By Adrienne Engel
To remember the parasympathetic response in the nervous system, think of a parachute.
Experienced parachuters open their chutes, safely and effortlessly drift back to the ground. The sensation of returning to the ground is similar to how our clients feel as their bodies begin to reorient to the safety and support we offer them throughout a massage session. Learning to work with your client’s nervous system allows them to better receive any modality you offer. Engaging their parasympathetic response decreases the resistance within their system and improves therapeutic results.
Let’s review the simple language and awareness you can offer your clients to punctuate the transitions of your bodywork, positioning them to return to their lives rested, restored, and integrated.
You can effortlessly activate your client’s parasympathetic response at the start of your session in under 30 seconds simply by helping them orient to how the table supports their body. Directing them to this simple awareness switches their brain and nervous system out of the common sympathetic “stress” state, and into a state of receptivity and integration.
Here are the exact words that I use:
“Take a moment to notice which part of your body feels the most supported by the table: your head, back, or feet, or the most down on the table.”
Give them 30 seconds to notice.
They may say something like, “My hips feel the most supported.”
Repeat that back to them: “Ok, your hips are the most supported.”
Add this instruction: “Take a moment to let your brain see that.”
Pause for 5 seconds.
Say it back to them: “Your hips are already supported.”
Add: “Then notice how your body responds when your brain recognizes you are supported.”
Remain silent for 30 seconds while holding their body. You should be able to feel an organic releasing and resting occurring. You may also notice their breath rate slow down and deepen.
Say, “Notice your breathing, muscles, and the pace of your mind. Think of how you are held, represented like a footprint in the sand. The part of you that is the most down, or held by the table, is the part that is the most positioned to be rested and renewed. As we move through today’s session, more and more of your body will settle. The footprint of your body on the table will deepen.”
You can easily redirect them to this awareness throughout your session. Encouraging your clients to be aware of their footprint on the table helps them feel the real-time impacts of your work. In future sessions, they will find this awareness easily and feel more and more of their body settling into being held.
If you want to hear this and see it demonstrated, join me for the free one-hour CEU, Introduction to Parasympathetic Response, where you will learn more about simple language to partner with the most potent driver of healing: the nervous system. I offer it live and also on-demand to provide therapists–both new and experienced–with a way to experience greater freedom and therapeutic results.
Scan the QR code below to get free access right now.
I believe so strongly in this work that I’m offering a $25.00 tuition for all students and first year therapists for the 8 hr course. You can join us live or online if you do not live close.
I wish I would have known how to partner with the nervous system when I first started. Please contact with any questions. And link to register.
Learn more about Adrienne’s upcoming workshop Somatic Massage and the Parasympathetic Response
