Massage therapists are traditionally quick to help people in need. The tragic events in Haiti, following a 7.0 earthquake, are no exception.

Professionals in the massage and spa industries are creating events to raise funds for disaster relief. Among the efforts underway:

• Massage for Haiti will be held Friday, Feb. 12, from noon to 8 p.m., in the ballroom of the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York City. One hundred percent of proceeds from donations for massage will go to Haiti disaster relief. Area massage therapists are needed for this event. Oasis Day Spas of NYC: contact@oasisdayspanyc.com, bruce@oasisdayspanyc.com or (212) 254-7722, ext. 238.

• The Lotus Palm School of Thai Yoga Massage and Spa (www.lotuspalm.com), in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, will provide massage in exchange for donations to benefit Haiti, this Sun., Jan. 24, according to the Edmonton Journal.

• The owners of Pro-Active Massage Therapy and McRub, Inc., Bob McAtee and Trina MacHardy, also operate New Vue Productions (www.newvue.org), a nonprofit organization that is now focusing on delivering fresh water to Haiti, according to a press release.

• Botanica Wellness Sanctuary, in Denver, Colorado, donated money received for 30-minute massages on Sun., Jan. 17, to the American Red

Cross, according to a press release.

• Healing Horizons Integrative Health Solutions (www.hhacumed.com), in Grand Junction, Colorado, will provide massage, Acutonics and facials in exchange for donations to benefit Doctors Without Borders working in Haiti, on Sat., Jan. 23, according to the Grand Junction Free Press.

• The Privai Academy (www.privaiacademy.com), in Asheville, North Carolina, will donate all proceeds from $1-per-minute massage on Sun., Jan. 31 from noon to 4 p.m., as well as raffle-ticket sales, to a charity that will send supplies to Haiti, according to a press release.

• A chair-massage-a-thon (rich.haslam@gmail.com; 954-234-5144) will take place in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade Counties, Florida, according to a posting on the website of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP). "We need LMTs to help give chair massages, and contact their clients, family, and friends come receive massages for the cause," the posting notes.

• The ABMP is allowing nonmembers to post their Haiti-related outreach events to its website at www.abmp.com/news/massage-therapists-organize-to-help-haiti

• The Doyle Group, parent company of MASSAGE Magazine and Chiropractic Economics Magazine, donated funds to support a plan carrying first-aid items to Haiti.

---

---