Holding versus Unfolding. Strength in seeing and listening from self.
Spent last week learning more advanced massage techniques from Perry and Johanna Holloman. They spent each morning of the workshop in movement practice differentiating “holding” from “unfolding.”
Spent last week learning more advanced massage techniques from Perry and Johanna Holloman. They spent each morning of the workshop in movement practice differentiating “holding” from “unfolding.”
Holding or projecting a healing space is a different energetic presence than receiving or embodying and unfolding an emotional experience. The Holloman’s illustrated the difference in an innovative dance excercise-- contrasting the client and practitioner experiences. I’ve done this exercise many times before and really love the energetic space I get into during a massage. But I got another deeper look into the experience this trip.
Later in the lodge I had an experience talking to other therapists. I was feeling exhausted listening to stories. Really trying to be empathetic but barely holding on to engagement. I imagined the rainbow chakra system and alignment and centered myself in my body. Everything changed. I was still listening and in fact the speaker responded with a smile and straightened posture. From my perspective the color of light in the room changed. Strangest thing...everything was brighter and more vibrant. I repeated the experiment again with someone else-- same increase in vibrance of place and conversation.
Changing how I listened from a shared experience to one where I remained connected to self was a totally different for me--and more fun and vibrant.
I have counseled tens of thousands of people in pharmacy and wonder which phase of listening I have been in. My intention has always been to be objective and helpful. But it is no wonder I developed so many physical problems and fatigue. Listening from empathy --sharing the experience- nearly killed me where here listening from energy seems vibrant.
I am interested in listening from self from now on. I mean listening with an awareness of self energy while hearing a person’s story.
I imagine this is something everybody else knows and I am just exploring at age 43 but I am glad to finally get it.
