Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/57427
" 6 Body Sense While there is a degree of physical pleasure with massage, the euphoria that follows for weeks makes a person more diligent and aware of his surroundings. walls. The linens on the massage table were stretched tight, beckoning me to lie down. Faint music played. I had entered unchartered territory, and I liked it. LETTING GO Kathleen explained that when she left the room, I should undress, hang my clothes on a hook, and get under the covers on the massage table facedown. She left and closed the door behind her, leaving me in privacy. I placed my shoes side by side on a small rack, then my socks, shirt, and pants. It was then, as I stood in solitude wearing only my underwear, a plethora of thoughts entered my mind. I had no idea how to receive a massage. I know she wanted me to take off my clothes, but did she mean all of my clothes? There is just something frightening about the idea of lying naked, facedown on a table with somebody in the next room preparing to put their hands on you. In my case, it was slightly easier because I knew her, but it was still an issue of vulnerability. I am not sure why it was such a bruise to my ego, but I have since discussed this with her. She was confused: to a massage therapist, the body is a sacred thing no matter what it looks like, and a professional massage therapist does not distinguish one body type from another. She also reassured me that she is thorough, but would expose as little of the naked body as possible. Looking back on my first massage with her, I found her to be true to her word. Mustering as much of my pride as I could, I took off my underwear and lay facedown on the table. The massage table was an experience in itself. The sheets were as comfortable as they looked. Gently, I nestled my head in the face cradle and assessed my surroundings. My vision was limited to the carpet. I could only hear the soothing music. The scent of incense pleasantly released my sinuses. But it was the position my body was in that was really surprising: I can only describe it as perfect. The face cradle kept my back in a natural position. My spine itself was straight, but the ergonomics of the table allowed the necessary curvatures to settle into their correct positions. My arms lay naturally by my sides, palms up. When Kathleen returned, she slipped a firm pillow underneath my shins and placed a heating pad on my lower back, then left the room again. Even breathing was comfortable in this resting position. The heat on my back was the icing on the cake. She had brought me to heaven and hadn't laid a hand on me yet. After a few minutes of solitary bliss, I heard her reenter the room. During this time, I realized that massage therapy involved more than just rubbing down a body. Simply relaxing in this seclusion is as therapeutic as a day at the beach (without kids). All of the insecurity issues I had faced about being nude dissipated. Faintly, I heard her rub her hands together to warm the oil she had put on them. "This is going to be good," I thought. At first, however, I found the pressure she was using to be uncomfortable. Her starting point was the middle of my back. She had put a knuckle, or perhaps an elbow, deep into the muscle. There were muscles in that region of my back that I didn't know existed, and she found every one of them. Occasionally her well-oiled hand would run over a muscle, but the majority of the time she kept her movements precise. The actual surface area she was massaging at any given time was rarely larger than a quarter. A whole new set of insecurities set in. My male ego wouldn't allow me to wince or yelp in pain, so I clenched my The Benefits of Massage and Bodywork Massage and bodywork can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture, and reduce blood pressure. Massage and bodywork are also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety, and create an overall sense of well-being.