Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/812910
76 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k m a y / j u n e 2 0 1 7 that if a patient or client is ill, distressed, or angry, humor should be avoided. The degree to which this advice may seem like common sense to a particular practitioner probably directly correlates to that practitioner's "emotional quotient" or "emotional intelligence." According to Andrew Colman's A Dictionary of Psychology (Oxford University Press, 2009), emotional intelligence is defined as "the ability to recognize one's own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior." 2 Generally speaking, then, a higher emotional intelligence likely corresponds with one's ability to successfully and appropriately employ humor, both in personal and professional interactions. This is certainly not meant to impose judgment on anyone based on their level of emotional intelligence, their proficiency with humor, or their preferred communication style. Some people are more proficient with certain languages than others, and similarly, some people are more fluent in the use of humor than others. This doesn't mean that any one language is superior to another, or that one's worth should ever be determined by one's ability (or inability) to speak a language (or one's ability to employ humor). Practitioners who feel challenged by the use of humor in their work should not feel inadequate, but rather (should they desire to polish their skills), commit to practicing the use of humor to become more proficient. While some may seem to have been born with an inherent sense of humor, the use of humor, like the use of language, is something that can be learned and incrementally mastered if one so desires. Regardless of a practitioner's emotional intelligence or proficiency with the use of humor, an important precursor to the implementation of humor as a therapeutic intervention should involve assessing a client's appreciation of humor. As massage humor in a therapeutic environment. "Humor is a great way to break the ice and make people comfortable in your office space. It is also a great way to find a common ground or to connect." As I look around my own massage space, I see many small, humorous, or whimsical touches that clients have found to be charming and endearing. Whether it's a poster instructing clients to "embrace messy hair," or a set of sculptural hands spelling out the word massage in American Sign Language, my massage room is populated by plenty of delightful touches of levity. I've collected and framed pages from antique massage textbooks that feature charming instructional illustrations, as well as various plaques and prints with messages like, "It doesn't get much better than this—Relax!" The key is for you to find and embrace your own voice and sense of humor regarding whimsical decorative elements. And, of course, one of the secret ingredients of good art, good design, and good humor is the element of surprise. Refreshing and unexpected associations (whether between colors, shapes, textures, or ideas) are hallmarks of creativity, wit, and humor. A few guidelines or best practices for choosing humorous elements for your massage space include the following: • Don't incorporate anything that might be considered crude, vulgar, or gross. Err on the side of caution here. Even though something may be hilariously therapists, we're all quite accustomed to reading clients' emotional states, physical postures, and body language. Similarly, it's important for us to use these same perception skills to assess clients' receptiveness to humor and to ensure that its use will enhance, rather than undermine, our therapeutic encounter. One of the questions that we must consider is, "How can we bring humor into our therapeutic practice?" There are many creative ways to do so, and most of them don't necessarily involve cracking jokes. INFUSING HUMOR One great way to incorporate humor into human interactions is to build it into the environment in which those interactions will take place. Art is one way to infuse a space with humor, whimsy, and lightheartedness, which can put visitors at ease. Whether it's a clinic space we welcome clients into or a classroom inhabited by students, any professional space can be improved by the incorporation of humor. Humor can help your clients relax and make them more receptive to you and your practice. Humor can also break down barriers, help people learn, and help distract them from their pain, problems, or other hardships. And showing clients a little glimpse of your personality in the form of what you find to be humorous can help them develop a fondness and affinity for you and your practice. Tanya Chaney, LMT and owner of Chaney's Natural in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, understands the value of "I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." Dr. Seuss