The Municipal Employee Wellness Program (H.I.P.P.) offered employees at Government Center the opportunity to sample massage provided by students from the Bristol Community College's Complimentary Healthcare and Therapeutic Massage Department on June 10, 2009. Researchers have found that massage is helpful in decreasing blood pressure in people with hypertension, alleviating pain in migraine sufferers and improving alertness and performance in office workers. An increasing number of research studies show massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases endorphins. It also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury. The ten-minute sessions were provided to employees during their lunch hour or breaks for a $5 donation. Massage is also provided at the school by appointment at the Salter School on Hartwell Street near Government Center. For more information about the Municipal Employee Wellness Program and sign-ups at any time, contact Julianne Kelly at 508-324-2405.

(Top row, left) A woman stops by the information desk to talk with Municipal Wellness Program coordinator Julianne Kelly in the atrium of Government Center. (Top row, center) Fall River Wellness Program coordinator Mike Ramos looks over the benefits of massage. (Top row, right) Eugenia Rodrigues describes the stress relief from her ten-minute sample massage. (Middle row) First-year student Tiffany Brogan provides a chair massage for Mr. Ramos. (Bottom row, left and center) Student Andrea Viveiros provides a massage to Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey and Healthy City coordinator David Weed. (Bottom row, right) Department of Public Works employee Al Oliveira steps up to the massage chair during his break for a sample massage by Bristol Community College Complimentary Healthcare and Therapeutic Massage Department Chair Sharon Tilton.