Tips to a better massage energy

Image by teachingsagittarian via Flickr

As mentioned last week, massage is energy exchange. This makes it important that the therapist is aware of the mechanisms and takes that into consideration both before, during and after a massage.

There are different approaches, many depending on personal beliefs and experiences. The preparations and practices can be very personal and should generally not be shared with the client to avoid potential conflicts of beliefs and religions. I will list suggestions and ideas based on my own practices and what other therapists have shared with me.

Before the massage, preparing the massage room helps the therapist prepare for the massage while creating a healing environment for the client.

• Candles can be lighted, music put on, the temperature adjusted, incense burnt or essential oils put in the vaporizer.
• Preparing the table with sheets and towels, sorting the tools used and mixing a massage oil.
• Ritual purification, smudging, energy cleansing, a prayer etc.
  

Cleansing one self and preparing the massage room is very important to many massage therapists. This is one of the major reasons many prefer their own space, or at least their own room for all massages.

Preparing the therapist:

• Shower, hair, make-up, general appearance.
  
• Changing clothes to the "massage uniform". Changing clothes between massages (or at least the t-shirt) is refreshing and helps to let go of the former massage before receiving the next client.
• Washing of hands while the client undresses and get ready is both hygienic and a way to release negative energies.
• Ritual cleansing, smudging, a chant, prayer etc.
  

Just before entering the massage room with the client in it:

• Deep breathing releasing tensions.
• A quick meditation or prayer
  
• Visualization, eg. leaving behind negative energy, being filled with light, opening op etc.
• A prayer, chant, invoking guides or guarding angels etc
  

These suggestions can become a small ritual that calms the mind and helps the therapist focus on the task at hand. If done properly, the therapist will leave behind all personal worries and problems and be able to focus fully on the client and his needs.

During the massage the therapist can increase her energy. Most often these things are silent and private and the client will have no conscious notion that it's happening:

• Focus on intent. The intent of a massage is to provide healing, relaxation, make the client feel good, get the muscles to relax etc. Keeping this firmly in mind will help this to happen and invoke the energies wanted.
  
• Feel love and compassion for the client and tune in. Try to understand what's going on and how the client feels.
• Visualize being a channel, for pure light, universal energy, love or god's power. Let the energy come from the outside, go through you and your hands into the client. This way you don't drain yourself completely and give yourself (and those emotions not left behind) to the client. The energy given becomes pure and untainted.
• Talk to the client's body. While massaging an area, silently ask for cooperation and explain that you only seek to heal and help it feel better.
• Use prayers, invoke deities, protectors, chants etc as suits the situation and beliefs.

There are of course many other ways to increase the energy and give a better massage. We're all different people and what works for me might not work for another. The most important is the intent. That we all go into a massage with the intention of giving compassion and healing to the client. Giving a massage with the right intent goes a long way to create a wondrous experience for the receiver.

Feel free to share your own experiences in the comments below. Both as a giver and receiver of massages. I look forward to hearing from you and learning from your knowledge.