Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Why is body awareness important?

Have you ever wondered how you, as a client, can get more from your massage session? Have you ever wondered why your clients keep coming back for the same ailments? One of the causes could be a lack of body awareness.

Our medical society is relied upon to tell us what is wrong with our bodies, rather than allowing our inner senses to tell us when something is wrong. The maxim, "If it hurts, don't do it" is simply not an option. To whit, the athletes that compete and win in events such as Ironman Triathlon, Iditarod, and the Tour de France just to name a few. These individuals push their bodies to the extreme. In order to do this, a person must be well versed in the use and care of their body.

By reflecting on the aches and pains that nag us, we are able to stave off further injury down the road. By asking a client to make a before and after assessment of their body, I am opening the door for them to find words for their sensations. If they are able to make the connections about what changes have happened on the table, then they will have greater access to the changes off the table.

Whenever a client presents to me with a specific problem, I ask for a great deal of feedback. I want to know how their body is responding to the work and I want them to follow the internal changes that are occurring over the course of the session. While the changes may seem more profound if they get to explore only at the end of the session, the client loses out on the process of change. This process allows them to connect their issue to their life (That reminds me of when I ...) and their experience beyond that of the table.

Your clients may just surprise you if you offer them these chances on your table.

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