Jackie DeSau, May Featured Healer

Neuro-Muscular massage therapist Jackie DeSau sat down with me last Sunday to do the first, Heavenly Healers video interview.  It did not turn out as planned. My college student daughter, had made video taping look easy.  It was new to me.  Jackie and I did a half hour interview, only to discover at the end, I hadn't pressed the record button.  We both got a laugh out of it, then realized we'd have to do it again, since I hadn't taken notes.  

I apologized and thanked Jackie for coming into our HH clinic an hour early to tape.  Jackie smiled and said "Hey, no problem, I got a good laugh out of it."  I immediately liked this woman for her easy going and accepting spirit.

And she was reliable.  From the beginning of Heavenly Healers, Jackie had volunteered her time, energy, brought friends, and once an extra massage therapist, to keep HH clinics moving forward.

During the interview we discussed what had inspired her to become a massage therapist.  She said the desire had begun early in life.

"I was involved in sports, running, doing anything that moved my body and I was always sore.  I can remember as young as 8 years old having horrible headaches.  For birthdays or any other holiday, I asked for massage."

DeSau says she was not always the solid person she is today.

"When I was a kid, I was a different person.  I left school, became a mother at a very early age and thought I'd be okay working various jobs.  But I'm an aggressive type of personality; I like being my own boss."

"I knew by the time I turned 18, that if I wanted to get ahead in life, I'd need to go back to school.  And so my daughter and I moved to Georgia and I enrolled in a holistic massage school, Rising Spirit Institute of Natural Health.  The teachers were fantastic, I learned so much, more than I could have ever learned at a local school back home."

"It was intense though, a years worth of work in 9 months.  The class started out with 15 members and finished with about 8.  Many of the students worked full time and had children.  I just wanted it too much to quit."

"What types of massage do you do?"  I ask.

"Neuro-muscular, Myofascial, and massage for cancer patients."

"Really?  Cancer patients?  I'd think massage would not be recommended for cancer patients."  I say.

"Back in the day, they (massage authorities) did not recommend massage for cancer patients, but recently it's been discovered that the relaxation caused by the massage, helps patients recover from the stress of cancer and chemotherapy."

It makes sense to me.

Jackie talks about her new shop opening in June in Beach Lake, Pennsylvania.  "Avani - Mind, Body, Soul, will be 6 years old in June." Jackie says.

The location is picture perfect with a front porch, small garden area and a river running by outside.  A spacious reception office and two small rooms for energy work, awaits inside.  

"I'd like to get an acupuncturist in here also.  I'm happy to have the front reception area to use as an office, with a small filing cabinet and mini refrigerator over here.  A couch goes over there in case I need an afternoon nap!"  Jackie laughs.

As she describes the curtains and pictures she'll hang on the wall, in my minds eye, I am imagining a zen-like, healing space.  

Besides donating her time with HH clinics, DeSau was also a board member for the Honesdale Transition Town, a sustainable community project.  She grows most of her own organic food.  "I want to start my garden, but the weather is not cooperating at all.  I believe in a sustainable life style.  The earths health concerns me as much as the body."

An afternoon with Jackie DeSau, gives me comfort that there are people out there making a difference, one person at a time.

Jackie DeSau is the featured Heavenly Healer for our Sunday, May 18th clinic, 2-5pm at the Stonework's Learning Center in Honesdale, Pa.

Contact Jackie at her website:  avanimindbodysoul.massagetherapy.com

Article by Cari Branning