A person contacted me recently saying they have a lower back pain and want to book a massage. I wrote back and asked for more details. The next email I got was one sentence: I’m just looking for a massage that’s gonna fix me.
At this point I had to point out that I don’t know enough about their situation and physical condition to promise any specific results. Of course, I didn’t hear back.
I am telling this story because there is something very important in it.
It is only us that are responsible for our health.
If someone tells me they just want me to fix them, they actually hand me their problem and ask me to get rid of it. I have a problem and I want to pay you to solve it, they are saying.
And as much as we wish it worked like that when our health is at stake, it doesn’t, not at all.
I cannot fix people. We can work together to alleviate their pain and even to get rid of it. This is a process, though, that can take some time. And definitely needs commitment, work, understanding the causes of the problem and desire to take responsibility on the part of my clients.
I have repeatedly witnessed the power of bodywork to support recovery. But there are many factors that contribute to pain. How we stand, move, rest, levels of stress, type of work we do and so on. These can easily outweigh the benefits from a single massage.
Massage facilitates healing when clients are ready and willing to allow it. And sometimes the big results will only materialise when people are committed to addressing the causes of the pain and allowing change in their lives.
I am here to help but I cannot do that important work instead of you.
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