Conscious Bodywork

Conscious bodywork is a type of deep tissue massage, but it's a massage done in a particular way, a more conscious way than some other massages might be performed. The techniques of the deep tissue massage might be the same or similar as other types of deep and neuromuscular massage, and are used to promote well-being, relieve pain and heal the physical body as well as promote balance between the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves.

The biggest different between conscious bodywork and general deep tissue massage is that all of the movements are done with careful concentration by the practitioner, in a heightened state of awareness to the subject's body and needs. There are certain principles of conscious bodywork that set this type of bodywork apart from others and make receiving it a unique experience.

1. Respect: The practitioner begins with a sense of the trust that the recipient is giving him or her, and the practitioner must have respect for that gift of trust. The practitioner is to look at the opportunity to help this person as a privilege, and must honor that relationship and understand the vulnerability inherent in putting that kind of trust in another person.
2. Attentiveness: The practitioner is always aware of the response of the body through the touch of their hands, visual clues, and open communication between them and the recipient.
3. Slow movement: During conscious bodywork, the massage of connective tissues and deep muscle tissues, as well as gentle stretching, should be done slowly to give the body time to absorb the movements and adjust to them. Because attentiveness is so stressed, if the movements are done too quickly there's not time to feel the body's response and make adjustments to it. The communication between the practitioner's hands and the recipient's body is impeded, and the massage loses much of its effectiveness. It becomes something that's done to the recipient, rather than a cooperation and communication between him or her and the practitioner.
4. No force: When resistance is met during the massage, the practitioner can only gently wait for it to disappear and allow the muscle movement. Muscle should never be forced to relax or move. This can only cause pain during conscious bodywork and defeat much of the purpose of the therapy.
5. Tissue length: Another important principle of conscious bodywork is the goal of lengthening short tissues and strengthening tissues that are already long. This is done through muscle and connective tissue massage, done gently and without force, slowly, while the practitioner is consciously aware of changes in the body beneath his or her hands, all in an attitude of extreme respect.

The slow, respectful nature of conscious bodywork makes it a more gentle type of bodywork than some others, but the very consciousness and slowness of it can make it equally intense, though it should not be painful. The goal is to use this respectful deep tissue massage to restore the body's balance and promote healing, pain relief and well-being.

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