Holistic Massage - How to do it?

(This is Part Two of a two-part article by Andy Fagg, published in Massage World magazine in December/January 2002.)

Process not Routine

Holistic massage should be seen as a nurturing process of touch and response. The key here is to adapt the treatment to each client’s unique needs, physical characteristics and personality. I often explain that I massage people, not bodies - that I do a massage “with” someone, rather than doing it “to” them. For example, I will adopt a very different approach to a client who approaches me in order to work through the trauma of a history of sexual abuse to one who simply wants her stiff shoulders eased after spending too long in front of the computer screen.

As a holistic massage therapist, I engage with each client, assessing needs and including physical, mental and emotional factors. I then make an appropriate selection from a wide repertoire of possible techniques, customizing the treatment to meet those needs at that particular time. This process is creative, sometimes unexpected and does not follow standard routines. I need to be guided by principles of sensitivity, awareness, knowledge and professionalism.

In many ways, holistic massage is about setting an atmosphere, creating an energy, being in a particular “vibe”. The way in which the massage is approached is as important as the techniques themselves. Of course, techniques matter too and may be drawn from a wide area. For instance, holistic massage may include:

classical Swedish techniques such as effleurage; petrissage, kneading, friction and wringing;
percussive techniques such as hacking, cupping, pummelling, plucking and brushing;
gentle hand holds, drawing on healing traditions and an awareness of the human energy field. This may extend to working off the physical body in the human aura;
deeper pressure techniques; such as neuromuscular technique (NMT);
passive joint mobilizations and stretches, such as muscle energy technique (MET);
appropriate techniques from related bodywork traditions such as cranio-sacral therapy and shiatsu.

An important feature of this approach is the ability to “track through” from a theoretical knowledge and understanding of anatomy, physiology and pathology to the practical realities of each client’s symptoms and responses - and how therefore to adapt one’s massage. In other words, the really skilful holistic massage therapist will understand the body’s structure, function and malfunction, know how to assess the effects on a particular client and the consequent links to massage technique. The article by Darien Pritchard and Su Fox in the February issue of Massage World explains this much more fully.

Role and Qualities of the Practitioner

The holistic massage practitioner is a facilitator through touch, working with and guided by the client. To quote Deane Juhan (ref 1):

“Touching hands are...like flashlights in a darkened room. The medicine they administer is self-awareness. And for many of our painful conditions, this is the aid most urgently needed.”

This contrasts with other massage approaches, which may seek to “sort out” the client, regarding symptoms as problems to be “fixed”. Such a reductionist approach treats the body not the person, offering massage as a bio-mechanical intervention within a medical paradigm that is becoming increasingly outmoded. For instance, the growing scientific evidence for mind-body medicine or psychoneuroimmunology (ref 2) supports the importance of relaxation, stress reduction and emotional factors as fundamental to understanding and healing dis-ease.

In addition to technical skills, the role of the holistic massage practitioner must require self-awareness, since depth of contact with oneself is a prerequisite for depth in the therapeutic relationship. This self-awareness might be physical, through exercise, dance, yoga or tai chi; emotional through counselling or psychotherapy; or spiritual through meditation practice. What matters is that holistic practitioners are committed to working on their personal process, in order to enhance their work with clients. In the Massage Training Institute all practitioners must maintain continuing professional development (CPD) through supervision and further training courses and cannot renew their annual registration without this.

Attention to personal as well as professional development by the practitioner means that during sessions s/he can be more present and grounded. Quality of touch becomes the interface at which the practitioner and client meet. There can be a deeper level of communication beyond technique, offering clients opportunities for change through greater awareness. Also, through effective body use whilst massaging the holistic massage practitioner both looks after his/her own physical well being and also brings into the session qualities of grace, fluidity and rhythm.

Outcomes

Holistic massage can lead to a variety of outcomes; depending on the needs of the individual client. (ref 2). They can include:

physical improvements such as relaxing tight muscles, improvements to circulation, nervous function and joint mobility; this can ease many short and long term ailments, such as back pain, arthritis and insomnia.
reducing stress, one of the main causes of disease in Western society. As well as addressing stress factors, holistic massage can facilitate the switch between sympathetic and autonomic nervous systems, hence allowing both body and mind valuable recuperation time (refs 3,4,5).
emotionally, massage can provide the caring non-intrusive touch clients have often longed for; this can soothe the busy mind, reduce stress and enhance self esteem.
at a deeper level still, massage can release the personal history stored in body tissues; this can lead to powerful changes in our energy and provide a vital and chemical ingredient in each persons process of growth.

Of course the key here is to work with each client and the agenda they bring. Some simply wish to have their tight shoulders relaxed, whilst others might use massage for much deeper personal growth.

Conclusions

The holistic approach to massage therapy can touch an individual’s whole being - physical, mental and emotional. It holds the possibility of reintegration, is person centred and is guided by principles of sensitivity, awareness and quality of touch. These enable the holistic massage therapist to work with clients, applying techniques and skills in an appropriate manner. At an organisational level, the MTI is one organisation with a well developed, thoroughly thought through approach to holistic massage.

Refs:

Job’s Body (Deane Juhan) - Station Hill Press. Page xxix.
Medicine Hands - Massage Therapy for People with Cancer (Gayle Macdonald) - Findhorn Press. Pages 23-48.
Job’s Body. Pages 322-325 and 340-343.
Outcome-Based Massage (Andrade and Clifford) - Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. Pages 77-80.
Molecules of Emotion (Candace Pert) - Simon and Schuster. Pages 240-244.