Energy Matters Holistic Massage

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Whether you have had many massage or bodywork sessions or are thinking about trying holistic massage for the first time, it is important that the work be customized to your own needs and comfort level to maximize its effectiveness.
I work on people who choose to remain fully clothed, who only want very specific areas worked for shorter amounts of time, or have specific medical conditions that require adjustment of the table and materials. I respect what has been beneficial in past experiences as well as suggest new options.
Holistic work is very personal, not a factory assembly line. Listen to your own intuition about whether a particular place or person it is a good fit for you.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. As a customer, I want to work with someone who has been well trained as well as has some form of a natural gift and the passion that goes beyond training.
I want to know that the practitioner really loves what they do and that each session is engaging for them and that each person is valued.
I also look for a place or setting that allows the practitioner time to really be present and to care for themselves and be ready for the next appointment without rushing or sales pressure.
Lastly, I want to feel resonance with the place and person. In my experience, the best results come from a trusting relationship in which I can speak up if I don't like something and in which I feel comfortable enough to try new things and honestly decide if they are helpful to me.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. I would describe a bit about what might be going on and the results I would be looking for. If you, as a customer, can articulate your hopes and expectations for the work, you have a better chance of finding the right place or person.
Describe what's going on and ask how the massage therapist might work with you. If they mention techniques you aren't familiar with, ask questions (or see if you feel comfortable asking questions, since that is important).
Do you feel like you were listened to and heard or that you got a generic line? Are you being promised miracles or told you will feel much better? Beware! No one can really know the results for an individual without actually working with them and you are the ultimate judge of what is effective for you.
There are numerous scientifically documented benefits of massage but holistic treatment goes beyond that to a grayer area more akin to art. There is no proof more important than your own experience: i.e. "I know what I like."

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. I am looking for people who want to take more responsibility for their own health and to make changes that will benefit their overall level of wellness. I'm not particularly into quick fixes that do not take into account the background of the condition.
For example, tension migraines: These can often be relieved with muscular work on the neck, shoulders and head, however, to treat merely the muscles is not preventative, only palliative.
Learning to breathe properly, manage stress more effectively, release tension as it arises, etc. are much more effective than a single massage in preventing migraines related to tension.

I like to work with people who feel empowered by taking responsibility for their wellness and who understand that I am simply a resource and support for their own journey with some tools that can help jump-start the stuckness, encourage development of their own healing potential, and hopefully model true valuing of the individual that will lead to continued self care.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Sometimes I get asked this: Do I enjoy my work?
I love it! It is never boring. On the contrary, it is entirely absorbing and rewarding. I feel as though I am listening through my hands and responding. It is like a very interesting conversation.
I also get asked: Do I take in other people's stress or negativity.
I do not. That has been a skill I had to learn but I do not guard against anything that is brought to the table and I do not judge or fear.
Lastly, sometimes people ask about the physicality of massage: Don't I get tired or achy myself?
The first thing massage therapists are taught is about body mechanics--how to use the whole body and not hands and arms. If I breathe, bend, and flow with my own movements it is like a dance and not tiring and can even be invigorating.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. NO! I do not do "undraped" massage. I am a licensed professional so please don't confuse massage therapy with any other strange type of "service."