I have just come off a Tony Robbins ‘Ultimate Breakthrough Challenge’ and there was a lot of attention paid to ENERGY (every time this word was mentioned, it was in a HIGH ENERGY way). We did a lot of quick exercises to ‘prime’ the body to get the body moving and blood circulating to improve focus to ‘change state’ to feel good. We also had talks on nutrition and juicing to provide the body with essential nutrients and to flush out toxins. All of this is really good stuff and I have incorporated some of the quick-fire exercises into my daily routine. So far so good. Looking at it from my Chinese roots of ‘yin yang’, it occurred to me that this type of approach to how we maintain our energy level is a ‘yang’ way – more overt and action-oriented- POW, POW. Equally important is to be able to access ‘yin’ approaches to energy. If ‘yang’ is the more overt or extroverted way of managing our energy, a ‘yin’ approach is to be aware of what is covert, hidden or not obvious. For instance, residual trauma. We might think we have dealt with an event because my memories, thoughts and feelings have been sufficiently processed and ‘put to bed’ and it no longer holds any ‘charge’ for me. As Biodynamic Massage Therapists, we also know that sometimes possible that within the body, there is still some residual trauma held in the tissue, structure, fluid that we are not necessarily conscious of until we experience dysfunction. With the right listening and attuned touch,it is possible we can contact what is still held in the body and assist in enabling final releases. It is very interesting to me that these traces can be pesky, requiring patience and an alertness to when conditions are right for them to reveal themselves. Yin is also about waiting, resting, withdrawing and being in repose. Gentler exercises with awareness such as Qi Gung, some forms of yoga and meditative practices. Written by: Amy Barnes
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A mental health resource pack which you can download below, entitled The Lone Therapist, has been created by Sue Frazer and Lindsey Nicholas from ABMT and Gina Lilley from Amatsu Therapy. This is part of an initiative by newly-formed Mental Health Working Group within GCMT (the Council for Soft Tissue Therapies). The Lone Therapist is designed to support massage therapists in terms of the mental health implications of their work. In biodynamic therapy, we already understand the intrinsic connection between emotional and physical health and this understanding informs much of the interactive material in the resource pack. In particular, we hope it will support and encourage other massage modalities to recognise the emotional implications of the client/therapist relationship. It is an interactive, visually orientated document and is still a work in progress, and we are interested in how it works for you in terms of its flow of ideas and the linked sections. It is available for anyone to download and feedback would be helpful, particularly in terms of how it might be of use to you. This resource document offers:
Written by: Lindsey Nicholas
A Therapist’s Protection Group within GCMT (the Council for Soft Tissue Therapies) recently commissioned a survey into sexual harassment within massage practice. It received about 600 replies from its membership (there are an estimated 10,000 practising massage therapists in the UK), and most of those prompted to complete the survey did so because they had experienced abuse and/or wanted something done about it. It feels a bit despairing and certainly shocking to read some of their testimony; that sexual harassment is still rife and massage therapy still being conflated with sex work (not helped during the Covid crisis by the Government referring to our industry as ‘massage parlours’). In terms of unsolicited attention, a significant number of respondents reported potential clients enquiring about ‘extras’, sending inappropriate texts, requests for sexualized or naked photos of the therapist, requests for the therapist to ‘dress up’, sending obscene photos taken by the client, etc. Therapists also reported assault – grabbing of their hand, leg, buttocks, etc; the client ejaculating or masturbating during the session and other abusive behaviour, including even stalking. Therapists detailed pre-emptive strategies to minimize the eventuality of harassment and assault – including on-line booking systems, pre-screening questions, alarms, number blocking, self-defence training, and even keeping car keys handy as a potential weapon. Therapists still do not feel safe in their practices and go to great lengths to protect themselves. Support GCMT is challenging the idea that sexual abuse is simply something therapists – both women and men, should have to live with. More should and can be done to stop sexual harassment in its tracks and minimize the amount of provocations and abuse that therapists receive. The aim of this new initiative is to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual abuse and to support and protect therapists more fully and effectively. Specifically:
Offences According to the police, while soliciting for sexual services is not a crime (unless you are a sex worker in the street) it is highly recommended you report any instances of sexual harassment. The police can at least conduct background checks against the suspect and build up a case against them. The suspect could receive a visit or a warning from a member of the police if there have been a number of complaints. This information can also be revealed if this person applies for a DBS. If someone touches or grabs an area of the body that the therapist perceives to be sexual, this can be considered sexual assault. If someone is sending inappropriate texts, photos and messages, this can be prosecuted as malicious communications. Indecent exposure is a crime regardless of whether it was committed in public or in private, if the intention is for someone else to see. This new initiative is at an early stage but a launch is coming soon. In the meantime if therapists want more support on this issue a pioneering and brave website in the US is worth taking a look at in terms of helpful videos and other information. https://respectmassage.com/ With organized and officially sponsored support from relevant agencies and the police, we can do more to eradicate the abuse massage therapists receive and help us all feel safer in our important work. Written by: Lindsey Nicholas, Chair ABMT |
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