CINDY ANDERSON - BELOVED INSTRUCTOR AND FRIEND

There are certain people you encounter who you remember from first time you make eye contact with them. In 1988 I was a instructing a class and sat briefly across from a young woman, looked into her eyes and thought, “There really is someone at home there!” It was Cindy Anderson, who became one of the great teachers at our massage school for over 25 years.

Cindy Anderson passed away. She had a diagnosis that predicted shorter life and she defied all expectations for many years. She was astonishing throughout her life – noted for incredible enthusiasms, big highs, fewer lows, and an infinite capacity for joy. In her last years her courage, good humor, and kindness – were amazing.

It has been a blessing to be her friend.

Thank you, Cindy

~David Lauterstein

Cindy Anderson began studying massage first at the Texas School of Massage Studies, completing at The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School (TLC) through 1989. Her enthusiasm was boundless. She began studying and later assisting Randy Cummins in shiatsu training. She soon became a full-time faculty member at TLC where she taught for over 25 years. She taught everything in the TLC curriculum, plus workshops in chair massage (she was one of the earliest students of Iris Lee, one of the two earliest national trainers in chair massage). Along the way she also became certified in Watsu and Water Dance, studying at Harbin Hot Springs in California. She also did advanced studies in Trager technique, pregnancy massage, Kundalini yoga, Lomi Lomi, ashiatsu, Thai Yoga massage, hot stone, cupping, and Deep Massage. She had the capacity to be wholehearted in everything she studied and in her work with each of her students at TLC and her clients in private practice. She was an irresistible force for good in the world.

The day after she passed I wrote this poem for Cindy.

SOFTNESS

when I put on my early morning clothes:
long cotton pants, open collared cotton short-sleeved shirt,
pullover zippered at the upper chest
with collars to turn up if I need to feel warmer,
that is when my first relationship to softness begins.

walking then slowly to the kitchen
making early morning coffee and early breakfast
having fed the cats,
cats’ fur, softer than feathers
cats’ fly - in dreams of course -
as many as you please
moving softly and slowly with cloud force.

hands stroke the cats’ fur.
who is more consoled, the cat or me?
the magical feeling of - this is not solid
though there is solid living body deep
but that’s not the point of petting
not the point of fur or purr for that matter.

water at the perfect temperature
dissolves solidity.
lying in the water
embracing me as pure as any lover,
my mind is a floating thing.

resting on pillows on the day bed
time passes slowly and softly.

— RIP, Cindy Anderson, June 8, 2021