It is a therapy that addresses the 'issues in your tissues'. Working in this way helps you to be embodied; radical stuff in a culture that often makes us feel ashamed of the way our bodies are.
What happens in a session?
The focus of a holistic treatment is to look beyond the immediate pain in your shoulder to see what might be causing it and to take steps to either manage, or stop the pain in the long term. Consequently you might be asked about surprising aspects of your lifestyle; your relationship or your birth for example. Because a holistic therapist looks at the broad picture of your life, the insights arising will go to make a treatment plan that helps you to manage your well-being between treatments.
Some forms of massage are carried out with a set routine of strokes. Knowing that our bodies need different sorts of touch from day to day, a holistic massage is devised intuitively so the rhythm, depth and speed are good for where you are. There are a whole variety of strokes to choose from too, for example;
- Deep tissue
- Gentle holding
- Passive stretching to mobilise the joints
- Cranio-sacral work to head and sacrum
- Shiatsu points
- Energy work
- Swedish flowing effleurage or kneading
- Percussive work
- Techniques derived from healing traditions
- Aromatherapy
- Myofacial release
