Workshop

I was quiet and apprehensive during the thirty-minute taxi ride from Huánuco to the town of Ambo, as my eyes followed the Huallaga River and counted the potato pickers in the fields. I was accompanied by one of the psychologists I work with at Paz y Esperanza, a tireless and optimistic woman who invited me to participate in a Saturday morning esteem-building workshop with several women from Ambo.

It wasn’t until late afternoon on Friday that I was asked to develop a presentation on personal hygiene. I normally would have requested more time to prepare, but I liked the idea of being thrown into the project. I felt at ease with the assignment, especially because it allowed me to talk about one my favorite subjects… self care. I decided to expand the subject a bit and include practical exercises to reduce stress and stretch tired muscles, in addition to reviewing basic hygiene such as brushing teeth, washing hair and cleaning hands.

I enjoyed having some creative time as the week came to an end and prepared a poster, titled “Su Salud, Su Futuro”(Your Health, Your Future). I drew large pictures of each body part and jotted down some notes on a “cheat sheet.” It was a good way to build my vocabulary, learning the terminology for jaw, (maxilar), toothbrush (cepillo), and toes, which translate literally to “fingers of the feet” (dedos de pies).

To begin the workshop, my co-worker led a devotional, sharing praise songs that are becoming more and more familiar to me. We developed a nice group dynamic by working together to build various structures with popsicle sticks and glue. I was then invited to begin my discussion on self care.

Su Salud, Su Futuro

I invited the women to discuss the connection between our health and our future. All were in agreement that caring for our bodies today means living longer and more fulfilling lives tomorrow. I shared with the women that my mother is the person who instilled in me the importance of self care and how blessed I feel that she encouraged this philosophy at an early age. The women agreed that they each have a responsibility to share this knowledge with their own children.

After reflecting on the theme, I began with our head and shoulders, suggesting the following:
Wash hair vigorously at the roots, massage temples, roll head twice to the right and twice to the left and rub shoulder muscles. Brush teeth using tiny circles and pay special attention to the gums, where infections begin. Inhale deeply and roll shoulders up and back, to align the spine.

The women seemed to enjoy giving attention to tired muscles and stretching our limbs imaging our bodies as a five-pointed star. We moved on to arms and hands, practicing some more stretches and giving ourselves a much needed hand massage. The women in the workshop use their hands constantly, preparing food, cleaning, washing clothing and caring for their children. As a result, many women experience early onset of arthritis and other joint pains.

Our discussion on digestion and stomach pains was especially interesting. I shared my favorite remedies of chamomile tea, hot towel presses and a helpful leg excercise that places pressure on the abdomen. I then invited the women to share their own remedies. I knew full well that local traditions passed down through generations were far more effective then my little bottle of Tums. I learned that two other herbal teas, mate de coca and anis, also relieve stomach pains. I was humbled by the far reaching knowledge of the women and was grateful that they were so open and engaged in our discussion.

As expected, the women laughed at my toe exercise, which includes interlacing the fingers of one hand in between the toes of one foot, and slowly rotating the ankle. In addition to stretching tight tendons, it was a good reminder that every body part counts, even our pinky toe! It was a nice way to close our “body chat” and left the women giggling.

It was such a joy for me to share with a friendly group of women how to celebrate and care for our bodies. I felt a true sense of calling, where my passion for movement and women’s health met a need in a new community. I was overjoyed to be sharing this subject with women whose daily struggles cause them to be detached from their bodies and power dynamics between men and women have created a painful disconnect between women and their own skin.