Understanding Massage

Massage is a way of aiding the body and mind to relax and rejuvenate the body in it’s entirety. To achieve this, the massage practitioner works with the muscles and soft tissues and with other bodies systems.

The concept of the connection between the body, mind and emotion can be viewed in several ways. For example, think of a pleasant situation - warm emotions are evoked as the body relaxes into the image. Whereas, if driving the car an accident looks imminent, the body tenses, the mind races looking for an escape route.

Emotions such as fear and anxiety are foremost in the mind at this point. These are extreme examples, but on a daily basis our mind subtly alters our physical state.

Through massage our awareness of our body’s state is heightened and we can learn to recognize the developing signs of dis-ease and thereby take the opportunity to deal with this.

Under the daily stress of living the muscular system’s usual response is to “tighten up”, this in turn affects our skeleton by pulling it out of alignment. These muscles often remain contracted, reducing the work potential until finally we need to see a chiropractor,physiotherapist, or massage therapist for treatment.

The overriding result of tension is a vicious circle of pain and restricted blood flow, which in turn leads to more pain and eventually spasm.

You can break this cycle with massage and relaxation techniques.

The use of superficial stroking and effleurage help to deaden the pain and release tension. Circulation is stimulated through kneading, therefore aiding the removal of metabolic waste.

Massage is a way of helping to prevent this stress response, by inducing a state of relaxation, which eases tension out of the body assisting with the relaxation of contracted muscles on a regular basis. It is a tool of health promotion as well as assisting in regaining optimal health. This state of body alignment allows all the other body systems to function optimally.

THE ELEMENT OF TOUCH

Touching is more important than many people think. In recent times it was discovered that many refugee orphans in some war-torn countries were becoming extremely ill and even dying from the lack of touch due to the fact that they had lost their families.

Touch is nurturing.

Touch is vital throughout life. It is one of the first senses to develop. Touch communication is the way a baby learns to discover what things are – by feeling, holding or touching something. Touch is encouraged with children but as we move into the teenage or young adolescent years, under the guise of personal space and safety, touch has been discouraged somewhat as being unacceptable in many areas of our society. It was once believed if a baby or a young child was given too much touching they would become spoiled. Another fear, relevant to young boys, was that over pampering with touch might turn them into “sissies” – we now this not to be true!


Touch is a form of nourishment throughout life. A lack of caring touch can be substituted for in many ways. A example of this is the physical action of hitting someone or fighting, or even throwing a tantrum to gain physical contact and attention. Not always the best solutions! These forms of touch actions may develop into long-term patterns of dealing with stress in a dysfunctional way if the circumstances of life assist them.

As people grow old, it is evident that touch becomes one of the first contact qualities lost to them. If there is a baby or a young child and an elderly person in the same room it is the young one who receives all the touching contact and fuss. The elderly are often overlooked except for the initial hello hug and peck on the cheek if lucky! The elderly are denied touch for various reasons.

Massage is a way to nurture and give therapy to older people, allowing them to become comfortable with touch in a non-threatening way and reaffirm that they are worthy of touching care. Once this experience has been transmitted, the feeling of being worthwhile, being needed and useful usually returns. In some cases massage can give an older adult more meaning and purpose in life as their self-esteem increases. The therapy of massage assists with the treatment of disease in many ways.

It is important to re-establish the value of touching as a legitimate means of treating clients. Touch is a vital evaluation tool for the practitioner. It is a form of communicating with the body; to not only build trust with people, but also to show we care. Massage is one of the best forms of therapy as it needs no chemicals to work and the results can be enormously positive.

The importance of health is to maintain order between the mind, body and emotions in one’s life. Massage can be used to assist in maintaining this order and helps to keep the body in a state of ease or relocation, which will reduce the likelihood of dis-ease. This is not to say massage can do everything by itself. Massage, combined with other factors such as good eating habits, gentle, regular exercise and learning to take time out from work and stress are ways that good health can be achieved. With massage we can help teach people to gain an understanding of their bodies.

The relaxation of the body assists in recovery from disease, clearing the mind of stressful thoughts and allowing healing. This process often helps to lift the spirit. The body can also be invigorated to give it more energy through proper massage technique and help it with the daily demands placed on it.

With touch we assist clients to become aware of the state or condition of their body, and teach them how to enjoy responsibility for their health, showing them ways to recognise and release tension held within their bodies.

Learn to massage with Shaz ...a wonderful chance to help people with the skill of touch!!

Saturday afternoons
(4 sessions) August 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th

on Sunday 7th & Sunday 14th August

Why Massage is a Great Benefit To You!!

The benefits of massage are numerous to both parties. I am an experienced Remedial Massage therapist and as that person I am going to help to pass on the information that I have inside my head.

I have found as I have worked in the massage field that many people enjoy the touch they receive from a massage but often are not aware of the benefits that massage gives to our bodies.

Massage is a wonderful way to decrease stress and anxiety from our loved one's body.

In the modern world you can agree, that we are wound up to perform on many levels compared to the lifestyle our parents and their parents lived.

We have of course in our life, labor saving devices. The devices have often enabled us to work longer and rest less.

We now have computers at home (laptops in our bedrooms), at our friends and work colleagues constant beck and call with text messages, face-book and phone calls.

Don't get me wrong I also have these items in my life but they have not helped with the ability to "switch off and relax" easily.

We need to "book" in our relaxation time as necessarily as our gym time.

The need to incorporate into our lives the training to unwind and relax as a "learned" habit is much needed in this busy world we all now live in.

Regular massage can help to lower raised blood pressure, improve sleeping problems, relieves headaches and muscular pain and improve the functions of the skin, digestive systems and lungs.

Of course the power of touch is fundamentally the greatest pleasure as the slow caring strokes are recognized by professionals as a benefit to pain relief both physically and mentally.

My first Workshop!

Hi I am happy to say I have began to experience holding my own in a small workshop. I was contacted by a young woman hosting a "campfire" experience for medical students and allied health workers going through uni. Basically talking to them about other services and career choices they will or can make or be in contact with in the future.

I was swayed I must confess to the dinner that was being held at the Monarto Zoo and enjoying canapes with the giraffes. Not everyday a girl can enjoy that experience so I said yes.
I had three small time slots with approx 20-30 students in each to talk to.


It was a really rewarding experience and after introducing myself and giving a couple of case studies I showed them all how to give a nice hand massage. I had put together small bottles of generic body cream with a few drops of lavender essential oil to scent the cream.

Now I confess, I have been advised by my business coach, the lovely Mz Margaret Gill, if speaking to a crowd have some products on hand to sell as often the people would love a little of yourself to take home with them. I really hadn't given this much consideration when planning my afternoon but yes, you have guessed it, I was asked if I had some bottles of hand cream they could purchase. The scent in the bottles was very noticeable to them and as many were nurses with a lot of hand washing in their work, the cream was a balm to them.

Note to self, listen to my coach and implement her advice better.

I did give out vouchers and feed back forms and received great comments back on how the audience experienced the event. It does feel great when it went well.

I really enjoyed it. The experience was positive and even though when I said yes to the organizer before I was really aware of the blend of people in the audience, seems to have been a market for my launch into speaking and the new journey into coaching.

Moving from Fear to Action. Birth of a Business

One of the first actions you could take when you have a new idea is to think of a name you could call your new business. I found that this action can come easily to you and other times it takes work.
I walked five days a week and found the action of walking along side the road (without a music device) a way of finding a "quiet space" to ask myself or the universe/god the question of "What business should I do?" I did receive an answer and of course I didn't like it so I asked again. I wanted to do a business that I could have earning me money whilst I slept and if I was sick and massage was a hands on therapy. I couldn't see how this fitted with my desires. The same answer came back so I gave in and then asked "Well what shall I call my new business?" The answer of Bodysense came back and so my new business doing massage called Bodysense was formed.
The next step I could think of was to register the name. I went into the Office of Business Registration armed with the exciting prospect of this name which had been "told" to me and filled out the forms. I passed the form over and the young lady began to process it and she then returned it stating the name was too similar to another for the process to continue.
Now many people could allow this very small hiccup to stop them. I say try, try again! If the bumps in the road stop you here, you are allowing yourself to have your dreams be taken by someone else. I believe a car business (not a human body) had a name similar so I had to add more.
Bodysense By Shaz was registered. I picked Shaz so I could hid it in small print as I only wanted BODYSENSE to be noted. My sister felt 'By Sharon 'would have been better?? We can't please everyone.
I was on my way, armed with my bit of paper saying my business was registered and as I had an ABN registered in my name I could start trading.

The Fear Of A New Idea.

Moving from a dream into an actual business can for many people stop right there. It stays in your head and just doesn't go any further. Others do act on that strong desire to begin that scary journey. Well I can say that you are not on your own. I was scared! I was very scared but I could use this emotion ( fear is only an emotion) to help to move me into a new life, try a new journey or let it keep me where I was. Scared, not earning what I needed to achieve my desires. I stepped out. So can you! I know it seems daunting.. it is but many have done it and so can you. I want to help people to gather your armor and help you to choose your weapons and attack your fears.
I have begun a new journey and again the fear has surfaced. I have put on a brave face as I know if young girls can face nights and days on their own in a little boat in a vast ocean I can step into the unknown with you and share my words with you.