EnergeticHands's Personal Masseur Interview

Last Updated: Aug 04, 2016

- I am always interested in deepening my understanding and skill of any work I do. I guess I feel that is an aspect of success. To offer good work and be rewarded and to hold the inspiration to continue to grow and get better. yes, thanks, I do consider myself to be a successful Masseur.

- I spoke at a university recently to a Human Sexualities class about Sexological Bodywork. I discussed a client for whom I pointed out an unconscious habitual pattern. This client had no idea they were "guarding" (in this case holding their body in a position which hid their genitals, yet wanted to feel more pleasure from genital touch.) This client could remember the incident -as a child- where they understood that they needed to guard, and yet now, 40 years later, that guarding response was an inhibitor to deeper pleasure and connection with partners. Once this person realized they could make other decisions and choices based on their adult self, the trauma unwound. This is freedom.

My response to the client was, "How fantastic that as a child you knew how to look after yourself! Also how great is it that today you can let that go and make a fresh decision based on what you want or desire."

I love the synergistic moment when a habit, once observed by practitioner and client, is understood by the body and can be released. Know that about me.

Someone at the end of class expressed how "accepting" I was and felt THAT is something everyone should absolutely know about me.

- As a dance artist I have received many therapeutic massages and benefitted greatly from massage and touch.
I have also been interested in how bodies move, how muscles work, how an injury in one area can cause imbalance and discomfort in a completely different area.

Practicing and studying massage has been a natural progression.

Building my practice to Include training in Sexological Bodywork and Somatic Experiencing (trauma release) I have grown to understand how most of us are carrying some form of trauma in our bodies, whether minor (shaming or guilt around sex) or more serious ( abuse and unwanted touch). Having an interest and some skills to address this, and helping people release trauma feels like a rewarding contribution.

- practice practice practice...
on friends, family---
take classes---
when you feel confident in your ability, post an ad.

- I like clients to feel integrated and complete, that their time and money was well invested.

- For me I think training is a part of being successful but I also feel holding the intention to grow and do better work, to be more attentive to clients needs and to pick up more skills. Maybe some masseurs can do that just by seeing clients but my preference is to integrate client/ work experience with some study and focussed educational time.

- I'm not sure I would use the word "addictive" but I know I appreciate being of service and helping men become more embodied. I feel that offering massage, especially Taoist Erotic Massage has a huge capacity for personal transformation and understanding. It is amazing to guide men through that type of experience. When we find a modality that can offer positive shifts in our lives it is inspiring. To be able to offer that modality is really rewarding.

- I like to be outdoors. Hiking, swimming, especially in tropical waters. I enjoy biking. I night out dancing is always a good time. I like to cook and my desire to be a chef when I was younger gets nurtured when I have friends over or if I am hosting a retreat and decide to do the cooking as well. I like to look after my home and get a great sense of satisfaction when I can do-it-myself.

- I guess t's relative but I feel like I travel a lot.
Sometimes I am travelling to offer a retreat other times I am vacationing. Home is a gorgeous piece of land on Southern Vancouver Island, Canada where I host private client retreats. My BF lives in SF and we spend time in Kihei, Maui. If I have a massage table with me I will post my travel schedule and make myself available for clients.
Being a homebody is attractive to me too.

- Interesting question.
On a practical level, I want clients to feel they got good value for their time and money.
On a more body based "feeling" way?
During my intake with clients I often ask how they would like to feel when they leave a session. Answers vary but are generally along the same line... "less stressed" "calmer"
"I want to feel like I could sleep 12 hours"... The most unique was "I want to feel every cell of my body tingling".

I think everyone has their own intention when they come in for massage and part of their unique intention is how they want to feel at the end of our time together.

I would like clients to leave a session with me feeling the way they stated they want to feel.

As Mr Tingly was leaving I asked "how does your body feel?" His response was "I feel bliss in every cell of my body!" The expression on his face looked pretty blissed, I felt that was pretty close to tingly!

- I started offering massage to friends years ago. In my 20's I had a group of buddies who would get together and do massage exchanges. It was inspired by Body Electric workshops and was an awesome opportunity to practice giving and receiving and getting feedback. In 2005 I started to offer Skyclad (naked) Yoga in Vancouver, a natural progression was to offer massage as well. By this time I had done some studying in Swedish and Thai massage. I appreciated the opportunity to massage guys who had been a part of my yoga community. A natural progression of understanding their bodies in yoga to being able to offer touch. I like the male camaraderie of massage, of men caring for men. I feel proud to have a skill which brings grounding to people's hectic lives and helps them to centre and stay focussed... or relax and get more restful sleeps.