The Role of a Holistic Massage Therapist by Andy Fagg

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 his/her 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 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.  

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 biomechanical 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 they 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 their own physical wellbeing and also brings into the session qualities of grace, fluidity and  rhythm.