Daryel Women's Wellness Center

"Thank You" is the first word I learned in Somali. It was Sunday morning and I have arrived to provide four hour of massge at Daryel, a Somali women's wellness clinic in Seattle. My massage table was set up in a corner of the meeting room of a retirement center. The other clinic volunteers and I had hung sheets from the ceiling in order to create individual "rooms." The heat had not been turned on early enough and the room was still cold. I was glad I'd thought to bring my table warmer. I led my first client through the partition in the sheet. She was in her 40s and wore brightly colored, traditional Somali dress. She delighted in the scented oils I had brought and chose her favorites. "Thank you," she greeted me. After briefly pointing to her shoulders and hips, where she had the most pain, she climbed on the table. As soon as I laid my hands on her, she murmured a sigh of soft quick words, "thank you, thank you, thank you." Throughout our 30 minute session, she directed me to move on to the next spot she wanted worked by pointing or pulling my wrists to get more pressure. I was also also directed by a constant stream of thank yous. She wanted the deepest pressure I could give her. While I normally use my elbows for such deep work, I learned that she wanted me to use only the palms of my hands. From the way she guided every movement of mine, I felt like she was actually teaching me her culture's way hands on healing. I complied, adjusting my body to apply my full weight while doing the best I could to keep my joints from being injured. Wherever I could, I to her other techniques miming. She agreed to let me try them. When she liked something, she whispered, "thank you." At one point she started calling me "Ma." Ma, Ma, Ma. Thank you, thank you, thank you. She was especially interested in anything that would lengthen her neck, which was quite regal. Her adornments, a pair of long earrings and a multiple-stranded necklace, highlighted this feature. This lengthening she wanted around her upper shoulders and chest was about something important, a deep beauty that she wanted to free. I learned that all of my clients that day would demand the same opening. I guessed they were all trying to unlock voices and hearts that had been silenced too long. As Bria, the clinic director, brought me hot, milky tea and invited me to take a break, I sat in a circle with some women who were holding space for the group that was offering noon prayers while others chatted over their tea. Later on, there would be a yoga teacher arriving to teach a class. A few weeks later, the Somali women gave a luncheon for all the volunteers. They served traditional Somali dishes and gave all of the American women pashmina shawls and taught us how to wear them. We sat in a large circle and introduced ourselves. Everyone expressed their great gratitude for Daryel and shared stories. When it was my turn, I asked them to tell me the Somali word for "thank you." They answered, "Mahadsanid!" Daryel, the Somali women's wellness clinic I volunteer my massage services for, opens every Sunday for four hours. Women come for 30 minute appointments, to socialize with the other Somali women, learn about self-care and wellness, drink tea, pray, and practice yoga. Volunteering here has transformed my life, deepened my connection to the world, illuminated my heart, and provides great healing. The Seattle Times published an article about Daryel on April 11th, 2011. The great significance of a program is evidenced by the fact that the paper chose to run it on the front page. Read the article here: www.seattletimes.com/nwsource.com/html/health/2014740317_somaliyoga11.html Mahadsanid!