This will be the introductory blog for Colin Coffey. He is a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist and owner of Renewing-Massage (www.renewing-massage.com). He will be joining us for a series of three posts on holistic health options.
I started receiving massage therapy in London when I was 22 years old and first coming out. 24 years later after massages in Europe, Australia, South America and the US……… I only realized recently I was receiving a health service and that I was investing in my well being as a gay man.
I have almost always felt great during and even better after a therapeutic massage. I appreciate how therapists have respected me with non-sexual touch. So massage seemed like a ‘feel good’ I could afford. However, until recently I never thought of massage as an investment in my physical and mental health.
It was only when I started training to become a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)I discovered the benefits of massage. The State of New York actually licenses LMTs because of the health benefits of our work. According to the state massage therapists “enhance well-being, reduce the physical and mental effects of stress and tension, prevent disease, and restore health.” (http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/mt/)
I want to particularly explore the health benefits of reducing stress through massage. Unrelenting stress is a recognized by the medical community as negatively impacting all aspects of health (i.e. physical, emotional and psychological health).
Massage therapy acts to reduce this stress on the body and mind by directly stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. When stimulated, the parasympathetic nervous system releases the body’s natural stress relieving chemicals.
LGBT people in particular can benefit from massage. This is because as LGBT people we live in a world that denies our inherent dignity and equality at the deepest personal levels, which in turn creates the unrelenting stress we just talked about. Massage is one way for us to manage this stress and to maintain our health.
In addition to reducing stress, massage therapy is important because it is non-sexual touch. As a gay man I found this very helpful. When my primary relationships with my parents were shattered at an early age, it was difficult to trust. Touch is about trust on a fundamental level. Massage therapy helped me over time to learn to trust more, in myself, and in others, particularly other men.
In my day to day practice I see the positive impact massage has on the lives of my clients. Due to my own experiences and my understanding of the stress LGBT individuals encounter daily, I believe that massage has the potential to serve as a positive force in the lives of LGBT individuals.
Have you had a massage before? What do you think of Colin’s message about massage being particularly important for LGBT people? Do you have any questions about massage for Colin?
I can testify to the huge improvement Colin's deeply caring, generous professional massages have done for my health over the last couple of years. My husband and I go as often as possible--usually twice a month. I used to think of it as a bit of an "indulgence," but I have gone from being unable to walk around much to hikking every day, nearly pain free from nagging cronic aches and pains. He helps keep me young! And you won't meet a nicer or funnier or more caring human being.