Portland observer., July 15, 1998, Page 11, Image 11

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JU LY 15,1998
Page B3
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£l,t> Vurtlauò
Body,
M i n d & Q&i>irit
Thai Massage: The Practical
Expression Of Loving Kindness
Organization for
Spirituality in the
Workplace
D o u g V e r ig in
O rg a n iz a tio n fo r S p iritu a l­
ity in th e W o r k p la c e - O S W
fo r s h o r t - is d e d ic a te d to h e l p ­
in g u s a ll le a r n h o w to b r in g
o u r s o u ls to w o rk . T h e a v e r ­
a g e p e r s o n s p e n d s 1 0 0 ,0 0 0
h o u r s a t w o rk in t h e i r l i f e ­
tim e . W e e x i s t as m in d , b o d y
a n d s p i r i t , a n d m a n y w o u ld
a r g u e th a t o u r s p i r i t u a l n a tu r e
is o u r h i g h e s t c a l l i n g . C a n w e
t r u ly liv e a f u ll lif e i f s p i r i t is
m is s in g f ro m o n e o f o u r p r i ­
m a ry a c t i v i t i e s - w o r k ? A n d
w h a t b e n e f i t s w ill o u r s o c ie t y
e n jo y i f m o r e o f u s liv e a n d
w o rk in a s p ir itu a lly c o n s c io u s
m a n n er?
O S W ’s c h i e f o b j e c t i v e is to
p r o m o t e th e i n t e g r a t i o n o f
s p ir itu a l c o n s c io u s n e s s in th e
w o r k p la c e . T h e o r g a n iz a ti o n
is o p e n to a ll; w e d o n o t p r o ­
m o te a n y p a r t i c u l a r r e li g io u s
d o c t r i n e . R e s p e c t f o r p e o p le
o f a ll r e l i g i o n s o r s p i r i t u a
p a th s is m a in ta in e d .
T h e o r g a n iz a tio n is tw o y e a rs
o ld a n d c u r r e n tly s p o n s o r s tw o
m o n th ly e v e n ts - m o rn in g an d
lu n c h m e e tin g s . W e in te n d to
s ta r t a th ird e v e n in g m e e tin g
E a c h g a th e r in g f e a tu re s a p re
s e n ta tio n , a p a n e l d is c u s s io n
o r o th e r a p p r o p r ia te a c tiv ity
W e s h a re f rie n d s h ip , id e a s an d
fa ith th a t S p irit w o rk s th ro u g h
us - e s p e c ia lly at w o rk .
F o r m o re i n f o r m a ti o n , c a ll
D o u g V e r ig in a t ( 5 0 3 ) 9 7 7
6764.
Appreciative Inquiry: Connecting with
"Life-Giving Forces” to
Create Positive Futures
by J an a G reen berger , M .S.O.D.
Appreciative Inquiry is an approach
which has great value as a comple­
ment to problem-solving. It inspires
approaches to change which open both
the mind and the heart to new insights,
new “attractors'’, new synergies, and
new actions. It has the potential to
bring out the vitality , purpose, and
inherent beauty o f individuals, orga­
nizations, and communities.
What if. . .we focused more energy
on creating positive futures and scaled
back our fixation with problems and
problem -solving? This kind o f shift
away from problem-solving as the
dominant m ode o f action in our cul­
ture underlies Appreciative Inquiry, a
change management theory and pro­
c e ss d e v e lo p e d b y Dr. D av id
C oopem der and colleagues at Case
W estern Reserve University.
Appreciative Inquiry focuses on
uncovering and valuing the “Best o f
W hat Is” to envision “W hat Might
Be.” Appreciative Inquiry has been
applied in hundreds o f corporate and
global social change settings. It is
particularly useful tor discovering and
innovating in areas o f vision, values,
strategy, team building, and organiza­
tional renewal.
Cooperrider's theory o f Apprecia­
tive Inquiry em erged from his com ­
prehensive review ofthe energy-drain­
ing effects o f problem-solving versus
the enlivening effects o f positive im­
ages on positive action. Studies con­
ducted in the early ‘70’sby Dr. Ronald
Lippitt at the University o f Michigan
showed that problem-solving drained
energy, increased frustration, and
tended to lead to short-term fixes rather
than long-term solutions. This idea
was reinforced by Cooperrider’s artist
wife Nancy, w ho brought the idea o f
“the appreciative eye” to his work. As
she pointed out, “An artist doesn’t sit
down in front o f the ocean and say,
‘Hey, w hat’s wrong with this ocean?’
“Appreciative, in this context then,
means becom ing fillly aw are of, see­
ing with heightened perception, rec-
ognizing aesthetic values and beauty,
and valuing “what gives life to” a
person, group, organization or com ­
munity. Inquiry is seen as an active
vehicle for change— asking affirma­
tive questions begins positive change.
Key assumptions o f Appreciative
Inquiry include: 1) Organizations (and
societies) are made and imagined by
their members; therefore, virtually any
pattern o f action can be re-configured;
2) Images drive the future, and we
move toward Images o f Potential if
given the chance; 3) In almost every
society, organization, or group, some­
thing “works” and gives life to collec­
tive effort; building on these “life-
giving forces” to create the future gen­
erates confidence, comfort, and mo­
mentum for positive change; and.
4) Affirmative inquiry Is the begin­
ning o f positive change - asking care­
fully created positive questions acts as
a frame and filter for future reality.
A standard team building effort
might start with the query “List all the
problems in your team and organiza­
tion problems affecting your team.”
An appreciative effort m i^it ask ‘'Think
about a great team experience you’ve
had in the past 3 years...,” and then
probe how to apply the positive in­
sights to the current team.
The process o f Appreciative In­
quiry usually involves five phases, be­
ginning with topic definition and ques­
tion writing, moving on to data collec­
tion (usually through pair interviews),
then the w ritingof'piovocativepropo-
sitions,” (statements written in present
tense which describe a future ideal),
and then dialoguing, and action plan­
ning.
Jana Greenberger, M .S .O .D ., is a
change management consultant who
learned the art and science o f leader­
ship at Procter & Gamble and N IK E .
H er mission is to catalyze individuals,
organizations, and communities to cre­
ate “enlivening” futures by tapping
into ‘life-givin g forces.” She can be
reached
at
Vrdian@aol.com.
2 2 6 -6 0 5 4
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7
by
Doug Verigin, founder of OSW, and his wife, Kate Verigin,
a nondenominational minister, are currently researching
material to be included in a book on spirituality in the
workplace to be published in Fall 1999.
by
-
or
D avid and J anice W eitzer
The surging traffic o f Bangkok
seemed like a rushing river teeming
with crocodile trucks, cars and mo­
torcycles ready to swallow pedestri­
ans like minnows. On the skyline
ahead o f me, I could see the Gold
covered spires, turrets, and rooftops
o f the G rand Palace and Wat Po
Temple beckoning through the smog.
As the traffic began to slow down,
1 stepped o ff the curb into the maze
and began to weave through the lanes,
am azed at how easy it was to get
through the six lanes. It was as if the
pedestrian does not exist on the curb
and only becom es a real part o f the
traffic when the foot touches the pave­
ment.
It is reassuring to see that the
impact o f m odem lifestyles has not
eclipsed the basic com passionate at­
titudes that the Thai people are re­
now ned for.
It seem s that in every direction,
there are temples reaching up toward
the skies and alm ost every house has
an ornate little “Spirit Dwelling” in
front with offerings in it.
At the gates o fW at Po, theaw are-
ness o fth e depth o fth e ancient tradi­
tions o f Thailand begins to sink in.
the massage school is inside this enor­
mous com pound and the walls are
over six feet thick.
The Buddhist M onks o f Thailand
have protected the temples and the
teachings for over 2500 years.
The massage clinic is a large room
with low platforms and the people
lying on the mats on the platforms in
loose clothing are both native Thai
and foreigners. The atmosphere is
quiet and meditative with the sound
o f an occasional sigh o f relaxation as
a patient is slowly and gently moved
through an assisted Yoga Posture. I
am rem inded o f the statues in the
courtyard which show people in Yoga
postures and Thai Massage positions,
an affirmation o f the connectedness
to Y oga and Ayurvedic Medicine.
Thai Massage is unique in several
ways; the system is over 2500 years
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Thai Massage blends Yogic postures as part of the healing practice.
old, the client remains fully clothed,
the work is gentle yet reaches incred­
ibly deep. The Assisted Yoga stretches
open the joints and increase the range
o f motion, the intentionality o f the
spiritual foundation honors the per­
son and the process, the abdominal
work respectfully honors an im por­
tant area o fth e body that most other
forms o f bodyw ork ignore, and the
treatments can be from one hour to
three hours or m ore in length.
The practitioner takes no direct
credit for the beneficial or specific
results o f the treatment because the
intentionality created through the
PUJA and the support and guidance
provided through the healing assis­
tance. W e say “Healing Assistance”
in order to recognize that the patient
heals themselves with the movement
o f the Healing Energy within their
own body and we simply provide our
assistance as a catalyst for that pro­
cess.
As I get up after the massage, I can
hearthe monks chanting their evening
prayers. My practitioner smi les w ord­
lessly as we bow to the divinity each
AM 1010
Inspiring Radio Talk
Show
T he fo llo w in g is an excerpt from
a p rev io u s talk show in terv iew .
B rad S m ith is an E x ec u tiv e C oach
te a c h in g sp iritu a l p rin c ip le s and
co n c ep ts as p ractical v alu e to b u si­
n esses.
Q: W hy has sp iritu a lity been
re p re sse d in th e w o rk p lac e?
B r a d S m ith : I t 's s a fe r and
m e c h a n istic to o n ly be a p h y sical
p erso n a lity .
C o m p e titio n w ill e v e n tu a lly
fo rce sp iritu a lity in th e w o rk p lace
as a sta n d a rd . T h e rea so n is th at in
o rd e r to b e th e re , th e rea ctio n a ry -
e m o tio n a l s tu f f th a t g ets in the
w ay o f b ein g p ro d u c tiv e w ill have
to be e lim in a te d in o rd e r to have
Soul p rese n t. Soul is th e so u rce o f
c re a tiv e , in v e n tiv e id eas. T h a t’s
th e so u rc e o f all th e o p p o rtu n ities
for e x p a n d e d e ffic ie n c y , p ro d u c ­
tiv ity an d c re atio n . I t’s co m in g
from th e in n er lev els. T h e re ’s a
link b etw e en S p irit and eco n o m ics
and p ra c tic a lity from a p ro d u ctio n
sta n d p o in t.
Q: W hat is th e u n d erly in g m ean ­
in g o f D o w n sizin g ?
B rad S m ith : T h e w o rld is g o ­
ing th ro u g h a tra n s itio n w h ere
th e re ’s n ot a p are n t co m p an y ta k ­
ing c a re o f o u r n ee d s an d k eep in g
o u r se c u rity fo r u s th e rest o f our
liv es. P eo p le are b e in g ask ed to be
in d e p e n d e n t an d th o u g h tfu l for
th e m se lv e s an d to ta k e ca re o f
th em selv es. D o w n sizin g is a w ak e­
up call.
Q: W h at o th e r th in g s are you
h e lp in g b u sin e ss p eo p le to real-
ize.'
B rad S m ith : Issu es that com e
o u t at w o rk are a resu lt o f a c o ­
c re a tio n b etw een th e b o ss and the
in d iv id u al (e m p lo y e e ) w ho needs
to learn th at th ey a re th e au th o rity
g" \
in th e ir life.
I f th e y c a n c o m e to a s i t u a ­
tio n w h e r e t h e y ’re w illi n g to
c o - c r e a te e q u a lly a n d s h a r e th e
r e s p o n s i b ilit y f o r e a c h e x p e r i ­
e n c e a n d le a rn fro m e v e r y th in g
t h a t ’s th e r e , th e n th e y c a n le a rn
a n d b o th te a c h .
T h a t ’s a m o re e n l ig h te n e d
a p p r o a c h . T h e y c a n th e n r e c ­
o g n iz e th e d ig n ity a n d in d e ­
p e n d e n c e in th e in d iv i d u a l so
th e y ca n c o - c re a te th e w o rk th a t
n e e d s to b e d o n e .
other and 1 return to ever busy and
bustling streets outside the temple
walls. The harmony ofthe ancient and
the m odem seems so natural here in
Thailand that I find m yself thanking
the countless souls who worked to
preserve this healing over eons against
staggering odds.
Here in the western world we find
that there are many medical benefits
from Thai Massage that fit into our
analytical and anatomical reference
system. Clients with specific disorders
such as chronic back pain. Osteoporo­
sis, Fibro-myalgia, Chronic Fatigue,
Cancer and AIDS have all proposed
and moved closer to well being from
experiencing Thai Massage.
This sense o f well being has been
the closest to an enlightened state that
I have ever been in.
The goals o f Thai Massage are to
remove obstacles along the path to
reachingastatecalled“Promwihansii”,
the four states o f mind most conducive
to w holeness o f being; Loving Kind­
ness, Compassion, Vicarious Joy and
Equanimity.
C lasses in T h ai M a ssag e are
o p en to the p u b lic at th e O re g o n
S chool o f M assag e. C a ll 2 4 4 -
3 420. D avid W ietz er, L M T h as
been a stu d en t an d p ra c titio n e r o f
m assag e since 1976 w ith tra in in g
in Jin Shin D o, C ran ial S acral
T h erap y , S p o rts M assag e an d is a
ce rtified y o g a in stru c to r. D avid
has focused in on T rad itio n al T hai
M assag e sin ce 1990 and b ec am e
a c e rtifie d in stru c to r in 1996.
D avid W eitzer is av a ila b le fo r
ap p o in tm e n ts at (5 0 3 ) 5 9 0 -3 5 4 9
at NW P o rtlan d and B eav erto n
locations.
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Inspiring Radio Talk Show
2 V
AM 1010
The Voice
O
'
B
.
• 1 5 j.’
Sundays at 6 PM. Call with your questions or comments
235-1010 1-800-636-1011 Airtouch #1010
UPCOMING GUESTS
July 19th. Bobby G uibbins, author o f
“W inning W ithout Intim idation”
July 26th. Erie D avid
A ugust 2nd. Buddy Piper, speaker, talking about Super Algae
A ugust 9th. Dr. M ike on how to m ake your child a genius
A ugust 16th. Jay lrw id on how to get all the m oney and love, etc.
A ugust 23rd. TBA
A ugust 30th. N ancy Snodgrass on Angels and W holeness
O regon S chool o f M assage
Ma ¡sage as a Career!
Learn about the Career Options as a
Licensed Massage Technician
Free Training Previews:
July 25, Saturday at 1pm
August 3, Monday, 7pm
August 18, Tuesday, 7pm
September, Saturday, 9am
Call for a Reservation for Training Preview
Begin Classes Sept 28!
Flexible Class Schedule for Working Adults
Payment Plan Available
Clà sses f a r Everyone!
Massage Basics - August 6 - 27
Call fo r a [ree ( 'at alarne
4 thursday evenings' 7- 9:30pm $65 per person
Call for Program Catalogue or Class Schedule
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(5 0 3 )2 1 4 5420