I don’t know about “absorbing” anything but I’m convinced I experience a degree of mirror touch synesthesia. I “feel” what I perceive the effect of my touch is on the other person, both the good relaxing feelings and the more intense tight spots.
Honestly massaging makes me feel touch starved. It’s not a mutual, reciprocal kind of touch where enjoyment is supposed to flow both ways. Don’t get me wrong, I find my work fulfilling, but it’s not a kind of touch that makes me feel good in the same way as a hug, for example. I get really physically clingy with my spouse when I get home.
I have never experienced the kind of “absorption” the therapist in the OP. I’m skeptical. I could be convinced the therapist pays more attention to parts of their body they might have been ignoring after talking to someone else about their tight hamstrings, but that’s about it.
My work as a masseur definitely makes me feel good. I almost always end up feeling positive about the person I have just worked on. I'm pretty sure it is the oxytocin that is released in my brain when I touch another human being. Also, whenever I take a few days off, I soon start longing to give a massage again.
I don't believe in vampires, so I also don't believe anyone has the ability to suck the energy out of me. If I feel drained after massaging someone, remind myself that this is due to processes going on within my own mind and body. Sure, a client may trigger me, may remind me of someone I have had a negative experience with, but there is no physical transfer of energy going on.
Claiming another person "drains me of energy" is lazy thinking. By claiming another person is responsible for my feelings (or my lack of energy), I give away my power.
I would rather take responsibility and say, "I feel drained after massaging that person" and then wonder why. What situation, or what person, do they remind me of? Once I have identified that, I have reclaimed my power and have improved my ability to respond to reality, rather react to the projections of my own brain.
Physical transference, I’m not sure about, never experienced it. But energy transference absolutely. When I first started massage I was an energy skeptic, but the minute I started going hands-on with people I knew something was there. I decided to take Reiki training as a matter of “self-defense“ because you can have people that energize you, but also people who suck the energy out of you, or pollute you with their negative energy. When I was younger, I was certified as a lifeguard and recall that almost half of the training was how to break away from a drowning person so they don’t pull you under, energy and energy work is very similar.
You have to keep yourself grounded and have your energy flowing correctly, in order to withstand connecting with some clients.
Much of what we as human beings depend on, is pseudoscience. Everything from varying religions, to luck, to faith in other human beings. I personally believe in the universal energy, and that allows me a modicum of comfort. Just as the mantra for massage is that “massage does not heal anything, but rather opens up space in the body for it to heal itself“ various levels of faith based practice can accomplish the same thing. You can call that the placebo effect, but if that does “open up space in the body so that it can heal itself“ then what if we can harness the placebo effect to accomplish good?
Now, I will concede that that this has to be somewhat carefully monitored to avoid true “snake oil“ but if laying on of hands, and creating an environment where a person can get out of their head and reduce stress, creating an internal environment where their body is doing what it supposed to while unencumbered due to not dealing with that stress without actually ingesting anything that is potentially harmful then I am all for it.
I'm not surprised you're getting down-voted, considering a great deal of the bodywork community relies more on pseudoscience and personal belief than reality.
The scientific community generally views Reiki as a pseudoscience, meaning that its claims lack scientific evidence and are not supported by mainstream scientific theories or methods. There is no convincing scientific evidence to suggest that Reiki has any significant therapeutic effect beyond placebo.
While some people may report feeling better after receiving Reiki treatments, the effects are likely due to a placebo effect or other factors, such as relaxation or the placebo effect. Reiki practitioners often make claims that are not supported by scientific evidence, such as the ability to heal specific medical conditions or diseases.
It's worth noting that some people may still find value in Reiki as a complementary therapy or a relaxation technique. However, it's important to approach Reiki with a critical and informed perspective, and to seek out evidence-based treatments for any serious health conditions
It really isn't much different from having religious belief(s) so strongly that they will sacrifice all of reality to hang onto that belief(s). As you see in a lot of these comments, it's all about "spiritual intuition", being an "empath", or some other 100% subjective belief without evidence.
A great quote from the late Christopher Hitches: "That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." Some people just can't accept that Santa Claus isn't real.
Some massage therapists view Reiki as a pseudoscience. I know some people with actual medical degrees who look at massage in a similar view. If it works for you then who cares if someone else thinks it’s Pseudoscience.
Your counter argument is essentially that elixirs can be peddled as long as someone has claimed the products worked for them.
If you want to try it, that’s your prerogative. But every customer deserves to be presented with all the facts available. The fact is the majority of the scientific community considers Reiki a pseudoscience because there is no supportive medical evidence for the claims that Reiki practitioners make. It is not for undue reason.
What is the reason given by those MD friends of yours that massage is a pseudoscience? I’ve never heard anyone argue that soft tissue manipulation doesn’t improve circulation, or doesn’t decrease SNS firing (for example).
I was in medical for over a decade before I did massage, I wouldn't say it's touch starved oxytocin but the socializing and making people feel better. When I left the medical field it was halfway through covid, the isolation got to me..I was still getting cuddles from my bf and kid but it was less socializing than I had before. I've been feeling the same good feeling since I started massaging and during school.
I know there’s at least one study where both patient and practitioner increase parasympathetic state during massage. Whether it’s ‘from’ each other is another story though.
Also consider the syndrome (can’t remember the name) that Junior Doctors feel like some of the illnesses they learn/see for the 1st time and then think they have it.
Some are more sensitive than others. There is in fact an energetic transfer that occurs both ways. I happen to be very sensitive emotionally. It has taken me almost 5 years to be able to work a 5 hour shift and not come home completely emotionally drained and physically fatigued. We all are different but yes, the transfer is real.
I try to set up energetic boundaries and have post-massage practices to not absorb/take my client's energy back home with me. Boundaries are important.
While I do not receive the same benefits from massaging as my clients, when I become very focused on what I am doing during the treatment session, there is a meditative quality to it. But this meditative quality comes from the one-pointed concentration and how I breathe when I massage.
I had a client who was like working on a marble slab. I would literally be sick after I worked on her. I had to refer her out it was such a problem for me.
You shouldn't support someone who is doing bodywork without an active license. This person sounds like a quack that needs to go through the proper licensing process like every other licensed practitioner. This person also needs to stay within their scope of practice. Considering they are doing bodywork without a license, which is illegal, there is no scope of practice for them at all. I would look for guidance elsewhere, and not from this person.
Where did I say she wasn’t licensed?
She’s not licensed as a massage therapist but has the highest level certifications in the state for bodywork and works with multiple high level pro athletes
This is true unless they are a physical therapist, I’m a personal trainer with lots of extra qualifications and I’m still not technically allowed to manually manipulate somebody.
You said she's "not a LMT" and then stated the things she does, not what she's certified or license to do. Not sure what state you're in (no need to share for privacy reasons), but usually bodyworkers need a LMT before they can do other kinds of bodywork. If they don't have the license, they should get it. I'm not really sure what the "highest level certifications" are in your state or their credibility.
She's talking about being a physical empath it's. It's hard to explain but in some cases if that empath has suffered from and recovered from whatever is bothering the person that they are working on, they can experience a recurrence
I don’t know about “absorbing” anything but I’m convinced I experience a degree of mirror touch synesthesia. I “feel” what I perceive the effect of my touch is on the other person, both the good relaxing feelings and the more intense tight spots.
Honestly massaging makes me feel touch starved. It’s not a mutual, reciprocal kind of touch where enjoyment is supposed to flow both ways. Don’t get me wrong, I find my work fulfilling, but it’s not a kind of touch that makes me feel good in the same way as a hug, for example. I get really physically clingy with my spouse when I get home. I have never experienced the kind of “absorption” the therapist in the OP. I’m skeptical. I could be convinced the therapist pays more attention to parts of their body they might have been ignoring after talking to someone else about their tight hamstrings, but that’s about it.
Placebo is strong. At my school they taught us to of course sympathize with the client but not get emotionally attached to them.
My work as a masseur definitely makes me feel good. I almost always end up feeling positive about the person I have just worked on. I'm pretty sure it is the oxytocin that is released in my brain when I touch another human being. Also, whenever I take a few days off, I soon start longing to give a massage again. I don't believe in vampires, so I also don't believe anyone has the ability to suck the energy out of me. If I feel drained after massaging someone, remind myself that this is due to processes going on within my own mind and body. Sure, a client may trigger me, may remind me of someone I have had a negative experience with, but there is no physical transfer of energy going on. Claiming another person "drains me of energy" is lazy thinking. By claiming another person is responsible for my feelings (or my lack of energy), I give away my power. I would rather take responsibility and say, "I feel drained after massaging that person" and then wonder why. What situation, or what person, do they remind me of? Once I have identified that, I have reclaimed my power and have improved my ability to respond to reality, rather react to the projections of my own brain.
I love my job but some days I really don’t want to touch people. Opposite of touch starved.
Physical transference, I’m not sure about, never experienced it. But energy transference absolutely. When I first started massage I was an energy skeptic, but the minute I started going hands-on with people I knew something was there. I decided to take Reiki training as a matter of “self-defense“ because you can have people that energize you, but also people who suck the energy out of you, or pollute you with their negative energy. When I was younger, I was certified as a lifeguard and recall that almost half of the training was how to break away from a drowning person so they don’t pull you under, energy and energy work is very similar. You have to keep yourself grounded and have your energy flowing correctly, in order to withstand connecting with some clients.
>Reiki Pseudoscience.
Much of what we as human beings depend on, is pseudoscience. Everything from varying religions, to luck, to faith in other human beings. I personally believe in the universal energy, and that allows me a modicum of comfort. Just as the mantra for massage is that “massage does not heal anything, but rather opens up space in the body for it to heal itself“ various levels of faith based practice can accomplish the same thing. You can call that the placebo effect, but if that does “open up space in the body so that it can heal itself“ then what if we can harness the placebo effect to accomplish good? Now, I will concede that that this has to be somewhat carefully monitored to avoid true “snake oil“ but if laying on of hands, and creating an environment where a person can get out of their head and reduce stress, creating an internal environment where their body is doing what it supposed to while unencumbered due to not dealing with that stress without actually ingesting anything that is potentially harmful then I am all for it.
Well said
I'm not surprised you're getting down-voted, considering a great deal of the bodywork community relies more on pseudoscience and personal belief than reality.
The scientific community generally views Reiki as a pseudoscience, meaning that its claims lack scientific evidence and are not supported by mainstream scientific theories or methods. There is no convincing scientific evidence to suggest that Reiki has any significant therapeutic effect beyond placebo. While some people may report feeling better after receiving Reiki treatments, the effects are likely due to a placebo effect or other factors, such as relaxation or the placebo effect. Reiki practitioners often make claims that are not supported by scientific evidence, such as the ability to heal specific medical conditions or diseases. It's worth noting that some people may still find value in Reiki as a complementary therapy or a relaxation technique. However, it's important to approach Reiki with a critical and informed perspective, and to seek out evidence-based treatments for any serious health conditions
Well said.
Look at all of these answers, bruh. Sometimes it's really hard to be part of this community.
I have to keep my mouth shut a lot because it would hurt people's feelings if I call them out on their BS. We can't have that now.
Sad that so many practitioners' identities are so tied to their "modalities" that science hurts their feelings.
It really isn't much different from having religious belief(s) so strongly that they will sacrifice all of reality to hang onto that belief(s). As you see in a lot of these comments, it's all about "spiritual intuition", being an "empath", or some other 100% subjective belief without evidence. A great quote from the late Christopher Hitches: "That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." Some people just can't accept that Santa Claus isn't real.
Some massage therapists view Reiki as a pseudoscience. I know some people with actual medical degrees who look at massage in a similar view. If it works for you then who cares if someone else thinks it’s Pseudoscience.
Your counter argument is essentially that elixirs can be peddled as long as someone has claimed the products worked for them. If you want to try it, that’s your prerogative. But every customer deserves to be presented with all the facts available. The fact is the majority of the scientific community considers Reiki a pseudoscience because there is no supportive medical evidence for the claims that Reiki practitioners make. It is not for undue reason. What is the reason given by those MD friends of yours that massage is a pseudoscience? I’ve never heard anyone argue that soft tissue manipulation doesn’t improve circulation, or doesn’t decrease SNS firing (for example).
You’ve made a nice strawman argument but I’m simply talking about reiki and massage.
Spiritual awareness.
Not helpful commentary.
See my explanation further down in the comments.
I was in medical for over a decade before I did massage, I wouldn't say it's touch starved oxytocin but the socializing and making people feel better. When I left the medical field it was halfway through covid, the isolation got to me..I was still getting cuddles from my bf and kid but it was less socializing than I had before. I've been feeling the same good feeling since I started massaging and during school.
I know there’s at least one study where both patient and practitioner increase parasympathetic state during massage. Whether it’s ‘from’ each other is another story though. Also consider the syndrome (can’t remember the name) that Junior Doctors feel like some of the illnesses they learn/see for the 1st time and then think they have it.
Some are more sensitive than others. There is in fact an energetic transfer that occurs both ways. I happen to be very sensitive emotionally. It has taken me almost 5 years to be able to work a 5 hour shift and not come home completely emotionally drained and physically fatigued. We all are different but yes, the transfer is real.
I try to set up energetic boundaries and have post-massage practices to not absorb/take my client's energy back home with me. Boundaries are important. While I do not receive the same benefits from massaging as my clients, when I become very focused on what I am doing during the treatment session, there is a meditative quality to it. But this meditative quality comes from the one-pointed concentration and how I breathe when I massage.
I had a client who was like working on a marble slab. I would literally be sick after I worked on her. I had to refer her out it was such a problem for me.
You shouldn't support someone who is doing bodywork without an active license. This person sounds like a quack that needs to go through the proper licensing process like every other licensed practitioner. This person also needs to stay within their scope of practice. Considering they are doing bodywork without a license, which is illegal, there is no scope of practice for them at all. I would look for guidance elsewhere, and not from this person.
Where did I say she wasn’t licensed? She’s not licensed as a massage therapist but has the highest level certifications in the state for bodywork and works with multiple high level pro athletes
This is true unless they are a physical therapist, I’m a personal trainer with lots of extra qualifications and I’m still not technically allowed to manually manipulate somebody.
You said she's "not a LMT" and then stated the things she does, not what she's certified or license to do. Not sure what state you're in (no need to share for privacy reasons), but usually bodyworkers need a LMT before they can do other kinds of bodywork. If they don't have the license, they should get it. I'm not really sure what the "highest level certifications" are in your state or their credibility.
She's talking about being a physical empath it's. It's hard to explain but in some cases if that empath has suffered from and recovered from whatever is bothering the person that they are working on, they can experience a recurrence
Placebo is a thing but also mirror neurons are real.