Bodywork

by Diana Maree

  Massage? Never! I'd be too embarrassed

Diana Maree is a Licensed Massage Practitioner in Clarkston, WA, and a freelance writer, focusing on health, family and the American West. She is the content editor for Happy Grandparent

Even though Patsy Williams suffered from frequent back pain and aching joints, for three years she turned down repeated offers of free therapeutic massage by a licensed massage therapist (LMT) in her hometown.

"I couldn't imagine letting a person put her hands all over my body, especially with no clothes on," she said. "I mean, I weighed 290 pounds, and what if the massage table broke when I got on it? How embarrassing! It was easier to just keep saying no."

Even though the therapist who offered the service was a close friend of Patsy's and worked in a comfortable, professional clinic, Patsy's uneasiness about the situation outweighed her desire to accept this gift of relief.

Patsy is not alone. Many people avoid the healing therapy of massage because they perceive the process as being embarrassing or threatening. Even if they acknowledge that it might make them feel better, they dismiss the idea because of fear or a misunderstanding of what therapeutic massage is all about.

As a LMT who has been practicing in the state of Washington since 1991, I commend clients who establish their boundaries. I believe we all need to know that each of us is in charge of how close any other person gets to us, who we allow to touch us, and why. I also believe we need to be conscious about how those boundaries serve our well-being and how we can adjust them when necessary. In order to take the first step toward healing, though, we must understand what causes such apprehension in so many people.

What is it about massage therapy that terrifies people like Patsy so much? Is it possible for them to relieve their worries enough to enjoy a service that allows people to relax and rejuvenate? Through research, I discovered three main concerns that "bigger" people have about the concept of massage:

* They don't know what to expect.

* They worry that they're too big for the table.

* They don't know if they'll be comfortable with the therapist.

Following is some information about each of these areas that may help put your mind at ease.

What to expect from a massage

In addition to reducing stress (the result of steady, firm massage techniques that calm the nervous system), massage therapy has been proven to speed healing after injury or surgery, eliminate muscle spasms, improve circulation, reduce stress on the heart muscle, reduce edema (fluid retention), reduce or eliminate headaches, ease lower-back pain, and restore flexibility. Additionally, the oil or cream used as a lubricant nourishes your skin, and massage can do wonders for improving your posture.

Go to Part 2

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