IT IS A FACT: IN THE ART OF CONTEMPORARY YOGA MASSAGE, THE HOLDING PATTERN IS AS EFFECTIVE AS THE APPLICATION...
IT IS A FACT:
IN THE ART OF CONTEMPORARY YOGA MASSAGE, THE HOLDING PATTERN IS AS EFFECTIVE AS THE APPLICATION AND RELEASING PATTERN
Three primary considerations come into focus when determining the subject of Intention during a Yoga Massage session. These are: 1. the intention to apply, 2. the intention to hold, or 3. the intention to release.
To achieve true tranquility or ‘amrita’ during a treatment of Vedic Yoga Massage, it is fact that the holding pattern is as effective as the applying and releasing patterns.
Again, comparably as effective as the Application and Release persuasion, the Holding persuasion is also pure therapeutic elegance. The Holding state is a most desirable state to savor for any session yet is frequently bypassed because a practitioner will feel that they are not entitled to this superb condition or that this exquisite condition falls into the therapeutic category of uselessness, laziness or ineffectiveness.
Quite the contrary!
The Holding ‘sensation’ is considered a most professional and effective therapy and introduces joy into the vinyasa due to its directionlessness and deliberate non-deliberateness. The Holding Pattern is also celebrated as The Conscientious Pause!
Questions
Hypothesis
During the ‘Holding’ aspect of a vinyasa sequence, there are no obligations or expectations circulating within the psyche of either the receiver or the giver. The Holding phase of a yoga massage treatment is also the recouping phase, the repose phase and the relief phase. These phases naturally provide a very sweet and valuable infusion into the session.
Yet on its own this description of the holding phase is not implying the full comprehension of what transpires between the giver and the receiver. Such a description would necessitate including several other dimensions which address the psychological and physical bodies or koshas as well.
Yet when in its full expression, a classical posture or asana is designed to be effortless and casual regardless of what size and weight proportions are being addressed.
In other words, as the body repositions from an application or a release phase to assume the ‘Holding Intention,’ the body will refuel itself with breath and affirmative thoughts, etc. The body will then again assume its most natural posture of support for itself as well as for the recipient wherein no exertion is required nor inelegance exhibited.
This sensation, The Conscientious Pause, will then transmit itself everywhere, including into the receiver and the environment. Further superb quality is accessed and delightfully exchanged when the natural body contours automatically interface between the practitioner and the fortunate recipient.
The ‘Holding’ energy also affords us another delightful surprise and realization!
THAT AS A YOGA THERAPIST, WE DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO GO GET THE IMBALANCE.
As a yoga therapist, we don’t always have to go get the unfulfilled craving, the unnatural stress, discomforting contraction or troubling flaccidity.
That frequently it isn’t necessary at all to apply any effort in order to secure satisfaction for the receiver and from the asana.
An experienced yoga therapist embodies this wisdom and surrenders to this customary wisdom with confidence. An experienced therapist knows that the security induced as a result of The Conscientious Pause, The Holding Intention, is a significant and positive contribution to any session.
How is it possible that we can use the energy of being casual, being nonchalant and being passive to achieve tranquility and fulfillment during a session of assisted asanas, yoga massage, or during a session of any earth-oriented folk healing art? Those masters involved in the martial arts such as Aikido or T’ai Chi can easily contribute a respectable explanation. This explanation, as an example, would naturally include ideas such as moving with the energies instead of against the energies. There are other theories too that would substantiate an explanation.
An experienced therapist inherently knows that imbalances, when given the luxury of patient time and generous space, will naturally correct themselves. Manifesting ease in therapeutic intention is a highly cherished achievement for all healers and aspirants.
THE COMPONENTS THAT MAKE UP OUR ANATOMICAL NATURE ARE ALL LIVING FUNCTIONS. THE MARMAS, THE CHAKRAS, THE NADIS, THE KOSHAS, THE DOSHAS, THE DNA OF THE CELLS ARE ALL INFINITELY INTELLIGENT AND INTEGRAL ASPECTS OF THE SOUL.
Also, these living systems are independently functioning and are distinctly different from the soul. When these constituents are acknowledged as such they then exhibit their ‘miracles.’
This is good news!
Upon touching a receiver, an instantaneous message submits itself to intimate and full bio-computation. The Holding Intention is more a ‘being’ than a ‘doing’ and qualifies as a mysterious yet significant augmentation to the assisted yoga session. The Holding Intention is a truth inducing tarry, an interesting interlude, a lovely lingering. The Holding Intention is also known as ‘Substituting Intensity with Duration’.
When indicated, our treatments can displace all the requirements of intensity or ‘going after it’ with the ease and elegance of duration or perpetuity. As evidenced by the myriad of ayurvedic and Asiatic medical terms given to the various anatomical areas, which include such names as The Gate of God, The Gushing Spring, The Meeting of the Mountains, The First Husband, Opening to the Creator, Dividing Stream, Extending Vessel, Labor Palace or Supreme Unity, to illustrate but a few, as therapists we can settle deeply and securely into the understanding that these elements and forces are interactions with coherent and cognitive spirits. Medical systems such as AjurVed Marmani therapies even include the assurance that a Divinity, a Deity resides at each bodily and psychic location and that these domains accommodate perceptions such as dimensions, colors, fragrances, sounds and qualities.
Pray to have our treatments always be elegant, casual and joyful.
Now offer me a session and see if you can Hold my ‘Stone Gate’ or my ‘Spirit Storehouse’!
Grace and love, mukti