The Cupertino Courier

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DeAnza masseuses on the loose

By HUGH BIGGAR

Massage was the message at Cupertino's city hall Oct. 25, with city workers turning out for a free session as a part of the city's massage week.

"I never pass up a free massage, especially after a long night of city meetings and your shoulders are burning," Kim Smith, city clerk, said on her way into the community hall.

The community hall, normally the home of civic meetings, had been transformed into a temporary spa, with free chocolates, relaxing music, books on muscle relaxation and massage tables.

"It's a way to bring awareness of alternative ways to relieve stress," said masseuse Deborah Tuck. Tuck organized the event as part of a national awareness week sponsored by the American Massage Therapy Association.

In Cupertino, Tuck said, other events included free mini-massages at Whole Foods over the weekend and at De Anza College.

"We had about 200 people at Whole Foods and about 70 people at De Anza," she said of the efforts to promote the benefits of a good massage--the art of applying pressure to soft body tissues.

With the masseuses graduates of De Anza College's acclaimed massage certification program, it also helped spread the word about the program. De Anza is the first community college in California to offer a massage certificate program. As a part of the program, students study physiology, anatomy and business.

At the city hall event, assistant director of public works Glenn Goepfert was one those glad to take advantage of program's benefits.

"Even if it's just for 10 minutes, it's a good thing," Goepfert said of his mini-massage. "Hopefully this will help all of us relax and work better."

For information about De Anza College's massage program and clinic (which is open to the public) visit www.deanza.fhda. edu/pe/massage.