If these hands could talk…
Author: Esther Sarlo, BA, CEO | Founder | Myndful Spark of Mynd Myself
If you’ve ever had more than one massage, you know that they are not all the same. I cannot count the number of massages I’ve had in my life thus far. What a thing to be able to say! I’m so grateful. Massage is truly one of life’s finer joys!
I remember with great fondness the two weeks I spent in Thailand over one winter break. One of the many highlights was the access to a wonderful Thai-style massage every second day. My body has never since felt that limber, loose, and nurtured. Oh, to be able to continue to have that on a regular basis.
I’ve experienced so many different kinds of massage: Thai (as mentioned), Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Lomi Lomi, Registered Massage Therapy (RMT), Aromatherapy, Cranial Sacral, Tui Na…and others that I can’t remember at this moment. ALL of them have their unique contributions to the discipline. A few particular favourites of mine are Thai Massage, Hot Stone Massage, and Lomi Lomi (especially with four hands!)
There pretty much isn’t a massage I won’t sign up for (except for maybe a really deep ‘Deep Tissue’ style that can sometimes be too much for my body).
What I look for in a massage includes:
- The energy of the Practitioner being inviting, present, and caring
- An experienced Practitioner who connects to my body and responds to what it is sharing with them
- A Practitioner who invites interactive response within the treatment
- Strong, intuitive, and sensitive hands
- A clean, beautiful space with meditative music playing softly in the background
- Ninety minutes of uninterrupted focus and attention on being fully present in my body
I’ve had only a very few massages that didn’t meet those criteria. These few sessions that were less-than-stellar tended to involve fairly new Practitioners who were still ‘finding their hands.’ One such experience was with a young woman who was a bit ‘rough and jolty’—she seemed to have no sense of flow.
What style of massage will suit you best for your current needs?
As you look for a Massage Practitioner, I invite you to explore the descriptions about the different styles of Massage Therapy and Bodywork to see which ones most draw you to them.
- What does your intuition tell you?
- Do you want the intensity of deep tissue work?
- Are you looking for a relaxation massage?
- Is it a Therapeutic Massage for specific areas of your body that you need?
You get to decide.
Also, feel free to check out the Mynd Myself Practitioner pages and get a sense of their particular focuses. When you watch their interviews, notice who you resonate with the most. Perhaps try a few different types of Massage and decide which one(s) you prefer—which style of Massage has your body feeling great…and carries that feeling on for a while after the treatment.
Louis L’Amour says:
“Few of us ever live in the present. We are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone.”
Whatever criteria is important to you, seek out Massage as often as you can. It is a space of self-care and nurturing that cannot be matched. Massage is an opportunity to love yourself…and become fully present in your body.
What will it take for you to receive this form of self-care?