Massage And Aromatherapy
Exploring the power of integrated touch and movement
Massage/Bodywork is the rubbing or kneading of the body’s soft tissues, and the tapping into the body’s “wireless anatomy” (Qi, Ki, or Chi).
Merge movement to this and you have a powerful holistic healing system I have named Touch-Somatics.
These techniques are commonly applied with fingers, hands, knees, elbows, knees, forearms, feet, or even and manual or electric device.
The purpose of Massage/Bodywork is generally for the treatment of structural and energetic imbalances, and to address body or emotional stress or pain.
In professional settings, clients are treated while sitting in a specially designed massage chair or lying on a massage table, or a mat on the floor.
There are many different modalities in the Massage/Bodywork profession, including (but not limited to): deep tissue, shiatsu, manual lymphatic drainage, medical, sports, structural integration, emotional release, somatics, Swedish, Thai, acupressure, and trigger point.
Light vs. Deep Massage
Many massage/bodywork systems lean towards an approach of gentle healing energy while others are a more invasive style of muscle manipulation.
My own experience is that each has its place. Light work tends to have a more profound effect on emotional “holding patterns” and since light work is less invasive it enables the client to work through “emotional trauma” and structural blockages at an easier more comfortable pace.
Often it is emotional issues that may be contributing to the structural situation. Certain structural situations seem to respond only to very deep and forceful bodywork. In these situations I may use an Energetic Bodywork Technique called Connective Tissue De-armoring.
Here is a list of Integrative Energy Based And Structurally Based Massage/Bodywork Techniques
- Structurally Based Bodywork Systems
- Contemporary Esalen Style
- On-Site/Seated/Chair Bodywork
- Pregnancy Bodywork
- Infant and Child Bodywork
- Sports Bodywork
- Geriatric Bodywork (for the elderly)
- Russian Bodywork
- Bindegesebs Bodywork
- Lymphatic Bodywork
- Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy
- Lauren Berry Method
- Bowen Technique
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Craniosacral Therapy
- Ortho-Bionomy
- Body Logic
Non-Bodywork Structurally Based Bodywork Systems
- Standing Upright
- Rolfing (Structural Integration)
- Aston-Patterning
- Hellerwork
- Postural Integration
- Soma Neuruomuscular Integration
- CORE Bodywork
- Myofascial Release
Functionally Based, Body/Mind Approaches To Bodywork and Movement
- Learning to Move
- The Alexander Technique
- Gerda Alexander Eutony
- Sensory Awareness
- The Mesendieck System
- The Feldenkrais Method
- Hanna Somatic Education
- Body-Mind Centering
- Western Based Movement Arts
- Dance
- Laban-Bartenieff
- The Pilates or Physical Mind Method
- Ideokinesis
- Contact Improvisation
Aromatherapy
I can use aromatherapy with any of these techniques
One of the most popular ways to use aromatherapy oils is in massage. The fastest way to get the oils into your system is by mixing the essence in a base of lanolin and cocoa butter. Then rub the compound on your chest morning and night. Oils like coriander, vertivert, cinnamon, ylang-ylang and neroli are a few of many, which work to improve circulation and relax the nervous system.
Concentrated Massage oil combination #1 for mild depression
2 tblsp. Sweet almond oil (or vegetable oil)
1 tsp. sweet almond oil
8 drops Ylang ylang essential oil
8 drops Lavender essential oil
2 drops Geranium essential oil
2 drops Basil essential oil
2 drops Bergamot essential oil
Apply a small amount of this oil combination on the back of the hands and chest area.
Massage oil combination #2
To create this custom blend, add the essential oils in a
10-oz bottle and then add organic vegetable oil to fill.
This blend can help depressed people open themselves to positive opportunities and attitudes. Aromatherapy will bring more joy into their lives. Try this recipe:
* 3 drops Ylang Ylang
4 drops Orange
4 drops Grapefruit
This can be used by placing 20 drops into in a warm or mix these oils into some sweet almond oil and massage the combination into the area around your navel. and inhale deeply.
Room dispersal. An essence can be effectively dispersed throughout a room by use of an atomizer. Another good method is to buy a small heat lamp with a crucible. The heat vaporizes the essence and disperses it throughout the room. Heat lamps are available at many stores that sell essences.
Nebulizers mist microscopic essential oil droplets into the air quickly. You can also purchase, aromalamps, aromatherapy candles and incense.
Don’t use aromatic blends every day nor diffuse for long periods of time as your sense of smell will begin “ignoring” the aroma, thereby, reducing the therapeutic effects.
The Takeaway.
It is important to remember that some aromatic oils can be ingested orally but generally speaking they are not the most effective ways of healing depression and other emotional problems. Pure, undiluted essential oils can also be used in a diffuser. Also, some essences are too powerful to be taken orally. Consult a qualified specialist. When wearing full-strength Bergamot, be careful not to expose your skin to intense sunlight or ultra-violet light as skin discoloration may result.
Here is a Medium story on this subject:
@klsimmons
Here is a Medium story from my archives:
@LewisCoaches
This story is an excerpt from my Module for making the best choices, from my online Course, “The Self Improvement Lifestyle”. You review introductions to his many personal growth courses at:
Author: Lewis Harrison is a Manifestation Coach, professional futurist (forecaster), and business consultant at…
He is the Executive Director of the International Association of Healing Professionals an educational organization that offers programs around the world in Intentional Living. He is also Independent Scholar, with a passion for knowledge, personal development, self-improvement, creativity, innovation, and problem-solving.
For a decade, Lewis was the host of a humor-based Q & A talk show on NPR (National Public Radio) affiliated WIOX FM in NY.
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