Mind~Body Connection
Massage and Communication
What is your body telling you? In this issue of “On The Path”, we are focusing on the 5th Chakra, or Throat Chakra. This chakra has to do with communication and self-expression. While communication includes seeing, speaking, listening, etc., when interacting with the outside world, there is another very important form of communication that is going on constantly that we may or may not be aware of. This is the communication with self - the messages we receive from our amazing bodies. They tell us when we’re hungry, tired, need to use the bathroom, etc. But if we are aware, we will find that our bodies also tell us when there is imbalance, not only physically, but emotionally and even spiritually as well.
Deepak Chopra, MD, has said, "The issues are in the tissues." What this means is that psychological issues such as anger, depression, neurosis, hostility and free-floating anxiety are not simply psychological. They have a correlate in the brain, and through the central nervous system the brain makes every cell in your body aware that you have an issue.
We all tend to have holding patterns for different kinds of tension and we are all unique.
For instance, maybe stress over a problem at work will manifest in stiffness in the neck and shoulders. Anxiety, however, could show up as digestive problems or tightness in the chest, while fatigue or sadness shows up as a pain and tension in the low back.
Touch is one of the best ways to become more consciously familiar with how our body feels. Touch draws our attention to a specific point of contact. It shifts our focus from external distractions and brings our awareness to what is happening physically, right here right now. Massage offers a perfect opportunity to gain more insight into our bodily sensations and sharpen our mental consciousness of our physical form.
During a massage, try participating in the following ways and see what works best for you in getting to know your own body.
* Pay attention to what areas feel the best when touched, what areas are ticklish and what areas you don’t enjoy having worked on. Notice what areas have the most tension, what areas have the least, which places are easy to relax and which ones are more difficult. Pay attention to your preferences. Do you prefer lighter touch or deeper? Is it soothing to you if your therapist moves your limbs around or stretches your body parts or is it difficult for you to let someone do this.
by Maria Knauff