My health care is a remarkable thing for me, since it is mostly compromised of healers I would not have consulted even a couple of years ago – a spiritual counselor, a chiropractor, a naturopath, and a massage therapist named Mandy Meyer-Hill, who works out of Cambridge, N.Y. Holistic care is not always complete care – not for broken bones, some chronic illnesses and traumas.

Massage, like meditation is one of those things some people say can change your life. Some people wink and roll their eyes at massage, and I guess I was one of them. I don’t do that any more.  I believe that is so, as it has changed mine. I was terrified to go see Mandy a year ago, and now, when I am hurting, it is one of the first places I go. This kind of health care is a profoundly comfortable and healing process. I can bring my dog, usually Lenore or Izzy. We talk for five or ten minutes and Mandy always asks me something no doctor has ever asked me, “what do you need?” Massage is centering, grounding. Sometimes we talk, mostly not. Mostly I head off to dreamland, a healing place. She is a healer, but she is a friend.  In massage, I find myself going to a calmer, and more peaceful place and I feel strong there. My pain from my leg has been reduced to a point where it is almost gone. It did heal, with some help from the chiropractor also.

More importantly, I feel healthy. Through massage and other parts of my health care I am learning to trust myself, my feelings, my own understanding of my body. Massage is about maintenance, circulation, opening up. It feels very healthy.  I don’t have to turn that over to busy person with an Ipad or a machine. I wanted to take a photograph that captured my experience of seeing this considerate and very competent healer. I feel as if I need to share this experience, and I understand it may not be for everyone.  Today, I think I got the photograph of the healer that I wanted.