For a day, Kauno kolegija (KK) became a massage oasis and invited everybody to relax. An international Student Massage Championship 2016 was held here. The event was especially enjoyed by the massage models, the managers, staff and actors of Kaunas National Drama Theatre under the leadership of the Head of the Theatre Egidijus Stancikas. It was Ridas Žirgulis, Artūras Sužiedėlis, Saulius Čiučelis, Ugnė Žirgulė, Agnieška Ravdo as well as other actors and staff members who ventured to sit back on massage loungers.
Meanwhile, 30 participants of the championship had to concentrate and reveal their mastery in front of the competent Board, which evaluated them according to 10 criteria, the main being the techniques, ergonomics and hygiene.
The participants of the championship demonstrated their skills in free and show programmes. In addition to the classical massage, they demonstrated Spanish, Hawaiian, Japanese, vibro-acoustic, Červík-cranial, mio-plastic and Chiro-masssage techniques. Besides, shiatsu therapy, hemo-lymphatic drainage as well as various body-toning therapies were applied.
The late afternoon finally saw the long-awaited moment of the championship strike. Laurita Dvoreckytė from Panevėžio kolegija was pronounced the winner. The second was Romas Žilys from Klaipėda University. The third was Martynas Rugienius from Kauno kolegija.
Students’ performance was assessed by:
Elena Bartnikienė, the chairperson of the Board, the owner of the network Sauleja providing spa services;
Marius Jurgelaitis, a graduate of Kauno kolegija, physical therapist; the winner of the Championship of Lithuanian SPA Professional Masseurs 2015, and the World Massage Cup;
Svetlana Stalidzane, an associate professor of the Department of Rehabilitation of Daugavpils University, Latvia;
Diana Rėklaitienė, an associate professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Rehabilitation of Lithuanian Sports University.
