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Massage in the Time of Covid, Part 2: What is Yomassage?

 


Mindfulness + Restorative Postures + Hands-On Massage Therapy

Yomassage combines the gentle stretches of restorative yoga with therapeutic touch and a focus on mindful breathing. Each session is an invitation to slow down, to reconnect with your body, and to practice mindful awareness. 

You are encouraged to relax for several minutes at a time in different seated or reclining poses, with blankets and bolsters to prop up limbs and help you unwind. Your Yomassage therapist performs skilled therapeutic massage on your back, arms, legs, or neck. Guided meditations and a focus on your breath deepen the stillness you feel. 

This is an inspiring new way to receive therapeutic touch that can feel safer or more accessible to many. Because Yomassage sessions are clothed, you can schedule private sessions in your own backyard or living room, or attend a class in a studio. It is a more affordable way to receive therapeutic touch than a traditional table massage session. It can also feel less intimidating than an unclothed massage for some. 

I am excited to share this new modality with you. When I first attended massage therapy school in 2002, I had a vision of making bodywork available to more people. I firmly believe that massage and safe, healthy touch are crucial components of self-care, not luxuries reserved for people who want pampering. 

Giving yourself time to relax, and to put down the weight of your worries for a moment, is vital in order to keep going. We are all experiencing so many levels of anxiety and stress and trauma in this year of change. Deep healing requires stopping to assess where we are, and where we want to be. 

Safety precautions for Yomassage are similar to what I follow for mobile massages: blankets and waterproof bolster covers are washed after each session, and yoga mats and blocks are disinfected between sessions. You also have the option to bring your own mat and/or blocks if that makes you feel more comfortable. Hand sanitizer is used before and after working on each client. Participants need to wear masks, as do I. During the pandemic, I will be only offering private sessions (which can be just you or include family members), but once it is safer to congregate indoors again I will also offer public classes. 

If you want a sneak peek of what a session is like, check out this segment from a news station in San Antonio, Texas. 


Picture an afternoon relaxation session with your family, or a couples session to connect with a loved one. Envision giving yourself the gift of time, and relaxation, and stillness. 

Ready to try it? Contact me and let's schedule your Yomassage session soon!

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