A Decade of Healing Hands: Lessons from 11 Years of Massage Therapy
Reflecting on my 11-year journey in massage, which involved the need to learn various forms, styles, and modalities, I realise that all my training and studies came together as a unified approach, adapting to the specific conditions and intentions of each situation. Initially, I focused on understanding the physical body—how it functions, moves, and how to diagnose and treat various conditions. I learned how to massage in a way that is gentle yet flowing, how to touch in a way that is both safe and effective. I was amazed by the variety of massage techniques, the diversity of people, beliefs, attitudes, circumstances, and the outcomes observed both within and beyond the consultation.
As I progressed, I recognised that to remove the experience causing tension, injury, or pain in the physical body, it was essential to observe how our beliefs shape our existence. These beliefs can have a lasting impact on our lives, livelihood, and joy. Our thoughts and emotions—whether conscious or unconscious—towards what we are experiencing internally, shape our lived reality. This understanding led me to somatics: the study of how the body holds and processes past experiences. Somatic work reveals how unresolved trauma, emotional wounds, and stress are stored in the body, often manifesting as chronic tension, discomfort, or pain. Our bodies carry the imprints of past experiences, whether from childhood, relationships, or life events, and these imprints affect how we experience the present moment. This understanding deepened my approach to healing, realising that addressing the body’s memory was just as vital as addressing the mind’s thoughts.
However, freedom from physical pain also requires a deep understanding of the mind. Observing our thoughts, speech, and actions helps to unravel the layers of tension we carry, not just in the body, but in our entire being. The mind, when unobserved, can amplify pain and suffering by feeding into negative patterns and reinforcing beliefs that contribute to physical ailments. By becoming more aware of our thoughts and choosing to shift them, we can begin to release their hold on the body. Speaking and acting in alignment with truth and love further lightens the heart, which in turn affects our physical state. When the heart is burdened with unresolved emotions, guilt, fear, or regret, it can manifest as tension or pain in the body. Lightening the heart, letting go of emotional baggage, is therefore a crucial step in releasing physical pain.
This also led me to a deeper understanding of the power a therapist holds to influence someone's life, which requires deep consideration and care.
When we are unwell and seek professional help, we typically choose someone we trust—someone we feel safe with, whose belief systems and methods of treatment align with our own. The power a practitioner wields is profound, as significant as life and death. Over the years, I saw how reports, histories, tests, and diagnoses often arose from fear and irresponsibility, leading to long-term physical conditions that should not have existed. We can experience pain, injury, or illness without understanding why. We remain in the dark, unaware of the truth.
I recognise that these explanations—spiritual or philosophical in nature—are interconnected with physical experiences. We are all one, and everything is entwined. What happens in one place reverberates everywhere; what occurs in the body affects the other layers of our being.
The truth is that we are all healers with the ability to self-heal. We are seekers, truth holders, questioners, and answerers. Through our own awareness, we can trust our path by first knowing it. Constant awareness and education are required to keep up with the ever-changing conditions, realities, and dimensions that we experience. Every person’s journey is uniquely their own.
