photography by Mark Wagoner

In 1994 a group of visionaries started a crusade of sorts. Knowing the healing benefits of quality massage therapy, they decided to open a school in Danville, Virginia, to provide top-notch training. Soon after they opened, they noticed a steady stream of students driving from Greensboro to take classes. Not wanting to be stingy with their knowledge, they decided to open a Natural Touch School in Greensboro in 1999.

Janet Blevins is the location’s executive director, having started there as a part-time teacher while working her day job as manager of the Grandover Resort spa. Natural Touch asked her to work for them full-time four years ago and she switched over for the opportunity to do more of the teaching she so enjoyed.

Gentle and quiet with an infectious smile, Blevins displays an unabashed enthusiasm for the program she leads and the great benefits that massage therapy brings to life.

Why go to a massage therapist? What are the benefits?
More and more people are going to a more care-based approach to health. Conventional doctors don’t always have the time to spend with you, and when you do see a doctor they’ll often give you a prescription that tells your symptoms to be quiet. But what’s causing those symptoms? We actually teach that all disease starts with “dis-ease” with something in your life. Massage therapy addresses the symptoms and gets to the root cause. We also focus on listening to clients. I think people appreciate more that they are a person to somebody. Somebody’s listening to them; people just want to be heard.

What types of massage can students learn at Natural Touch?
People go in so many different directions after going to school here, so we offer a 550-hour program (more than the 500 hours required by the state) to give them a little taste of different types of modalities to let them find their niche. We teach Oriental massage, which addresses different modalities with points, just like in acupuncture. We teach pregnancy massage, aromatherapy. Students learn how to do spa wraps and deep tissue. We also teach reflexology and energy work.

We know there’s a physical dimension to massage therapy. What about a mental or emotional dimension?
Certainly music, and especially smell, can remind people of something. That’s why you have to ask questions and make the experience really all about your client. You never know what may trigger an emotional release of something that they might not even be aware of. The body holds emotion a whole lot longer than you think. You think you’ve let stuff go, but your body still holds it.

Are there massages or exercises that people can do on their own — ones that will extend what you do?
Well, they can do some point work (acupressure) and some stretching. And you can give yourself a massage, but it’s not quite the same!

What should a person look for when choosing a massage therapist?
That they are licensed by the state and what kind of school they went to. What kind of continuing-education classes they take — North Carolina requires 25 units every two years — are they going and taking hands-on classes or just studying online? Also ask practical questions like what draping techniques they use. You want to make sure that you’re comfortable.

Are there any occupational hazards associated with massage therapy?
Burnout is a danger. People don’t take care of themselves. I had a guy call me just today to ask if he could do 40 massages a week. Well, he could, but then he’d burn out in three to five years. You shouldn’t really try to do more than 25 massages a week. If you do too much, what do you have to give to your clients?

What do you enjoy most about performing massage therapy?
I like being one-on-one with a person, having that connection with somebody and seeing how I’ve made them feel better and brought a smile to their face. No words or money are better than that feeling. It’s kind of like its own little natural high. I think I’ve read you need 11 hugs a day to have your skin be healthy and happy. How many people get 11 hugs? So after I give a massage everybody gets a hug!

Natural Touch School of Massage Therapy
1-A Wendy Court - naturaltouchschools.com