10 REASONS CLIENTS ARE COMING TO REGULAR BODYWORK SESSIONS

Because Massage & Bodywork is becoming more and more popular, many of us have a pretty good idea of why people do it. (hint: IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL BETTER!)

But to be more specific, I'd like to articulate some of the reasons I'm seeing my clients regularly. I've put together the 10 main reasons people are currently coming to my practice, in no particular order. 

1) TENSION/STRESS
This is a big huge obvious one! Stress lingers in our muscles and our minds....and bodywork is a great effective way to release and lessen this tension. Someone might come in after a stressful day, week, month or year and leave feeling calm, collected and renewed. Amazing!

2) DESK JOB
We all know sitting at a desk or in front of a computer all day isn't healthy. Bodywork can help to unwind some of this damage, by addressing the regions of the body most affected by this type of work. What are these regions? Well, most commonly: Neck, shoulders, back, forearms and hands. 

3) PRENATAL
I love working with pregnancy! The rapid changes of pregnancy are lovingly supported with bodywork, as we work to support the environment that the little one is growing in. Certain points and regions are avoided for safety and the utmost care is taken to keep the mother comfortable. What's good for mom is good for baby, so bodywork provides wonderful care for both bodies!

4) CAR ACCIDENT INJURY
In Minnesota car insurance will pay for Massage Therapy in order to treat injuries sustained in a car accident. I have worked with many clients through their rehabilitation process and work in conjunction with their primary care physician or chiropractor. I take care of the billing so that all a person has to do is focus on getting better!

5) DEPRESSION/ANXIETY
Whether depression or anxiety is chronic or newly revealed due to a life change or event, bodywork can provide support. Shiatsu is especially well suited to treating emotional conditions, because it treats the body and mind as one and works on an energetic level. While bodywork might not provide a 'cure' for depression or anxiety, it can play an active partner in someone's holistic treatment plan and can offer relief.

6) SUPPORT FOR AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE
Many people who ride a bicycle, exercise regularly or play sports use bodywork as partner in their regular upkeep and maintenance. Whether the goal is to soften muscles that have been working hard or to help repair an injury sustained during activity, Massage & Bodywork has a lot to offer in this arena. 

7) FEELING UNWELL
Perhaps someone doesn't feel good. Or maybe they haven't felt good in a really long time. This may manifest in a combination of complaints, from muscle pain to digestive trouble to not sleeping well. Perhaps there is an official diagnosis and perhaps there isn't. Either way, the main point is that the person feels unwell and wants to feel better. In these cases I work to find out if we can discover a connection between the various symptoms, in order to find out how best to use bodywork for the person. And because I treat the whole body with careful attention paid to the mind and emotions too, the sessions can be a very effective tool of support and care.

8) PREVENTATIVE WELLNESS
Although this is less common, I would like to applaud those who seek out bodywork as care BEFORE they have an urgent need! Prevention is about a thousand times easier and more effective than remedial treatments. People who come in on a regular basis, even when they are feeling good, will get great results from their sessions. They will relax, reset their nervous systems, prevent illness, grow their self awareness and more. 

9) FATIGUE
When conducting an assessment at the beginning of a session, I always ask about energy levels. And I would have to say that about half of all my clients report fatigue. Often this is in conjunction with pain or some reason listed above. Despite the many different reasons that someone might be feeling fatigued,  I can report that bodywork almost always helps to re-energize the body!

10) HEADACHES
This is such a big one. And as a person who had a history of headaches myself I have so so much compassion for those who suffer this type of pain. A headache is miserable. And chronic headaches and migraines are marathons of pain. Bodywork has a lot to offer people who have headaches. Most of the time a headache is gone by the end of a session. And with time and regular visits, the frequency of headaches can be reduced with the ultimate goal of preventing them all together. Also, if there is an underlying imbalance that may be contributing to headaches, I am able to advise some simple lifestyle practices that may help to further treat the problem. If you are someone who 'lives' with regular headaches...I urge you to please begin a regular bodywork regimen today!!!

Do you relate? What does bodywork do for you?

In peace and health,
Susie Carlson, Dipl. ABT
Certified Shiatsu & Massage Therapist, Minneapolis MN