Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/465652
SAVVY SELF-CARE best practices As massage therapists and bodyworkers, we are used to playing a support role in people's lives. Our clients walk into our treatment rooms injured, stressed, and tired, and through the support we provide them, they leave feeling rejuvenated, relaxed, and on the mend. But what about us? As healing professionals, where do we find the support we need to offer our clients the best care possible without compromising our own health? How do we stay strong and vibrant? No one can be expected to be an endless font of support for others without also Finding Support By Jennie Hastings Stancu 28 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k m a r c h / a p r i l 2 0 1 5 receiving plenty of care and attention themselves. For the sake of our long and healthy careers, let's take a look at where we can find support. SUPPORT STARTS AT HOME Receiving support begins with a decision. It requires us to acknowledge that no matter who we are, life, and our work, is an ever-balancing cycle of giving and receiving. Regardless of how effective we already are, we will always be made more sustainable, and more effective, by being able to receive support ourselves. As we begin to name our foundational supports, it is impossible to overemphasize the importance of the care we give ourselves. A nurse I spoke to recently gave me the idea of giving oneself the first 10 percent of the day. For someone who is awake 16 hours a day, that would be about an hour and a half. If we all took the first 90 minutes of the day to do the things that truly nourish us, we would be setting ourselves up to be fully present and coming from a place of abundance for the rest of the day. During your morning routine, you can do any combination of things that prepare you for the day and inspire you. I like to do things like meditate, write in my journal, drink the perfect cup of coffee, look at the sunrise, and cook brown rice. Maybe you would like to head right to the gym or take your dog out for a walk. Reading inspirational literature, writing or speaking affirmations, or doing some stretches or self-massage might be a part of the support you start your day with. It really doesn't matter what you do, as long as what you do supports you. SUPPORT WHILE YOU WORK While at work, there are many ways to weave support into your day. Some of my ideas may be such a basic instinct for you that you've never thought of them as support before, but I'll