To benefit fully from any bodywork you undertake, it is essential that you understand a few key principles of choosing a bodyworker.
Allowing others to put their hands on you – even in a totally nonsexual way – is a very intimate dance. To get the most out of bodywork, you need to find a qualified professional who you really like and who makes you feel completely at ease.
Choosing a bodyworker may sound like a daunting task when you have never received bodywork before. But don’t let that thought scare you away; finding the right type of bodywork could be one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Whether this is your first time searching for the right practitioner or you’ve been on the hunt for quite some time, always remind yourself of these four ‘musts’ of choosing a bodyworker:
- Get referrals from people you trust.
- Always choose therapists who are licensed or certified in their specialty. Experience counts: you want a bodyworker with some practice under her or his belt.
- Spend time interviewing prospective therapists, especially when you’re contemplating a series of sessions. Ask questions. If you’re put off in any way, keep looking.
- Trust your gut. No matter how well regarded a practitioner is, if the chemistry isn’t right, they’re probably not for you.
The trick is to find someone both well-trained and intuitive who you can trust. Whichever practitioner you gravitate to will most likely be your best choice.
