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November 14, 2007

Self-Help Tools

Massage therapy has some predictable effects on clients over time. A client new to massage may leave their first session on an endorphin high amazed by how good they feel. If their bodywork was transformative in the way that they use themselves, they may feel absolutely terrible in a as little as twenty minutes following the massage. That is why it is so crucial to counsel the client following their first massage about what to expect and the importance of drinking water.

In massage school we talked about a phenomenon that some students exhibited. It was called the massage junkie. Once a person gets regular massage, they can't live without it. The more massage they get the better. Every little ache and pain is amplified for them because of their new awareness of their body. Weekends are hell because they cannot rush out and get their "fix" for their latest ache or pain. It is at this stage that I begin encouraging my clients to find ways to take care of themselves between sessions. It's their first step toward taking responsibility for how they use their body and their first step away from complete dependence upon an outside source for maintaining their health, which is an unhealthy co-dependent relationship.

There are lots of great tools out there, some quite expensive, some that clients can make themselves, some that are free. There are manipulation tools such as the Theracane and the Axis roller that clients can buy. Analgesic products such as BioFreeze or Tiger Balm help with muscle spasms. There's the StillPoint Inducer or a couple of tennis balls in a sock for Craniosacral clients. Don't forget the SacroWedgy and The Back Board for people with hip problems. Then there are rice or barley bags that can be heated in the microwave to help with pain. For general body aches following a massage, clients can use epsom salts and soak in a bath. And if your clients are really into soaking in the tub, there are essential oils they can put in their bath for an aromatherapy experience.

But the most important self-help tools for your clients to take of themselves between sessions is exercises. Whether you assign weight-lifting for strengthening under functioning muscles or stretches for ultra-tight muscles, these techniques are the most powerful for long-term correction of chronic pain in your clients.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at November 14, 2007 6:56 AM