Mayumi, Mariko, Julia, Naomi, Etsuko and Kumiko, April 10, 2016
Mariko Tsunoda, Executive of a long-term care facility, Naomi Ide and Etsuko Makita, Physiotherapists at the same facility, and Mayumi Kobayashi, Supervisor of a Rehabilitation Centre and First Response Operation took the 12 hour flight from Tokyo to Toronto to take Therapeutic Touch Level 1 and Level 2 with Julia von Flotow, TTRT, April 8 – 10, 2016. Kumiko Puley provided active translation services throughout the weekend.
Little did I know or anticipate last September, when I was first contacted by a Japanese tour organizer and interpreter and invited to talk about the value of Therapeutic Touch for use with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, that I would have the great honour and privilege of introducing TT knowledge and practice to Japanese healthcare professionals, this spring. At the time, I had invited one of my students, Kumiko Sugahara Puley, originally from Tokyo, and now a landed immigrant and student of Therapeutic Touch, living in Toronto, to join me and translate for me, for the 3-hour lunch meeting held at Toronto’s Verity Club. The lunch meeting featured a Therapeutic Touch demonstration and mini Therapeutic Touch session for all four guests which were much appreciated!
Kumi exchanged business cards with Mayumi and facilitated communications and negotiations, on behalf of the Therapeutic Touch Institute, throughout the winter. Final negotiations and workshop scheduling began early in 2016 with the workshop fees and cost of translation confirmed early March. While I customized my Level 1 and 2 teaching day plans to meet the unique needs of this group, Kumi organized the translation of documents into Japanese. We were happy to be able to send them the Therapeutic Touch Beginnings – Early History translated into the Japanese to prepare for the workshop, a few days prior.
Together, last fall, after our luncheon, Kumi and I had created a vision of having the Japanese ladies return to learn Therapeutic Touch and open up the channels of communication and flow of Therapeutic Touch knowledge and practice between our two countries. We visualized Therapeutic Touch Japan Network as a believable and inspiring ideal. Coincidentally, a few nights before our April workshop, I found this statement scrawled into one of my notebooks:
“TT for Tokyo Vision – Intention 2016: To establish a hub of trained practitioners committed to developing their skills and knowledge in Therapeutic Touch and applications to alleviate pain and suffering and enhance wellness in patient and staff populations.”
The Therapeutic Touch Triad with Etsuko and Mariko offering Mayumi a session.
And so it is! We’re thrilled that Mayumi, Mariko, Naomi and Etsuko will be back June 10 & 11, 2016 to take Therapeutic Touch Level 3! In the meantime, they have committed to do 2 Therapeutic Touch sessions a week, from their own Practice Group to continue to receive and give TT sessions and do a minimum of 3 case studies.
We thank the Therapeutic Touch Network of Ontario (TTNO) and the Therapeutic Touch International Association (TTIA) all Recognized Teachers, Recognized Practitioners and Therapeutic Touch practitioners everywhere for the rich body of knowledge we have collectively created and continue to develop; the ethics we commit to and the tools and techniques available to develop ourselves and others through the practice of Therapeutic Touch.
About Julia von Flotow
