Hands That Touch Hands That Heal (Used Paperback) - Joan Holman

Known as "God's Minister of Massage," this is the true story of Sister Rosalind Gefre and her pioneering work in healing touch. "Nun's Massage Parlor Closed." This was the headline that appeared in 1983 in the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper after Sister Rosalind Gefre's first massage center was shut down by the St. Paul Vice Squad. Newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations picked up the story throughout the world. Today Sister Rosalind has five massage schools and six massage clinics in two states with 150 employees. A true pioneer of therapeutic massage, Sister Rosalind began practicing massage when it was associated with "massage parlors" and the sex industry, a fact that created controversy and difficulties for her not only with her own religious community, but with the secular community as well. On July 29, 2002, nearly 20 years after Sister Rosalind opened her first massage center, Time Magazine ran an article featuring Sister Rosalind titled "Massage Goes Mainstream." "Hands That Touch, Hands That Heal" is the true life story of a remarkable woman who has been determined to have therapeutic massage take its rightful place. Sister Rosalind was raised on a farm in Strasburg, North Dakota (also the home of famous band leader Lawrence Welk) during the Dust Bowl and the Depression. She did not finish school beyond the eight grade and entered a convent at the age of 18. At the age of 40, after nearly 20 years of daily chest pains that no doctor could diagnose or treat, Sister Rosalind experienced a miraculous healing when she had her first massage. This instantaneous and permanent healing made such a powerful impression on her that she knew she had to dedicate her life to massage. By creating her own opportunities to practice massage and by prevailing against great opposition, Sister Rosalind has brought healing touch to countless numbers of people. There have been over 2,000 Sister Rosalind graduates in massage therapy since the opening of her first school in 1984. Sister Rosalind has received widespread recognition for her important role in making massage an accepted and respected healthcare practice.