Four local, seasoned professionals celebrate National Massage Week (Oct. 25-31) by sharing thoughts about what they do. Sandra Burton, Alicia Enriquez, Dorian Frances and Ronald Jason Eades invite the public to enjoy Massage Week any week.

Sandra Burton, Sandra Burton Massage

Touch. Did you know there are more than 3,000 touch receptors in a fingertip? There are 17,000 in your hand. In just the sole of your foot, there are 200,000! Touch is the first sense a fetus develops, and the skin is the body’s largest organ. The part of the embryo from which touch emerges also gives rise to the brain, nervous system, skin, hair and nails. As Deane Juhan wrote in “Job’s Body” (1987): “The skin is the surface of the brain; to touch the surface is to stir the depths.” Interacting with such a profound aspect of a person is why I love massage.

Alicia Enriquez, Massage by Alicia

Massage is more than just touch. It can help with mobility, stress and muscle aches, especially for those who do physical work consistently. It also gives your body a break from reality and lets you focus on yourself from time to time.

Dorian Frances, Great Bend Therapeutic Massage

Massage isn’t just something you do when you’re already hurting. It’s part of maintaining the body you work with every day. We don’t have to wait until something breaks to take care of it.

Ronald Jason Eades, Massage at Eades

One of the beautiful things about massage therapy is that it allows us to approach each person as an individual. Rather than relying on a blanket approach, we can consider their specific needs, concerns and goals, then adapt our techniques accordingly. That ability to individualize treatment is what I value most.