Energy of the arms

[rorpino]

My MT works prone first at the back, then the legs, then flip...the legs, then the arms, then the head/neck/pecs.

Perhaps around the second or third massage with him I suddenly have this "reaction" when he gets to me arms. It took me completely by surprise. I felt nervous and giddy and giggly. In a ticklish way kind of, but it wasn't physical it was energetic.

Now when he gets to my arms I can't relax really, I am afraid to have the same reaction. Usually now I do have some reaction but I don't know if it is nervousness about having a reaction or if I really am having a reaction.

He does a very normal technique so it's not something I haven't had before.

What kind of energy is in the arms that I might be reacting this way?

 

[yellowradar]

I don't know about the reaction, but I recall a bodyworker friend telling me once that there can be a lot of "heart-type" pent up emotions that get stored in the arms. Caring, loving, etc.

 

[WATCHA]

In Heal Your Body: The Mental Causes For Physical Illness And The Metaphysical Way To Overcome Them by Louise L. Hay, she says that the arms represent the capacity and ability to hold the experiences of life. She also adds a healing affirmation: I lovingly hold and embrace my experiences with ease and with joy.

She lists a "chart of effects of spinal misalignments" ...on the chart it shows a T-1 misalignment affecting the arms from the elbow down. Maybe your practitioner could spend more time in this area working the muscles and surrounding tissue of this area (?).

Also, consider the relationship of giving and receiving.

Many times I'll refer to her book for different things for myself...if it applies, great...if not, then I move on.

Interesting! Keep us posted please.

 

[Anthony H]

This is just off the top of my head, but maybe you are beginning to open up to something new energetically. Receiving new energy through your hands and arms, or they are being prepared for that event! Like I said, this is just my own intuition, I have had no experience, or have read anything about this. It does feel very strong to me though, so it may be worth considering. Are you expecting, or experiencing any major (energetic or otherwise) changes in your life soon?

 

[Amandalee (rawr.betch)]

Thanks for the responses so far!

Kindredspirits, my first thought was of the giving/receiving aspect because I give give give with my hands and arms, perhaps when my arms are being worked on it is shining a light on the fact that I am the recipient of what I usually am putting out....does it make me feel uncomfortable?

Texas-gal, I have also heard/read about a relationship between the heart chakra and the arms. Does my own energy make me nervous? Is it his energy?

Jon_O, the first time I responded in this way with the arms was very near an experience I had which I wrote about in this thread:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3507

So you might be on to something....I have not had an experience like that since, but I have definitely been more aware of the energy of things.

I was also thinking of going to another therapist (a female) and seeing what comes of it. I won't rule out the notion that it would be an attraction issue although I don't get aroused, I get nervous...giggly...but in an anxious way like I would much prefer not to have my arms worked on at all. But they do need the work!!

 

[John Carriere]

zen theory

From a Zen Shiatsu perspective your reaction to arm work makes perfect sense. All four of the fire meridians run through the arms and the emotions and expressions are joy and laughter.

It could simply be that your fire meridian gets over-stimulated when you get massaged (increase circulation and lymph, sound familiar?) Since water controls fire it is possible that working the bladder channel along the back and legs prior to getting your arms worked may help calm down that fire in your arms. Its worth a try!

good luck

Jennifer

 

[Christin]

Jennifer thank you for responding. He usually does start prone at the back and gets to my arms at the end. Still maybe in general my fire is too much?

The last massage I had, I asked him to start supine at the head, not do the arms at all but just neck, pecs, shoulders, back and hips. There was a point when he was at the right side of my neck that I kind of felt that nervousness.

I think I am dealing with issues. I have noticed that he will hold points in my neck and pecs and I feel emotionally uncomfortable, and therefore I get giggly. I do not show saddness or anger when I feel those emotions and I think there are muscles stuck in these areas because of suppression.

I have also started to go to a chiropractor, but he does not adjust T1....more cervical, mid thoracic, and low lumbar....turns out I have a lumbar scoliosis!

So when I brave the arms again I'll give an update.

 

[campus cutie 09]

I still suspect fire imalance...

I still suspect a fire imbalance, although the only way to really be able to tell for sure is a hara assessment. Your fire meridians (in Zen Theory) all run along the aniorio-lateral aspect of the neck (in general).

" too much fire" is just a guess. Your fire merians could be a kyo (empty)and senative and protective as a result. Strengthening Liver and Gall Badder (fire's parent) could help...

I hope this is usefull for you...

This is just my specialty, hopefully you can find one that works for you because your arms need massage too!

Best of Luck!

Jennifer

 

[Tigerspaw357]

Jennifer thanks so much , that is so interesting and I welcome your input! What can I do so strengthen my Liver and Gall Bladder....exercises, food, cleanse....? I will try it!

I definitely feel the protective thing going on in my neck.

 

[Cheese]

Check this...

foods that strengthen fire: bitter greens, nori, occasional fruit, corn, summer vegetables, quinoa, brown rice.

foods that weaken fire: overeating, additives, dairy, cold foods, refined foods, too much of one kind of food.

Foods that strenghten wood(GB & LV): Grains:barley, quinoa, rye, wheat, Diakon, sour greens, broccoli, cabbage, parsley, lemon, sauerkraut (you wouldn't catch me strengthening anything but my compost with that, yuck!), and cauliflower.

foods that weaken wood: overeating (especially heavy foods: eggs, meats, dairy), alcohol, drugs, food additives, coffee, chocolate , and sugar.

these suggestions come from a chart I recieved in my Shiatsu 1 syllabus and I am not sure what the original source is...

to stretch GB & LV sit tall with legs straight and apart (L shape), turn torso toward one of your feet with arms reaching up to the sky, looking at toes bend forward until you feel a stretch and hold it. unbend, untwist, and let arms down.
repeat with other side and the middle.

Remember: you are stretching the meridians not the muscles so focus on the channels inside the legs (LV, runs along gracilis), and outside of the body (GB, runs along the side of the body and down the ITT).

that ought to keep you busy... let me know if that changes anything for you or if it doesn't do squat.

Jennifer

 

[SumYungGai]

Jennifer, Thanks for giving me that information. I can see how I might have been weakening my wood with my diet. I'll try to incorporate some wood strengthening foods. And less of the weakening ones.

I just had a massage today and I asked him again not to do my arms. I felt alot of uneasiness in my neck and I knew I'd have the same reaction. Today he did a full body including my abs and I didn't have any uneasiness except in my neck.

I have another one in a month. So I'll work on wood strengthening and check back.

Thanks again for all the input!

 

[soccergurl1994]

I went for my massage yesterday and did considerably better!!!! He even did my arms and man did they need it bad. He worked on specific problems I was experiencing and I never felt that nervousness. Once when he pressed into my pecs I did feel a sudden feeling of saddness, but I allowed feelings to come and I just exerienced it like an observer. I think that really made a difference. I think I have a bunch of emotinal crap stored in my tissues and calmly letting myself experience it made me not hide anything with anxious/nervous giggles. Instead I came from a quiet, accepting and grateful place.

I haven't changed my diet much although in the past month I have not had much alcohol. And I have been consciously stretching my meridians. Thanks Jennifer! I've also started running again and that always help shake up and loosen my tissues so I feel in an all around way that "things" circulate faster and with more ease.

Thanks to all!

 

[cairo]

I had another massage yesterday and it was perfect. He did my arms and hands without incident. Overall I felt much more relaxed and not nervous/giddy at all.

I think part of whatever took place was a "letting go" of sorts. Letting go of a habit of not allowing myself to simply receive. And perhaps more complex hang ups are woven into it all as well, but I fully trust that creating a safe space to experience it all will allow these issues to resolve.

 

[coopchic]

Just another update to this....

I stopped seeing that MT last summer and in the fall I started seeing another MT. This one has had much more experience with energy work and emotional release and she was exactly what I needed. I ended up having a few emotional releases when she worked deep in my shoulders and neck and her energy work techniques helped to move things along.

It was the first time I'd expereinced anything like that from bodywork and it's made a profound difference in my life.

I think I new all along that there was something lurking and I just needed to find a practitioner I trusted to help move things through.

 

[Timmy]

Thanks for that update. Glad you're receiving such great bodywork! Do you know what techniques or modalities she used?

 

[The Nomad Think Tank]

I don't know specifically what modalities or techniques she uses, but she said she has studied with a woman who had studied with Barbara Brannen. Otherwise she says she had studied/read up on anything and everything.

Recently though we both completed three levels of Pranic Healing and I know she's really into that and has gone on for some of the more advanced classes.