I’ve written before about the stigma of massage. I won’t go into it here for two reasons: one being that you can read about it here, and two, because the stigma surrounding massage therapy is hard to break.
Many massage therapists (myself included) have spent a lot of time and energy over the years trying to educate people about what massage therapy isn’t. It’s often felt to me like I am fighting a battle against something that is maintaining solid ground.…
If you think back on your week, what were your experiences with touch? Maybe you hugged someone you love, gave your son or daughter a high-five or pat on the back for a good grade, maybe you placed your hand on someone’s shoulder while they grieved or dealt with a difficult situation, or shook hands after a work meeting. Maybe you didn’t really touch anyone at all.…
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a luxury as “something that is expensive and not necessary” and “an indulgence in something that provides pleasure, satisfaction, or ease”. The word indulgence is defined as “the act of doing something that you enjoy but that is usually thought of as wrong”.
These definitions carry connotations of guilt, negativity, judgment and stigma. Yet these are two words repeatedly associated with and used to describe massage therapy. How many times have you said or heard someone say these phrases?
“It’s just a luxury.”
“It’s my birthday, so I thought I’d splurge.”
“I got a promotion, so I wanted to treat myself.”
“I need to do A, B, and C. If I get those done, THEN I can…”
I am here to break it to you; receiving a massage is not equal to giving a puppy a treat when he sits.
It is much greater than that. Can it be purely a relaxing experience? Absolutely. Can we book a massage with the intention of rewarding ourselves after achieving a milestone? Of course. However, assigning such words as those listed above set a certain tone and creates a certain stigma devalues the importance of self-care …
4 Myths of Massage Therapy
It may come as a surprise that a large part of my massage practice is purely education. Some of this education revolves around what they’re feeling in their body and how they can counteract those feelings physically or emotionally. But most of it is actually correcting mis-education.
I hear myths repeated without any knowledge behind the claims except for “my massage therapist told me it’s true, so it must be” or “my colleague said it, and it sounded good.” Sometimes, it’s simply no knowledge of the benefits of massage.
Whether it’s correcting misinformation or simply providing a foundation for clients new to massage therapy, I strive to equip my clients with knowledge to help them achieve true wellness by understanding what’s going on in their bodies. I am mindful of the vulnerability present in one’s healing journey, and it is a true privilege to be part of that process. Here are a few points I share frequently:…
I have a confession. For most of my life, I was a habitual sloucher.
My back was rounded, my shoulders were not only practically glued to my ears due to the tension IN my shoulders, but they were so rounded forward that I had limited range of motion in them. The muscles in the front of my body were entirely too contracted and the muscles in the back of my body were holding on for dear life. Structurally, my body was folding in on itself.
On a deeper level, so much more was going on. I lacked confidence, self-esteem and self-love. Subconsciously, I wanted to become smaller and smaller so that no one could see me. If I didn’t want to see myself, surely no one else did either. The more my chest became a concave cavity, the better to guard my heart with. The slouchier my body became, the more I thought I gave the appearance of apathy; I’m calm, I’m cool, I’m collected. Nothing and no one can get to me. If I don’t let anyone in (i.e. guarding my heart), no one can hurt me. Emotionally, I was folding in on myself.
When I began my …
