Today I heard a discussion between two celebrities regarding full body massages. The discussion started with the benefits of their “treating” themselves to relaxation. The conversation then went into questions that arise when you have a full body massage, i.e do you get totally naked? Do you allow your body to relax and have bowel/ digestion sounds? Do you tighten up to keep from “passing wind”? Does a man keep from getting aroused with a female massage therapist? They were at first laughing and their own sense of ridiculousness and yet they ended up talking themselves out of the benefit of the massage. I felt it brought up a good time to discuss why many people don’t benefit from massage therapy. First it is a treatment, not a “treat”. It is a therapy to relax and release harmful tension and trauma stored in our body’s muscles, ligaments and connective tissues. With the attitude of a “treat” the issue of deserving it and practicality come into play in our value system.  2nd getting naked or “stripping down” to our birth suits brings up a great sense of vulnerability.  3rd human touch whether between family, loved ones, friends and especially strangers is an issue of control. Some people did not grow up with physical affection as normal behavior. You’ve seen events where people are “touchy feely” and others are barely comfortable with a handshake.

You will see that even one of the three reasons listed keep the benefits of massage therapy to a minimum.The one thing these blocks have is that they  all spring from being “in your head”. Our mind and judgments diminish our receptivity and therefore we accept, willingly, to be in pain, blame other or “government & corporations” for lives of misery. To be blunt, you tense up (your buttocks which are a MUSCLE) so you won’t “fart” because you’ll be embarrassed.   You may say “rich” people can have “treats” or you are a “working stiff” so you’ll live with “it”. Those are all ego mind created falsehoods that diminish your self worth.   Read more…