Pacific College of Oriental Medicine News & Events

When the Ten Thousand Things are seen in their Oneness, We return to the Origin where we have always been. - Sengtan

Awards/Recognition

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Oriental Medicine Newspaper

NEWS RELEASE

October 1, 2003

For More Information Contact: Rebecca Wilkowski, Phone: (800) 729-0941

National Massage Therapy Awareness Week 2003

National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, October 19-25, 2003, is designed to raise public awareness of the benefits of therapeutic massage and encourage people to take the extra time to care for their health through massage. This year’s theme is "Relieve Pain with Massage".

Chronic pain affects about 80 million Americans and is the third leading cause of impairment in the US, after cancer and heart disease. (Source: Oregon Health and Science University). Chronic pain has been said to be the most costly health problem in America. Estimated annual costs, including direct and indirect costs, reach nearly $50 billion.

During National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego will be hosting free lectures for the public. Topics will be: "The Health Benefits of Acupressure" and "Chinese Medicine: A Timeless Medicine in Modern Times" and will be held on Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Those that attend the lecture will receive a certificate for one complimentary acupuncture treatment in the College’s community clinic (new patients only).

On Saturday, October 19 from 1 to 4 pm, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine – School of Massage in Chicago will be hosting a free Open House for the public. Events will include workshops on Tui Na massage and Tai Chi, lectures on Oriental Body Therapy and Oriental medicine, and campus tours. Refreshments and information on admission and financial aid will also be available.

For those interested in massage as a career, Pacific College offers the opportunity to be a Student for A Day. Prospective students can take a tour of the campus, speak to students and faculty, and sit in on classes such as Acupressure*, Foot Reflexology*, Jin Shin*, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, Tui Na, Thai and Swedish massage. Pacific College offers certification as a Massage Technician*, Massage Therapist, Oriental Body Therapist, Tui Na Practitioner, and Holistic Health Practitioner. Pacific College also offers an affordable holistic clinic open to the public. Massages performed by Pacific College students are one hour and cost $35*. For an appointment, please call (619) 574-6932. (*San Diego campus only).

Popular among all age groups, massage is effective for relaxation and stress reduction, as well as medical reasons, including muscle soreness/stiffness/spasms, injury, headaches, pain reduction, blood and lymph circulation and improved immune system function. Massage has been shown to reduce blood pressure and heart rate and increase endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. More than one in four Americans report having had a massage from a massage therapist in the past five years, spending a total of between $4 and $6 billion on 114 million visits each year. (Source: Massage Magazine). Doctors are now prescribing massage to their patients, and sports teams are hiring massage therapists as well. A growing number of businesses and organizations, including the U.S. Department of Justice, are also offering massage in the workplace to decrease job stress and increase productivity.

For more information on National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, or Pacific College’s massage programs and clinic, please call (800) 729-0941.

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