by Mary Reis
Springtime inspires us to believe that, along with the earth,
Madison Taylor
we too might change,
release the past, and give birth to new ideas, new relationships, and new perspectives.
The impulse to grow and move forward is inherent in life on earth. The new growth of Spring reminds us that the cycle of renewal is ever-present; life adapts in tandem with the seasons, changes, and continues onward.
Despite the difficulties of living through a pandemic for the last year, I am grateful for the opportunity to withdraw from much of the outward work that I have done for over 25 years now. Being away from teaching at FSM and the administrative work I do for Giorgia Milne allowed me time for myself.
For those of you that know me, it is no surprise that I filled that space with other projects. I “filmed” a video project about my dad who turned 96 last November. Embracing the amazing power of Zoom, I recorded interviews with my 8 siblings and my Dad’s sisters to create a story about his life. Having this time away from my work and focusing on my family of origin seemed to help renew my spirit.
I feel a more solid foundation moving forward. And I am excited to work with students again and carry the mission of FSM forward. I’m also excited to continue bringing Giorgia Milne & Biodynamic Cranial Touch education to Gainesville. And on a more broad scale, I am thrilled to be part of this helping profession, evolving how I work with clients and students alike, and contributing to the life of the bodywork profession.
As FSM emerges from a year of closure, distance, and loss, we are like the flowers growing through the cracks in the concrete — finding our way to the light of community and relationship once again.
Amidst new safety protocols and procedures, the mission of our program remains steady: enhancing the quality of life through the vehicles of touch and awareness. The inward journey of presence and awareness, and the gifts that human touch brings, will continue to transform the lives of our students.
The “how” of what we do has changed in response to the pandemic. Beginning online in January allowed us to teach at a distance and focus on the linear material while the pandemic settled. And in a few short weeks we will reopen campus and begin the massage portion of the training. We have adapted the program to keep each other safe, and we have never done it this way before. It formed as life / the spirit of FSM found its way through the cracks. It is a different arrangement indeed, but also an exciting one — how will the forces of this new structure shape these students? What will we learn from the process?
Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There’s a crack in everything That is how the light gets in.
Leonard Cohen
In the spirit of Springtime and newness, I am excited to share some big news from my administrative life with Giorgia Milne… Giorgia has emerged from the cocoon of this past year with wings of her own — a new school:
Introducing…
the Touch of Presence® School for Biodynamic Studies
Giorgia will continue to travel and teach her work both domestically and internationally as conditions permit. The teaching is evolving and expanding. The Initiatory and Mentor Courses continue to be the foundation of the program, and her ancillary courses compliment and delve into the science behind the veil. Time will allow the program to organically take shape — it is an exciting time to be in the classroom!
Giorgia returns to Gainesville in July to teach Initiatory Courses and begin a new Mentor Course. If you have questions about the training or would like to learn more, see the FSM website for more details on the Initiatory Course. You can also learn more on Giorgia’s website, or reach out to me directly at maryreis@me.com.
Mary Reis has been a practicing Massage Therapist since 1993, and a teacher at FSM since 1995. She is married to a Chiropractor, Dr. Jeffrey Smith, whose gentle approach has greatly influenced her work with clients and kept her physically capable of thriving as a therapist. Working with Giorgia Milne since 2014, she is an administrator and Registrar for the Touch of Presence® School for Biodynamic Studies, and assists Giorgia in the Gainesville classroom.
(Photo by the amazing Ashley Spence)
