Photo* by Courtney Giuliani
Irma Jackson has
a way with her
hands. Here she
works on a client
at her massage
studio on
Waughtown
Street.
Woman starts hands-on business
' ? '?f ftjfr "
BY COURTNEY GAILLARD
THK CHRONICLE
When Irma Jackson retired
as a high school science teacher
from the Winston
Salem/Forsyth County Schools
more than three years ago, she
knew she would go into busi
ness for herself. The 30-year
teaching veteran chose a second
career that took her back into
the classroom, temporarily, to
learn the art of massage thera
py
"I think (massage therapy)
and teaching both provide a
service, and that's part of the
reason why I was interested in
it. When I taught I imparted
knowledge and this allows me
to help somebody with their
health," said Jackson.
This 56-year-old mother of
one daughter and grandmother
of two has spent most of her life
in Winston-Salem.
Jackson has been building
her .massage practice. Kneads
You, since graduating from the
Southeastern School of Neuro
muscular and Massage Therapy,
in Charlotte, in 2001. Now she
offers Swedish (Yelaxation),
neuromuscular therapy (deep
tissue), craniosacral (light
touch). Thai (reflexology) and
seated chair massages. While
Jackson doesn't make house
calls, she* does operate out of
Maxx Studio, a hair salon on
Waughtown Street. Jackson
also offers her services to
Jackson
schools,
conven
tions and
business
e .s
Depend
ing on the
service
and
length of
time,
massages
will cost
between $35 and $120 (by
appointment only).
"It's really been an interest
ing experience because it
allows me to actually still see
my friends (in the school sys
tem ) and also earn an income as
well," Jackson said.
Earlier this year, she spent
six weeks in Thailand studying
at the International Training
Massage School, where she
learned to perform Thai mas
sage. Thai massage is per
formed on a mat placed on the
floor, and it increases flexibility
in the body.
Well aware that some peo
pie are body conscious and
uninterested in a stranger touch
ing their bodies. Jackson makes
a point to walk clients through
the process so that they feel
comfortable about her working
on them. In a stress-filled
world. Jackson encourages peo
ple to treat themselves to a mas
sage if not for relaxation pur
poses then for a stronger sense
of well-being. "When you lay
on this table, you are just anoth
er body. I don't pay attention to
how big or little you are," said
Jackson. "(Massage therapy)
will increase your circulation, it
is a destresser. and if'will allow
you to relax."
Not all massages require
people to disrobe completely,
like the seated chair massage,
said Jackson. Some techniques,
like the Tai massage, only
require people to take off their
shoes and socks.
This massage therapist does
indulge in a massage regularly
and sticks to a workout regi
men. usually yoga, to ensure
that she can perform a variety
of massages on her clients.
"It is really not easy work.
It's really hard work. I'm doing
the work, so I have to be in
good physical shape in order to
do this. 1 want to be sure that I
am flexible enough (to perform
the massage)." Jackson said.
Some clients tell Jackson
that they are unable to lay on
their backs for a massage due to
pains or pre-existing condi
tions. She recently worked on a
client who had the same prob
lem, and halfway 'through the
session, Jackson asked her to
turn onto her back - which she
did with ease.
"When she got off the table
she told me that normally she
would riot be able to lay on her
back like that, so I was
pleased," said Jackson.
The proof that she is doing
her job well, said Jackson, is
when her clients get off the
table and feel good.
A year from now, Jackson
hopes to operate her massage
practice out of another space,
which she owns, and she looks
forward to teaching massage
techniques in the future as well
"To see that you can bring
relief to people who are hurting
or in pain is satisfying." said
Jackson. "I like what I do. I like
the fact that every day is differ
ent. There are no two days
alike."
To schedule an appointment
for a massage with Irma Jack
son, call 773-0506,
Martin Luther King III
SCLC
from pane A 2
for the People's Agenda.
Pulitzer Prize-winning
author David Garrow, who
wrote "Bearing the Cross:
Martin Luther King Jr. and the
SCLC," said the organization
has been on a long, slow
decline because of the aging
of its leadership.
."Even though Rev. Shut
tlVsworth is a crucial histori
cal figure, how many organi
zations name someone who is
81 years old as their interim
leader?" Garrow asked.
But Shuttlesworth, whose
work as a young man in Birm
Davis
from page A2
The cities are Los Angeles.
New York. Chicago. Houston,
Memphis. Miami. Detroit and
Atlanta.
After the discussions, the
CBC will issue a final report
on the problems of black men
and urge the government to
take steps.
Davis said that this is, the
only way to make black
males' lives in America more
pleasant.
"We are losing far too
many African-American
males to drugs, gangs, homi
cides and an overall sense of
helplessness and hopeless
ness. If we are to reverse these
trends, special efforts must be
put forth, and we believe that
a national look at these issues
and problems could provide
realistic problem-solving
approaches," said Davis.
ingham in the 1950s and '60s
was crucial lo the success of
(he Civil Rights Movement,
argues the SCLC's time has
not passed.
He said he wants to rein
vigorate the SCLC and get
more young people involved.
"My problem is that
younger people are not as
concerned about it as they
ought to be and I want to
move tyjHire younger peop"TP
into the mainstream of those
who fight for justice." Shut
tlesworth said. 9 "There is
always a concern about any
organization, and SCLC has
to have action and move with
the times."'-1
Morial
Holmes Norton
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