Massage is a journey That's what I tell my clients.
For the one-timers just passing through town or making use of a birthday gift certificate,
the journey will be short. They will enjoy their visit and probably sleep like a baby for a night.
Their "feel good" will be fleeting. For the massage junkies who prefer to jump from therapist to therapist or accept
whoever is on duty at the Massage Envy downtown, they too are on a journey.
They have a better understanding of how their bodies react to touch. They have a good sense of
their own boundaries. They know what they like, and they sleep well often. In a sense,
they take many small journeys that contribute to overall physical health and wellbeing.
Then there are the lucky ones, the clients who find a therapist they can grow with.
This is the journey I speak of. My experience has been that somewhere around the 3rd or 4th
session with the same therapist, clients notice there is more to massage than "feeling good".
There are psychological and emotional benefits. There is personal growth. As time together increases,
trust is built. Conversations are deeper. Muscles that are subconsciously
guarding against history relax. Some clients will feel a release in tension.
Others may feel a release of emotion. It doesn't always require touch. It simply requires a safe space
to let go. It requires a client and therapist fostering a relationship of trust. It takes time.
Mind, Body and Soul. I used to mock that phrase when I first entered massage school.
I was very left brained. The science/math nerd in me wanted to know the names of all the muscles.
I wanted to know all the best methods for grinding out knots. I was heavy into the "Body" and not so
much the "Mind and Soul". School taught me everything I thought I needed to be successful.
Then I got my license and opened
Me Time Wellness Center. Since then, I've forgotten the names
of many muscles and I no longer search for knots. I've replaced trivia and technique with
two things they didn't teach me in school,
listening and nurturing.
The human body is amazing. It will heal itself if you set the right stage.
Sometimes grinding on a knot only makes things worse. I prefer to take a more passive approach and
give my clients what they really need. A safe space to heal. And room to grow.
Massage is a journey