WHAT IS A HOLISTIC MASSAGE?
The term "holistic" derives from the ancient Greek word "holos," which means "whole." By definition, holistic massage treats the whole of the body as a single unity. Illness and stress affects not only our physical but also our emotional, spiritual and mental well-being, holistic massage allows the body's natural healing abilities to come forth and balance the entire body as a whole. Deep relaxation and positive therapeutic results occur because the client’s and therapist’s mental activity is quieted. The massage relaxes taut muscles, aids lympathic drainage, releases toxins and benefits the “whole” in many other positive ways.
The ‘Relaxation Response’ is a natural and innate protective mechanism against ‘overstress,’ which allows us to turn off harmful bodily effects and brings on bodily changes that decrease heart rate, lower metabolism and bring the body back into a healthier balance.
The Relaxation Response
occurs when mental activity is slowed to a quiet, relaxed state. In this state, the electromagnetic waves of the brain slow to a frequency of 8-12 hertz (Hz), which is called an alpha wave state. The alpha wave frequency is also associated with parasympathetic nervous system dominance. As part of the massage session, specific strategies are used to subdue various types of mental busyness that prevent the slow brain wave frequencies associated with relaxation.
Monkey mind is the usual walking-around kind of mental activity that occurs during most of our waking hours. Monkey mind is characterized as an endless stream of thoughts about anything and everything. Monkey mind produces a beta brain wave state (greater than 12 Hz) that prevents the Relaxation Response. The therapist helps the client reduce monkey-mind thought streams by providing relaxing input for them to focus on, especially at the start of the massage session. Music is used in the foreground instead of background sound to draw the client’s attention away from whatever was on his/her mind before the session began.
Worry mind refers to thought patterns that carry concerns about the bodywork session itself. If the client has had painful massage experiences in the past, the therapist will relieve the worry mind with reassurances that she does not want to cause pain, and by checking in occasionally to be sure the client is comfortable.
Tracking mind is the phenomenon of noticing where the therapist is working and anticipating what she will do next. The therapist defeats the tracking mind by working in an unpredictable manner. If the work cannot be tracked, tracking mind gives up thinking about it. The therapist will deter the tracking mind by continuing one, soothing stroke or movement for a long time. Eventually the mind surrenders and relaxes into pure pleasure.
Social mind comes into play when the client feels an obligation to be engaged conversationally with the therapist, which is not relaxing neurologically. The brain activity involved in chatting generates beta brain waves, which then prevents slower frequencies. The client is encouraged to enjoy therapeutic silence by addressing this during the intake process, and by not allowing therapists to be drawn into chatting during a session. Sometimes it is necessary to talk about what is happening during the session but to keep the attention focused on the bodywork.
Holistic massage enables the client to access the body’s deep intelligence in order to release old patterns and allows muscle tension to fall away naturally.
