Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/26357
that notion every day. “I have cancer patients coming from extreme stress who have broken down in tears of joy after the massage is done. They may remember it for a long time as the day life changed dramatically.” Hopkins has had many of his clients report the life-changing effects they found after an hour on his table: “Because of massage, I’ve come to be at peace with my mastectomy,” “I’m not quite sure where I was, but I didn’t want to come back,” “It’s a vacation from cancer,” “I felt an overwhelming sense of peace,” “The euphoria of the mind during my sessions transcended the quiet horror of cancer.” Now, after seven years working with cancer patients, Hopkins says to heal the body, ideally you want the mind going in the same direction that the body goes; if that’s not working, then it’s time to turn the mind off. He offers this bit of advice for clients who have a hard time getting there: “If the client is not letting go, I encourage them to focus on my hands. My hands become their mantra. I tell them that when their mind grabs something and tries to run with it, focus instead on my hands, where they are, and what they are doing at the moment.” This “between-the-ears” massage, as Hopkins calls it, is simply a traditional Swedish massage sequence of strokes that offers non- intrusive, gentle therapy. “It’s a vehicle to lull the mind to go where I want it to go,” he says, adding that most types of relaxation massage provide a framework within which clients can reach this quiet state. “Unwind the mind and the body unwinds on its own.” EMOTIONAL RELEASE Sometimes, by reaching the stillness of massage mind during your session, you might venture to a place you’ve never been before. If you’ve long ago buried emotional issues or traumatic experiences (whether it’s the physiological impact of a car crash or the psychological turmoil of a parent’s dying days), they might decide to rear up in these quiet moments. It’s OK, and it’s normal. Don’t be afraid to venture along the path and address these challenges head-on. During the process, if you find yourself unexplainably in tears while on the massage table, don’t fret. Tears have been spilled there before and certainly will be spilled there spring 2011 again. Even if you don’t feel like you’re carrying emotional baggage, massage can sometimes unleash buried obstacles and ask you to address them if you’re ready. “It is [the massage therapist’s] job to get the body into a parasympathetic state to allow calm and clarity of mind,” Crozier says. This is where massage mind lives. Once there, the healing begins on so many other levels. “Some clients will experience emotional release—being able to let go of baggage that is cluttering the mind and that they are sometimes not even aware of—and feel ‘many pounds lighter’ after the experience.” Crozier says it’s important to note that an emotional release will never happen without permission from the mind first. As the obstacles/traumas relinquish their hold, the body finds a clearer path toward wholeness and health. IT’S GOOD FOR YOU If you have already found your path to massage mind, then I’m preaching to the choir, but if not, ask your therapist to help you get there next time. Even if you see it as nothing more than giving your mind a one-hour vacation from the chaos of your day, or putting your worries aside for a few moments, accessing this place of therapeutic stillness is good for you. Massage can be a journey in many ways and it can take you along a restorative path, both physically and mentally. That hour, when the sounds of the world surrender to the breath of client and therapist and the music lulls you into a meditative state, see if you can access your massage mind. In finding that place of therapeutic stillness, you too can reclaim your own rhythm, and hit “reset” without needing to find an ocean to do so. B S Karrie Osborn is contributing editor for Body Sense magazine and Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. Contact her at karrie@abmp.com. Body Sense 11 Benefits of Massage for the Mind • Creates peace of mind and sense of well-being. • Improves ability to handle and process stress. • Improves mental clarity and concentration. • Promotes restful sleep. • Reconnects the body and mind. • Reduces anxiety and depression through increased serotonin levels. • Reduces sense of isolation.