Let’s Get a Massage!
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Ann’s treatment room at Ocamora Retreat Center where she offers somatic massage every summer.
In January, California officially recognized certified massage therapists as “health care providers”. The unanimous vote by the entire state legislature to extend professional status to massage professionals was an overdue acknowledgement that hands-on therapy is, indeed, a healing art. This has been a longtime coming, hopefully leading to insurance coverage in the near future.
Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing known to humankind. Throughout the centuries, it has been an essential part of health care in every culture. Way back in 3000 BCE India, massage was an Ayurvedic medicinal practice used to restore balance, heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent/ cure illness. Ancient Egyptians are credited with developing reflexology (foot massage) for healing specific ailments. When Buddhist monks brought massage to Japan in 1000 BCE, they were instrumental in developing a variation called Shiatsu. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates (460-377 BCE), was one of the first to advocate for massage as a legitimate, scientific medical practice to treat joint pain, injuries, and athletic fatigue. He famously advised that physicians should be experienced in many things, “but assuredly in rubbing”.
Fast forward to the 20th century. Since the 1970s, massage and bodywork have been part of an accelerated pursuit of whole person wellbeing. This is when basic Swedish massage evolved to include the deeper transformative bodywork of Ida Rolf, Judith Aston, Joseph Heller, and Bill Williams. This is when Jon Kabat-Zinn began teaching mindfulness-based stress relaxation and Peter Levine developed body-oriented techniques for healing trauma. This is when Fritz Perls influenced the rise of Gestalt and somatic practice. And when the evidence-based results came in from all this exploration, it legitimized the practice of mind-body medicine. Experientially, this all makes sense.
As anyone who’s received a routine massage at a health spa or a chair massage in the airport can attest: massage decreases tension and increases relaxation. It can also quiet the mind, affording a respite from endless chatter and churning worry. Going further and signing on for regular bodywork with a specialist trained to address individual needs offers even more physical and mental health benefits. These include
Healing injuries and long-term pain relief.
Reduced muscle tension, better postural alignment, and enhanced flexibility.
Improved circulation and better sleep.
Decreased stress and better focus.
But, the bottom line is: no matter what level of hands-on care you receive, it just feels good – physically and emotionally.
Being cared for. In these stressful, distracting and disturbing times, an hour or two dedicated solely to being cared for makes a lot of sense. Once you’re lying on the massage table, all you need to do is let go and let yourself receive. This can be tricky if receiving is difficult or your mind is full of non-stop verbiage. Here are a few tips for being there, mind and body, to soak up all the wonderful benefits of hands-on healing:
Let your practitioner know what you need/ want and feel free to give feedback to get it just right.
This is about your body. So, tune in. Either focus on your body breathing–in and out, in and out. Or center your awareness on where you’re being touched–“This is my neck, this is my foot” and so forth.
Don’t despair if your mind slips in and carries you off to planning, worrying, or ruminating. Once you notice, just come back to your breath and the sensation of touch.
Feel your tension soften. Let your weight sink in to the table. Open fully to receive not just the physical caring but the intention of healing it carries.
Savor each moment. This is a gift you’re giving to yourself. And be sure to leave time afterwards to linger a bit before jumping back into the fray.
Why not schedule healing time for yourself soon? To find a good practitioner, ask a friend for a recommendation. “Who’s doing great massage/bodywork in Santa Barbara?” You can also find a whole array of offerings and practitioners through the directory of our local massage school by googling “affiliates- Santa Barbara Therapy Institute” http://www.sbbti.com/find-local-therapists.html . Or, sign up for a treatment at La Reve Spa downtown https://le-reve.com or a whole day of rejuvenation at the San Ysidro Ranch https://www.sanysidroranch.com/spa-and-salon . Take it from me: one of the best things you can do for overall health and wellbeing is to find a good massage or bodywork therapist and book once a month.
Originally published in the Montecito Journal