Comments on: The Power of Touch Beyond Pain and Pleasure: Shifting Medical Massage Research toward Trust and Transcendence

By: Giselle Nicholson

Giselle Nicholson — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:15:18 +0000

Your wonderful post reminds me of an article I ready today, which pays tribute to not only the healing power of touch, but to it’s life-giving quality.
This 20 oz prematurely born baby was born gray and lifeless, so her mother held her against her chest to say goodbye. The mother’s warmth and touch actually helped start her heartbeat and she’s alive today. Miraculous!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=500430&in_page_id=1770

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Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:03:32 +0000

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Sun, 02 Dec 2007 23:21:32 +0000

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By: Iris Marie Bloom

Iris Marie Bloom — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 22:06:30 +0000

Interesting question, Jeff! Since you raised this, it would be interesting to see if there is any research yet on visualization, massage, and outcomes. I come at it sideways: I tend to ask clients whether they have an intention they would like me to support during the massage. I find this works in four ways. One, even asking the question is an act of appreciative inquiry, encouraging their ability to focus on what is most important to them. Two, by saying it out loud, they are eliciting support and affirmation from me. Three, I find some way to reinforce that intention verbally during the massage; whether it’s a delicate mention or an in-depth discussion is determined by their interest at the time. Four, the rest of the work on that intention seems to “flow” dynamically forward in a way that is unique to each person and to each session. Thus the massage practice can create a container within which they realize, crystallize, and energize their own intentions — which often does involve visual imagery (judging by the amazingly vivid metaphors I hear), along with cognitive and affective processing. Other massage therapists may prefer to use more explicit guided imagery, but my method is subtle. It’s extremely important to me for nothing to feel artificial or forced. In short, the answer is absolutely yes. With the time-limiting caveat that attentiveness to the body itself is requisite, almost anything that can be done verbally or meditatively in a coaching session, without pen and paper, can be done before, during or after a massage. Envisioning the process required to achieve the desired outcome then has the added benefit of being associated with good feelings in the body. Thanks for getting me to think about this!

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Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:12:48 +0000

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By: jeffdustin

jeffdustin — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:06:10 +0000

I think that massage therapy is great stuff. I do have a comment also. Do you know anyone who does imagery with massage? I’m thinking sports psychology here, I guess. I bet there are some coaches playing around with the idea…but it has applications to a broad range of achievement activities. I think this could be a very cool twist on imagery generation…you lay down and get a massage while thinking of your intended goal.

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