Holistic therapy is a comprehensive approach to massage. Rather than asserting a set way of working, holistic practitioners work on a basis of connection, considering both their client’s body and mind whilst building a meaningful treatment plan.
For example, where a traditional massage therapist may believe that a client requesting deep tissue massage must receive a high-pressure treatment in a 60-minute slot, a holistic practitioner may work with the same client to discover that they feel they can’t perform well at work due to back pain caused by bad posture – but haven’t sought treatment due to their low pain tolerance. Said practitioner may develop a back-focused treatment plan designed to care for the client’s physical and mental needs, making adjustments to match all they have learned – e.g. suggesting a medium or low pressure to reduce intensity, or providing tips for correcting office posture.
By acknowledging their clients’ emotional and physical states alongside a wide range of influential factors, holistic massage therapists are able to approach treatments with a deep understanding of wants and needs – not just medical history.