In massage, holding is not just a technique; it is an art that brings deep relaxation to both the body and mind.
This article will thoroughly explain the basics of holding, its applications, and its astonishing effects. It’s packed with information that is easy to incorporate into your daily care routine, including tips on using products like Phiten’s Solarch or Fujiiryoki’s massage chairs.
What is Holding? Basics and Importance
Definition and Purpose of Holding
Holding is a technique where you gently envelop a part or the whole of a person’s body with your hands.
- Rather than just touching, you use the entire palm to support and hold the person’s body without applying pressure.
- The main purpose of this technique is to promote deep relaxation and provide a sense of security.
Holding is expected to not only relieve physical tension but also bring about mental stability. By performing holding on someone feeling anxious or stressed, you can provide psychological support.
Furthermore, holding has the effect of integrating body sensations and deepening self-awareness. By focusing on the body, you can become aware of sensations you usually overlook and understand yourself more deeply.
Holding is often incorporated into massage and chiropractic treatments, and its effects are diverse. It is crucial to adjust the duration and pressure of the hold according to the client’s condition and purpose. The therapist must carefully observe the client’s reactions and perform an appropriate hold.
Key Points for Correct Holding
To perform a correct hold, there are several important points to keep in mind.
- First, strive to touch the client’s body with your entire palm. By gently enveloping them with your whole hand rather than just your fingertips, you can provide a sense of security.
- Next, be careful not to apply too much pressure. The purpose of holding is not to apply pressure. Gently supporting them will enhance the relaxing effect.
- Matching your breathing is also important. When the therapist and client synchronize their breathing, a deeper state of relaxation can be achieved. Try to support the body slowly, in sync with the client’s breath.
- Additionally, observing the client’s reactions is crucial. If the client shows discomfort or tenses up during the hold, immediately reduce the pressure or stop the hold.
- Finally, the therapist’s mindset is also important. Therapists should strive to approach clients with kindness and compassion. It is essential to create an atmosphere where the client feels safe to entrust their body to you.
The Effects of Holding
Holding brings various benefits to the body and mind. The physical effects include muscle tension relief, improved blood circulation, and pain reduction. Holding relaxes muscles and improves blood flow, alleviating physical ailments.
The mental effects include relaxation, a sense of security, and stress reduction. Holding calms the mind and provides a feeling of safety, which helps to alleviate mental stress.
Furthermore, holding can deepen self-awareness. By focusing on the body, you can become aware of sensations you usually overlook and understand yourself more deeply.
Holding is also vital for building trust between the therapist and the client. Through holding, the client feels a sense of security with the therapist, allowing for more open communication.
The effects of holding vary from person to person, but in most cases, they can be felt immediately after the session. Clients often report feeling lighter in their body or having a calmer mind.
While holding is an effective technique for various conditions, there are contraindications. Do not perform holding on areas with inflammation, infections, fractures, or dislocations.
Holding Techniques by Body Part: Shoulders, Back, and Legs
Shoulder Holding: Relieving Stiff Shoulders
Shoulder holding is an effective technique for relieving stiff shoulders. It is especially recommended for people whose shoulder and neck muscles are tense from desk work or smartphone use.
- The therapist gently places their hands on the client’s shoulders, holding them in an enveloping manner. At this time, use the entire palm, not just the fingertips, to apply even pressure.
- The holding time is typically 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust the time according to the client’s condition.
- When performing a shoulder hold, being mindful of breathing is also crucial. Encourage the client to take deep breaths and instruct them to release tension in their shoulders as they exhale.
Shoulder holding can be done on its own or combined with other techniques. For example, combining it with scapula mobilization or neck massage can lead to even better results.
When performing a shoulder hold, carefully observe the client’s reactions. If the client feels pain or shows discomfort, immediately reduce the pressure or stop the hold.
Back Holding: Easing Lower Back Pain
Back holding is an effective technique for easing lower back pain. It is especially recommended for people who put a strain on their lower back from long periods of standing or sitting.
- The therapist places their hands on the client’s back, holding the entire back in an enveloping manner. At this time, use the entire palm to apply even pressure. It is especially important to gently support the area around the lumbar spine and sacrum.
- The holding time is typically 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust the time according to the client’s condition.
- When performing a back hold, being mindful of breathing is also crucial. Encourage the client to take deep breaths and instruct them to release tension in their back as they exhale.
Back holding can be done on its own or combined with other techniques. For example, combining it with pelvic correction or hip joint stretching can lead to even better results.
When performing a back hold, carefully observe the client’s reactions. If the client feels pain or shows discomfort, immediately reduce the pressure or stop the hold.
Leg Holding: Improving Swelling
Leg holding is an effective technique for improving swelling. When you stay in the same posture for long periods or lack exercise, water tends to accumulate in your legs.
- The therapist places their hands on the client’s legs, holding the entire leg in an enveloping manner. At this time, try to apply pressure slowly from the ankle to the knee.
- The holding time is typically 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust the time according to the client’s condition.
- When performing a leg hold, being mindful of breathing is also crucial. Encourage the client to take deep breaths and instruct them to release tension in their legs as they exhale.
Leg holding can be done on its own or combined with other techniques. For example, combining it with a foot massage or calf lymphatic drainage can lead to even better results.
When performing a leg hold, carefully observe the client’s reactions. If the client feels pain or shows discomfort, immediately reduce the pressure or stop the hold.
4 Effects of Holding
Deep Relaxation and Sense of Security
Holding brings deep relaxation and a sense of security. The feeling of being gently enveloped provides a sense of security akin to being held by a mother, which soothes physical and mental tension.
This relaxing effect stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which has the effect of lowering heart rate and blood pressure. It also induces alpha and theta brain waves, creating a relaxed state.
The sense of security gained from holding helps to alleviate mental stress and soothe feelings of anxiety and fear. It can also be a catalyst for boosting self-esteem and regaining confidence.
For those with past traumas or struggling with relationships, holding is expected to have a healing effect on emotional wounds.
When performing holding, it’s important for the therapist to be relaxed themselves. If the therapist is tense, that tension will be transferred to the client, and the relaxing effect will be halved. The therapist should perform the hold in a relaxed state, perhaps by taking deep breaths.
Integration of Body Sensations
Holding has the effect of integrating body sensations. We tend to focus on information from external senses like sight and hearing, but holding allows us to focus on our internal body sensations.
When the body is touched, skin senses are stimulated, and signals are sent to the brain. These signals help in recognizing the position and condition of various body parts.
Additionally, holding stimulates the sensations of muscles and joints, which can help improve body balance and posture.
When body sensations are integrated, self-awareness deepens, and consciousness of the body increases. As a result, you start to care more for your body and are more likely to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.
When performing holding, it’s important to encourage the client to focus on their body sensations. For example, you can ask questions like, “Do you feel your body warming up?” or “Do you feel yourself relaxing as tension releases?” to direct the client’s awareness to their body.
Balancing the Flow of Energy
Holding is believed to have the effect of balancing the flow of energy. In Eastern medicine, it is thought that an energy called “qi” flows through the body, and its stagnation can cause physical ailments and diseases.
By touching specific parts of the body through holding, it is believed that you can improve the flow of qi in that area and balance the body’s overall energy.
For instance, there are many acupoints on the palm, and holding the palm can help regulate the flow of qi throughout the body.
Similarly, there are many acupoints on the soles of the feet, and holding them can help activate the function of internal organs.
When performing holding, the therapist’s consciousness is also important. When the therapist performs the hold with the intention of balancing the client’s energy flow, a higher effect can be expected.
However, the concept of energy flow is not scientifically proven. Therefore, when explaining the effects of holding, combining a scientific explanation with the concept of energy flow can make it easier for the client to understand.
Deepening the Connection Between Therapist and Client
Holding has the effect of deepening the emotional connection between the therapist and the client. The act of touching the body is a form of communication that transcends words and can provide a sense of security and trust to the other person.
Through holding, clients are more likely to open up to the therapist and share their worries and anxieties. By carefully listening to the client’s story and showing empathy, the therapist can build a deeper trusting relationship.
As the trust between the therapist and client deepens, the effectiveness of the treatment also increases. Clients feel more secure receiving the therapist’s treatment and are more likely to experience the effects of relaxation and pain relief.
When performing holding, it is important for the therapist to act with integrity toward the client. By respecting the client’s privacy and promising to keep secrets, the client can feel safe receiving the treatment.
Learning from Professional Practice: The Depth of Holding
The Skills of a Professional Therapist
Professional therapists view holding not just as a technique, but as a communication tool with the client. They carefully observe the client’s physical and emotional state and adjust the holding method and pressure based on that information.
When performing holding, professional therapists are mindful of their own palms and strive to touch the client’s body gently. By using their entire palm to apply even pressure, they provide a sense of security to the client.
To enhance the effects of holding, professional therapists incorporate techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation. By being mindful of their breath, they relax their own body and mind, which in turn transmits a relaxing effect to the client.
Professional therapists continuously work to improve their holding skills. They attend seminars and workshops and receive guidance from senior therapists to hone their craft.
Incorporating the Philosophy of “Te-waza-do” (Hand Technique Way)
Te-waza-do is a philosophy that aims for personal growth and social contribution through hand techniques. By incorporating the principles of Te-waza-do, holding becomes not just a treatment, but a means of elevating one’s own spirituality.
In the philosophy of Te-waza-do, it is considered important for the therapist to act with integrity toward the client. By empathizing with the client’s pain and suffering and performing the treatment with sincerity, the therapist can heal the client’s body and mind.
In the philosophy of Te-waza-do, it is considered crucial for the therapist to constantly engage in self-improvement. By not only honing their skills but also elevating their character, therapists can provide higher-quality treatments.
By incorporating the philosophy of Te-waza-do, holding becomes not just a business, but a social contribution. Therapists can use their skills to contribute to the health and happiness of people.
Tips for Enhancing the Effects of Holding
There are several tips for enhancing the effects of holding.
- First, it is important for the therapist to accurately understand the client’s condition. Carefully observe the client’s physical and emotional state and adjust the holding method and pressure based on that information.
- Next, it is important for the therapist to maintain the condition of their hands. If your palms are dry, apply moisturizing cream to keep them soft. Also, trim your nails short.
- Furthermore, it is important for the therapist to regulate their own breathing. By taking deep breaths, you can relax your own body and mind and transmit a relaxing effect to the client.
- During the session, it is also important for the therapist to communicate with the client. By asking the client about their physical and emotional state and explaining the treatment, you can deepen the trusting relationship with the client.
Conclusion: Holistic Well-being Through Holding
Holding is a technique that brings various benefits, including deep relaxation, integration of body sensations, balancing the flow of energy, and deepening the emotional connection between the therapist and client.
It can be effective not only for physical ailments like stiff shoulders, back pain, and swelling but also for mental issues like stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
By learning from the skills of professional therapists and incorporating the philosophy of Te-waza-do, you can further enhance the effects of holding.
Incorporate holding into your daily life to maintain and improve your physical and mental well-being. Self-holding is also effective.
By performing holding on family and friends, you can also deepen your communication with them.
Holding is a technique that not only supports holistic well-being but also holds the potential to enrich human relationships.
We encourage you to experience holding and feel its effects for yourself. And through holding, may you lead a healthier and richer life.