Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1496639
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 21 Working in our current culture with all this in mind, we are at an advantage. We understand the wisdom of ancient philosophies that teach us about the power of push and pull. Plus, we have the knowledge that current science has given us about internal processes and how they work. When you are seeking to find the right technique for your client, don both your modern, scientific hat and your age- old, philosophical hat. Begin pushing and pulling, engaging and relaxing, frictioning and compressing. Approach the tissues from agonist to antagonist and pay attention to their relationships with each other. And remember that your client has the choice to lean into the work. In our ceaseless efforts to achieve homeostasis, it seems the answer hangs somewhere in the balance of then and now. Allison Denney is a certifi ed massage therapist and certifi ed YouTuber. You can fi nd her massage tutorials at YouTube. com/RebelMassage. She is also passionate about creating products that are kind, simple, and productive for therapists to use in their practices. Her products, along with access to her blog and CE opportunities, can be found at rebelmassage.com. information. More specifically, the posterior part of the insula offers the gift of interoception. This feature allows you to understand your somatic experience. In other words, interoception is how you know when you're hungry or full or tired or just feeling good. Even cooler is the knowledge that there are specialized neurons within the insula that can help you make the decision to lean into pain or discomfort if you know it will be productive. PUSH AND PULL At this point in the article, I might present you with a problem I have a solution for, or some new perspective I think is important to understand. Instead, I want to highlight how cool it is that we, in this modern era, are still decoding what we, as a collective species, have known for thousands of years. Within all the jargon I just listed, there is knowledge you already have. You may have gotten foggy about it through the years, but you know your body better than anyone. For example, take tui na. This ancient form of bodywork rooted in Taoist principles translates into "push/pull" or "push/lift." A practitioner will sometimes pull or lift a muscle or joint, and then sometimes push. Or they will shake a limb, and then squeeze. Or they will twist in one direction, and then the other. The application of opposing techniques within a short time frame brings the recipient into a deeper awareness of self and a greater perception of balance. The ability to lean into sensations of discomfort for personal gain is also not new. The experience of good pain during a stretch or deeper therapeutic work is a well-known phenomenon. All this wisdom was achieved and passed down before we even knew that neurons were a thing. VIDEO: "THE LATS AND THEIR LITTLE HELPER: A BODYWORK TUTORIAL" 1. Open your camera 2. Scan the code 3. Tap on notification 4. Watch!