Title: Therapeutic Massage & The Living Matrix

From: www.massage-energetics.com

By: Paula M. Moerland, LMT

All Rights Reserved. 2005.

Therapeutic Massage & The Living Matrix

As seen in Tendu Magazine's Best of NYC 2005

By Paula M. Moerland, LMT

When people think of massage, there is often a connection to a time when someone rubbed their neck and shoulders bringing about instant pleasure. Some have elevated this pleasure to a place of high importance in their anti-stress, anti-aging routine, most often satisfied at the spa. Others may think of outdated guilty pleasures when the terms masseuse and masseur are used. Surprisingly few view massage as preventive health care or as a curative for many chronic conditions. And for good reason: until recently, the scientific community could not explain the healing mechanism behind massage, and unfortunately in our modern society, what cannot be explained is too often dismissed.

Today, this attitude is changing. In Energy Medicine, The Scientific Basis, James L. Oschman, Ph.D. aptly defines and explains the Living Connective Tissue Matrix – the body’s premiere communication system, where every cell is in direct and constant communication with every other cell in the body – instantly. From the cell’s nucleus to its intra-cellular fluid to every adjacent cell, from the most external and largest organ, the skin, to the innermost reaches of our nervous systems, to the oldest structure – the brain stem. If you have ever handled a raw chicken breast, think of the almost clear, very tough, thin membrane that wraps the meat. This is connective tissue. And it is everywhere.

This connective tissue or Living Matrix is now known to be a super semiconductor of various electrical and magnetic fields, combined with the medium of water – forming ‘the matrix of life’. In fact, think of the entire human body as a super semiconductor.

Touch, pressure, movement, particularly from one super-conducting body to another, starts a chain reaction of physical, chemical and energetic events in the receiving body. Add to that the intention of the therapist, and this reaction can be ‘directed’, creating healing and changes in the body at an accelerated pace. A truly talented therapist can also ‘sense’ energy blockages, inflammation and necrotic areas of the body, and through their manipulations trapped waste products are flushed out resulting in fresh blood and oxygen-flow to the area, allowing the body to do what it does best: heal. Simultaneously, the physical stimulation alerts the Living Matrix that additional attention is needed, and the immune system responds.

Most serious body workers (a term more frequently used to describe massage therapists and others in the healing touch modalities) already understand this Living Matrix connection – instinctively if not intellectually. They and their clients have seen and experienced the sometimes-instant healings that take place - even with clients whose conditions have been chronic for decades.

In my own practice, I am saddened by the number of people who live for years with chronic low back pain, often misdiagnosed as sciatica or herniated disks, when a simple palpation procedure by a qualified bodyworker will surprisingly frequently turn up Piriformis Syndrome as the actual cause. Piriformis Syndrome is essentially an over-tight Piriformis muscle or tendon compressing the sciatic nerve. Release this tension and the problem goes away. Another common problem, most often seen in my Fibromyalgia clients is undiagnosed leg/knee/hip pains. Upon palpation I usually find the culprit to be a dehydrated, hardened and under utilized Ilio-Tibial-Band (ITB). The ITB runs from the knee to the hip and is a very thick piece of ligament-like connective tissue. Proper connective tissue therapy can literally melt the hardness away, releasing trapped cellular waste and returning oxygen and nutrients and circulation to this area. Most importantly, in both cases, the communication factors are opened within the Living Matrix, drawing the body’s internal intelligence to an area that may have been previously ignored due to a long-term chronic condition.

Massage therapy for preventive health care almost speaks for itself, as a fully functioning immune system will be able to handle many troubles that come its way instead of succumbing to them.

Movement, in its many forms, is key to a healthy life without pain.

Massage therapy moves and stimulates deeply – enhancing the immune system, strengthening our muscles and connective tissue, removing blocks from the energetic and circulatory systems, nourishing all cells of the body through the Living Matrix and promoting the removal of cellular waste. The aging process slows and in some cases reverses. Most importantly, movement communicates ‘life’ to the Living Matrix.