Have you caught your stride?

[Sarah K]

I have been doing bodywork for almost eight years, and while my passion for massage has always remained constant, my experience with massage has always transitioned.
When I first started out massaging I would see clients and become completely energy depleated and would have to retreat sometimes for days! just to recharge.
Over time, my body became more physically efficent. I learned with experience how to better ground my energy, and most significantly, how to not sponge up other people's energy into my own. This transformation took a long time and it's been a slow and steady process through the years. It wasn't until this year that I feel like I have finally caught my stride. In fact, the biggest thing has been the sudden EASE I feel in doing my work, and most significantly, the number of massages I can do in a week without feeling drained. It's taken me a long time to develop my flow, but the dramatic change in my strength in comparison to where I was when I started is such a personal accomplishment.
This prompts me to pose the question: Do you feel like you have hit your stride?

 

[gregory_dittman]

I've been practicing for only a few months, and I seem to be physically getting much stronger, but I do NOT know "how to sponge up other people's energy into my own." Small meditations at the start and end aren't going the distance; I'm trying to get to a meditation class to help me. Any suggestions? This must be oft discussed on the board. When I get to a spot that feels "angry" I often internalize it instantly. Sometimes the energy feels as if it's zooming through my fingers and up my arms. help!

 

[Jason King]

I don't know about "hitting my stride," but it does seem that there are two specific aspects of our work that both of you are bringing up - the physical and the energetic.

As far as the physical goes, that takes time for every bodyworker to figure out. I've been practicing full time for almost 2 years now, and while I do feel stronger and more efficient in some ways, I also continue to bring on various minor repetitive stress injuries, which one of my therapists pointed out is likely due to trying new techniques and not having quite figured out the best body mechanics yet. Which leads me to believe that there will always be ups and downs as far as physical stamina and such go, as I expect to always be learning new techniques.

One of my teachers said the most interesting thing about energy recently, something I have never heard before and made a whole lot of sense.
"What is this 'grounding' thing that therapists always talk about? It is not possible for a human being to not be grounded, because we are in a body, and what is more earthy than a body? Sometimes we are unaware of the body and groundedness, but it still exists." (more or less exact quote) When she said it, it made me laugh because it suddenly seemed so simple and obvious. I suppose what can be gleaned from that is to focus on awareness and the "grounding" comes naturally.

I used to think that I was absorbing negative energy from clients, but I haven't had any incidents like that in quite some time. What I find now is that I am so intrigued when I sense an energetic shift in a client's body, that I don't name it or analyze it or judge it, I just meet it, hang out and observe it. People and energy are fascinating.