Intuitive Massage?

I often see Massage Therapists refer to what they do as “Intuitive Massage,” for some that conjures up images of mind reading and clairvoyance and some people are actually put off by that term, but what is Intuitive Massage really?

First lets begin with the fact that a majority of Massage Therapists when asked “do you consider yourself empathetic?” will reply “Yes.” People who go into fields where they are helping others are often the kind who care deeply and feel deeply for others. Some are more in touch with the experiences and emotions of others and able to read the subtle body language of others.

There are many things that your body can tell people about you, when I am working on someone things about them are revealed in the massage, a subtle hint of chlorine and well defined lats tip me off that you are an avid swimmer. The condition of your skin can also tell me things about you as well, there is a certain feel to the skin of people who have diabetes and tension in certain areas on people who are teachers. Your body gives you away.

When I am working on a new client it can sometimes take a few moments for my hands and their body to begin communicating with one another, but that is exactly what is happening. It is not that I am “intuitive” in as much as observant of what your body is relaying about you to my hands.

There was a woman whom I had been working on, she had been back and forth to many doctors to get to the root cause of her constant neck pain and stiffness, they had been unable to find a cause. As I was working on her neck I was first struck by how very hard she was pushing her body, every day pushing herself to exhaustion. In that moment as I was working on her scalene muscles I explained to her that those muscles connect to the first and second ribs and may be effected by heavy breathing and panting in her work outs, but then I added “or heavy sobbing.”

That was when it happened, her eyes opened wide and she admitted she had been going through a very stressful time and had been uncontrollably sobbing often. I let her talk it out as I could feel her muscles softening under my touch. For the first time in a long time she walked out of the session pain free and aware of the real cause of her pain.

Moments like that are not rare in the massage room. When you are holding stress and emotions it builds up in your muscles. As I often tell my clients “your body cannot tell the difference between a real threat and a perceived one, your body will react to stress the same way it will react if a bear is chasing you, only there is no bear and you are not running away.”

For me it is not so much a matter of “intuition” as it is a matter of observing the subtle things your body is telling me. It is your body that tells me that although you are feeling the pain on the right side the muscles on the left side are pulling harder and riding higher. I listen to both what you are telling me is the source of the pain and also at what your body is trying to tell me, its a lot like putting together a new puzzle.

Yes, there may be a level of intuition in what we massage therapists do, but I personally think it has a lot more to do with an awareness of how your body is communicating with us. Every therapist has their own approach to treatment and some may be more empatheticly aware in their touch. As a recent client had stated “there is a mindfulness in your touch” I think that more accurately describes it.


Yours in Health and Wellness,
Kristeen Kish
CAMTC Certified Massage Therapist

Health and Human Touch

Today I was inspired to write about the benefits of human touch because of a post I read on Ideapod about human touch and the importance of touching and being touched.

I have been aware for many years that some childrens hospitals have volunteer positions for “cuddlers” to come and hold and rock the sick babies and children to help increase their survival rate. One such hospital has elderly volunteers that come to rock the babies with AIDS and says that it is of benefit to both the babies and to the elderly volunteers to have that human touch.

A simple pat on the back, a hug, or a gentle touch of the hand can have a profound impact on health and healing.

The following quotes and information can be found in this article:

http://www.exhibithealth.com/general-health/health-benefits-of-human-touch-1345/

Even though touch has been shown to have measurable health benefits, it is also true that touch deprivation can have a detrimental effect on health. A growing body of research suggests that American children and adolescents are dangerously touch-deprived. Psychologist Matthew Hertenstein, PhD, director of the Touch and Emotion Lab at DePauw University says that touch deprivation is a real thing. “Most of us, whatever our relationship status, need more human contact than we’re getting,” says Hertenstein.

Neurologist Shekar Raman, MD, in Richmond, Virginia explains: “A hug, pat on the back, and even a friendly handshake are processed by the reward center in the central nervous system, which is why they can have a powerful impact on the human psyche, making us feel happiness and joy. And it doesn’t matter if you’re the toucher or touchee. The more you connect with others — on even the smallest physical level — the happier you’ll be.”

Touch can also benefit the immune system. According to Ms Field: “In studies of women with breast cancer, we found that when cortisol levels are up, natural killer (NK) cells are down. –

Health Benefits of Human Touch:

• eases pain
• helps with infant growth
• enhances vital signs
• stabilizes body temp
• can communicate positivity
• helps provide better sleep
• reduces irritability
• increases sociability
• strengthens relationships
• strengthens immune system
• helps with depression
• increases proper digestion
• releases serotonin
• enhances a sense of well-being
• stimulates oxytocin – the cuddle hormone
• slows heart rate – lowers blood pressure
• lowers the stress hormone cortisol
• gives comfort and relieves sadness
• can help us feel happiness & joy
• releases tension & tightness
• helps migraine pain
  Read more at WPBeginner: Health Benefits of Human Touchhttp://www.exhibithealth.com/general-health/health-benefits-of-human-touch-1345/

Yours in Health and Wellness,
Kristeen Kish
CAMTC Certified Massage Therapist

Can't Afford A Massage?

I often have people telling me that they wish they could get regular massage but they cannot afford it. I would like to point out a few ways that one can get regular massage without breaking the bank.

First I would like to explain that you would be getting the same exact quality of massage from me if you came to me at a high end spa or a low end spa, at a chiropractic setting or in your own home. The only difference would be that you might not get the amenities of a high end spa such as a Eucalyptus Steam Room and showers.

PPO insurance: most PPO insurance covers alternative medicine, you can use this option to get part or all of the cost of your massage treatments covered by your insurance. In some cases a massage therapist can bill directly to insurance (depending on state laws) or a client can receive massage therapy at a chiropractic or other alternative medicine clinic. Find out if your insurance covers massage.

Memberships: Many spas offer membership rates which lock in a reduced price for being a loyal customer, and example would be non member rate of $99.99 an hour vs member rate of $59.99, saving you $30 per visit. Look into the terms of the contract and the cancellation policies before entering into a membership, introductory rates are often available at such places for first time clients.

Massage Schools: if your insurance does not cover massage and you absolutely cannot afford to get massage treatments don’t discount the idea of getting a massage from students. By the time they get to the clinical part of their education they have already been practicing on each other, family members, and friends and have learned all the basics they need to get started in their hands on education. You will also be providing them much needed practice and feedback to help them in their future career in the field. The cost varies from school to school so contact a few schools in your area and inquire.

Groupon: I hesitate to mention groupon because its business model can be financially hard on a massage therapist as the reduced rate and fees for groupon are generally cost prohibitive in a massage setting but it is an option for finding massage at a reduced cost, sometimes as low as $35 an hour depending on the location. It is a good way to shop around for a good price as well as a good therapist. The downside to groupon is that on average only 10% of people who use a groupon will become repeat clients, which is why many places tend to shy away from offering groupons.

Many private therapists are more than happy to offer you a reduced cost for repeat business and some offer special package deals such as pay for 4 massages get the 5th one free, feel free to ask your therapist if he or she offers any reduced cost options, many will be willing to work with you in exchange for your loyalty as a client.

Make sure that you are being treated by a trained and state regulated massage therapist as there are still many fake massage establishments out there offering very cheap massages that are not only untrained and uneducated but may also be contributing to the nation wide human trafficking problem.


Yours in Health and Wellness,
Kristeen Kish
CAMTC Certified Massage Therapist