Practicing Presence isn’t something that they often teach in massage school. Presence is the act of just being present with clients no matter what issues they bring to the table or what stress they are under. It is being able to stay with them in their pain, discomfort and unpleasant state without judging them, giving them advice or even trying to take away their pain or stress.
This concept is actually quite different from the whole massage school idea of working to relieve pain and stress. It is also sort of contradictory to everything we think that needs to be done for people in order for them to feel better.
The idea of presence is often even difficult to understand. Presence is just learning to become more consciously aware of our thoughts and actions. In researching online for some more examples of presence in bodywork I found this statement on Practicing Presence from a Breema Practitioner:
“Breema is a meditation practice that I do, and the recipient is there to support me in being really present. I’m not working at giving a treatment so much as I am simply sensing the body according to the principles, and through my touch and gentle stretches, I convey a sense of reassurance. It’s quite magical.”
Jack Blackburn at www.presencingsource.com talks about it like this:
The Body and Presence: The body, it can be argued, exists only in the present moment and is reflecting the present moment continually to its owner as sensation and awareness. In that sense “the body never lies.” Experiencing presence is possible because we are in bodies.
Suzanne Scurlock-Durana describes it like this:
Our work is richest when we can be in each moment with our clients –in that space of compassion that enables us to receive and give in every session. That’s when we move beyond offering a collection of techniques and become a complete conduit for healing.
To be able to be present with clients requires that you have enough support and outlets for getting in touch with your own emotions so that you don’t take them with you into a session but rather allow the client space for them to have theirs. Taking care of yourself in the way of taking vacations, getting regular massage and participating in supervision or peer supervision groups are some of the many ways that you can learn about practicing presence. Taking care of your own needs allows you to be more present and not needing to get the attention from your clients.
It is a continual process of becoming more present. Most of our lives are spent living in unconscious programming and we don’t even know it. We adopt our beliefs early in life in order to protect ourselves and get along. We continue to surround ourselves with people and careers that support our beliefs. It is when one can see from the outside how you look on the inside and be the observer of your life and ways you can begin to learn to practice presence.
Resources for Practicing Presence:
What is Presencing articles on www.presencingsource.com
Full Body Presence by Suzanne Scurlock-Durana
Anyone have any other good sources of learning about presence?
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Interesting article about presence. I only wish there were more information about how it works and how to achieve it. How to be just observing when you also have healing as intent?
What do you think about presence now nearly a year after you wrote this article? Have you new insights and experiences?
How do you see presence connected to the “Flow” – the almost zen-like experience when a massage just flows, where you’re not aware of past or future, but just exist in the moment, tuning out everything around you. The same flow that painters and other artists experience.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Cheers,
Pia
Learning to be present with a client is a major part of Watsu training. In Watsu the therapist supports a client floating in warm water. Lose presence, and the person gets dunked.
Watsu isn’t so good for making money, but an introductory class can be a great way to improve your skill at being present.