Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1492048
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 29 Encourage your clients to ask for what they want during your work. This could be by using prompts such as "Help me get this just right," or even more open-ended questions like "How could this be even better?" Then, follow up so you can keep refining your pressure, direction, speed, or duration. You'll feel your client relax, breathe, groan, or sigh when you find the right combination of these variables. There could be any number of reasons why we, as practitioners, don't check in with our clients about what they want, or about how the work could be even better. We might have our own agenda for the session, or want to stay in control of the work, or we might assume that if we open the asking door, clients will ask for too much. But as practitioners, we're also always in charge of what we want and don't want. Don't fear the overly controlling client: There are simple and clear ways to redirect or renegotiate, if your client's requests aren't things you can or want to provide. And if we don't ask, we miss the chance to collaborate and may never know what could have been better. Incorporate Movement Inviting our clients to move makes our work more effective, and it helps you take better care of your body, since when your client isn't moving, you're working at least twice as hard. Breathing is the simplest kind of active movement: Asking your client to take a breath, or to breathe along with what you're doing, can help their nervous system downshift and can help both of you attune to the shared state and collaborative rhythm. There are many other ways to use active movement, such as asking your client to feel what happens when they slowly lift and lower their head as you're cradling it. Or, find gentle, comfortable microscopic movements of their arm while you hold the tissue layers around a bothersome shoulder joint. BETTER PRACTITIONERS, BETTER CLIENTS Of course, every client and every session are different, and, as long as it's OK with both of you, it's fine to work in any way you'd like. But helping your clients be more skilled and engaged as receivers will not only help you as a practitioner (since you'll be enjoying your clients more, not working as hard, and skipping the guesswork), but it will also help your clients get the work they want, in the way they want, and get even more out of it. Til Luchau is the author of Advanced Myofascial Techniques (Handspring Publishing), a Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer, and a member of the Advanced-Trainings.com faculty, which offers online learning and in-person seminars throughout the US and abroad. He and Whitney Lowe cohost the ABMP-sponsored Thinking Practitioner podcast. He invites questions or comments via info@advanced- trainings.com and Advanced-Trainings' Facebook page. VIDEO: "HELPING OUR CLIENTS BE SKILLFUL RECEIVERS" 1. Open your camera 2. Scan the code 3. Tap on notification 4. Watch! Directing clients' attention to sensation not only gives you relevant information you can use in your work, but also helps the client notice the changes happening as the session progresses.