That Which Arises

     Over the last few months in classes and conversations with other bodyworkers a common theme has come forward several times. Trying to put a name to it, it might be called  "That Which Arises."  
     In bodywork we have deep tissue, in Chinese medicine there is sha, and in other modalities there is also a sense of bringing that which is deep up to the surface, up to conscious awareness.  In Deep Tissue massage the focus of the work is not really deep pressure but attention to a particular tissue in the body called fascia. Fascia in large part is responsible for our particular shape, our unique twists and curves. That shape is a result of our daily habits, and to a large degree our thoughts and feelings, mostly the subconscious ones.  One aspect of that shape is reachable by touching, but the mind and feelings may need a "deeper" tool.
     In the bodyworker's tool kit is the cup.  Familiar to those who visit a doctor trained in Chinese medicine, and now being more widely used by massage therapists as well, the cup creates a local vacuum on the skin which pulls  skin and underlying tissues up.  This does several beneficial things, among which is what one of my teachers described as "bringing up deep stagnation to the surface where the body can more easily disperse it."
     This idea or observation has itself arisen in many contexts recently. As bodyworkers we touch both the body and that which is in the body: the mind, the emotions, and the history of that person. What does "I don't deserve love" or "I'm a bad person" look like in the tissues?  It varies of course from person to person, but imagine how those statements feel, what would they look like after a lifetime of living and believing them? What would  "I am a great person" and  "I deserve all the love in the world"  look like.  You probably had a picture pop into your head, or perhaps a feeling, and you're probably right.  These are common paradigms we all are confronted with, that we embrace or flee,  both the good and the bad.
     Bodyworkers have  always known that memories can be triggered by massage and other modalities.  We are trained to stay by our clients side, and essentially make soothing sounds and "be" with the person, not trying to help in any way other than being present.  (What that really means is a bit fuzzy, but my profession has a certain comfort level with fuzzy.)  But the power of being in the presence of powerful emotions, and just "being" without an agenda can have quite a powerful positive effect.  
     Me, being who I am,  prefer to do.  Sometimes nothing is the right thing to "do."  But now we have EFT.  Using the power of tapping, now when long buried emotions and beliefs arise that are not helpful for who we want to be, we can disperse them from our body's energy system and be done with them. Beliefs  and feelings that kept us stagnant and stuck can now be freed and doing so now frees up energy, ease, mobility, breathing, or flexibility.
     My massage practice newsletter has always been called "Arising in Health"  and I like the name now more than ever.

namaste