Grounding and Centering

[jennifer31]

Hello,

I am a new student of massage therapy, and I am FULL of questions!!

I would like to know how you seasoned therapists "ground" yourself before a session. In school they told us to set your intentions before you start massaging someone, in an effort to keep your mind focused and to keep your energies seperated. I was wondering if any one regularly does this, and if so, what do you say to yourself?

Do you say the same "prayer," (for lack of a better word), with each client? Or, how do you handle this?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!!
~~Christine

 

[berna]

Great question....I heard this over and over at MFR and need some help here too. One thing that helps me...is to let go of responsibility of the outcome of the session...that is not phrased right, how did that go?

Anyway, I say to myself...both when giving and receiving a massage, "I let go" Hopefully I did not eat beans the night before...

 

[Don H]

When outside the room I take a deep breath and just get my thoughts in "massage mode". Once with the client, I lay my hands on their back (normally start everyone prone) for a few seconds. I just feel grounded after that, can't really say I think of anything, just a blank mind for a bit and then I start working. It is so second nature now, I really haven't thought about it.

 

[Joe B]

I feel similar to Masthera, it is second nature. I don't know exactly if I have a prayer or anything I say that helps me to ground myself, but I do have a ritual of sorts but it's very quick.

In massage school we did this eye gazing exercise and it was incredibly powerful to me. Whenever I go into a massage I recall this eye gazing exercise, and bring my intention to be present with the individual on my table in the same way eye gazing makes one present with another. It brings about a deep reverence for my client and I am able to be grounded and focused.

 

[GoodyGoody]

For me it's breathing. Specifically, deep abdominal breathing as in Yoga or Qi Gung. If I find I'm running a little too fast or if I'm about to encounter a particularly difficult client, I'll stop and take a couple of deep cleansing breaths to clear and build up postiive energy (chi, prana, etc.) These are long slow breaths about 5 seconds to inhale and 5 seconds to exhale. (Your mileage may vary.) Also, good for post massage.
I'll offer up these insights from a Yoga site...
BTW, I consider grounding and centering to be two separate things.


By becoming aware of the breath, we are able to connect to this moment and take inventory of where we are. What happens for many of us is that we are not present and aware in this moment which causes us to tense in preparation for the future or from the past. Our minds are constantly thinking about the next task to be completed or the next appointment to make; or we are thinking about the past, stewing over disappointments, embarrassments or hurts. Each one of those pressures, hurts or hopes are reflected by a holding in our muscles and breath, and those holdings travel with us, affecting how we see and react to life. They build on each other creating layer upon layer of tension, protection, prejudice and judgment that keep us from truly seeing and hearing-despite our best intentions.

By observing the breath, we slowly start to become aware of when we are holding or fighting something. This holding disrupts the flow of energy throughout our bodies and further agitates the mind. By being with each inhale and each exhale, we begin to let go-of hopes and fears, of the past and the future, of tightened muscles and repeating thoughts-and begin to experience the present moment which we are able to meet with openness, lightness and clarity. Freed from our continued responses of interpretation, we cease being in opposition to or in connection with the present. The moment just is as are we.

 

[Jim Leary]

Roger Gilchrist in his book "Craniosacral Therapy and the Energetic Body" gives advice on grounding, and centering from the craniosacral point of view. But it is also work on other therapy as well

 

[walt17jr]

For me, touching and feeling are so important when starting to work on a client.

I begin as some of the others have mentioned, by placing my hands on the client's back, closing my eyes and focusing on the energetic exchange between the two of us. I also try to focus in on the energy I feel coming up from the earth through my feet. When I feel that flow going, then I begin. I have found that when I don't start like this, (especially on a new client) I am not as focused on the work I am doing and I tend to no do as good a job on the client.

 

[scooter]

grounding and centering

Good question ---
It's different with each client for me ---- and similar with each.
I cleanse myself while I wash up after each client, and try to shake off any leftovers before going to meet and greet the next client. After I do the intake and leave the room to let them get on the table, I stand outside the door and do some stretches and focus on the stated goals for the session.

I have a poster in the massage room with the Deep Peace prayer from Celtic traditions ---- Deep peace of the running wave to you, Deep peace of the flowing air to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace to you.

When I begin with resting touch, and throughout a session, if I get stuck with a difficult messy part on the client, or if I get caught up in my own stuff while working on a client, I go back to reading the prayer to myself inserting the client's name in each phrase. On the other wall is a collage I made that also helps me wish good things for the client..... it helps.....

When I finish with a client, I use resting touch and silently wish them peace again and express my gratitude for the honor of working on them.

And then it all begins again.

Hope this helps.
Linda in NC

 

[Helpful Answers]

Great question - I am a newbie to massage just about to complete my schooling in October so take this into consideration. I have combined my mother's Reiki techniques, our textbook's techniques, and deep adominal breathing. Usually start off with my (student) client's prone. I clasp my hands together and breath deep several times before beginning. This becomes a short hand warming exercise. I then clear my mind of the outside world and place both (warmed) hands on their back. I close my eyes and feel the exchange of energy between the client and myself. Sometimes this can be strong so I use my legs as a ground (literally and in my intentions) allowing for the exchange of energy without crossing my personal energy boundaries. Near the end of most body parts and the last strokes I like to featherstroke away from the body with two intentions. A light end stroke and to brush negative energy and emotions away from my client as well as myself. My final grounding with my hands on the client's neck and abdominal area will be a way of saying goodbye to their body and closing the flow of energy and then I thank them for allowing me to massage them (or work on/ with them). Great topic!