Receiving A Massage

One thing I notice regularly with my massage clients is that they want to help. When I lift their arm, they instantly jump in and lift it for me. When I start my flow, they tense up and get ready, as if they're bracing for something bad to happen. When I go to lift the leg, the leg automatically goes up into the air as soon as the client feels the touch. When I go to work on the back of the neck when the client is  supine, they lift their head in reaction to the touch. People generally come get a massage for relaxation... Here's my question: How arre any of the things I mentioned above relaxing? Reactive, yes. Relaxing, no.

I always start my sessions the same way: I check in with comfort regarding the face cradle and bolster under the ankles, then I let them know that they're going to have this urge to want to try and help. I don't discount this... it's a pretty natural urge for one human to want to help another... it's one of the many beautiful things about being human. However, in a massage, "helping" does not actually help. It just keeps you tight. It keeps you on high alert, ready to jump in and give assistance where you think assistance is needed. I can't repeat it enough: ALL THAT DOES IS KEEP YOU TIGHT AND ON HIGH ALERT. 

When you come in for a massage, be prepared to let EVERYTHING go. EVERYTHING. Let go of the urge to want to help. During a massage, you should be floppy dead weight. Let go of trying to focus on what your massage therapist is doing. Try to go to that place mentally where you're not quite asleep, nor really awake. That place your consciousness goes right before you fall asleep is a wonderful place mentally to receive a massage.