12.07.2008

The "Who What 'n Where" of it all

What: Massage Workshop for Couples and Friends

Why: To learn the joy of giving and receiving massage with your partner

When: March 20-22, 2009 (Vernal Equinox weekend)

Who: Walter Loeb and Nancy Goodpasture Castro - Licensed, Certified Massage Therapists - will be your instructors

Where: Avalon Resort in Paw Paw, WV

How: No prerequisites, just enroll and work with your partner all weekend

Workshop Schedule

Friday, 7-10:pm
  • introductions and overview
  • massage terminology (hand out workshop manuals)
  • creating a safe and comfortable massage environment
  • general rules of massage
  • types of touch
  • watch brief video
  • Massage: grounding, centering, opening connection
  • Massage: head and face

Saturday, 9:am-1:pm
  • review, questions, logistics
  • Massage: neck and shoulders
  • Massage: arms and hands
  • Massage: chest and abdomen

Saturday 2-5:pm

  • Massage: front of legs and feet
  • Massage: wrapping up anterior body
  • Massage: back of legs and feet
Sunday, 9:am-11:am
  • review, questions, logistics
  • Massage: back
  • Massage: closing strokes
Sunday, noon-3:pm
  • putting it all together
  • Massage: give 1st full-body massage
  • Massage: give 2nd full-body massage
  • a touching "farewell"

Some of the details

  • This is a "couples" workshop in that you will be working hands-on only with the one partner with whom you register. You may share this special weekend with a friend, an adult child, a spouse, lover, or any other type of partner.
  • Please plan to arrive at Avalon Resort prior to 7:pm, as we will begin the workshop promptly at 7 o'clock on Friday night, March 20, 2009. We will be covering a lot of crucially important information (see "Workshop Schedule" above) Friday night, so please be on time. We can hardly wait to meet you!
  • Please plan to remain with us until 3:pm Sunday, March 22nd. It is during the afternoon on Sunday that you will have the sheer delight of finally putting it all together, giving a full-body massage to your partner, and then receiving one from your partner.
  • We hope to have the whole group sharing dinner together at a large table in Avalon's wonderful dining room on Saturday night (the cost of meals is not included in the workshop fees). We will need to make a group reservation by noon on Saturday, and will ask that you make a decision to join us (please do!) - or not - by then.
  • Please understand that Avalon is a clothing optional/nudist resort and you will encounter nudity during the course the weekend. In fact, you will be encouraged to be nude during the workshop as it will add to the magic of the experience. For those of you who are new to the nudist lifestyle, you must understand that nudity and sexuality are not the same thing. We want to be completely clear that this is not a sexual workshop, and sexual activity would be inappropriate and will not be tolerated during the workshop.
  • If you would like more information about Avalon or the clothing optional/nudist lifestyle, please contact Avalon http://www.avalon-resort.info/site/Home.aspx, American Association for Nude Recreation http://www.aanr.com/, or The Naturist Society http://www.naturistsociety.com/.
  • If you have the time, consider spending additional time outside of the workshop hours enjoying Avalon's fine amenities. Even in cold weather, you will have a beautiful swimming pool, two hot tubs, a sauna, and more to enjoy!

Please bring with you...

  1. your partner
  2. your completed intake form
  3. one fitted twin sheet
  4. one queen or king flat sheet
  5. one pillowcase
  6. one large beach towel
  7. warm, soft clothes
  8. your sense of humor

Meet Your Instructors - Walter and Nancy

Walter F. Loeb, LMT, NCTMB, Ph.D. (in Pathology)

Walter is a retired pathologist. His previous career was divided between being director of medical laboratories and working in biomedical research. He taught pathology at Ohio State University, and as an adjunct faculty member at Tufts University as well as for an educational pathology foundation.

He became interested in massage over 20 years ago through the Stroking Community. Following retirement from the practice of pathology, he attended and graduated from the Florida School of Massage where his student research project was on the relationship between massage and blood pressure. He has done massage as a hobby for 22 years and professionally for 10 years. He has worked as a professional massage therapist in a medical clinic and a retirement home, and had a private massage practice in Gaithersburg, MD, as well as at Avalon for the past 5 years. He is a nationally certified massage therapist and is currently licensed as a massage therapist in West Virginia and in Florida.

Nancy Goodpasture Castro, LMT, NCTMB

Nancy was born in Illinois, raised in Mexico City and the suburbs of Chicago, and moved to West Virginia in 1974. Shortly after that, she began her first career as a paralegal in northcentral West Virginia.
Changing careers a couple of decades later, she attended and graduated from the Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy and has been a Professional WV Licensed Massage Therapist since July 1998. She also spent one month in 2002 studying massage at the Esalen Institute in California, began her involvement with the Stroking Community in 1999, is Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, and is a member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. In her private practice (and occassionally at Avalon), Nancy primarly performs Swedish massage and deep tissue neuromuscular therapy. She enjoys teaching as well, and is also currently studying Oriental medicine.

Beyond bodywork, she enjoys being creative in the visual arts, music, and writing at her home in Fairmont, WV.

Fee

In order to receive individual attention from the instructors, a maximum of 6 couples will be accepted - so reserve your space early to guarantee a place in this Couples and Friends Massage Workshop with Walter and Nancy.

The fee for the workshop is $300 per couple - that covers tuition for both partners and two workshop manuals containing complete instructions so you can continue sharing massages after you return home. It does not include overnight accommodations (please contact Avalon Resort directly to make those arrangements) or meals.

Payment and registration form must be received no later than Wednesday, the 11th of March (2009). Please mail your $300 check (payable to Avalon Resort) and registration form to Nancy Goodpasture Castro at her address as noted in the "Contact" section. Credit cards are also welcome; please contact Nancy if you would like to use a credit card for payment.

Personal Intake Form

Please print out two copies of this form, fill them out with your partner, and bring them to the opening of the Workshop at 7:pm on Friday. Thanks!



COUPLES MASSAGE WORKSHOP
PERSONAL INTAKE FORM
Vernal Equinox Weekend <> March 20-22, 2009

Name:
___________________________________________________

Name of Workshop partner: ___________________________________________________

Are you allergic to any nuts, oils, or scents? If "yes," please provide details.
___________________________________________________

Are you currently under the care of a physician, chiropractor, etc? If "yes," for what are you being treated?
___________________________________________________

Within the past year have you had a heart attack, stroke, surgery, broken bone, or any serious illness? If "yes," please provide details.
___________________________________________________

Please list all medications you have taken within the past 7 days:
__________________________________________________

Do you have any difficulty laying face up or face down? If "yes," please provide details.
__________________________________________________

Please mark all of the following that currently apply to you:
[ ] heart/circulatory condition
[ ] blood clotting disorder
[ ] varicose veins
[ ] cancer
[ ] kidney or liver condition
[ ] diabetes
[ ] arthritis
[ ] neck or spine injury
[ ] herniated, ruptured or slipped disk
[ ] neurological condition
[ ] elevated blood pressure
[ ] dizziness or loss of balance
[ ] acute pain
[ ] swelling
[ ] inflammation
[ ] infectious condition
[ ] contagious condition
[ ] skin condition
[ ] fever
[ ] cold, flu or virus
[ ] abscessed tooth
[ ] possibly or definitely pregnant

"I have identified all of my known physical conditions, ailments, and complaints, whether or not under a physician’s care. "

Signed: _____________________________________________

Dated: _________________________

Registration Form

COUPLES MASSAGE WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM
Vernal Equinox Weekend <> March 20-22, 2009


Note: Both partners must register for the workshop together

Please print this form, fill it out, and mail it as directed below

Name of one partner: __________________________________________________

Name of other partner: __________________________________________________

Mailing address: __________________________________________________

City - State - Zip: __________________________________________________

Phone number: __________________________________________________

E-mail address: __________________________________________________

Date submitted: __________________________________________________

$300 fee paid by Check Number ___________________ payable to Avalon Resort
/OR/ by Credit Card [ ] (call Nancy for details)

Mail to be received no later than March 11, 2009, to:
Nancy Goodpasture Castro
Rt 6, Box 66F
Fairmont, WV 26554

Contact Information

For reservations and questions, please contact
Nancy Goodpasture Castro
Rt. 6, Box 66F
Fairmont, WV 26554
304/366-1686
SerenityNancy@gmail.com

Walter Loeb
walter.loeb@starband.net

For overnight accommodations, please contact
Avalon Resort
304/947-5600
http://www.avalon-resort.info/site/home.aspx