Crying is underrated.
When I first started my healing practice as a massage therapist, I occasionally had a client that would burst into tears on my table. I was always amazed at how quickly and efficiently a few minutes of crying could release my client’s shoulders and upper back.
If there is crying during a massage or healing, it is usually the pivotal point in the session and the rest of the time is focused on balancing the shifts from that release. While my client is actually crying I usually support their process by placing my hands on their lower back or between their shoulders. Sometimes I just hold the space for them without touching, because I don’t want to energetically override or cut short their process. After the crying, which I try to hold space for as long as possible, I resume the massage or healing.
I know most people don’t like to cry. It can be exhausting, time-consuming and can make your eyes puffy and red for hours.
Yet, as a massage therapist and energetic healer, I have observed that the effects of crying on the physical body and energy field are incredibly beneficial and well worth the process. Energetically crying can open every chakra or energy center in the body. When I check in with clients the day after an emotional release that included crying, they almost always report feeling a much higher level of energy and much clearer mentally and emotionally.
While I don’t intentionally try to make my clients cry, I definitely welcome crying in my massages, healings and breathwork sessions. The space I hold for my clients includes all forms of release and crying is one of them.
This is particularly important for my clients who are going through life threatening illnesses or are facing challenging medical procedures. Many times my clients are holding back their emotions because they don’t want to upset their family and friends who may also be taking care of them. Sometimes this is because they feel it might burden them.
It has NEVER been a burden for me to hold space for a client who needs to release emotionally. It is an honor to be able to support others so effortlessly. I think this is my biggest gift as a healer – to be able to hold a high level of energy without being overwhelmed emotionally. I think I was born naturally wired this way, yet this gift has definitely become stronger over the years.
Writing this post on crying has inspired me to the point that I keep going off topic with so many ideas. I have rewritten this post about 20 times and I think I am just going to end it here and hit the publish button. Obviously this is a rich subject and I’ll write more about emotional release in the future.
The bottom line is: If crying happens during a session, it’s a good thing.
Jeri Lawson is available for Healing Touch and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm,in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California. Please feel free to call her if you are interested in a Healing or Breathwork session. Her massage practice is full and she is not accepting new massage clients.
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Nice piece Jeri ….well said and I agree with your process and your findings! Hugs, Carol
Carol,
You agreeing with my post is the Gold Seal of Healing Approval. Thank you!
Hi Jeri,
Your post was helpful to me as a person who cries every so often and feels like it might be a burden to others. I try not to do it in front of others. However, I agree one can feel better the next day. Thanks for confirming that!!