When a massage turns into something more meaningful
By Joanna Lim - Founder of Living Lotus Love & Whole being.
A new client (let’s call her Jane) popped in to check out the new Ynot Crystals space a few weeks back. She was going through a bit at home and needed something to help her move forward. Jane saw some recent offerings: different types of massage, inner-self retreats, reiki, and tarot. She decided to book an hour of Relaxation Massage on Tuesday, thinking it would be nice to do something nurturing for herself.
She felt at ease when she arrived and was ready to receive her well-deserved relaxation. I offered her water and cleansed her energy field with sage, essential oils, and sound to help her Wholebeing arrive and prepare for the massage.
We chatted about what was going on in her life and her whole being, what Jane’s needs were, and took the time to get clear on the intention of the massage as a support for her to move forward. A few welcome tears were shed with the acknowledgement of a safe, supportive space, and together, we decided to create space within to help her connect more deeply with her inner self for guidance. Once that was clear and any troubling areas were identified, I asked Jane to undress down to a level she was most comfortable and to lie on the table face down. I invited her to breathe deeply and give her whole weight to the table. I then gently approached her energy field and placed my hands on her body. I called in our spiritual guides, ancestors and helpers, asking that they assist with our intention and whatever else needed to happen in unconditional love.
We began the bodywork by cleansing and massaging her feet to help ground from her mind into her body. Inviting more breath into all the areas most present and noticeable for her. I always find working from the ground up with clients, releases tension further up the body and throughout their Wholebeing, making for a more powerful experience that integrates more readily. We progressed from there, always listening and inviting Jane to follow the feeling in her body and enquiring into what was there with her breath and loving attention. Allowing space to gradually clear as different parts of her felt seen and supported.
The tight areas, the depleted areas, and the tender areas were all treated with utmost love, care, and respect. They were invited to tell stories to release and unite with the breath. Together, we eased the stress and tension from her body and mind, invited Jane to her feet, and listened to the space that had been cleared. As our session together came to a close, I cleared the space with smudge and sound, thanked our spiritual helpers for all they had held and facilitated for us, and asked Jane to take five deep breaths, spending as long as she needed resting into her inner self before emerging to join me outside.
She reported feeling self-assured and calm. She was much more able to stay focused on herself and not the stressful situation she was dealing with. It was beautiful to witness. I said I would love to do a 90-minute session next time to deepen her enquiry and relaxation, and she booked in for the same time the following week.
When we met the following Tuesday, we had an initial self-love discovery session that went deeper into the specifics of the situation she was dealing with. It was the first time she had encountered this issue, knocking her about in a few different areas of life. I asked questions to help her reveal the essence of what she was dealing with internally and externally. I helped her identify needs that had to be addressed to stay centred and focused on the personal empowerment and growth offered and inviting utmost respect and kindness for herself and the other person involved.
We then took it into the body with another massage. The intention this time was to rest into what was present without judgment. There was a lot more noticeable tension in some parts, and again, we worked from the ground up, targeting the areas struggling to let go with breath and love. At the end of the session, Jane reported that it was much harder to relax this time; her mind just kept thinking about the situation, and she had to work to focus on her breathing.
I reminded her of the importance of focusing on what she would like to come of the situation and actively trying ways everyone involved can move forward with as much ease and grace as possible.
This invites the awareness that processing situations from a place of love will always result in more love and that confronting fears will deliver the path of the most significant growth.
Jane said she was so grateful for the support, and I suggested that we might do another session. Still, this time, releasing the body with targeted stretches for areas that were being overworked in her day-to-day activities.
Massage and all other modalities I share offer a sacred space for reconnection to our wholebeing, where all layers of ourselves are invited to open and integrate. I love experiencing people come alive again as they reconnect with their inner selves and realise that everything they are going through is essential for discovering more of who they are and why they are here. From this place, our desires can manifest because we understand that we have the power to meet our challenges with love when we can care for ourselves and reach out when we need support to do so.
