Reflections of a Massage Therapist

As the weeks race by and I close in on taking my maternity leave, I’ve found myself reflecting on my time as a massage therapist. It’s been over 15 years now and I’m happy to say that I still really enjoy the work and look forward to seeing my clients. Over the years I’ve done thousands of hours of massage with all sorts of individuals with countless presentations. Everybody and every body is so unique. Here are a few things I’d like to share...

What I have enjoyed the most...

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata – it is people, it is people, it is people!

There is no doubt that the best part of my job is the people that come to see me, and trust me with their bodies and time. I’ve got clients that have been coming regularly for almost as long as I’ve been practicing, and I’ve got clients that just book in once in a while when they’re in need. Sometimes we talk for the whole session, sometimes not at all, but usually somewhere in between. Sometimes it’s upbeat and fun chatter, sometimes it’s more deep and meaningful. Because we’re in a body work session there’s always some talk of the physical body and how it’s feeling, and then usually a bit about what’s going on in the client’s life more broadly.

It’s a unique one-on-one setting where there are no distractions like screens, but where the buffer of having the client lying face down on the table often lends itself to more easy talk without staring each other in the face. With a job that is so full of people, I also really enjoy when a client just prefers to have quiet time – this is how I often prefer to receive a massage as it is a real treat to take the time to feel into your body, and trust the experienced massage therapist to be listening to your body as well.

Getting to know my clients and their particular aches and pains definitely keeps my job interesting, so I never get into a funk feeling like one day is just like the next. And I believe the benefits of having a therapist that knows you and your story goes a long way in being able to relax and slowly work through the tensions that build up over a lifetime.

The biggest factor for reducing aches & pains...

I often get asked “do you ever get clients that don’t have any knots or sore bits?” and the answer is yes, but only very occasionally. And what do these people have in common? More than a militant stretching regime or daily saunas, the stand out factor for people with generally very low tension in their bodies is the ability to calm and regulate their nervous system.

Yes, this will often go alongside healthy lifestyle routines, but I want to emphasize the benefits of psychological calm for your physical body. Your mind and body are not separate entities; they are both aspects of your whole being, and are completely inter-dependent.

I mentioned above how conversation usually flows from how the body is feeling to how life is feeling in general, so regular sessions are great opportunities to see the link between your physical state and your mental state and surrounding circumstances. Often when life gets stressful we put off the things that make us feel better (exercise, eating well, meditation etc), but when we can clearly see the link between psychological stress and tension or pain in the body, the importance of prioritising self care becomes obvious.

I suggest really paying attention to your mind and body in times of stress and times of ease. Notice that peace isn’t just waiting for you at the bottom of today’s to-do list, and while some positive stress is useful for motivation and getting things done, most of us could do with deliberately bringing much more calm into our daily lives, rather than expecting that short holiday at the end of the year to balance out months of pressure.

Take a philosophical approach...

Following so many client’s stories over the years, I’ve seen people go through many highs and lows in their physical health, mental health, work life, home life, and more. What always happens with both the good and the challenging (or just plain bad), is that we get past them. Time goes on and situations change. I’ve seen people make seemingly small adjustments to their daily routines that over time, completely transform their health and how they feel each day. I’ve seen people receive scary diagnoses, go through treatment, and come out the other side. Conversely, I’ve seen people at peak fitness suffer life-changing injuries.

We don’t have to look far for both inspiring stories of triumph, or tales of woe and hardship. We don’t know what the future will bring, and there are many things beyond our control, but what we can control for the most part are our actions and state of mind. Finding equanimity in both hard times and easy times helps us to more fully appreciate the positive, and not be so thrown by the negative.

The Taoist principle of ‘Wu Wei’, which loosely translates to ‘effortless action’ is a beautiful concept that encapsulates living in harmony with nature, mindfulness, and letting go of both forcefulness & resistance.

“The Tao (Way) never acts, yet nothing is left undone” - Tao Te Ching.

I'll be back doing massage along with acupuncture once I've settled into my new role as a mother, but for now it's goodbye and thanks so much to my clients for everything over the years!