Care of the Caregiver - Staying Connected
with Nurturing Massage
by Mary Kathleen Rose, CMT
“It felt so good to be nurtured –
I was able to forget about my work and worries
for a while. I could feel my priorities shift,
knowing that it is essential to take care of myself.
Now I feel more capable of taking care of others.”
“As I was touched I felt the tension melting
away…”
“For an hour I felt like I was the most
important person in the world.”
These are the words of people who are talking
about their experiences of receiving massage.
As caregivers we know the importance of caring
for others, but sometimes forget the importance
of caring for ourselves. Whether professional,
volunteer or family caregiver, we touch others
in many ways, providing needed services. Just
as there are numerous ways of giving care, there
are many ways of caring for ourselves, including
good nutrition, exercise, rest, and social and
creative pastimes. Another way of caring for ourselves
is to receive a therapeutic massage.
There are many different styles and techniques
of bodywork – from deep tissue therapy and
acupressure to integrative massage and body energy
therapies. Designed to bring relief from muscle
pain and tension, as well as to improve circulation
of blood and lymph in the body, massage also contributes
to a sense of wholeness and well-being. Receiving
a massage – letting yourself be cared for
– is also a way to be reminded of the importance
of receiving. Enjoying a nurturing massage does
in fact remind us of the value of what we give
as caregivers.
As caregivers we respond to others’ needs.
We reach out and touch others – physically,
socially and emotionally. Being touched through
massage is a way to connect back to our own sense
of self, and source of energy and inspiration.
Opening to the touch of another mirrors our own
love of giving. It connects us to our sense of
vulnerability, and increases our awareness of
our most fundamental needs and priorities. As
the recipient of attentive care we are in a position
to say, “Yes, this is why I do what I do.
It does feel so good to be heard, to be touched
and to be cared for.”
So take some time for yourself and enjoy a massage.
Ask a friend or health professional for a referral
to a certified massage therapist. Or call one
of the local massage schools and ask about their
student massage clinics. Let the therapist know
if you have any particular needs or concerns.
Remember, this is your time to take care of yourself…
Relax...breathe deeply…let yourself feel
like “the most important person in the world.”
Mary Kathleen Rose 2005
Mary Kathleen Rose, BA, CMT has been practicing
and teaching massage and wellness education for
over twenty-five years. She is the developer of
Comfort Touch – Massage for the Elderly
and the Ill, and producer of a video with that
title, as well as author of numerous articles
on massage and healing.
COMFORT
TOUCH DVD - NOW AVAILABLE
This beautifully produced video introduces the
viewer to the principles and techniques of Comfort
Touch, a nurturing form of acupressure massage
designed to be safe and appropriate for the elderly
and the ill. Drawing on her many years of experience
practicing and teaching this work in home-care
and medical settings, Mary Kathleen Rose shares
the essential elements of Comfort Touch with demonstrations
of its applications in the seated, supine and
side-lying positions.
This program will inspire the viewer - whether
healthcare professional or family caregiver -
to offer the benefits of touch to those for whom
conventional massage may cause discomfort or even
injury. While Comfort Touch provides soothing
relief for the elderly and the ill, it can enhance
the quality of life for anyone in need of a caring
touch.
Includes 40-page Video Guide, complete with Principles
and Techniques of Comfort Touch, Benefits of Comfort
Touch, Precautions in the Use of Touch and Self-Care
Exercises for the Caregiver. Yours
for $29.00 plus shipping.