They say the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. When a new receipe is tried, the success or lack of success is determined when the dish is sampled. It is like that with professional development, take a course and try what has been experienced and see what happens. If it works, attend another class and go deeper. Deane Juhan, the author of Job’s Body and long-time student and teacher of Dr. Milton Trager’s work, has been coming to the Florida School of Massage for the past two years. He has been offering his take on this work based on 40 years of experience. I asked different therapists, and clients to share their experience in either giving or receiving the Resistance/Release work Deane is offering. All the people quoted are FSM grads including my client. Here is the experience of Greg Young: “Personally, I’ve used the prone internal/external resistance release of the hips with almost all my clients,” Young said. “I find some clients have restrictions in their hips in one direction or the other. In my view, this technique helps to balance the internal/external movement of the hips, which is so important to proper functioning. Proper functioning of the hips is vital to allowing the spine to move in its most efficient way.” Stephen Shambach reported, “In many sessions I am using connective tissue strokes, sports massage, or specific friction work. Regardless of the technique, I often employ Deane’s Resist/Release concepts with wonderful results.” After he’d lengthened, spread, kneaded, compressed and mashed the hamstrings of one particular client, he paused to evaluate. “I was working too hard. By gently jostling and rocking, then engaging the client to resist/release, positive changed occurred rapidly with way less work.” Bobby Cook, therapist, had recently worked on a client with a “frozen shoulder”. The range of motion was so limited the client couldn’t reach any part of his back. “Using only the techniques I learned in Deane’s class on breath, my client was immediately able to tuck his shirttail inside his belt in the center of his back. He was able to greatly improve a 20-year condition in a few minutes.” The client felt empowered because he was an active participant in the process. “Tricking a muscle into releasing for a day is relatively easy, but teaching it to stay relaxed is often difficult because the solution requires the breaking of habitual patterns,” he said. “Deane’s techniques are successful because they address the habitual patterns.” The following is a report from one of my clients: During the course of IMAP training (integrated massage and personal training), I discovered the basis of a walking problem I have but did not know the cause or cure. When hiking I would constantly stub my toes on my right foot. I was not dorsiflexing sufficiently so I would catch my toes. I did not know if there was nerve damage (I ride bicycles, so possible nerve involvement) or just needed reeducation of the muscle group responsible. This is something that I have lived with for many years. I explained what was happening to Frank and he did some resistance release reeducation work with me. After we finished, Frank gave me some homework, to actively engage the muscles in a manner that was consistent with the training he had done during session. Rather than just doing exercises I chose to incorporate the reeducation in my hiking. The first hike started out with a conscious effort to dorsiflex my right foot like we worked on in session. The movement was kind of measured and awkward for about a half mile but then blended into a natural feeling and felt good for the rest of the hike. I have been on several subsequent hikes with improving success and has even translated into a smoother gait in my regular getting about. Frank retested me on a follow-up visit and we noted a dramatic improvement with only one session. (Name Withheld Upon Request) If this sounds like something you would like to taste or go deeper with, check out the FSM continuing education listing for May 10-12. For a much shorter version of this type of approach, check out the “Playing With Feeling” class on Saturday, May 4. To register contact me directly by email fmerillat@mac.com or phone (352) 371-0743.
