“No pain, no gain” is the mantra people have stamped in their heads. Chiropractors crack bones back into place. Cupping therapy leaves behind purple and red marks. Deep tissue massage breaks apart muscle knots. Trigger points are pressed until it feels tender. There’s this idea that people have to endure discomfort for temporary relief. While some swear by these methods, many continue to suffer from chronic pain. They feel better only until the next session.
The body isn’t a Mr. Potato Head. It’s not built with disconnected parts thrown together. Everything works together as a whole. If there’s a tug on one area, it impacts and affects any area in our body. An upset stomach may trigger pain in the foot. Scar tissue may affect the diaphragm making it difficult to breathe. Numbness in the wrist may start from the shoulders. It’s all interconnected together as a system.
The Secret Is Under Your Skin
Beneath the surface of your skin lies the fascia. Long ago, people used to think it played no role other than cushioning, so they took it out. Over the last few years, research breakthroughs are starting to understand the fascia’s importance. If the fascia isn’t intact or is blocked in any way, it severely impacts the body’s total health.
The living fascia allows the flow of substances like lymphatic vessels, blood vessels, nutrients, and hormones. This is called the ground substance. A healthy fascia is able to self-regulate this substance allowing the body to function well. It’s a dynamic system not just a static body part.
Our mind is connected to the body.
Have you ever had pain boomerang back? You come out of a good massage, and your body is in bliss. Then a few days later, all the creaky joints are back again. Why does this happen? Why doesn’t it ever stay in place? Well the bad news is manipulating the bones, joints and muscles isn’t enough. The good news is there’s a better way to heal.
The key is understanding that the body itself needs to be reprogrammed. The mind body connection is a powerful thing. When you tap into it, the body heals itself on its own. It reboots the system, so everything functions properly again. Touch therapy is not about forcing things back into place. It’s about stimulating the body’s own healing mechanisms to kick in.
Our body holds our emotions.
When you experience grief, sadness or anxiety, your body responds in a certain way. Your shoulders tense and your hips tighten. Your stomach feels like it’s tied into knots.
Most people don’t realize their physical pain is a symptom of an emotional problem as well. Touch is beyond just skin to skin contact. In order to communicate with the body, the therapist needs to be present and connected. It sends signals to the body to release the emotion behind the pain. This is why only a gentle and loving touch allows this information to transition into your body.
