"Breathe".
That is one of the first things we are taught in massage school. The power of the breath and how important it is. The breath carries fresh oxygen into those stagnant, muscles, helping to soften and ease. Being sure to remind our client to breathe through the intensity of a trigger point for example. Making sure that you are breathing deeply and slowly in order to stay loose and relaxed in your body. That the client that hears you breathing this way will take that subtle cue to do the same. So many wonderful attributes to the breath. Ahhh, breathe!
Something else that I was taught about the breath in massage school is equally important. Don't breathe in your client's face! Yep, that is what I said. Do not breathe in your client's face! This is a personal pet peeve of mine and I wonder how many Massage Therapists get it. I have been violated with a Therapist's breath more than once. Here I am, receiving what would be classified as a great massage. relaxed and feeling like I have finally found a good Therapist after my long, long search. The Therapist sits at my head and begins to work on my needy neck then, wham o! There it is! They exhale directly into my nostrils! Note to self: Back to the search!
Now, I am not so picky as to think that every massage will be perfect in every way but, I would sooner have a so-so massage without second hand breath forced up my nose than to have a super great massage which included the forced air treatment! I mean, for Heaven's sake people, let's be a bit mindful here! Seriously, how close to the client's face do you have to be? And must I, the client, have to say, "um, excuse me but, could you not breathe in my face?"? I don't mind telling my therapist that I would like a bit more or less pressure. After all, everyone has their own perception of how the pressure feels and we all know this because we were taught it in massage school right? I hardly think that each person has a different feeling about another person's breath flowing into their nose when they are trying to take a breath.
So, in conclusion, when you are giving your next client a massage and you are exercising the mindfulness of the breath, please do it away from their face! They will be more likely to return and send others your way. I for one would certainly return to a place where I was allowed to breath for myself.
