26/11/2017
When was in the states 2 weeks ago I found this article ad thought I would share it with you......
A Tribute to Aaron Mattes Posted by: Whitney Lowe | April 18, 2011
We often write tributes to influential people once they are no longer with us. While it is valuable to take this time to reflect on their life and accomplishments, there is something lacking. That person never got the opportunity to hear from many of us the ways in which they influenced us and had a profound impact on our lives. With that thought in mind I would like to offer this tribute to one of the greatest soft-tissue therapists that we currently have in our midst and that is Aaron Mattes.
I met Aaron a number of years ago, but I have not had the great fortune to spend time working directly with him in his clinic while he works his therapeutic mastery. I still hope to do that some day. Yet, I have studied his work and have had deep and lengthy discussions with many who have spent valuable time with him. I have worked with dozens of his students in classes I have taught over the years. They all speak of him with a degree of respect, admiration, and awe which I rarely hear about anyone else.
Aaron has consistently demonstrated an absolutely selfless devotion to those he has treated in his clinic and those he has instructed in the unique and innovative methods he has developed. To continue working in the clinic as hard as he does long past when many others would have worn out is inspiring to a great degree.
I think all this work that he has done is made ever more important and valuable because of who he is as a person. Many others would have attempted to capitalize on this recognition for extensive monetary gain or fame. Neither of those have ever appeared to be motivating factors for Aaron. He has selflessly and tirelessly given away so much solely to help relieve the suffering of others and teach other clinicians how to do the same.
We don’t have a lifetime achievement award in our profession, but if we did, Aaron would certainly be one of the most deserving candidates. Having just returned from the ABMP School Issues Forum where we discussed some of the key pioneers that brought us to this place in our profession, I would like to take time out to honor another of those whose work will live on with us for many years. He will unquestionably go down in history as a true bodywork pioneer and selfless giver that we should all honor and admire. I will be one of the first to raise a glass to toast the life and work of this truly inspiring man. Thank you Aaron for all you have done and may we all strive to emulate this model you have shown us!
