This beautiful video needs no words.
Art Riggs ‘A Little Bodywork Philosophy’: A Video
As I’ve said before, I’m interested in bodyworker’s philosophies. So, when I saw this video on youtube I was pumped! It’s super short and he rambles on a bit but, I love how he likes to focus on what is working right in the body. Explaining to the client that this shoulder feels great, lets get the other one more free and opened up. I’m going to practice that today. See how it feels for me and my client. There are a few other gems in this video too. Every massage is a ‘new adventure for me’ he says and for me that’s what its all about!
What’s your opinion about starting face up or face down? If you work in a spa, do you have to start a certain way? Let me know in the comments!
A short Thomas Myers video “why does massage hurt?”
(I found this video on YouTube by Functional Patterns, the channel is pretty excellent!)
“Pain is sensation accompanied by the motor intention to withdraw, if youre not trying to get away from it it isn’t pain its just sensation. That varies from person to person, situatiuon to situation and day to day. “ This quote makes me think about receiving massage and how I perceive the bodywork I am receiving. Can I ask myself to breathe through the “pain” know that the sensation I am feeling is pain leaving the body? Sometimes. And sometimes I’m not in the mood.
“The pain and the benefit are not directly related.” This quote makes me think of giving massage. It’s important for me to have this conversation with those clients that are into the no pain no gain mentatlity. Its my job as a therapist to help them see that using breath with deeper work is way more effective than receiving bodywork you have to hold your breath through. I like being reminded of these topics. I know them like the back of my hand. However, sometimes I get caught up with someone telling me to go deeper, the ‘you can beat me up’ types. And sometimes I loose my voice and dig into their tissue. This was a great video to watch to inspire me to be brave and speak up.
Do you have a favorite Thomas Meyer’s video, quote, writing? If so, let me know what they are in the comments! Also, let me know what you think of the video if you get a chance to watch it!
Liberated Body Podcast Episode 8 Nancy DeLecruzia: How Bodies Change
Here’s the link:
http://www.liberatedbody.com/nancy-delucrezia-lbp-008/
Brooke Thomas, host of Liberated Body Podcast, is a somatic goddess. Her podcast is inspiring and full of nuggets of wisdom, a lot of which come from her, as well as her infamous guests. So, check that out, if you haven’t already. Season 3 has just begun! Maybe a post dedicated to the LBP at some point is needed..
This LBP episode with Nancy Delecruzia is a gem. It s a bit slow going in the beginning but if you stick with it, it ends with a bang! Nancy is super interesting and well versed in a lot of different modalities which she blends together in a sweet harmony called neuromuscular therapy. I love that she despises the term deep tissue, here’s what she has to say about it:
“when you get to the point where the person’s resistance to what it is you’re doing to them exceeds what it is you’re undoing then you’re either breaking even or loosing ground.”
She has a lot of great philosophies regarding emotional release and cellular health as well. I wish she would write a book!
I hope you enjoy the podcast!
What are you thoughts on deep tissue massage? Did you listen to the podcast? Let me know in the comments!
Gil Hedley: Integral Anatomy Series Vol.1, Pt.1
Integral Anatomy Series, Vol. 1, Pt.1: Intro, Skin Dissection
Disclaimer: This is an in depth cadaver video. If you are sensitive to such things enter this link at your own risk.
Here’s the link:
http://www.gilhedley.com/ghvideo.php
Gil Hedley’s respect for the cadaver is beautiful. I’m new to Mr. Hedley and Integral Anatomy as well as seeing a cadaver in such detail. He takes a lot of time before actually showing you the body At first I was like, ‘Ok lets get on with this, show me some cadaver!” Although, once I saw the cadavers I realized that I needed to be eazed into it. “Respect your comfort zones, while you work to expand them” is one of his first quotes during the video. And I found myself having to do just that. I was not able to watch this video all at once, it was a bit intense.
What I found so fascinating is how fake the skin of a cadaver looked. It seemed like taking a hammer to it would make it crumble into a million pieces. Gil says that :“The skin is like a masked layer, it hides a more vulnerable creature”. In order to do so it has to be extremely resilient, and it is, when we are alive. Upon death, as he comments on in the video, our skin looses its valor and quickly becomes lifeless.
This video is amazing in its ability to convey how interconnected the body is. The onion tree diagram is a great analogy! As a massage therapist I am perpetually in contact with the skin, and Mr. Hedley helped me to realize (what I already knew but needed a reminder) just how incredibly important the skin is. And, I am eternally grateful for that!
Have you ever been to a cadaver lab? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!
Deane Jhuan- Video Review
Resistance Release Work With Mike- Face
Here is the link to the video:
Disclaimer: In order to access this video you have to register at massagelibrary.com. You can do so for free or choose to pay $7 a month for full access.
So often I find myself zeroing in on someone’s ‘problem area’ that I completely forget the face. Occasionally not touching it at all. Igats! This video inspired me in many ways to always always always touch the face. Even if it is just an acknowledgment. We hold so many of our unexplored and unexpressed emotions in our facial muscle system. Too not touch the face, even a mere ‘hello’ could be a travesty. (I know, maybe a bit too dramatic) The beginning discussion of this video regarding the sensory motor cortex is enough (if you didn’t already know this info) to blow your mind!
Mr. Jhuan uses a lot of vibration in this video. As a technique I very seldom use, it was nice to see it practically applied. Personally I wouldn’t yet practice this on a client. I believe it requires a certain confidence to jiggle a person, a confidence I do not currently have. I wouldn’t want my insecurity to come through my hands. I will shelve it until my next exchange with a fellow therapist.
I was shocked, in a good way, how he sits on the table while doing face work. He looks so comfortable and supported. I’m interested in different body mechanics and this is definitely a unique one. I am also interested in different therapists’ routine in particular the beginning of a massage and what their ‘massage philosophies’ are. In this video Mr. Jhuan does a great job of sharing a few wonderful nuggets of wisdom.
(The look on Mike’s face at the end is priceless!! I want a massage from Deane Jhuan!!)
One more thing, as a Zero Balancer the way he connects with the body at the beginning made me cringe a bit. In Zero Balancing working at interface (having a clear energetic and physical boundary between me and the client ie: not blending) is crucial, and I have carried that into my massage practice. This has brought up a philosophical conundrum for me and it’s been great chewing on these thoughts. More on this in the future.
If you get a chance to watch the video, let me know what you think in the comments!
somatically minded 