As students, everyone knows how stressful finals can be. Your mind is racing as you fervently scan over your textbook and realize that you really didn’t study as much as you should have and it is the night before the big exam. However, what many Moorpark students do not know is that there is a new student service that can help them relieve this stress, and best of all, it’s free.
Moorpark College offers a brand new massage therapy service this fall, where students will have the opportunity to schedule free individual massage appointments. Sharon Manakas, the Health Services coordinator at Moorpark, feels that students will definitely find this service useful.
“We know that stress is the number one factor affecting individual academic performance,” said Manakas. “This is a positive way of relieving that stress.”
Massage therapy is available on the first Friday of every month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, but students must schedule their individual appointments beforehand. Two massage interns from The Massage Center in Thousand Oaks perform the chair massages as part of their four hours of required community service that they need to graduate from their school. Each massage lasts about 10-15 minutes, as the interns focus on the back, neck, and shoulders.
So far, massage therapy has proved to be a success with both Moorpark students, as well as the interns who come in to conduct the massages. Manakas said that Moorpark students have found it very valuable and already, the date in November is booked.
Katie Elliot, the Operations and Accounting Manager for The Massage Center describes that the interns gained great on-the-job experience.
“So far we have only had two sets of interns come out to the college, and both felt a sense of pride in that their clients at the health center were so grateful that we were there,” said Elliot.
Although the service is currently offered only once a month, based on the overwhelming response from students, it might expand next semester, and possibly will be offered twice a month.
Caitlin O’Brien, a 19-year-old anthropology major at Moorpark College didn’t know that the service existed, but said that she will be sure to sign up before it is too late.
“Who doesn’t want a free massage?” said O’Brien. “This is great because students have little money and are always stressed out. I could definitely use this around finals.”
Students that want to schedule an appointment can either visit the Student Health Services Office in the Administration Building, or call them at (805) 378-1413.
