My approach to massage therapy
Welcome everyone,
Today I want to share a little bit more about my approach to massage therapy and who I am as a practitioner.
At the core of my work is energy work. Yes I am on the, woo woo side of the massage world. This shows up in my application of intuition and the questions I sometimes ask through the session. I naturally blend energy work with my massage techniques, providing a soothing and grounding touch. Many have asked if I do Reiki. At this time I have not been officially trained in reiki however it comes naturally to me. I have received some training in shamanism as well. At this time I do not offer an individual session for energy work as I have not decided which path to pursue first.
My approach to massage work is overall simple. There is a place and a reason for all massage therapy modalities. When it comes to massage therapy it can be intense and a little uncomfortable but it is not meant to be painful. What the mind says it can handle and what the body says are often two separate things. Often times the mind says you can go deeper, I can handle it. The body however will tense up triggering the natural defense system. What are the signs a therapist is using too much pressure? You ask. In my experience the signs of too much pressure used is
1. The body tensing up, trying to protect itself from harm.
2. Holding one’s breath. Do you find that when a therapist is working on an area that is tender you are holding your breath?
3. Saying Ow or I wish the therapist would lighten up in your mind.
4. You experience muscle soreness more than 2 days after your massage.
There are times when using breath work in conjunction with a therapist going a little deeper can aid in the release of the muscle or muscle groups.
In my approach I warm up the muscles with a light to medium pressure before using deeper pressure. This introduces my touch to the muscles and shows that I want to help the body with tension and stress release. I work only as deep as the muscles allow me to.
There is a difference on deep pressure and deep tissue. I know several therapist are starting to cover this more.
Deep pressure: the therapist using a pressure that is deep enough to breakup anything and everything in the area they are working. This one will leave you feeling a bit sorer the next day
Deep tissue: The therapist is using enough pressure to target the deeper layers of the muscle tissue or muscle groups this can be done with a slower speed. This one may leave you feeling sore but is more akin to working out.
All forms of massage therapy are therapeutic. The trick is finding the right amount of pressure and techniques that work for you.