Massage & Bodywork

January/February 2012

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EMOTIONAL FREEDOM To handle encounters with emotional vampires, take a breath and center yourself. For more information about Judith Orloff's workshops and Emotional Freedom, visit www.drjudithorloff.com. to center yourself and connect with something higher than self. I don't know what I'd do without meditation." Orloff says she also receives regular bodywork and acupuncture. "I depend on it to clear out toxins from my body, to clear the energy, to relax. Visions and memories come up. Negative emotions that become stuck in the body come up and flush out." Regular movement, stretching, and yoga are important in self-care, as is using the breath to help center and relax you. Another tool is placing the hand over the heart to calm and nurture yourself and reduce stress; spending time near water can also help soothe the body and mind. EMOTIONAL VAMPIRES AND OTHER CHALLENGES In striving for emotional health, it's important to be able to recognize and deal with emotional vampires. "Most of us haven't been educated about people [who drain us] or how to emancipate ourselves from their clutches. Emotional drain is a touchy subject. We don't know how to tactfully address our needs without alienating others. The result: we get tongue-tied and destructively passive. We don't speak out because we don't want to be seen as difficult or uncaring." The worst of the emotional vampires can make people feel they are unworthy and unlovable, Orloff says. "But their antics are unacceptable, so you must develop a successful plan for coping with them." You can recognize someone who falls into this category by realizing the effects they have on your energy and body. You may feel your eyelids getting heavy (like you are ready for a nap) and your mood may take a nosedive. You might also feel put down, or that the rug was pulled out from under you, she says. To handle encounters with emotional vampires, take a breath and center yourself; listen for intuitions signaling danger (such as getting the creeps or a tense feeling); stay calm and matter-of-fact; pause and develop a plan to handle the situation before you react; and communicate clearly, firmly, and with a neutral tone when setting limits. BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER "It's so relevant for massage therapists to learn these skills," Orloff says. From understanding one's sensitivity, to healing one's own emotions and learning to manage them, to clearing and balancing energy, one can be more centered and find more satisfaction in their work when they've achieved the emotional freedom to which Orloff speaks. Clients will benefit from the clearer boundaries, and massage therapists are less likely to burn out. The connection can be mutually nourishing without exhausting the therapist. "Working with the emotions is part of becoming a whole person," Orloff says. If you want to reach attainment, be aware of your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical selves, she says, allowing healing to occur on all these levels. "Integration is the cornerstone to emotional freedom." Lynda McCullough is a freelance writer and yoga teacher who lives in Loveland, Colorado. She has written for magazines and trade associations that support mental and physical well-being. Contact her at mccullo3@msn.com. Celebrate ABMP's 25th anniversary and you may win a refund on your membership. ABMP.com. 93

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