October. Plans to set up the second clinic in Kathmandu are still in the making, but we haven’t found the right location yet. More news on this as it comes...