Today a client said to me, “You have listening hands.” She could feel the difference between gentle, receptive, listening touch versus the touch of someone trying to manipulate, “do something”, and exert some kind of intent on her tissue. The typical dynamic in healthcare or with massage therapy is that they “do” something to “fix” you. Pop a joint. Stretch a hamstring. Release that trigger point in your shoulder that’s so tight! It’s certainly part of our culture, to expect that when you go to a doctor or a PT they will certainly do something TO you and their hands will have an outcome.

But, in my experience, these outcomes are often temporary and don’t get to the root of the problem or pain. Everyone’s roots are so unique… to use my “fix it” hands would completely undermine the extraordinary, beautiful, and exceedingly complex nature of our nervous system, fascia, and the way we developed not just physically and neurologically but even emotionally. Everyone’s body is informed by their history, beliefs, stress, environment, access to needs, support at home, footwear… you name it. And so, like many providers, I realized that listening hands were the only way to communicate effectively and deeply with people’s unique bodies. Once a body feels heard, comforted, and supported, you’d be amazed how easily and clearly it releases restriction and tension, seeking healing from within.

When my client said this to me today, it reminded me of this poem that I received from a loved one last year on my birthday. I’d like to share it here with you:

Healing Hands

Blessed are the hands that find

those places rarely touched —

memories cleverly hiding

for so long from so much

Kind are hands that hear the stories

words can no longer explain,

daring to soothe the hours and years

of weariness or pain

Full of grace those gentle hands

that truly and deeply feel us

For we don’t know how much we hurt

until a touch begins to heal us….

-Terah Cox