Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72343
With regard to pressure, there is an amount that is clearly "just right" for the recipient. Finding that perfect level of pressure is no small task, one that can be thwarted in several ways. Pressure alone is not the essence of massage; there are numerous other variables also subject to the Goldilocks Principle. The perfect amount of pressure in the wrong place will not be effective. In a recent session with one of my clients, ascertaining the precise location of his tissue restriction was an elaborate process. "Try pressing a bit harder," he said. "Nope, that isn't exactly it. Close, but not quite. Try angling your wrist a bit. Nope, the other way. Better, but not yet. Wait, let me try moving my leg just a bit forward and see if that helps. Oh, that's better. Perhaps if I rotate just a little. Whoa! Right there! Don't move a millimeter!" Throughout that whole process, I simply followed his directions because he clearly knew the exact spot that would replicate the all-too-familiar pain in his hip better than I could hope to. My job is to know possible suspects; his is to help me target the exact one that replicates his discomfort. The look of satisfaction on his face when we hit the "just right" spot with "just right" pressure said it all. Pressure and location are only two factors of massage affected by the Goldilocks Principle; others include client communication and environment. The therapist must establish rapport with the client by asking questions and being engaged from the moment they meet. Being too quiet can be interpreted by the client as aloofness and disinterest, while talking too much can be seriously distracting to the massage experience. The massage environment is also affected by the Goldilocks Principle— professional but inviting, temperature that is neither too hot nor too cold, music that is as ignorable as it is interesting, and a schedule that runs on time but never feels rushed. With all the factors that intersect to create a wonderful experience for our clients, it is no small task to get it "just right." There is great satisfaction in the effort; the grail is in the seeking, not the cup. instructor for Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars and president of the 16-therapist clinic BodyWork Associates in Champaign, Illinois. His clinic, seminars, and research endeavors explore the science behind this work. Visit www.nmtmidwest.com or email him at doug@nmtmidwest.com. Douglas Nelson is the founder and principal tune in to your practice at ABMPtv 87