Massage & Bodywork - Spring 1997: Revised 10/5/98,
By Mark Lamm

Ouch, my shoulder! My elbows are stressed! As massage and bodywork practitioners, we are required to use our own bodies, our own energies to effectively facilitate our clients. I am often asked by practitioners how they can alleviate and avoid stressing their anatomy and how to be more efficient in doing massage and bodywork.

How would it be if we could use ourselves in a totally integrated, coordinated, and empowered way by tapping into the universal energy called Chi (in Japan and Korea, Ki) and having that energy flow through us? What is this mysterious Chi? Actually, it is not mysterious at all, it is the rhythm of the Universe, the lifeforce, the intrinsic energy inherent in every human that in most of us is dispersed, unfocused, and uncoordinated. It is like having a genie in a bottle, carrying that bottle wherever you go and never taking the cork out to allow the genie to present you with boundless gifts. Where are the instructions that come with our body?

Let's take the cork out of the bottle and apply some simple concepts for using this marvelous gift. Chi is directed by your focus and intention, and flows from your Chi center, physically located just below your navel point through the focal area (contact point between practitioner and client). Chi is not muscular strength and just like water flowing through a hose, causes the hose to be firm, yet not rigid, so also when using Chi the body is firm and in total balance. Become aware of using your body in circular, spiral ways so we don¹t restrict ourselves to only linear movements. Let's consider the diversity of possibilities from center with each radius and spiral, like the proton-electron of an atom, the orbits of planets around the sun, let¹s give ourselves permission to explore all this freedom in our own multidimensional bodies.

There are certain observances to open the door to Chi flow. Body integrity is called for with feet comfortably and naturally apart, shoulders even, chin tucked slightly down, elbows and knees need to be unlocked. For example, if you feel excessive tension or shaking in your arms, you are using muscular force-soften and transfer your focus into the Chi point and generate energy from there.

In energetic terms, Chi is both soft (Yin) and hard (Yang), whatever is called for in the moment. A client's tissue may resist a hard approach, yet melt with a firm, soft Yin Chi, and as the tissue softens the Chi flow becomes stronger or Yang to effect a positive change. So, there is an electro-magnetic shift that occurs organically.

There are many Chi generating exercises, one of the simplest and most effective is the "Standing Wave,". Simulate pulling a blanket up and towards your chest in a circular manner (wrists loose) and then tucking it under (palms vertical) finish the movement by returning to the original position making a complete circle. Slowly, in rhythm, all motion generated from your Chi point, let the breath flow naturally. To vary this movement, switch legs, face different directions, etc.

In terms of somatic therapy, foot movement generally precedes the generation of Chi. To keep body integrity, move the feet when repositioning your therapy moves, allow them to turn on the ball or heels as naturally and easily as needed. I like to use the analogy of a spinning top so that my center is the generating force and the client point of contact is close to this center, this way you¹re not working at extension but with body integrity. The more you use Chi the more it integrates and becomes a totally natural expression.

Once you start using this simple and profound resource you'll wonder why you didn't utilize it before. To further develop your Chi power the practice of Tai Chi Ch'uan and especially Aikido will produce excellent results.