Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/398416
F r e e m u s i c d o w n l o a d s f o r C e r t i f i e d m e m b e r s : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 93 If clients just need to learn how to not tense up, I usually say, "It takes some practice to learn how to let go. Try this: take a deep breath in, and when you exhale, think about letting your whole body sink into the table and be fl oppy." And maybe I'll shake or rock the area a little to help them loosen up. Some people will automatically help you move a limb, or lift their head as you massage. Once again, we need to determine if a situation even demands a change. Does it matter if the client is helping to lift her leg? No, really: I'm asking. We're taught to take the weight of the limb, or head, etc. But that doesn't mean we have to, every single time. If the client helps you move his leg, but once he's adjusted, the muscles stop contracting, that's just fi ne. Nothing to see here, move along. This is your issue, not the client's, and his helping is not infl uencing the benefi ts of massage either way. If it truly matters and you must address it, try saying, "You can let your whole leg stay fl oppy, and I'll do all the work." Sometimes it does matter. If we're trying to do some passive motion with the shoulder and the client is bracing the whole arm, the benefi ts of the technique are negated. In this situation, there are all sorts of cues to encourage a client to relax the body and let you bear the weight of a limb. My favorite is a gentle shake while saying, "Let your whole arm drop. I've got you." If he can't seem to let it go, do what you can and move on. As massage therapists, it's our job to adapt and adjust to each of our clients and their individual needs. So, what should you do when your client doesn't relax? Explore the client's goals, consider your options, and maybe (or maybe not) try some of the tricks of the trade above. Then, give yourself permission to relax about this topic. Allissa Haines is a massage therapist with a private practice in Massachusetts. She teaches online marketing at Bancroft School of Massage Therapy and continuing education events throughout the United States, and can be found giving marketing resources to massage therapists at www.writingabluestreak.com. changes the tone of the session. Better yet, encourage clients to bring in their own CD or playlist for massage music. PROVIDE GUIDANCE Clients may need some instruction on what to do and what to think about during the massage. If you have any training in breathing or meditation techniques, now is the time to show off your smarts. If you don't have any training and this is important to you, get some. What not to say: "Relax," "Calm down," or "Breathe." Personally, I think telling someone to breathe is all sorts of pretentious and self-righteous. My friend Tracy says, "I don't instruct people to breathe. I'm not against it entirely; I just don't like when I'm told how to breathe. I'm alive. I think I breathe OK." I agree with Tracy. These sentiments can be expressed much better in a full sentence that buffers the direct order. Be creative, gentle, and avoid sounding bossy. RECOGNIZE WHEN RELAXATION IS IMPORTANT (AND WHEN IT'S NOT) With all these tips and tricks, it's easy to get caught up in the notion that you can help every client relax on your table. This is just not so. And, more importantly, overemphasizing the "need" to relax may leave a client frustrated and feeling like a failure. After the mental aspects of relaxation, we must consider how the physical body reacts during a massage. Some people naturally tense their arm (or neck, or toe) when you start to massage that area. It's often tough to know if the client is feeling pain, is ticklish, or if this is just his natural reaction to touch on that particular area of the body. If this is interfering with the effi cacy of the massage, it needs to be addressed. If it's not interfering, leave it alone. When this happens, ask the client what's up. You know his body tensed up. He knows it. Just ask, "Is this too much pressure? Or does it tickle?" Move forward according to his answer. My friend Megan pointed out, "We tend not to think of receiving massage as a skill, but with practice, it does get so much easier to just be heavy on the table." "I don't like when I'm told how to breathe. I'm alive. I think I breathe OK." KEEP CALM AND MASSAGE ON