Many years ago I met
Alfie through my then
yoga teacher Janecki, gentle
gifted teacher who ran
her class over the chair caning store
on Columbus and 78th. Janecki
told me about Alfie, a wonderful masseuse.
I have always loved massages
and I went to Alfie in his apartment
nearby. In a funny way Alfie’s massage
was life-changing. I’d like to explain
to you what that means but I’m not
entirely sure I have the right vocabulary
for life changing explanations. He
released something inside me that had
been there forever. That sounds like
he let out an inner bird but it was more
than that: stronger and more freeing.
Yesterday for the first time in years
I went to Alfie again. He has an office
now, studio with a piano (Alfie plays)
and a table in the middle where he,
over the course of 2 and a half hours
hours that I still all these years later
am not sure how to explain, Alfie
said my left side much tighter than
my right and he released the tightness
he let out what was stuck inside
he made me calmer, happier even
and although I don’t know how
to explain what happened, I resolved,
when I walked out his door,
that once a month in the New Year
I would go see Alfie and give up
the idea that I’d have to explain
what happened.
Esther - wanting to make sure I didn't miss the email. xo
One thing you don't know about me is that I'm a licensed masseur. In 1979 I took a three month once a week course at The Goldmann Institute for Physical Rehabilitation in Tel Aviv. The course included Elementary Anatomy, Theory of Massage, General & Medical Massage and Sport Massage. Gaby Goldman, who gave the course, was the masseur for the Batsheva Dance Troupe and the Israeli national soccer team. The certificate says "I herewith recommend Hillel Schenker as a proficient massagist, who is able to work in the profession." However, I never did, though others in the course took it more seriously. These days, I have a bi-weekly or monthly massage myself (not with Alfie).