Mark Gerard's Therapeutic Massage

Walk into any bookstore today and you’ll find shelf after shelf lined with self-help books that promise to help you become more assertive. Speak your mind. Stand your ground. Get your way. There is, of course, a time and a place to do all these things. I’m as strong a proponent as anyone of expressing yourself and being true and authentic.

But I want to praise passivity too. There are other times in our lives when it’s okay to give up control. When we do, it often means we’re trusting other people to make decisions or lead us down a safe and beneficial path. Or it means we’re acknowledging that we cannot control a situation or person, and trusting that things will unfold the way they are meant to. There are valuable lessons to learn in these scenarios.

But there’s one place where we should always let ourselves go … one place where it’s healthy to be completely passive – and that’s the massage table.

Remember that the whole point of massage is to release tension and toxins from your muscles. So in order to enjoy the maximum benefit, it’s ideal for your muscles – and therefore you – to be as loose as possible before we even start your session. Passivity also helps you let go of self-imposed physical limitations during range-of-motion exercises. For instance, on your own, you might only be able to rotate your shoulder to a certain point. But oftentimes, if you’re passive on the table, I can extend your range of motion beyond where you could bring it on your own, increasing the effectiveness of your massage.

So if you’re preoccupied or even a little defensive – maybe your drive over to see me was horrendous or you have some personal issues on your mind – I hope you can take a few deep breaths and relax before we start. When I see my massage therapist, I do some deep breathing during the first few wonderful minutes of the session. As I breathe, I take inventory of my body and try to relax whichever of my muscles are tense. By going through this meditation, I find myself more receptive to the bodywork. And when I say “receptive,” I mean that literally: my body is far more open to receiving the therapeutic touch. Even when he does deep tissue work, I’m less likely to resist the pressure. I know this helps me get the most out of my sessions.

Try it during your next appointment – and soon you’ll be praising passivity too!