By Brenna Wiegand
After just one massage, Marie Jackson marched over to the massage school for training.
“When I hit my late 30s, things happened,” Jackson said. “My dad passed away and I found myself just looking for something that was missing. I prayed to God, ‘I don’t want to continue feeling this way; please show me some way I can be of service to other people.’
“I ran into an old friend a week later who had become a massage therapist,” Jackson said. “I said ‘What is that?’ To me it sounded like something you do on a cruise.”
Her friend answered by giving her a massage. “I’m certain that was an answer to my prayer, ‘God, let me be your hands and your voice in this world…’ My spirituality really came back at that point,” she said, adding she found a like-minded community in Salem, the Helping Ourselves Master Everyday Center – where she has been ever since.
While at school Jackson trained in Reiki, a Japanese technique administered by “laying on hands” and allowing unseen life force energy, or to Jackson, God’s healing power to flow through her to her clients.
“I just have an intention of helping that person and bringing that energy to them, sort of like a conduit,” she said.
Soon after she was licensed in 1998, she worked at Providence Benedictine Nursing in Mount Angel, where she used Reiki along with “a different type of massage” known as comfort touch, designed with special consideration to the physical and emotional needs of the elderly and/or ill client.
“It was very rewarding to help people in the nursing home to be more comfortable,” she said. “The nurses always told me told me that after I came and worked with somebody they’d feel much better for two or three days.”
She felt bad when there were folks who could benefit from massage but could not afford to pay. Many times, she would take care of them, too.
“I thought, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way besides just me to provide massage therapy for these people, whether they’re elderly in a nursing home or someone who is dying or ill,” she said.
Jackson started a nonprofit with Ray Siderius, owner of the Oregon School of Massage in Portland.
Through ‘Ayuda – Caring Touch Fund, they have formed a network of massage therapists willing to donate their services.
“Through the years we’ve probably done a hundred sessions for people who are unable to pay,” she said. “It’s been really rewarding to read letters or reports that come in saying how much they benefitted from the massage or Reiki that therapists were able to provide for them all over the state – pretty cool.”
Jackson has worked at Capitol Manor, Willamette Valley Hospice, Mid-Valley Cancer Care Community and Salem Hospital. These jobs helped prepare her for her current part-time job as the department assistant in Silverton Hospital’s Emergency Management Department.
Wanting to learn a new technique, she learned about Thai massage at the Oregon School of Massage. Thai massage incorporates elements of mindfulness, gentle rocking, deep stretching, and rhythmic compression, Jackson said.
“It was completely different from any other type I’ve done,” she said. “It has very much to do with pressure because I’m helping them with various stretches; using my body weight to put pressure on the person. I love it – it’s a lot of fun and great exercise for me; I’m stretching too.”
So far everyone has been happy with the result, she added, particularly those who are very active, saying they come away relaxed and better off for the good stretching Thai massage affords.
Jackson now shares a space in Silverton with massage therapist Nadya Cam.
In keeping with their spirituality, she and husband Richard host an Internet talk radio show, “God Shot” at www.sourcecenterradio.com. They clearly have a good time, bantering back and forth as they explore what it means to live a spiritual life.
Jackson enjoys stretching – whether physically or mentally – searching for ways to improve on what she does while adhering to her belief of serving others.
“I just feel better when I do, she said.
