Would you go to a Massage Therapist who's into chakras, reincarnation etc

[WhiteDove]

If you were going to a massage therapist, and, say on the third session her personal philosophy comes more to the surface, and she waves some amulet over your body to check the energy flow of your chakras, what would you do? She’s into something called ‘theraputic touch’,let’s say. You like her in every other way, and you actually can talk to her easily, and feel comfortable with her, except that she mentions that maybe some childhood fear of being stabbed to death in your bed you mention, that may have caused you to sleep in a certain position and contribute to your neck problem, was really a past life memory.

So, in this imaginary scenario, what would you do? Let’s imagine that you have a prescription from your doctor for 8 massages, and you’ve used 3 of them so far.

 

[Didi]

Run! Run far away and never go back! And remember to pray for the massage therapist.

 

[shannon_e]

I would ask her to please stick with just the massage and nothing else. If that didn’t work, then I guess I would say that I’m Catholic and that the thought of her manipulating any of my physical energy channels (word it as necessary) really really disturbs me. Just give me a massage. If that didn’t work then I would stop going. If she wants more details or reasons, then share your faith

 

[Steve_Andersen]

Depends on how pushy they are about it

Some therapies have a clear benefit. The techniques were arrived at empirically even if the mumbo jumbo behind it is silly.

If the therapist is happy in their little world and you’re getting the therapy you need what is the problem?

 

[Shiann]

Oh, but the money you give them for the massage might allow them to purchase more crystals and other new age equipment, and will only serve to prolong the New Age industry, and Lord knows what other ungodly things!!!



Actually, I would tell her how I already strive for spirituality. I meditate at 3:00pm every day and how I spend at least one hour on the weekend in structured contemplative “meditation” and spiritual examination. I spend a half an hour in the evenings in explorative contemplation on the meaning of life…

When she’s all a giddy and ready to share her “tricks” with me, I gently let her know that I am Catholic, and have not found anything else on earth that makes me feel more centered and spiritual. She should try it sometime!

 

[WhiteDove]

Do you all think crystals are harmful? Do you think they have some power? Or, are they just harmless material objects used by self-deluded people?

 

[Shiann]

WhiteDove:

Do you all think crystals are harmful? Do you think they have some power? Or, are they just harmless material objects used by self-deluded people?

I vote the later

If it walks like a rock and quacks like a rock…

 

[Island_Oak]

WhiteDove:

Do you all think crystals are harmful? Do you think they have some power? Or, are they just harmless material objects used by self-deluded people?

Exactly! By the way are there massage therapists out there who aren’t into channeling your energy with some silly twist on Eastern meditation?!? I’ve encountered it only once and that was at the St. Paul Saints (minor league) baseball games where there was a nun with a portable table who would move around the stands offering massages.

 

[Didi]

Check out this link regarding “energy” work:

crossveil.org/page10.html

I went to a massage therapist and after awhile, she started in with the whole crystals and “higher power” lingo and trying to bring forth healing heat or some such thing with her hands using the power of the cosmos.

I told her I was not comfortable with that because of my faith and she became very hostile and defensive. I just remember praying “Lord Jesus, let nothing affect me that does not come from You and You alone.”

I never went back.

 

[Zooey]

I voted that I would set clear boundaries before going again, but I have to say that it depends on several things.
Is it really massage or is she doing reiki, or something like that? If she is just giving you a massage, I would politely (the 1st time!) tell her that that is not compatible with my religious faith, & make sure she keeps it there.
If she is way out there, I would drop the “politely”. And I would talk to the doctor about finding someone who wasn’t :whacky: …

But, you know, it is like going to the doctor; do you know what she/he believes in? Do you care? The real problem, IMHO, is, if it is impeding the ability to get the care you need w/o compromising your own beliefs…

 

[Trelow]

I wouldn’t go to a massage therapist to begin with.

 

[Joan_M]

Trelow:

I wouldn’t go to a massage therapist to begin with.

Massage therapy is good - when the therapists are properly qualified therapists and not new age quacks.

I have had massage therapy from a professional. It was ***painful! ***I was preparing for a Taekwondo tournament and (not being young!) wanted to prevent injuries as much as possible. The therapist informed me that some of my muscles were tight as if they were knotted, and that, of course, he would have to unknot them! It felt like it!! There was no mumbo-jumbo - that is usually done by those who know little or nothing about real massage.

By the time he was through (at least six sessions), I felt great, and there was a great difference. But, I never went back - I know that my muscles are once more in that bad shape, and I just do not want to suffer that pain again!!

 

[Trelow]

Joan M:

Massage therapy is good - when the therapists are properly qualified therapists and not new age quacks.

I have had massage therapy from a professional. It was ***painful! ***I was preparing for a Taekwondo tournament and (not being young!) wanted to prevent injuries as much as possible. The therapist informed me that some of my muscles were tight as if they were knotted, and that, of course, he would have to unknot them! It felt like it!! There was no mumbo-jumbo - that is usually done by those who know little or nothing about real massage.

By the time he was through (at least six sessions), I felt great, and there was a great difference. But, I never went back - I know that my muscles are once more in that bad shape, and I just do not want to suffer that pain again!!

eh. to each their own.

 

[Tietjen]

WhiteDove:

If you were going to a massage therapist, and, say on the third session her personal philosophy comes more to the surface, and she waves some amulet over your body to check the energy flow of your chakras, what would you do? She’s into something called ‘theraputic touch’,let’s say. You like her in every other way, and you actually can talk to her easily, and feel comfortable with her, except that she mentions that maybe some childhood fear of being stabbed to death in your bed you mention, that may have caused you to sleep in a certain position and contribute to your neck problem, was really a past life memory.
So, in this imaginary scenario, what would you do? Let’s imagine that you have a prescription from your doctor for 8 massages, and you’ve used 3 of them so far.

I cannot imagine myself ever going to a message therapist. I suppose that if I had to, for medical reasons, I might reconsider but I would be EXTREMELY meticulous about the one that I would go to. I don’t like people touching me (other than my wife) and just the thought of it would make me more tense and uptight than whatever the reason was that I was prescribed such a service. If I had to go, I think that I would look at hospitals or medical clinics that offered the service before looking to a “roadside” private therapist.
God bless.

 

[stbruno]

For those of us that suffer from chronic back pain…go see a licensed chiropractor. I have never felt better and the massage you get as well as the adjacent treatments are usually covered by your health insurance. Why bother with a masseuse.

 

[snowgarden]

I just don’t want to be involved and would find someone who just does the job at hand (so to speak!)

 

[WhiteDove]

So, let’s say, theoretically of course… , that this massage therapist encourages you discuss traumas from your past that might have contributed to stresses that you carry in certain areas of your body. Her theory is that these memories are stored in the cell memory. You feel at ease with her, and maybe you do have some emotional blocks, and perhaps there’s something to it… And, perhaps talking about your past is a helpful thing, something you really hate to do, but perhaps need to anyways in order to become a more effective person in doing God’s work in your life.

What do you think???

 

[shannon_e]

WhiteDove:

So, let’s say, theoretically of course… , that this massage therapist encourages you discuss traumas from your past that might have contributed to stresses that you carry in certain areas of your body. Her theory is that these memories are stored in the cell memory. You feel at ease with her, and maybe you do have some emotional blocks, and perhaps there’s something to it… And, perhaps talking about your past is a helpful thing, something you really hate to do, but perhaps need to anyways in order to become a more effective person in doing God’s work in your life.

What do you think???

I would say save any past-related discussions for a professional Catholic therapist.

 

[Bobby_Jim]

Joan M:

I have had massage therapy from a professional. It was ***painful! ***I was preparing for a Taekwondo tournament and (not being young!) wanted to prevent injuries as much as possible. The therapist informed me that some of my muscles were tight as if they were knotted, and that, of course, he would have to unknot them! It felt like it!! There was no mumbo-jumbo - that is usually done by those who know little or nothing about real massage.

No kidding about the painful part! My wife and I treated ourselves to 80-minute massages at a spa on vacation. I think they used a variety of techniques, including some “deep tissue”. The masseuse (?) asked how much pressure, and I started off by saying “medium” but after about 10 minutes of gritting my teeth and trying to bear it, I had to say lighten up! And after it was all over, my whole body felt like jello.

About as new-age as it got there was some candles and calm, soothing music. I would shy away from a therapist who thinks the crystals, amulets, chakras, etc. have real power. I think good massage therapists have a firm grounding in the real science of physiology and anatomy, and know exactly where each bone, muscle, and nerve is, and how the muscles are layered upon each other.

 

[JamesD]

My experience is that most message therrapists have this new age leaning. I wonder if many of them feel that they need to cater to this by having new age art, plants scents, chrystals, and music as THE proper ambience?
I will say that my wife gets message regularly. She has tried several and the best (and now her regular) IS into Raiki and chrystal power.
The thing that bothers me is that she became attracted to a certain chrystal (that turns out to have suposed “anti-depressent properties”). My wife went out and bought one as she suffers from Post Partum Depression currently.
I had my very first message a couple of weeks ago (did a couples message for my Wifes B’day). It was nice but I didn’t get any lasting benefit.
The place was all new age spiritual like but the library had a book by mother Theresa and JPII’s Threshold book!