Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/494122
F r e e S O A P n o t e s w i t h M a s s a g e B o o k f o r A B M P m e m b e r s : a b m p . u s / M a s s a g e b o o k 85 Interestingly, this cyst had Jersey attitude: "Hey, I'm a cyst. What's it to you? Whatcha gonna do about it?" It was poised for a fight. Suddenly I felt like I was up against Tony Soprano. I was a little intimidated, but mostly found it amusing. I sat with the cyst for a bit and it dissolved quite easily, especially for a tough guy from Jersey. At the next session, the client said her symptoms—the appendectomy scar and the pulled muscle—were much improved. If you are intrigued by these examples, here are some ideas on how to develop and nurture your skills. EXERCISES FOR EXPLORING THE EMOTIONAL PLANE Setting your intention on the emotional plane is often enough to get things started. As you ground and prepare for the session, take a moment to open to the possibility of an emotional constituent or core. Ask emotionally based questions (verbally and/or silently), and give the body plenty of time before asking another question. This is complicated and the body may need time to formulate the answer. Ask Questions Where should I go? Is there somewhere specific I should put my hands? What does that part(s) want to say? What is the part's mood? Is it angry, gloomy, happy? Are there other feelings, too? What is the color, density, depth, memory, shape, size, smell, texture, etc., of the sensation? Thoroughly explore whatever you find. Not all of these questions will be relevant, but the right question can spark a clear and/or strong response. Quantify If the part is happy, how happy is it: mildly amused or rip- roaring ecstatic? If it's angry, let the anger come out. It may take time to understand the full extent of the emotion. Determine the Cause Why does the body (or body part) have this feeling? Is the foot sad because it can't dance the jig anymore, or is it sad because it really wants to kick the person's brother in the behind, and that's not allowed? The Fussy Baby A mother came in with her 1-month-old son. He was gassy, extremely fussy, and he spit up a lot. Her pediatrician had prescribed antacids, but the mother wanted to try CST. She lay down on the table with her baby on her chest. I placed one hand underneath the mom and the other hand resting lightly on the baby. Through this physical connection (my hands on her and the baby), she was able to uncover and articulate her feelings. She talked about her son's birth. She had started having a home birth, but ended up having an emergency cesarean delivery in the hospital. She was disappointed and felt like she'd failed herself and her son. Lying on the table, the mother cried while the baby lay remarkably still, his eyes wide open. I felt a deep sadness from both of them and simply held them, letting the emotions flow. A few days later, she called me to report that they were both doing much better. Her son was much happier and had stopped spitting up. She was still sad about the delivery, but her sadness no longer held so much power over her. She was much more focused on the fact that they were both healthy and he was thriving. The Jersey Cyst A client presented with two health problems in her right-lower abdomen: an old but painful appendectomy scar and a recently pulled groin muscle. I was a little surprised, however, to find myself so clearly and quickly directed (by her body) to her lower abdomen on her left side—the side opposite the scar and pulled muscle. With one hand on her left lower abdomen and one on her sacrum, I found a large energy cyst (an encapsulated bubble of energy) that was very solid and very cold. Usually cold like that means shock release, but this didn't have that feeling. I didn't know what it meant, so I acknowledged it, waited a moment to see if it had anything more to say, and then moved on. THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY