PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Massage therapy students at Berkshire Community College (BCC) provided free massage therapy sessions at various locations in the Berkshires and beyond during the spring semester, in addition to their full schedule of classes. 

 

On April 17, BCC massage therapy students and faculty traveled to the Boston, joining a team of massage therapists to provide post-event massages to the Dana Farber Boston Marathon Team.  Runners reported that knowing there would be a massage at the end of the race helped keep them motivated.   

 

On April 22, during BCC Wellness Day, massage therapy students joined physical therapist assistant, respiratory and nursing program students and the BCC community, along with a variety of Berkshire County businesses, for a day of wellness awareness, including a 5K run and a walk.  Massage therapy students provided chair massages and raised more than $300 for the Berkshire Environmental Action Team.  

 

Finally, on May 19 at the Kimball Farms Wellness Fair, massage therapy students provided seated massage for independent living residents. The well-attended program kept students and faculty busy for the entire event. 

 

Participating in community events provides massage therapy students with the opportunity to interact with a variety of people across multiple settings, introducing them to possible future clients, explained Judy Gawron, Massage Therapy Program Advisor. 

 

"Volunteering at community events facilitates a volunteer mindset, an important part of a professional attitude," Gawron said. "While in the program, massage therapy students learn to balance volunteer activities with their other academic and personal commitments — a key skill for longevity as a licensed massage therapist."  

 

"I've enjoyed all of the volunteering opportunities, though it's always nerve-wracking leading up to it. I think my nerves have

 finally settled when it comes to?working with the public as I'm learning to trust myself," Massage therapy student Mary Adriance said. "Frankly, I was starting to get a little bored of working with the same six bodies in lab over and over again."