Massage as a musical experience

 A number of clients have told me that they experience my massages musically.  Some also mention that they have strong visions of colors.

That is indeed how I approach a massage.  There has to be a beginning, an end, moments of stillness and an overall flow with smooth transitions. The hand movements transmit various qualities; creating space and suction to draw tension out, percussion and firmness to stimulate circulation, rapid movements and slow ones, rolling, kneading and holding, lifting and pressing and more.  In one hand movement alone there can be softness to let the tissue give way (piano), leading to a movement like kneading or percussion (forte) and ending possibly with a nerve stimulating feathering over the part that has been worked on (pianissimo).

  Before the beginning, is the prelude.  This can be a simple holding to connect, a rubbing or rocking of the body, a way of greeting and acknowledging the person that has come for help.
It offers an experience of my touch to let the client know what is to come.  The curtain is opened, the work can begin and the time of the session is all about the client.

Now the beginning:  I only use high quality oils.  The oils have different qualities and help to support the intention of the massage.  They enter the skin and bloodstream and have various effects; warming, soothing, detoxing, contracting, awakening and stimulating or overall harmonizing.  It is also possible to use a combination of oils.
As I apply the oil I can already feel many things-the health and temperature of the skin and tissue, underlying restrictions and the flow of breath.  I use light flowing and uplifting movements to spread the oil and before I work deeper into the tissue and muscles.  Translated to sound or color it would be an andante gracioso in pastel colors.

Everything has been prepared now, the body is warmed up and the main work can begin with all the bells and whistles.  It is important to have an overview of the whole, even when concentrating on individual parts that need work, always keeping the agreed upon intention in mind.  One can ease into each movement or technique, accelerate or slow down to go deeper in the middle of it, and smooth things out at the end.  A living organism can only be approached in a living way, therefore I try never to become mechanical or routinized in the use of my hands.  Deeper pressure will slow the flow or even end in holding, like a fermata, before continuing on.  Trying to melt away congested, adherent or strained areas in the tissues, muscles and tendons needs full concentration, patience and breathing in the hand movements.  Nothing can be forced.  That’s where we experience the depth of our destiny, the deeper colors and tones of our life experience, our limitations and obstacles.  In a symphony this would be the main theme.
There is a conversation between my hands and the body I am working on; in particular the areas that I have been asked to address.  By differentiating the quality of touch the tissue softens and breathes again.

Towards the end of the massage my hand movements bear a quality of closure.  In the last 15 minutes I will not “open anything up” anymore, or in musical terms start a new theme.  I most often end my massages at the feet.  Massaging the feet gives me a chance to relate to the whole person as I did in the beginning.  Working the reflex areas on the feet that relate to the areas that earlier in the massage received the most work, can be a wonderful finale and a second chance to let go and release tensions.

And then at the very end peace and silence.  A few minutes of nothing.  No holding, no movement, no more intention.  Just being and letting the body absorb and resonate.  The client now has time to him or herself alone.
When relaxation has been achieved the restorative forces can do their part, as in sleep.
So much can happen in the silence after the last vibration of sound has dissipated!

~Claudia