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Have you gotten massage therapy?
My muscles are always stiffer, especially at this time of year. But it dawned on me that my cousin is in massage therapy school right now, so maybe he could practice on me. Initially, it might be a little awkward, but I thought he could do my arms and neck. He’s learning reiki, too, so I was just wondering if it’s worth it! I’ve never had a massage before.
Have you gotten massage therapy? If so, did you find it beneficial?
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5 Replies
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Hey Alyssa. Due to childhood PT trauma I refused anything that looked like therapy for most of my life. Fast forward, a LMT friend of mine offered massage as a birthday present. Completely different experience. It’s now part of my foundation self-care regimen.
Most important thing (as in everything else) is communication. You want to be clear about your goals, mine are improving circulation and maintaining range of motion. It helped lower swelling in my legs and feet, eased the compression in my back and lowered my general pain level.
In my experience, it’s awkward for the first couple of sessions, he’s gonna be worried about hurting you, too. Unfamiliar territory for both of you. Use that. You’re both new to this and you’re learning together.
Let’s not downplay the importance of physical contact to mental health. Living with a disability means there’s a constant baseline pain level and casual horseplay doesn’t happen when you can be injured. Even hugs become more hesitant. It’s like starving at a banquet when your love language is physical contact.
Yes, do it. It helps with so many things. If he has doubts, he can ask his teachers about strategies specific to neuromuscular disorders.
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Thank you for sharing! I’m glad it was a positive experience for you. If you don’t mind me asking, how does it benefit you? Is it something that helps you relax, or do your muscles actually feel less tense? Also, have you ever tried reiki?
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Ask all of the questions!
After massage, I really notice how much physical energy I spend guarding. There’s a constant underlying tension to my posture & balance as my body is trying to resist gravity. (I don’t know if that’s actually what’s happening but that’s how it feels). So, yes, it helps me relax and it alleviates tension. I do find that trigger points are more sensitive to pressure so I would tread lightly until you and he learn your tolerance levels.
The only downside I have with massage therapy is that after working with me almost every single practitioner decided they wanted to go into therapeutic healing. One went into physical therapy, another became an acupuncturist, a third now works with disabled kids. They all said working with me made them want to help people in real pain.
There’s some controversy in the medical community about whether or not Reiki is real. They used the same arguments against acupuncture until the physical structures were found by researchers. Both come from eastern medicine so their approach is different than western medicine, but I have found them to be effective for me. In theory, Reiki clears and balances the energy channels of your body. Some practitioners touch directly, many don’t.
At the most minimal, being in someone’s presence who is there to alleviate your pain without negotiating or having emotional baggage is really good. At best, you’ll start learning how to live in your skin more lightly and be a little more pain-free.
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I love this. Thank you for being so descriptive. I’ll let you know if I decide to do it!
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That’s why we’re here, to ask questions and share experiences
Did you decide to ask your cousin about working together? It could make a good school project for him to present. Extra credit or something.
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