I’ve been involved in massage for over twenty years and although we think of massage as a purely physical modality, we can’t escape recognizing the role of the mind and the spirit in the healing process. The more bodies I put my hands on, the more I see the connection between what people are saying and thinking, and what is being acted out in their physiology. Carolyn Myss describes this phenomenon when she said, “Our biography becomes our biology.” I have definitely seen this to be true.

What I was observing in my practice piqued my interest to go further than just massage and I started investigating. After I finished my ND, I pursued a Masters and PhD in Natural Health. Through all those classes, I began to learn more and more about the mind/body connection. Add to that numerous classes at Harvard Medical School on the topic and my own reading for fun, (Yeah, I read medical books for fun, doesn’t everyone?) I began to learn some theories and develop some of my own about health that proves true almost every time I use them in my practice.

There is no separating the mind and the body. We cannot think and believe things without them affecting us in some significant way. If we tell ourselves enough times that we are worthless or stupid or sick or unhappy, we will start to physically exhibit symptoms of such. In the same way, by incorporating positive self-talk, visualizations and affirmations, we can cause positive changes in our bodies and our lives. I will also discuss research and current studies that back up this theory and teach us how to heal the connection between the mind and the body. You can’t talk about the body/mind without mentioning the placebo effect and we’ll delve into that as well.

I also strongly believe that stress is by far the biggest disease we are facing. And I’m not alone in this belief. Early in human history, the stress response was a necessary function for our survival. In modern society it is not quite as useful as it used to be and is often times, in fact, detrimental to our health. Dr. Herbert Benson coined the phrase Relaxation Response in opposition to the stress response. I will teach you ways to utilize the Relaxation Response, not only for your health, but for that of your clients and patients as well.

I have also found that not only do negative language and thoughts affect us but often our stress gathers in certain vulnerable parts of the body, which seem to have phrases that correspond. For example, if we feel like our hands are full, we might manifest hand pain or carpal tunnel syndrome. This was one of the first client examples that made me aware of this mind/body connection. Author Louise Hay has similar theories about dis-ease (out of ease) and how its location in different parts of the body corresponds to stresses. I’ve taken it a step further and will give you ways to uncover these verbal hints from your clients for more complete healing.

And though this book is written for massage and bodywork professionals, anyone in any health field or walk of life can benefit from the information contained herein. Whether you’re an MD, nurse, personal trainer or acupuncturist, you can benefit from this book. Just switch out the word massage therapist for whatever your specialty is. Welcome to the world of the body/mind; let’s see if we can learn what the / really means.

Why Us?



America is sicker than ever. Today’s youth is the first generation that is believed to not outlive their parents. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are considered epidemics. Illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia, the flu and infection that once claimed the most lives are now, for the most part, under control. Yet diseases of lifestyle are limiting our lifespan. Things that could be changed like diet and exercise habits aren’t. We, as a country, are making horrible choices that are impacting our health. What we call healthcare is no more than disease management and though we give plenty of lip service to prevention, we aren’t doing much of it.

More and more people are becoming disenchanted with the Western perspective on health. They are tired of seeing pharmaceutical commercials in between every TV show. They are fed up with getting seven minutes to see their doctors, especially when the average time of interruption is 18-23 seconds. They are tired of rising healthcare costs and diminished care. People want to take more control and are turning to complementary alternative medicine for help. Massage therapy is one of the most popular options with major increases in numbers of therapists and people seeking out massage for healthcare.

We can make a difference with every single person that sets foot in our office. With every body that lies on our table we have the ability to educate and encourage health. And I keep saying “we” because I am one of you. I started out with a massage table, some sheets, ridiculously short fingernails and a half assed plan to build a business. And now here I am decades later and what I have realized is, because massage is a mainstream and “safe” modality, we have the opportunity to introduce ideas to people that they might otherwise have never learned about. Things like the mind/body connection and how our thoughts can create changes (for better or worse) in our bodies. It can simply be about putting your elbow where the knot is. Or we can make the choice to give so much more, the choice of health for our clients and ourselves. You can’t reach everyone. I surely have not. But with the desire to do so, they will come. Those who want to experience what you offer will line up to see you. You can take pride in the fact that you help people achieve true healing in their lives. Are you ready?