Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72098
The union of art and science, of energy and structure, of health and care is a triumph of historical proportions. Our field needs this triumph in the realm of the union of clinical excellence with palpable care. ENERGY IN PHYSICS The concept of energy in bodywork has historically, and I think wisely, had a wide definition. In physics, it is understood that phenomena can be looked at in terms of being particles or matter versus waves or energy. Energy, to some extent, can be measured. It is commonly defined as "work done." In general, this view leads us to say that energy is more connected to action, waves, and movement than to particles and matter. Commonsensically, since mass and energy are in fact a unity— and nothing would exist without both—we can see that they are simply two ways of looking at or describing the same thing. You may look in the ocean and say, "Look at that wave!" or you can also say, "Look at the water waving." So is the wave a thing or a process, a noun or a verb? Well, it is both/and, not either/or. When we think we see a thing, we are looking at the phenomenon from the particle standpoint. When we think we are looking at a process or motion, we are looking at it from an energy standpoint. ENERGY IN BODYWORK The scientific method is empirical. It looks at and works with what is there. In the case of a human, there is a body, and certainly mind and emotions as well. Many people include soul and spirit, though some find their existence somewhat less obvious. Generally, a consummate physician or therapist who consistently earns the patients' and clients' respect will be someone who relates not just to the anatomy and physiology of the patient/ client, but also to their personhood. They care about their patients/clients: how they feel, what stresses they are Photos by Rick Giase Photography. under, what knowledge they have about what's going on with them—in addition to having great skill in effectively addressing disease and injury. Another way to say this is that they consider both structure and energy in their practice. WHAT IS STRUCTURE? WHAT IS ENERGY? When we think about structure, it includes anatomy, mass, matter, particles, and physiology—generally, the physical aspect of the person. Structure may also be thought of as objective, palpable, tangible, and visible. Energy, most broadly defined, is the entire realm of experience beyond just the physical. It may be thought of as subjective, intangible, not necessarily palpable, and not necessarily visible. Energy includes action, force, movement, vibration, and waves. It also includes the realm of sensation, emotion, and mind: beliefs, consciousness, feelings, senses, and thoughts; and the realm of spirit: soul, spirit. Some of these, of course, can be described in the language of neurological and endocrine processes. The autonomic nervous system is in many ways an energetic system, responding to feelings, thoughts, sensations, etc., by changing the overall energetic and physical state of the tune in to your practice at ABMPtv 65