29 minute read
Applying Marma Therapy in Bodywork
Learn and practice Marma Therapy to support therapeutic application in bodywork to help heal your client’s pain through energy points and promoting spiritual health.
BY SUNITA PASSI
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arma (vital point) therapy, also known as the effective yet gentle ‘sukshma’ technique, has long been regarded in the East for supporting the emotional as well as the physical body. Through marma (vital point) therapy, we can treat specific vital points on the human body – this is one of the greatest healing secrets of Ayurveda, an ancient Indian health and healing tradition. It can be used to detoxify, strengthen and revitalise the body, for rejuvenation and relaxation or to release blocked energy. In this article, I will aim to explain the theoretical basis of marma (vital point) therapy, and then provide a detailed, fully illustrated guide to its use.
You will also discover the key components of marma chikitsa (the process), prana and nadi connection, pathways of prana/nadi, development of pain in the body, principles of treatment and how marma (vital point) therapy can be truly transformative for mental and spiritual evolution and maintenance/ preventative health measures.
The Chakras
First, we need to understand the three energy centres within the (astral) body. At the deepest layer lie seven vital energy centres. We can’t see or feel them, they won’t show up in an X-ray or MRI. Yet for thousands of years, Eastern cultures have recognised their importance to our physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health.
In Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, chakra means “wheel” or “circle.” Balanced chakras can be visualised as spinning vortices revolving in a clockwise direction at particular frequencies. When imbalanced, chakras may spin counterclockwise and/or the energy may move horizontally or vertically. Each chakra is associated with and stimulated by a specific colour, and by sounds that vibrate at a similar frequency.
How energy flows in and out of the chakras will greatly affect us. Balanced chakras allow energy to flow freely, thus promoting health, vitality, and
harmony. Life experiences such as illness, trauma and stress can cause imbalances, and chakras may become blocked (deficient) or overloaded (excessive).
Imbalances produce a wide variety of ailments and disturbances. Often imbalances are temporary, but they can persist, resulting in chronic illness, disease, and habitual patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Fortunately, chakras can be cleared, rebalanced, and energised through yoga, controlled breathing (pranayama), meditation and applying marma (vital point) therapy in Ayurvedic bodywork.
The Nadis
Similar to our nervous system, our energetic (astral) body has thousands of channels that energy flows through – those channels are nadis and they are a vital part of promoting health, vitality, and harmony.
The Sanskrit word ‘nadi’ translates to ‘tube’ or ‘flow’, or as we call the nadis, channel. In terms of the nadis, it refers to the astral channels that energy or psychic current uses to run through the astral body. Just like our physical body has an elaborate central nervous system, our astral body has one too—a network of nadis—which you can experience through the self-development process.
Because these tubes or channels aren’t tangible like blood vessels and arteries, and to date, they aren’t something people have been able to do experiments with or conduct research on, so you won’t find them in your anatomy or physiology textbook.
What is their relationship to Chakras?
Essentially, nadis and chakras are part of the same system. While nadis are the infinite network of energy pathways through which prana circulates the body, chakras are where the energy actually comes from - the epicentres.
As said, the Sanskrit word ‘chakra’ means ‘wheel’, symbolising the energy centres that exist within and around our astral body. We focus on 7 major chakras in the human body:
• Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra) – Location - At the tailbone. Energy: Creativity, Sexuality
• Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra) – Location: On the spine, at the level of the navel. Energy: Wisdom, Power
• Anahata (Heart Chakra) – Location: On the spine, at the level of the heart. Energy: Healing, Love
• Vishuddha (Throat Chakra) – Location: On the spine, at the level of the throat. Energy: Communication
• Ajna (Third eye Chakra) – Location: Centre of the forehead. Energy: Awareness
• Sahasrara (Crown Chakra) – Location: Crown of the head. Energy: Spirituality
Along with transporting prana energy, the nadi system also circulates a different, yet equally important cosmic energy from one chakra to another—the kundalini energy (shakti).
Kundalini shakti is the serpent-like cosmic force that sleeps at the base of the spine. When activated (or awakened), the kundalini energy flows from our Muladhara or root chakra to the Sahasrara or crown chakra. It’s believed that Shiva, the deity of supreme consciousness and stillness, resides in the Sahasrara chakra.
When the kundalini shakti travels through the spinal column and enters the Sahasrara chakra, it engulfs and heals all the imbalances in our body, enabling the divine consciousness to influence all the activities in our life, at which point we may attain awakening.
What is Marma?
Through applying marma therapy in Ayurvedic bodywork we can access the energy/astral body to help our clients.
Marma is a sanskrit word meaning hidden or secret. A marma point is a juncture on the body where two or more types of tissue meet, such as muscles, veins, ligaments, bones or joints. Although marma points are much more than a casual connection of tissue and fluids, they are points of the vital life force. When imbalances block the movement of free-flowing energy in the body, the resulting stagnation leads to physical and mental discomfort and disease.
When we touch marma points we stimulate the body’s biochemistry to produce exactly what the body needs, including neurochemicals and hormones that heal the body, mind, and consciousness.
Role of Marma
There are four basic purposes of marma:
1. It removes blocks in energy channels called srotas.
2. It pacifies vata dosha, (air and space elements), bringing it to its normal path— especially vyana vata, (a subdosha which controls the autonomic nervous system)
3. It creates physical, mental and emotional flexibility. Because of ama (toxins) and because of vata, human beings after 35 or 40 years of age become rigid — and this happens to animals and plants too. As vata increases in our body, we experience degeneration. This rigidity can mean becoming fixed in ideas, emotions, and physical movements 4. This gentle treatment creates an opportunity to experience powerful and dynamic transformation at the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels by building a positive link with the unconscious mind. Many times people are not able to go outside their ‘comfort zones.’
They think they have absolute limitations. After marma is activated, they can start taking positive steps in their life.
For each marma point, we can extend treatment with gemstones, crystals, flower essences and essential oils. The process of marma (vital point) therapy is called marma chikitsa and it is where profound healing and transformation begins.
For training in Ayurvedic massage therapies with the Tri-Dosha Academy, see: www.tri-dosha.co.uk. 2023 course dates: 3-7 April; 9-13 October.
SUNITA PASSI brings a wealth of classroom and practical experience to students in the UK. She is the founder of TriDosha, a premium skin and body care line and training academy that pioneers whole body wellness based on the ancient Indian health system and healing traditions of Ayurveda. Located in Nottingham UK, TriDosha is a small independent company led by Ayurvedic expert Sunita Passi, whose grandfather introduced her to Ayurveda from a young age.
The Author of The Doctor Won’t See You Now | Staying healthy while the medical system is re-botted, Sunita is highly regarded for her knowledge and expertise in the therapeutic aspects of Ayurveda. As well as being the principal instructor of teaching Ayurvedic bodywork students in the UK, she shares techniques for self-treatment for laypersons looking to activate self-healing through her social media pages www.sunitapassi.com.
An Ayurvedic Approach to Skin Health
BY SIOBHAN COSGRAVE
Our skin really is a big deal! It is the largest organ of the body and an important endocrine organ playing an significant role in the synthesis of vitamin D and other hormones. (4)
O
ur skin is our first line of defense against the outside world and external pathogens. Skin also protects against water loss and regulates our temperature by dilating and constricting blood vessels near the surface of the skin to control the transfer of heat outside of the body. Skin is a sensory organ detecting sensations of heat, cold, pressure, pleasure and pain. (5) The skin keeps essential fluids within the body and assists in the removal of waste products through sweat. Our skin has many functions but can also be prone to more than 3,000 skin conditions. (7)
It is a common misconception that looking after skin is only an external issue as truly healthy skin is achieved from the inside out.
The Ayurvedic approach to skin care recognizes that skin health is far from superficial but rather an expression of our internal and emotional health. If you are experiencing any skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, rashes, blotchiness or dull skin rather than focusing on topical treatments, internal imbalances need to be uncovered and corrected.
The Doshas
In modern science the human body begins with cells. A group of cells form the tissue, a group of tissues form the organ, a group of organs form systems and a group of systems is the human body. Ayurveda explains the human body in a different way. According to Ayurveda, there are three primary life forces derived from the five elements (air, either, water, fire, earth) that are responsible for all physical and psychological functions in the body and mind. These are known as the three doshas, vata, pitta and kapha. (2) Everyone is born with their unique mix of doshas (usually with one dominant dosha) called prakriti (constitution) which needs to be kept in balance to remain well and healthy. Our prakriti also influences the quality and tendencies of our skin. (3)
Vata dominant prakriti types tend to have dry skin which may appear rough or chapped with cracks on the hands and feet being common. Vata skin tans easily but the circulation may be poor leading to pale lips, nail beds and skin. (3)
Pitta’s skin is characterized by heat so is prone to inflammation, rashes, acne, skin flushes and red looking skin. Pitta skin burns quickly in the sun. Pitta skin is usually combination/oily. (3)
Kapha skin can appear thick and oily and feel cool or clammy to the touch. The skin is often very smooth in appearance, may have large pores and appears healthier during dry and hot weather. (3)
Pitta resides in the skin and is responsible for the colour, texture and temperature of our skin as well as its lustre and glow. It also governs the process of sweating and processes everything that is externally applied to the skin (lotion, cream, oils, medications) or anything that passively comes in to contact with the
skin such as pollution, dust, allergens. The blood, the liver, and agni (digestive fire) all have a strong pitta presence and a direct impact on skin health. Excess pitta in any one of these areas can have an amplified effect on the skin. Keeping pitta systemically balanced supports healthy skin and will help prevent skin irritations from occurring. (6)
Importance of Agni (Digestive Fire)
In Ayurveda we are not what we eat, but what we are able to digest and absorb. If agni is weak then food cannot be properly digested and may ferment in the gut leading to the accumulation of ama (toxins). Weak agni will also prevent nourishment from food being extracted and absorbed. Ama can circulate within the body affecting the quality of the blood. In Ayurveda, the skin is considered to be the cream of the blood that rises to the surface. The foundation of good skin, therefore, is balanced blood chemistry. (2)
Blood quality is a direct result of the strength of agni. The stronger the agni, the cleaner the blood will be and in turn, the healthier the skin. The weaker the agni, the more ama will be present in the blood which increases the likelihood of inflamed skin, puffy skin, acne, dull skin and skin conditions. This is why, when looking to improve the skin, Ayurveda frequently looks to the digestive system first and uses blood purifying herbs. (7)
A healthy liver is also vital for good skin health as it is the primary organ of detoxification endlessly filtering and detoxifying the blood. The liver also plays a significant role in digestion and metabolism.(7)
Importance of Daily Elimination
In Ayurveda healthy daily elimination is passing at least one or two bowel motions daily. This is also a sign of strong agni. The bowel motion should be well formed, not be sticky and should only have a mild odor. Not passing a bowl motion daily means wastes are not being removed from the body and can be absorbed in to the bloodstream contributing towards skin issues. Improving agni, staying hydrated and implementing stress management techniques will all aid regular bowl movements.
Daily sweating is also required to help the body remove waste. Often people suffering with skin conditions experience difficulties in sweating due to obstructions in the body’s fatty tissues. Practicing udvartana (see below) can help break down blockages in fatty tissue to help the body to sweat.
Emotions
The skin is deeply influenced by stress and emotions. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced when we are stressed. Prolonged stress can cause excessive amounts of cortisol which contributes to imbalances within the doshas and digestive system leading to inflammation and skin disorders. (3)
The liver processes and breaks down hormones and is responsible for the smooth flow of emotions. If it becomes overburdened with cortisol, adrenaline or other hormones then it’s ability to clean the blood is compromised and toxins can be pushed out through the skin causing rashes, inflammation and conditions such as eczema. (3)
How to Support Skin Health
If you are suffering from any skin condition, a qualified ayurvedic practitioner will be able to determine the underlying causes of your condition and devise a treatment plan to re-establish balance within the body and mind.
A generalized approach to healing skin conditions or obtaining glowing skin is to ensure digestion and elimination are functioning well, manage stress, process emotions, and keep pitta and your prakriti balanced.
Improving Agni & Elimination
• Eliminate ultra-processed foods such as packaged foods, readymade foods and foods high in white sugar • Reduce caffeine, nicotine and alcohol • Favor freshly cooked warm foods that are easy to digest
such as basmati rice, soups and stews • Eat in a calm environment free of electronic gadgets or devices so you fully focus on your food • Eat slowly and stop when 75% full to leave space for digestive juices • Don’t eat until the previous meal has been digested • Try to eat your largest meal at lunchtime when digestion is strongest • Don’t eat late at night so food is digested before sleep • Go for a short walk after eating to aid digestion • Eat regularly and at the same time every day • Include good fats such as ghee, coconut oil, sesame seed oil and olive oil • Include digestive spices such as ginger, fennel, cumin, coriander and turmeric • Reduce foods that irritate the skin like spicy (cayenne, chili), sour or acidic (lemon, pickles, fermented) • Avoid cold drinks and sip on warm water throughout the day Managing Emotions and Stress
It is important to feel and acknowledge emotions so that they can be released and let go of. Emotions that fester or become stagnant will contribute to liver congestion. Practices such as meditation, yoga and mindfulness help to cool and quieten the mind, aid digestion, elimination and to balance the doshas.
Herbs for Skin Health
Ayurvedic and herbal medicines are customized to each individuals prakriti, imbalances and digestion. It is always best to seek advice from a qualified practitioner who can select the correct herbs and dosages.
Neem (Azadirachta indica)
Neem is one of the best detoxifying herbs that is used in Ayurveda that is excellent for combating heat and inflammatory conditions. Its bitter taste stimulates the appetite and digestion, increases the flow of bile, enhances liver function, purifies the blood and destroys toxins. Neem pacifies pitta and kapha but can aggravate vata unless it is combined with other herbs to offset this. (8)
Manjishta (Rubia cordifolia)
Manjishta is one of the best pitta reducing, detoxifying herbs. It clears heat and ama from the blood. It is excellent for stubborn skin problems. It helps to improve appetite, digestion and supports the liver. (8)
Sandalwood (Santanlum album
Sandalwood has a cooling and calming effect on the mind and body. It relives pitta and is used for many skin conditions or for glowing skin. (8)
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)
Gotu kola helps the skins natural ability to heal while pacifying all three doshas. It improves circulation, is detoxifying and anti-inflammatory. (8)
Aloe vera ((Kumari)
The gel from inside the inner leaf has a cooling and soothing action within the body. It is good for excess pitta in the blood and for inflammatory conditions. It’s an excellent bitter tonic for the liver and digestive system. Aloe can also be used topically for allergic and inflammatory skin conditions. It can heal burns, rejuvenate skin and reduce wrinkles. (8)
Self-Care Practices for Skin Health
Abhyanga (Self Oil Massage)
Abhyanga is the practice of massaging the whole body with warm oil. It is very nourishing for the nervous system helping to relax the body and mind. Abhyanga helps to improve circulation, counteract the dryness of vata therefore reducing lines and wrinkles. It also helps to loosen toxins under the skin encouraging them to flow in to the digestive tract to be eliminated through the bowel.
Abhyanga is best performed with sesame seed oil. Coconut oil is cooling so can be used if pitta is high or in the summer. For the face rose hip oil, jojoba oil, Bakuchi oil and carrot seed oil are good.
How to do Abhyanga
• Select the oil according to your prakriti, in case if you don’t know your prakriti then sesame oil is best for everyone as it balances all dosha • Make sure that oil is warm, sit on a stool or comfortable seating and take some oil on your palm and apply it to the scalp using your fingers. Massage the head with gentle circular strokes • Now apply oil to the ear and face gently and continue the massage for few minutes • Massage on to your chest and limbs use long strokes for the limbs and circular for joints • Massage your whole body with love and patience, it can help to relieve stress and tension • Give extra attention to the head, ears, and foot • Rinse the oil off in a warm bath or shower
Oils for Prakriti
DOSHA OIL Vata Sesame seed oil or almond oil Pitta Sesame seed oil or Coconut oil Kapha Sesame seed oil
• Vata person: Abhyanga should be practiced daily and should be performed in a warm environment, sudden exposure to a cold environment should be avoided after practicing abhyanga • Pitta person: Oils that are cooling in nature are preferred. The oil that is at room temperature should be used in the summer season and slightly warm oil during winters • Kapha person: The amount of oil used should be less for Kapha person. Always warm the oil before applying it to the body
Abhyanga Dos
• Should be practiced by everyone every day • Abhyanga is practiced especially during cold weather as it counteracts the drying effect of cold weather • Select the oil based on season and any health condition/dosha imbalance • Give special attention to the head, ear, and feet • Be gentle and make sure the strokes that are slow and steady • Let the oil soak in to allow the oil to be absorbed more deeply • Take a warm bath after every abhyanga
Abhyanga Don’ts
Avoid this practice in case of: • High fever • Cardiac diseases • Skin diseases • Acute inflammation • Open wound • Recent fractures • One should not practice abhyanga after having a meal or in case of severe indigestion • Avoid during the menstrual cycle as it can create a weakened state of the body Udvartana
Udvartana is the practice of rubbing the body with a herbal powder such as triphala or chick pea flour. It helps to liquify fat for removal from the body. Stimulate the lymphatic system, balances both kapha and pitta, further encourages detoxification and circulation, and helps remove excess oil from the skin following abhyanga.
How to Perform Udvartana
• Start from the bottom of the feet to the top and use swift and vigorous movements. • Triphala powder is generally recommended for this, but a simple chick pea flour can also be used for the massage. • Silk gloves or dry brush can be used in a person with oily skin and kapha imbalances • Strokes are against the direction of hair growth and upward and towards heart from hands. Upwards and towards groins for legs. Circular strokes on stomach and breasts. • Wash the powder off after the
Udvartana and apply moisturizer on the skin to avoid dryness.
Avoid in case of: • Dry skin • Eczema • Skin open wounds • While taking Medications that might irritate your skin
Kansa Wand
The Kansa wand is an ancient Ayurvedic tool known for its gift of stimulating lymphatic drainage, massaging away puffiness, invigorating the skin and stimulating marma (acupressure points) that balance and harmonize our mind, senses and the skin. It is made of bronze which has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Using a Kansa Wand
• Take a little bit of facial oil on your face and apply all over your face. • First step is to activate the marma points on the face by massaging them anti-clockwise three times • Idea of face massage is to remove excess lymph and to improve blood circulation • Lymph is like water and is based superficially under the skin so at any point, pressure should be minimal
Bibliography
1. 1. Hebbar D. Dhatu - 7 Body Tissues As Explained In Ayurveda. Easy Ayurveda. https:// www.easyayurveda.com/2013/07/22/dhatu7-body-tissues-as-explained-in-ayurveda/. Published 2018. Accessed October 16, 2022. 2. McIntyre, A., 2012. The Ayurveda bible. Alresford: Godsfield. 3. Smith, V., 2016. Anatomy and Physiology in Ayurveda Dietekon, Switzerland: EIVS Gmbh 4. Datta D, Madke B, Das A. Skin as an endocrine organ: A narrative review. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2022 Sep-Oct;88(5):590-597. doi: 10.25259/IJDVL_533_2021. PMID: 35389023. 5. Withalls C. The skin is a very important (and our largest) organ: what does it do?. The Conversation. https://theconversation. com/the-skin-is-a-very-important-andour-largest-organ-what-does-it-do-91515. Published 2018. Accessed October 16, 2022. 6. Mischke M. Soothe Your Skin Guide. Banyanbotanicals.com. https://www. banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedicliving/living-ayurveda/health-guides/ soothe-your-skin-guide/. Published 2021. Accessed October 13, 2022. 7. SKIN HEALTH - Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda. Joyfulbelly.com. https://www. joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/symptoms/ Skin. Accessed October 19, 2022. 8. McIntyre, A., 2012. The Ayurveda bible. Alresford: Godsfield.
SIOBHAN COSGRAVE is a qualified Ayurveda Consultant (diet, lifestyle and herbs). Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) is the oldest health science in the world. Siobhan is drawn to its principles of living in harmony with nature and how health is achieved through establishing balance between the body, mind and spirit. https://siobhancosgrave.com/
Refresher
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(1 hr) Professional v Poorfessional (3 hrs) ALL practical training will take place at www.kingsmoorclinic.co.uk at www.aosm.co.uk
Where do you fit in?
BY PAULINE BAXTER
Pre-Covid-19 pandemic, the massage industry as a whole was thriving, with corporate massage (Seated Acupressure - SAM, or On Site Massage) becoming very popular. There were many highly qualified and experienced practitioners offering a valuable service, with a lot of companies recognising the benefits of massage for the health and wellbeing of their employees. Then suddenly, the ‘rug was pulled from under our feet’ as Covid-19 arrived on the scene. Bang. Just like that, the world came to a grinding halt.
D
uring the first lockdown in 2020, all hands on complementary therapy ceased, as did hands on training. Very quickly, there was an influx of online massage training courses. The nature of massage is that it is ‘hands on’ and so by definition, you cannot carry out hands on training over the internet. Whilst I agree that for massage, there is a certain amount of theory training that can be completed online via Zoom or similar, the physical, hands on, in-person training is absolutely essential.
Students need to understand and experience how SAM feels as a whole from a client’s perspective from start to finish. This includes the ‘meet and greet’, health consultation, chair set up, the massage itself (initial contact, individual techniques and their application , specific point locations, quality of touch, empathy with the client etc), post massage advice and aftercare.
From the perspective of giving massage, students need to learn the techniques individually first, in order to understand and experience the ‘how, where and why’, both from theirs and the client’s perspective. It does not make sense for a student to learn from only their own perspective if it is not going to be safe and effective for their client. Similarly, it does not make sense to only consider their client’s perspective if, in the process, they are going to cause themselves an injury.
Worryingly, others do not feel the same way and they offer online massage training/qualifications and in some cases, use only videos and pdf’s as their training medium. Yet somehow, the student can end up with a certificate that allows them to take up insurance and be let loose on the unsuspecting public.
This is a definite case of ‘Poorfessional’ rather than Professional, which is quite scary, and even potentially dangerous to both client and practitioner.
Now, almost three years down the line, the world continues to adapt and emerge from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, only to find a number of other challenges growing rapidly. These challenges are having, or will have, considerable impact on the world as we knew it. point etc. Without doubt, it makes sense to look at your corporate massage pricing, particularly as the cost of travel and supplies increases. But there is another meaning to RRP and that is;
Review Refresh Professional
In terms of SAM and your business, a review is something you would have done in-depth back in 2020 and are likely still doing now, though perhaps
With regard to Seated Acupressure (SAM) or On Site Massage, let’s consider how changes in the corporate world over the last two to three years have affected the way in which we, as corporate massage practitioners, now work.
SAM is generally used as a corporate massage service and provides welcome relief for tense necks, backs and shoulders; something of which there are plenty, and in particular as a result of the hybrid form of working between home and office. How many people have the correct desk set up at home (if they even have a desk!)? In the office, many companies have reduced the physical size of the office and have turned to hot-desking. Invariably, this means the desk set up is not assessed and set up specifically for individuals.
Just as many businesses have had to learn to adapt the way in which they work, the same applies to the complementary therapy industry as a whole. But, there is a difference between adaptation and sacrifice. Put very simply, being able to adapt means being able to adjust/ accommodate/modify. Having to sacrifice means having to surrender/relinquish/ give up. In both cases, the change has the potential to be good and/or bad, depending on the situation and interpretation.
This brings me to the term, corporate RRP. You may think of RRP as an abbreviation for recommended retail price, though it can be an abbreviation of other terms e.g. roasted red pepper, remote radar post, runway reference on a slightly smaller scale. This would have included looking at the services you previously offered, what alternatives you may have considered, including retraining in something completely different, or adding additional skills and qualifications that do not depend on in-person contact, but which remain in the complementary therapy industry.
If you chose to return to SAM once the relevant regulatory bodies gave the go- ahead with their guidance, did you refresh your skills? This could have been completed in more than one way but should definitely have included you giving and receiving SAM, whilst incorporating any adaptations to the massage you introduced and helping you provide a safe, efficient, hygienic, effective, and professional, corporate massage. Perhaps you attended a refresher training course to help fine tune your skills, once in-person training was allowed.
Having completed the first two points (RR), it brings us to the third point (P).
This is very important and worryingly, for some massage practitioners (whether deliberate or not), their services have become tinged with a little lack of thought and preparation, poor techniques/quality of massage, inadequate training, all of which can contribute to a reduction in or lack of, professionalism.
The practicalities of providing corporate massage need to be efficient, thorough, and hygienic at all times. This includes cleaning equipment and room ventilation between all clients and carrying out a suitable consultation/health questionnaire. It has been suggested that some practitioners are ‘cutting corners’ and not completing these tasks as they should in an effort to get more clients through the door as quickly as possible.
Exhibitions are returning and you will often see SAM offered on some of the stands. Having been to some exhibitions recently, one situation in particular comes to mind. There appeared to be no health consultation, the chair was not adjusted to ensure the comfort of the client and as for the massage itself, the quality was poor. The practitioner seemed intent on providing strong, rapid, and unsympathetic contact, resulting in the client ‘bouncing’ backwards and forwards. I doubt it was particularly helpful to or pleasant for the client, the practitioner or even the chair. This may well have been an extreme example, BUT it can have quite an impact on all three and it also doesn’t show the complementary therapy industry in the best light.
Here at Academy of On Site Massage we decided to take a lengthy teaching break at the onset of Covid-19 in 2020. Although not yet back to teaching, we do practice what we preach and regularly apply our own RRP. With that in mind, we hope to be back to hands on training from April, albeit in a slightly different format.
PAULINE BAXTER
A 10 year background in Health & Fitness Club Management laid the foundation for Pauline’s venture into the world of complementary therapies. Over 22 years later, that journey has been, and continues to be exciting, rewarding and ever-evolving.
Notable events include becoming a tutor for Academy of On Site Massage (AOSM) in 2000, director and owner of AOSM in 2006, a regular contributor to industry magazines since 2010, development and growth of additional On Site Massage training, and a judge at the National Massage Championships in 2018 & 2019.
www.aosm.co.uk | 0118 391 4313
◆ THERAPIST SPOTLIGHT ◆
Danny Jensen
BY MADELAINE WINZER
A
fter a brief encounter at the National Massage Championships here in London, it was great to catch up with Danny Jensen via Zoom before he jetted off to compete in the Romanian National Massage Championship.
After being presented with a lifealtering back injury, Danny tried and tested various methods to improve his physical condition, however, he had little success in finding a solution. That was until he came across cupping - a form of alternative medicine that is currently trending in the wellness industry and dates back to Chinese, Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures. It brings oxygen to certain areas of the body which in turn reduces tension and inflammation, helps with blood flow and relaxation, and enhances qi flow throughout the body. For Danny, it was the first session of cupping that significantly reduced the pain he was experiencing; he was able to stand up straight for the first time without pain and move with more fluidity. After this first session of cupping, Danny was intrigued by the cupping process and continued receiving cupping while
also embarking on some courses at Cupping.dk led by Bo Stentoft and Tengbjerg School of Massage. The skills and techniques he learnt during his studies enabled him to work as a therapist where he now treats his own clients. His background in dance also helps him as a therapist as bodily awareness and flow are essential during a treatment. The passion Danny has for massage is reflected in his ongoing contribution to the industry where he travels to various countries to compete in competitions where he can showcase his talent. He has won medals at various National Massage Championships and a silver medal in the chair category at the World Massage Championship held in Copenhagen in June 2022.
He is thankful for the sponsorship he received to compete in the UK National Massage Championship at Olympia, London from Joe Lavin, the Founder of Touch Factor Massage as it has given him the opportunity to meet like-minded people with who he can exchange ideas and build lifelong friendships with. For Danny, collaborating with others is the most enjoyable aspect of competing as he believes in the importance of educating others on the benefits massage can provide to help people live a more vibrant life. Danny is looking forward to what 2023 has in store!
“Danny Jensen is my former student. I know him as very talented and innovative in his massage treatments. He won 2 medals at the Danish Championships in 2022, as well as medals at both the Baltic Massage Championships in Lithuania and at the Intercontinental Championships in Greece. I am very proud of him.” Jeppe Tengbjerg, the Founder and CEO of The International Massage Association
