Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/121374
savv y self-care After a long day caring for others, you may want to use high-energy, rhythmic music to get moving and dancing. After the Session Toning or humming can also help you release some energy, especially if you have let yourself take on some of the stress of the person you are working on. This involves audible sound and is best done alone—in nature or while driving. Take a deep breath in; as you exhale, allow yourself to make a sound that goes with the out breath. It can be a vowel sound such as "ahhh" or "ohhh," almost like a long sigh. By attaching a sound to your exhalation, you slow down the out breath, ideally to at least twice as long as your inhale. Visualize that you are releasing any stored negative energy you may have picked up. If you choose to use humming, you will notice that the vibrations have their own positive effects. Practice quietly humming, even in public, to calm your inner self. After a long day caring for others, you may want to use high-energy, rhythmic music to get moving and dancing. Aerobic exercise can help you let go of pent-up energy, and listening to music during the process can make that part of the release more effective and enjoyable. Of the many tools that help us deal with stress, music and sound can be complements to all of them. Dudley Evenson is a writer, harpist, and creator of guided affirmations. She and her husband, Dean Evenson, teach online courses and have produced more than 70 albums of awardwinning healing and world music through their label Soundings of the Planet. For more information, visit www.soundings.com. What's your favorite music to play during a bodywork session? From ABMP's Facebook page Indian flute and tai chi music seem to be very popular with my clients, and soothing. They seem to help balance the energy in the muscles as well. —Dragonfly Therapies I like nature sounds, especially the ocean or rivers. —New Life Massage and Bodyworks Reggae sets a vacation feeling, I think. —Marissa Bauer I love the Native American influence for music during sessions. —Tammy Wells Classical acoustic Indian music. I love that there is no rhythm to get trapped in and the sounds are so full and warm. —Heidi OHair It depends on the work and the client. I have played everything from nice spa music to rock to hip-hop. —Barbara MacNair I work near a music college and several clients are professors and students. Many of them prefer sounds of nature to music, so I use a lot of thunderstorm and rain forest tracks. —Beth Fessenden www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 41