Massage & Bodywork

MAY | JUNE 2019

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Overscheduling. Unhealthy relationships. There are many life experiences that can cause a perpetual, imbalanced reaction. Massage therapists and bodyworkers come into direct contact with the results. WHAT MIGHT WE SEE, HEAR, AND FEEL? By the time a client is in our treatment room, they are no longer in the heat of a real or perceived threatening situation. Yet, with chronic stress, the effects can remain and stress responses continue. When you think about the reactions that occur, we might see the following in our clients and feel the following under our hands: • Quick pulse • Tensed muscles • Dilated pupils • Rapid, shallow breathing and/ or quickened speech • Reports of chronic digestive issues or weak immune system (such as chronic cold and fl u) • Excessive sweating, even when inactive When you see, feel, and hear these signs, you know the stress response is in an ongoing, repetitive loop and not appropriately turning off. HOW TO SUPPORT THE PROCESS Hold and Listen One of the most useful, connecting, and sacred skills I learned was to cradle my client's head/neck or ankles at the beginning of the session and simply listen. While this approach is commonly taught as an effective way to ground oneself and put the client at ease with your presence and touch, it is also an opportunity for deep intent and listening. Listening in this context means to feel for things like a quick pulse and subtle trembling, and to see things like shallow breathing, clenched jaw, or fi dgeting. It is also a great time to close your eyes and acknowledge the repetitive stress cycle that may be occurring. It seems so simple, but it's very powerful. Acknowledge Within the word acknowledge is the word knowledge. When we acknowledge the stress response, it means we arrive at the body with knowledge of how stress response mechanisms function, and we envision them occurring. It's quite amazing how the body will respond to your intent without a word being spoken. The body just "knows" that you see it, and it feels soothed and safe. Breathe Before introducing movement to your touch, it's very helpful to take a few deep breaths. Even if you don't instruct your client to join you in those breaths, their autonomic nervous system will begin to entrain to you. You can, of course, also coach the client to breathe with you. Coax As you encounter tense muscles, instead of trying to force them to surrender with deep-tissue approaches, coax them. Sink to the point of resistance and wait. Give the tissue time to trust you and allow you in. Imagine if someone you didn't know well was knocking on your door, and when you didn't open it, they knocked harder. You would probably not trust the intent of their visit. Tense tissue can be thought of in the same way. I'm not suggesting that deep- tissue approaches should never be used on people who are in a heightening, imbalanced, or ineffi cient stress response loop. However, it's essential not to force muscles that feel the need to be guarding and protecting. There's a reason for it. Become educated on how proprioceptors operate to add benefi t to this approach. Utilize a Broad Approach Finally, when and if the tissues let you sink in, use broad pressure rather than pointed pressure. Pointed pressure can be another trigger to the autonomic nervous system and send it back into a stress response. In this case, think of a situation when someone was simply talking to you versus a time when someone was talking to you while pointing a fi nger in your face. I bet you felt a different level of comfort (or discomfort) in each situation. Remember, a threat is a threat, whether it is real or perceived, especially to a system already on high alert. KEEPING THE CALM Ideally, equip the client with knowledge of what is occurring in their own body so they can understand, envision, and honor it too. Studies have shown that envisioning a process in healthful functioning will cause the system to regulate. Do this after the session using simple terms and visuals. Clients don't need to know all the technical terms; they just need to have a basis of understanding. If you have a willing client who is open, the effects of your work will be cumulative and long-term. Note 1. MedicineNet.com, "Medical Defi nition of Stress," accessed February 2019, www.medicinenet. com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20104. Since 2000, Cindy Williams, LMT, has been actively involved in the massage profession as a practitioner, school administrator, instructor, curriculum developer, and mentor. She maintains a private practice as a massage and yoga instructor. Contact her at cynthialynn@massagetherapy.com. Ta k e 5 a n d t r y A B M P F i v e - M i n u t e M u s c l e s a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / f i v e - m i n u t e - m u s c l e s . 33 Watch "Bring Your Clients to a Peaceful Place"

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