Over the years, I have gotten treatments of bodywork with countless practitioners that held space for me during some of the most difficult parts of my life. Sometimes my armor was so solid they could barely make any progress over many sessions. It took a long time for me to feel safe enough to let go of my holding patterns to allow myself to receive the kindness and compassionate care that these practitioners were able to offer. I fought it, like I thought I was protecting myself from something, from being vulnerable. Sometimes it was a moment where they held my hand while I cried, sometimes it was the softest, most subtle techniques that had the most impact. It’s not that they “fixed” anything, but more that they sat with me while I dealt with moving through emotions that had been buried in my structure, giving me a chance to feel safe enough to find acceptance and peace, so that whatever it was that was stuck there could be let go. At times I remembered whatever it was and other times it was only the sensations of tension, fears, rage, strain, embarrassment, humiliation, etc… Other times it was only the feeling of the physical sensation of the tension releasing.
Our nervous systems learn coping skills from the beginning of our lives, environments we grow up in, situations we’ve been in, memories that our body gets stuck reliving instead of being able to process and just remember as a memory with no control over us anymore. It takes time to unlearn those coping skills and learn new ways of experiencing life to be able to grow and move on. The learned behaviors of armoring becomes part of our posture and structure. When we get to meet and communicate with ourselves in a supportive environment around considerate and respectful practitioners, we can find levels of relief that are life changing.
I am forever grateful for the people who have been so supportive and attentive to be able to have a whole different perspective on how the body can respond intentionally over involuntary reactions. The time it takes for each one of us to make peace with these levels of armor is unique for each one of us. I’m very grateful for having safe spaces with these practitioners that have helped guide through the darkness by providing a light through bodywork therapy. This holistic, somatic approach to bodywork has inspired me to continue practicing for 18 years and counting.
I bring this outlook into my therapy as an opportunity for my clients and students to find relief on physical levels by also having a safe space to be able to let go of some of the armor that can be let go now.
To learn more about Integrative Massage Therapy sessions, check out my YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/xhF-MtwwkbA
With gratitude and love,
Anna🖤