McKinnon Institute Joins the Green Health Care Program

Teleosis congratulates the McKinnon Institute for Greening their Workplace—a core component of the Green Health Care Program. Founded in 1973, the McKinnon Institute offers certification in massage and other bodywork through programs that blend technical expertise and compassion to acknowledge the whole person: mind, body, spirit.

Selena Lee, the Director of the McKinnon Institute, explains that “a holistic approach includes the environment, the people, their happiness, and so much more”. She says: “I believe a green environment is the foundation to a healing center. When something is not green, it often means that it is the opposite of promoting health”. These values sparked her interest in the Green Health Care movement, which for the McKinnon Institute, meant “bringing in all aspects of the practice in line with the primary values of decreasing our footprint and increasing sustainability.”

The Green Health Care Program provides health care professionals a practical and manageable roadmap to improve health and the environment. Greening the Workplace emphasizes conservation of water and energy, as well as the reduction of solid waste and pollution. McKinnon Institute has a model Green Workplace, which utilizes natural and energy-efficient lighting, ceiling fans instead of air-conditioning, low-VOC paints, wool-blend low VOC carpeting, and washable linens—all while supporting local businesses and in-house craftspeople!

“Here at the massage school”, Lee explains, “people are able to witness the shift energetically and aesthetically”. Students, teachers and clients alike have expressed appreciation for the healing and calming atmosphere of the renovated building.

McKinnon is committed to improving the health of people through education, training, and practice. Lee concludes that health and the environment are interrelated, and cannot be disconnected: “In terms of health care, I don’t see how the two can be separate.”

McKinnon Institute joins Teleosis in the movement for Green Health Care as a normal practice for all health care professionals. At Teleosis, we focus on educating, training, and providing resources to health care professionals to ensure health care is good for people and the environment!

For more information about The Green Health Care Program, please contact bonita@teleosis.org or 510.558.7285.

McKinnon Institute
2940 Webster Street
Oakland, Ca 94609
http://www.mckinnonmassage.com