Need: What is the attitude toward massage and/or touch in your community?
by enDhruva | May 13, 2009 at 3:34 PM | Information Sharing
Hello friends,
I have decided to re-start my massage therapy practice but with a different spin on how it used to be. I am gearing my massage toward women and children and would eventually like to travel to different countries to teach massage to women who may not have access to it. The power of touch is amazing and can be healing mentally as well as physically. I strive to teach these women basic techniques so they can administer massage to their peers as well as their children. I see a village or town where all the women know this skill and can trade it with each other. I truly believe that even a short, mindful period of even just holding hands can lead the way to mutual support, friendships and healing. My offering of massage does not have to be unclothed or even on a massage table....it can be fully clothed, sitting in a chair with very light pressure.
I feel like my head is spinning with all of the possibilities of this, but first I ask for your help. I need to know how massage and touch is perceived and accepted in your community? Is massage accepted as a legitimate practice or is it stigmatized to mean a sexual experience? Also, is there a traditional form of massage or touch that is practiced where you live?
Any input at all about the perceptions and reactions to massage and touch in your surroundings would be very, very much appreciated. Please know that this information is only for my eyes and is to better understand the ways to teach and administer massage/touch in different cultures so I can better my skills and learn new ones.
Many thanks and many blessings,
Erin Dhruva
Comments
Dear, In actual fact it is
Dear,
In actual fact it is not new in Nigeria, but these days some sophisticated Nigerian have turned it into big time job/business. I t is a great idea and I will love to learn from you, because I have been thinking of setting up a beautiful place in the nearest future where sexually violated women and children will be treated to nice hot treatment and massaging or what do you think?
Olutosin
Olutosin Oladosu Adebowale (Prevent Child Sexual Assault)
Founder/Project Coordinator
Star of Hope Transformation Centre
512 Road
F Close
Festac Town
Lagos-Nigeria
https://www.facebook.com/olutosin?ref=tn_tnmn#!/olutosin
Exactly!
Hi Olutosin,
Thanks so much for your feedback. This is exactly what I need to hear. Yes, gearing my classes toward women and children in general as well as specifically addressing the needs of women and children who have been both physically and sexually violated is what I am aiming for. I love the idea of helping the communities set up a safe, beautiful, healing place to receive these massages too!
I will keep you and the Pulse Wire community posted on my progress.
Thanks again,
Erin