Introducing The Spirit of Massage; A Short Series of Books for the Aspiring Masseuse 

One question we often receive is this; apart from learning the hand techniques and the basic movements, what is really involved in learning massage? What else does it take? 

Good question. It depends on who you ask, and, if you ask us, it depends on how far you want to go into the experience of being a professional or master masseuse. It is perfectly acceptable to be the best amongst your friends, and have everyone lines up for one of your shoulder rubs. That is just fine with us, if it’s fine with you!  

However, if you want to really pursue massage as a professional, there are skills, concepts, and practices that don’t directly relate to giving someone a massage, but that will open doors within your experience that will elevate you and your practice to a higher level. It sounds promising, but it isn’t a trick or gimmick.  

All About Trust and Hard Work 

Within the world of massage there are a number of subtle, but critical skills that make the difference between being able to give a massage, and being able to create safe space, nurture openness, foster trust, and open doors within a client. When these poetic-sounding things happen, a massage goes deeper. And the client knows they have really encountered a master. This is not about hierarchy; it is about skill, and hard work. 

For this reason, we at Moving Crafts have developed a short, three-book series called The Spirit of Massage. These books are included with many courses as core material. In this article, we’ll share a little from each one to give you taste of what we’re talking about, and why we really think this is important for you and anyone on the journey to becoming a better masseuse. 

The Topics 

The Spirit of Massage series covers a series of topics that “surround” the concept of massage. It includes the ideas of creating and maintaining a safe space, which is more than making sure that the table doesn’t collapse, and there are no poisonous spiders in the room. In fact, “safe space” really means a place in which the receiver feels comfortable with the natural vulnerability they experience in disrobing to some extent, lying on a table, and letting a near or complete-stranger put their hands on them.  

Trust is key to the experience of receiving a massage. And there is a lot more to creating this space than you might think. Here’s a list of topics we cover in the three books: 

• Presence of the Giver 

• Presence of the Receiver 
• Understanding the Origins of Tension 
• Cultivating Tolerance 
• Respect and Confidentiality 
• Communication 

• Energy/flow: Synchronizing with the Receiver 
• Breath and Movement 
• Self-care for the Masseuse 
• Care of the Studio/equipment 

Even further, we take these concepts from a general discussion of why they matter to massage in book one, through a discussion of what you can do as a masseuse, in-between massages, in the privacy of your own space, in order to enhance your skills in this area. Finally, in book three, we go into the studio directly, and look at how you can foster your own tolerance, and the projection of a safe space to your client, regardless of who they are, and what they bring with them into the experience. 

Check out a Sample 

Here are three short samples of how we talk about the first topic, ‘presence of the giver’, taken from each of the three books. This allows you to see how the ideas progress, as the teaching material progresses… 

From Spirit of Massage Book One: Presence of the Giver 

… These are the things that create our ‘presence’, the energy that we bring to a situation, and, if we wish to be a successful giver, meaning we are able to create a space in which others feel safe to be vulnerable, we must have some true skills within our own self that allow us to create such a space authentically. And, before we can create it outwardly for others, we must be able to create it within our own selves, for ourselves…. 

From Book Two…. 

… There is a lot to managing your energy by knowing your inner self, which is kind of where we’re going with all this, but in this context, the subject can be discussed simply as a question of being in balance. To be in balance is like walking on a fallen log across a river. Lean too far one way or the other and you’ll fall off. So, when we say it’s important to not overshoot the mark, it refers to the fact that our energy, our presence is most trustworthy when it is authentic, and not trying too hard. If it is trying too hard to appear as something really great that we wish it was, it will overshoot the mark of authenticity, and it will have a kind of odor to it that the intuition of others will receive as inauthentic, and therefore somehow not quite as trustworthy… 

From Book Three… 

… Admittedly, being all of these things energetically, and authentically, takes practice, and it isn’t something you can just turn on with a switch, (although the more you do this, the closer you may get to switching quickly into that energy). However, as mentioned, many individuals getting into this line of work have some familiarity with the concepts, and some experience or even a practice with meditation. ‘Clearing one’s mind and being empty of thought and attachment, well, sounds great, but for most of us we do the best we can to attain that. Whatever remains is our karma, our lesson, and not to be fretted over. Give yourself some time in the studio to have a little ritual, ensuring that includes a silent sit in which all thoughts flow and pass with no more relevance to you than leaves in the wind… 

Another one… 

The next three excerpts cover the concept of Tolerance, examined across the three books as a concept, a practice for the masseuse in private, and an active aspect of meeting the client in the studio. 

From Spirit of Massage Book One: Cultivating Tolerance 

…The issue of tolerance is something that really only comes up when we are experiencing something that challenges our tolerance. It’s easy to be tolerant of things we like! What we as practitioners need to focus on in terms of skill development is how to present with the things that we might actually find a little bit repulsive. Or very repulsive. Some bodies are not healthy. Many are not beautiful to gaze upon. Some produce unpleasant odors. Many of these repulsive things are actually the product of poor health on some level, or a poor relationship to one’s body. In other words, it may be best to think of such experiences as a sign that massage treatment is exactly what this person needs, which makes our judgement extra inappropriate… 

From Book Two… 

…It helps to foster an emotionally accepting space ahead of when you might need it. When it comes to tolerance, be truthful with yourself about what things you find hard to tolerate in others. What behaviors? What attributes, physical or otherwise? Imagine such a person coming in to the studio and just by their presence, challenging your tolerance. It’s okay to be honest about the fact that this is one of the things in the world that challenges you; we all have them, and this is the point of the exercise. Can you find compassion for that person, just as they are? They are coming to you in trust, with a need. Can you find the authentically compassionate space for them?.. 

From Book Three… 

…The moment in which the client arrives may in some ways be the most challenging, and may present the most potential for someone to get ‘rubbed the wrong way’ (pun intended). Some clients arrive with their energy in a way that, owing to the something in their past, may have an unconscious need to try to gain control, or subtly put you on the back foot, or something unnecessary. The more focused you are on the safe space and a non-judging energy, the less potential you have to even get offended, which is the right place to be. Tolerance is not dependent on the client being agreeable to us. It is a skill that is accepting of the ‘energy of arrival’ for the recipient, focuses on communicating patience but with a focus on the purpose of being here…     

Just the Beginning 

Perhaps in closing we can offer a statement of our own purpose and intent in creating Moving Crafts, the courses, and all the associated material, the Spirit of Massage series included.  

Moving Crafts is founded by, nurtured by, and created by a passionate master of massage. The goal of this site is to offer high quality, unique, and informed teachings on how to truly advance yourself within this field, and the industry.  

It takes more than moving your hands around. It takes study, and professionalism, and a series of skills that you really only learn about by putting in the time.  

Here, we want to do everything we can to offer you the benefit of the skills that our master teacher has learned over time. You don’t have to prostrate yourself, or bow to an idol. But if you’re willing to dig in, to put the time in, even to subtle things that seem simple, you will learn, and you will succeed.  

And that is all we want for you!