Somatic Patterning

The “Talk About Touch” column by Maryann Foster and Mary Kathleen Rose (www.comforttouch.com) is a regular feature of the Massage and Bodywork Magazine, published every other month by the Associated Massage and Bodywork Professionals (www.abmp.com). 

1. “A Jarful of Pennies” Jan/Feb 2008 – When you go to get a massage and the massage therapist starts the session by exclaiming “You’re so tight!” how does this make you feel? This column examines how those first few comments set the tone for the whole session.

2. “Truth in Advertising” Mar/Apr 2008 – A discussion of what happens with a client goes to receive a massage, and receives some other type of treatment.

3. “I Have a Feeling” May/June 2008 – Massage therapists often rely on intuition to guide them in a session. In this column, we examine what intuition actually is; the role of intuition in massage practice; the difference between intuition and projection; and the client’s intuition.

4. “Flushing Toxic Myths” Jul/Aug 2008 – Is it time to flush the 100 year old myth out of massage education that lactic acid is a toxin? We’ll look at this belief as well as several other die-hard myths in the massage world.

5. “Massage: Alternative or Complementary?” Sept/Oct 2008 – When offered as a complementary therapy, massage can enhance the value of conventional medicine. What happens when massage is offered as an alternative therapy? Read this column and get in on the discussion.

6. “Expanding Views of Medical Massage” Nov/Dec 2008 – In this column, we discuss the role and value of massage in medicine, as well as some trends in medical massage today.

7. “Ambience: the Healing Environment” Jan/Feb 2009 – Have you ever gone into a massage clinic and been taken aback by some bizarre piece of art or décor? In this column, we chat about issues around treatment room ambience and make some practical suggestions.

8. “Grounding: A Body/Mind Practice” Mar/Apr 2009 – This column offers some simple suggestions about grounding and centering your body and mind as you give massage.

9. “Draping: Uncovering a Touchy Subject” May/Jun 2009 – We were surprised by the diverse approaches to draping we uncovered when tackling this topic. Are you being consistent with the standards of the profession?

10. “Bodywork in a Medical Setting” July/August 2009 –What does a bodyworker need to know to practice massage in a medical setting? We touch on a number of issues including: patient safely; scope of practice; precautions in the use of touch; and the use of appropriate techniques.

11. “Supporting Natural Breath in Massage” Sept/Oct 2009 – The main topic of this issue is how to support clients in breathing with more ease without interrupting the flow of the massage or the client’s relaxation.

12. “Owning Your Energy” Nov/Dec 2009 – In this column, we discuss beliefs and practices about the energy exchange that goes on between a client and practitioner, and how to maintain boundaries in a healthy manner.

13. “Envision Your Life” Jan/Feb 2010 – This column offer some practical, heart-centered ways to set personal and business goals for the New Year.

14. “Talk about Talking” Mar/Apr 2010 – A major complaint about massage therapists is that they talk too much. We look at what constitutes appropriate conversation between client and practitioner during therapeutic massage.

15. “Intention of Practice” May/Jun 2010 – We discuss the importance of understanding your legal scope of practice. Working with a clear intention can build your confidence and help you meet your client’s needs.

16. "Massage for Body or Mind July/Aug 2010 – We all know that massage is beneficial for both the body and the mind, but at what point does practitioner's questions or comments cross over into psychotherapy?

17. "Is Massage Supposed to Hurt?" Sept/Oct 2010 – Some clients avoid massage because they think it is supposed to be painful. In this column, we explore that fine line between deep massage and hurtful massage.