Why Bodywork?
The origins of massage, bodywork and healing touch are deeply rooted in our human history. Written examples of the medical benefits of massage date as far back as 2700 BCE in China. Tomb paintings depicting people kneading each other have been found in Egypt, which is also credited with the development of Reflexology around 2500 BCE. While western (European) medical tradition has historically tended to favor cures for the symptoms of afflictions, over treatment of the body as a whole and integrated unit, healing touch has long been a part of Ayurvedic tradition in India and Southeast Asia to balance the five senses for optimal health and to combat illness.
Due to political trends and social phenomena in the western world at the end of the ninteenth century, the practice of massage became synonymous with prostitution. And, despite the mounting scientific evidence of its benefits, this stigma would persist well into the twentieth century. [A more in-depth examination on the history of massage therapy, its relationship to Western society and as a practice will come in a later post.]
However, with the resurgence of natural and holistic healing in the last 60 years, massage therapy has gained incredible social popularity and the rise of massage therapy associations, schools, regulatory boards and legislature have legitimized the practice. Numerous conclusive studies have proven the long held beliefs that massage therapy reduces stress, muscle pain and tension, improves circulation, reduces cortisol and increases serotonin levels, releases toxins from muscle tissues, reduces blood pressure, and can strengthen the body’s immune system, as well as a myriad of other benefits to physical and mental health.
For many of us, the body is reduced to a simple analogy: the vehicle for the brain/intellect. It becomes secondary, even tertiary to our goals, and our “To-Do” lists. The complexities of its functions are often taken for granted because they are seemingly disconnected to life beyond our skin; when in fact, they are inextricably tied to our relationship with the world around us. How our body functions is a reflection of how we function in our life.
While it is not the sole factor, when we nourish our body, we give ourselves more potential to succeed in life. Reduced pain and muscle tension allows for more flexibility and adaptability as we move through our environment. Lowered levels of cortisol reduces sympathetic biasing and soothes the fight or flight response when we are under stress. And a stronger immune system can add longevity and improve endurance.
Massage is commonly thought of as a luxury, a treat. The term “bodywork” resonates at a more individual level. It imbues a sense of care, a level of attention to the needs of the client in that moment. Bodywork incorporates modalities such as but not limited to massage or manual therapy, energy work, Reflexology, passive stretching, cupping, acupressure and CranioSacral Therapy.
What if you could reduce trips to the doctor or dependency on medication with a monthly appointment for bodywork? What if your writer’s block was linked to your chronic sinusitis? By taking a holistic approach to body mind wellness, we maximize human potential for healing and growth.
