Winter Garden Healing Arts
Wilson Shook LMT, CMT

Newsletter

My newsletter goes out on a roughly seasonal basis. Subscribe here for updates about my practice, ruminations on health, healing, literature, and politics, and occasional discounts and benefits. It’s better than social media, I promise.

Reopening & Summer Updates :: Winter Garden Healing Arts

In this newsletter:

  • A note on reopening

  • My availability

  • Looking out for our safety

  • Black Lives Matter, Black Trans Lives Matter

  • Dignity and Power Now



A note on reopening:

I hope you've been well during these crazy times. As much of the country is figuring out how to restart the economy, I've been getting more requests for bodywork and have been working on a plan to offer services. LA county has given the green light to bodyworkers as of June 19. I want to be clear that although I believe there are concrete steps we can take to reduce the risk of infection, I know that we are still in the midst of a pandemic that is still not under control, and LA is seeing a significant increase in cases due to reopening. So I am being cautious with my plans, and will modify my offerings as the situation progresses.

I believe it is crucial for us all to remain vigilant and understand that our actions have repercussions both within and far beyond our immediate communities. At a time when racial justice is on the top of the agenda for many, I want to point out that Black, Latinx, and indigenous communities continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic due to deep generational inequities in our economy, healthcare, housing, immigration, and criminal justice systems. While public health measures may seem like just an inconvenience to some, you don't have to look far to find communities where the pandemic is having a major toll. Each of us has a role to play in reducing community spread. Please be mindful as you decide how to move about the world, which activities to return to, and especially how you take care of yourself and your loved ones.



My availability:

As of this week, I am available for in-office appointments on Sundays in Santa Monica and Mondays in Atwater Village. I am available on a limited basis throughout the week for in-home appointments--see my scheduling page for updated availability.

Schedule your appointment here.

I have chosen these days because the offices where I work will not have any other practitioners working. Therefore, there will be fewer people coming in and out, no overlap between clients entering and leaving, and more time available for cleaning between appointments. I expect to eventually add more days as the situation improves. I will announce any changes via this mailing list, as usual.



Looking out for our safety:

I will be taking additional sanitary precautions around the office and wearing a clean mask and outfit for each appointment. I ask that you bring your own mask and wear it for the duration of the appointment. As always, my late cancellation policy is waived if you are feeling ill, but I'd like to stress this especially right now: if you are sick or have been in close contact with anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 within the last 2 weeks, please stay home. There will be no penalty and no hard feelings. Just let me know.

Navigating all the safety recommendations can be overwhelming, but basically they boil down to:

  • reducing the number of people in the office;

  • additional cleaning a sanitizing of all contact items and surfaces;

  • additional handwashing before and between clients;

  • increasing fresh air circulation and filtration;

  • reducing clutter and removal/covering of porous and difficult to sanitize surfaces;

  • everyone wears a mask (please bring your own mask);

  • any work around the the eyes, nose, and mouth will now require disposable gloves;

  • rescheduling is required if you, I, or anyone we are in close contact with has been diagnosed with or shown symptoms of Covid-19 over the last 14 days;

  • anyone who previously tested positive for Covid-19 or who believes they had the virus must consult with their doctor before scheduling a session;

  • when you arrive at the office, I will take your temperature with a no-contact thermometer and ask you to fill out a brief health form;

  • I will also ask you to remove your shoes upon arrival, in order to keep the space as clean as possible. Clean sandals are available for each client to use, if you like.

For in-home appointments, I ask that you please:

  • clear a minimum 10 x 10ft space before I arrive so that I don't have to touch your furniture;

  • provide easy access to a restroom with soap and paper towels;

  • open at least one window if possible (working outdoors is also acceptable);

  • running a HEPA air filter in the space before and during our session is helpful if you have one;

  • limit access to the room we will be using so that no pets or family members will be present;

  • provide your own clean sheets if possible (twin sheets work best, but larger sizes are OK);

  • shower before your appointment;

  • wash your hands immediately before and after treatment;

  • allow for an additional 15 minutes before and after your appointment while I will be setting up and sanitizing my table.


I will also be mindful of keeping conversation to a minimum, and I appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Of course, there are certain things we will always need to check in about before and during our session. Safety, comfort, and consent remain top priorities, but since talking increases the potential of transmission, especially in a confined space, extraneous conversation will be limited.

If you'd like to know more about how massage therapists are responding to the pandemic, there are useful guidelines on the ABMP website (my professional organization). Please feel free to get in touch with any questions or concerns.



Black Lives Matter, Black Trans Lives Matter.

Like so many folks here and around the world, I have been saddened and outraged by the police and state-sanctioned vigilante murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Riah Milton, Dominique Rem’Mie Fells, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks, Robert Fuller, Terron Jammal Boone, Manuel Ellis, Lorenzo Anderson and countless others. Racism and transphobia are baked deep into American culture and politics, and the explosion of viral videos documenting police violence in recent years only scratches the surface of the problem. Despite the pain, and despite the frequently unhinged backlash to recent protests, I've been encouraged to see how much progress has been made in the dialogue around race and criminal justice in this country. I've been encouraged to see people who a few months ago were resigned to an unjust status quo listening to and joining with Black voices to push further than many thought possible. I believe in a world without police and prisons, and I believe it's important to say so with what little platform I have, and to take concrete steps toward that vision.



Dignity and Power Now

I'd also like to draw attention to a local organization called Dignity and Power Now. DPN is an abolitionist organization that supports currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families around Los Angeles. Their work takes a number of forms, one of which is a healing justice cohort called Building Resilience. I believe that DPN's work is visionary and profound, and I've been honored to provide bodywork at a few of their events over the past year.

I will be donating 15% of proceeds from each appointment to DPN through the end of this year. If you'd like to make a tax deductible donation directly, I will reduce the cost of your next appointment by a matching amount up to 50% of the total appointment cost (for example: if you donate $20 to DPN, send me a copy of your receipt and your next $80 appointment will now be $60; if you donate $40 or more, your $80 appointment will be $40, and so forth).



Thank you for reading my email! I know this is a long one, but there's so much to say right now. I sincerely hope that you are well, and look forward to seeing each one of you as soon as circumstances allow. Be safe, stay strong, and keep in touch.



With care and respect,

Wilson



PS: Happy Pride!

Wilson Shook