“A New Earth” is Eckhart Tolle’s book that is now being promoted by Oprah. They are teamed up and offering a free online class that starts on Monday, March 3rd.
When I read “A New Earth” a few years ago when it first came out, I couldn’t put the book down and it became an inspiration for me to continue writing about such things despite many massage therapists not quite getting it that they can build a massage practice using similar principles of becoming more authentic by being present.
So many massage therapists are caught up in knowing more, learning more and doing more and the client usually gets caught in the middle. Part of the problem is how we are trained to ‘fix’ in massage school and our new role with the medical profession requires us to do it even more by reporting on improvements and having treatment stopped when function returns rather than when pain is resolved.
I was at a spa a few weeks ago and overheard a massage therapist in the hallway talking to someone who had just come out of the massage room and telling her how stressed the client was and how much more work the person needed. I could feel the tension in the air. The person who had just gotten a massage was being berated for how much stress they had rather than being honored for who they are. Now I am sure I am reading into things because I don’t know the whole story but it is examples like these or other stories of massage therapists saying things like “I just need to fix their pain” or ‘it is my duty to tell people about mercury poisoning and other possibilities that could be causing their health issues or I don’t feel like I am doing my job.
What “A New Earth” talks about is our roles that we take on to protect ourselves and our egos from suffering and how that creates more. But it is suffering that can free us from our pain and unhappy lives.
The ego is not something that is bad or that we need to get rid of. He says “It isn’t wrong, it is just unconscious” We are alive today because our egos are invested in ourselves. Tolle says that ‘Our egos are just are false self. It is the unconscious part of ourself.” The way to become more conscious is to become more present and aware of our egos.
But awakening from being unconscious is a little like thawing out from having frost bite – it is painful as we start to regain feeling.
A common thing that I often hear from massage therapist that I work with is about how they don’t feel like they know enough to help people. Tolle says this is actually the best place to be. When you can admit you don’t know enough you can realize that you are enough just as you are.
Another way to become aware of your ego is to become aware of what you are feeling in your body. As massage therapists we have the unique opportunity to help people feel their bodies more. ( I actually think this is more important than any specific massage technique or method.) Tolle says “Body awareness not only anchors you in the present moment, it is a doorway out of the prison that is the ego. It also strengthens the immune system and the body’s ability to heal.”
I also so often see massage therapists who become their role thinking that they are the only ones that can help someone and that massage is the end all answer to the worlds problems. I used to think like that when I first started out saying things like ‘if everyone got a massage once a week there would be world peace” (well there might be!) I also hear them complaining about things like working for chiropractors who take advantage of them or not having enough clients because of the economy or whatever the complaint is at the moment. Tolle says that “Complaining is one of the ego’s favorite ways of strengthening itself”. It makes us feel better to complain. And clients come into us complaining about this or that, this work situation or family situation and they come in with their pain and their attachment to their pain.
He talks about roles and how we take on roles to get the needs of the ego met.
How can we as massage therapists learn to become aware of our roles and learn to just be as a massage therapist?
How can we learn to serve and become more present with ourselves and with our clients to help make “A New Earth?”
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oh my goodness.I’m so excited to have found this page.Also http://www.thework.com is another fabulous take on all this.It is the Work of Byron Katie and Eckhart often endorses her books etc. and I have found it so helpful as a bodyworker.
Kudos Julie! Another interesting take on the massage profession. I have to admit that I am not so well versed in origins and insertions, have been known to forget if it is called the hamstring in front or the quad, despite the fact that I graduated from a 600 hour school and passed the NCTMB.
I have at times been intimidated by those who could name all the muscles and have taken many, many classes in technique.
However, when it comes to working on people I connect with their energy and rarely lay my hands on someone who doesn’t come back. And yes, I am not afraid to tell someone that for now it is best that they choose another therapist.
One of my clients told me that he has been getting massage since he was 20 (now in his 50′s) but until he met me was never worked on by someone who understood the mind/body connection.
I have to say I am more into the mind connection than the body connection. Before I begin to work on someone, I take a moment to say a prayer and just ask to be taken out of the way. I believe that we all call our own healing to ourselves and that I, as the therapist, play the role of facilitator for the person on the table. I fix nothing for it is not my role to do so.
I love the work I do and enjoy being a non-technician in an increasingly technical – and regulated industry. For me massage therapy was a calling and I am very grateful to be able to practice this wonderful modality.
Thank you Julie – you are truly an inspiration.
Maria
What an interesting topic. I have struggled with the desire to “fix” clients for years as I primarily see those in pain or with orthopedic problems. Here are a few things that have helped me.
1. I attended an Upledger Craniosacral 1 seminar. The instructor talked about “being with ” the client as opposed to having an outcome. WOW.
2. I have worked in supervision and therapy to heal my childhood issues around people pleasing, co-dependancy, and staying in my adult.
3. I have attended several lectures and read many of David Richo’s books. This has been helpful to look at my ego involvement and practice detachment.
4. I am welcoming success and struggles in my personal and professional life. I am working on saying “Yes” to what comes.
5. I am enjoying “not knowing,” feeling like I have no idea, and still working to stay present.
I agree with Julie that supervision is a needed part of a massage practice. I don’t know many MTs that use it though. It has helped me a great deal.
Cheers,
Jody Hutchinson