"Massage Goes Mainstream" -- Sister Rosalind Featured in Time Magazine Article
 Sister Rosalind Gefre with Marilyn Carlson Nelson at Women In Business Awards Luncheon
Sister Rosalind
Baseball Card
Sister Rosalind has been a regular fixture at all the St. Paul Saints baseball games since 1993, offering on-site therapeutic massage in a special massage chair.
Photo of Sister Rosalind with Mike Veeck, owner of the St. Paul Saints baseball team with actor Bill Murray. Sister Rosalind has been a regular attraction at the Saints games for over a decade, providing massages to fans. Mike and Sister Rosalind were together at a book signing for his new book "Fun is Good."
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NEWS
November 6, 2006 --
Sister Rosalind Featured on The Retirement Living Television Network
Massage pioneer Sister Rosalind Gefre is being featured on the new Retirement Living Television network program The Art of Living, formerly known as Amazing Seniors. "Sister Rosalind Gefre is using her hands to do the work of God for a team of Saints." The program will initially be broadcast on Monday, November 6 at 12 noon on DIRECT TV on channel 238. Retirement Living TV is also available on Comcast in 1,500 communities on the East Coast. Check out the network at www.rl.tv.
September 11, 2006 --
Sister Rosalind to be inducted into the Massage Hall of Fame
Massage pioneer Sister Rosalind Gefre will be among some of the biggest names in the history of bodywork to be inducted in the Hall of Fame at the World Massage Festival in Pensacola, Florida on November 4, 2006. Other inductees include Bonnie Pruden, Milton Trager, Aunty Margaret Muchado, Frederick Alexander and Ida Rolf.
July 7, 2006 --
Saints to honor Sister Rosalind with bobblehead (KARE 11 News)
July 7, 2006 --
Saints give her a day, a doll -- The St. Paul team salutes the masseuse of Midway with Sister Rosalind bobblehands statuettes.
July 7, 2006 --
Sister Bobblehands honored by St. Paul Saints
by Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio
July 7, 2006 --
Back-rubbing nun to be honored with figurine at Saints game (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
July 21, 2005 --
Massage Pioneer Sister Rosalind Gefre Honored by
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as Top Woman in Business
SeniorJournal.com, August 25, 2004 -- 74-Year-Young Nun's Heavenly Touch Builds Multimillion-Dollar Massage Empire
PR Newswire August 24, 2004 -- Minnesota Nun's Heavenly Touch Builds Multimillion-Dollar Massage Empire
Fargo Forum Article August 13, 2004 -- Ministry of Massage
Sister Rosalind Gefre might reach 5 feet standing on her tiptoes, but she seemed a little taller Thursday night on the mound at Newman Outdoor Field, throwing an opening pitch for the RedHawks series against the St. Paul Saints.......
Pioneer Press Article August 8, 2004 -- Rubs the right way
The growth of Sister Rosalind's massage schools and services mirrors a soothing trend. There's nothing like a good back rub. Just ask Sister Rosalind Gefre. In 1983, the Pioneer Press reported that the St. Paul vice squad had shut down her Grand Avenue massage center. Other newspapers and broadcast outlets splashed the news across the country. She and her center became associated with houses of ill repute.
Time Magazine July 29, 2002 Massage Goes Mainstream --
Sister Rosalind is recognized for her pioneering work in massage in this article that describes the tremendous growth of massage therapy in America.
"In fact one of the earliest proponents of massage in Minnesota was a Catholic nun, Sister Rosalind Gefre. In 1984, when she first opened her business, she was busted by the police. Since then she has led the way in changing the local legislation covering massage and has opened three clinics and five schools. "Not only is there physical healing in massage, but there is also a spiritual healing," says Sister Roz, as she is known throughout the Twin Cities. 'People are skin hungry and God hungry. Before Jesus helped people, he touched them, and that is the work we do.'"
Massage & Bodywork Magazine featured Sister Rosalind in their feature story of the February/March 2002 issue titled: "Mind, Body, Spirit - The Spiritual Consciousness of Massage and Bodywork."
Excerpt from "Mind, Body, Spirit" article:
To some, however, massage and spirituality are so intricately fused, the idea of
separating the two is impossible. From this vantage point, leaving out a piece conflicts
with one's innate being. Consider Sister Rosalind Gefre who operates two clinics of
massage and is the founder of three schools in Minnesota, and another in North
Dakota. What makes her schools unique is their foundation in Christian principles. In
fact, courses in spirituality are a required part of the curriculum. Students are even
asked to define and evaluate their own spiritual beliefs and decide how they relate to
the massage therapist/client relationship.
According to Bill Dunn, director of academics at Sister Rosalind's School of Massage,
"Many of our students tell us they come to Sister Rosalind's versus another school
because there is a spiritual component to it. This makes them feel safe and
comfortable." The rise in attendance at the school surely is a testament to students
wanting the incorporation of spirituality in their massage education. "Even though there
are eight new schools in the Minneapolis area, our enrollment is at its highest in four
years."
When growing up, Dunn said there were two
things his parents informed him not to talk
about - politics and religion - because they
are so close to people's hearts. Dunn said
that at Sister Gefre's they work around any
potential problems by encouraging the
respect of others' beliefs and encouraging
students to discover and explore their own
belief systems. "If they can become open to
recognizing their own spirituality, they'll be
in a better position to help facilitate others'
healing processes. To manipulate the soft
tissue with your hands is a wonderful gift,
but you can really make that gift come alive
if you have a strong connection with a
Higher Power, with God."
Dunn does not negate there are some students turned off by the school. Though he
admits it's not for everyone, he insists the school doesn't pressure students to be who
they are not. "We encourage prayer because that's who we are, but it's not forced. We
don't promote that you have to be Catholic by any means. We don't promote you have
to be Christian. We don't even ask what your religion is."
School founder Sister Gefre said during her career as a bodyworker she has noticed
people are not only skin hungry but prayer hungry. She is often asked during sessions
to pray with her clients. "I don't believe in pushing my religious convictions, but I do
know the world is hungry for God and the need for solid spirituality," she said. Gefre
sees no conflict between her work and her faith. "When I pray with people, I realize
something more happens than just doing massage."
Research shows Gefre's intuition may very well be true.
According to Dr. Larry Dossey, one of the nation's most vocal
proponents of spirituality in wellness, prayer has proven
favorable in helping those with AIDS, fertility difficulties and
heart problems. In fact, a majority of the nation's medical
institutions have even taken to addressing the benefits of
spirituality and health."
TWIN CITIES WELLNESS NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
August/September, 2001 Article on Sister Rosalind Schools of Massage
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The Schools of Massage are based on Christian principles and seek to work in harmony with God's plan for spiritual,
psychological and physiological well being.
Our mission is to promote the healing of the body, mind and spirit through
touch, following Jesus' example. We are committed to providing the best training for students to become competent,
highly trained massage therapists.
Sister Rosalind is shown here with famous actor/comedian Bill Murray. Sister has received extensive local and national media coverage including a television appearance on the Joan Rivers show.
Hands That Touch,
Hands That Heal
The True Story of Sister Rosalind Gefre and Her Pioneering Work in Healing Touch
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