Philosophy
"What you touch is Touching you"
I’m Charles, a traveller, a massage therapist and adventurer. I enjoy pottery, especially pinch pots which I enjoy the texture of. I like to feel the clay and shape it and realize that the clay shapes me. This is a metaphor for how I approach touching and massaging the human form. I also love world mythology, stories that make no sense to the rational mind and yet with the intutive mind one can find deep meaning with the universal and timeless archetypes that dwell within all of us. Collecting stories from different times and places has always been an interest of mine. Many of these myths are directly connected with the human body itself, as every culture shares this expeience. One of the questions that shaped my life an my philosophy is; What makes people healthy and joyful? The conversation of the mind body connection is an exciting edge that both ancient texts and modern science seem to find some commonality about. I believe that understanding these ideas are important for our collective future. I’m curious how bodywork plays a role in preserving the past and the traditions of the past while forging our way into the future.
An interview with Charles
What got you interested in massage?
I got into massage because I realized that people love being freed from the feeling of pain are generally grateful to receive a good bodywork session. It feels good making a change or a shift in the quality of peoples’ lives, I used to be interested in computers and technology but realized that I did not enjoy touching computers (the keyboard, literally), I would rather touch people.. they are much more enjoyable to touch. Now I also enjoy touching clay and making pots as well. I like to interact with people. It’s more than a occupation, it’s a passion to provide the service of massage. Touch is so deep, in fact I say that you don’t really know someone well until you touch them. Being a telekinetic person, experiencing the world through what I am touching often makes more than logical sense, its a path and a deep calling. The power of touch can have an amazing impact on the health of people. People are in need of touch and need it to live and to flourish. The connection with people is so valuable that the simple act of laying on of hands can be incredibly healing and nourishing. There are many peer review scientific articles that suggest that these statements are true. This encouraged me to pursue the bodywork and massage practice.
What makes you qualified, Whats your training history?
I am trained as a massage therapist, this means that I studied anatomy and pathology as well as the basic principles of (western) Swedish massage. Having been a chi gong practitioner and a student of reiki I have been trained with feeling the subtle aspects of energy. I learned the Chinese 5 element system for treating people in conjunction with the physical and energetic tools of Thai massage as well as Shiatsu, the Japanese acupressure system of touch. These styles of massage use stretching, assisted yoga, breathing and the applied pressure of acupressure points to aid in the building and realizing of chi in the meridian system. I appreicate the physical and energetic marraige of these styles working together. This style of energy work resonates very similar to the training I received as a chi gong practitioner. One of my teachers in Thailand said we are cleaning, we are here to clean the lines. Essentially energy gets stuck, emotionally physically or otherwise and massage helps to keep the channels open.
I received a bachelor of Science in Communication at Western Carolina University. I enjoyed studying mass communication and electronic media and am interested in the stories that people tell themselves about the world and about who they are. I like to deconstruct narratives using touch and bodywork. After studying chi gong and Chinese theory of the cosmos I became enamored in ancient systems of health and philosophical dialogue along with poetry and classic writings. After I graduated from the university I started my own video business. I made art films, music videos, and educational documentaries. After running a video business I worked in the wilderness with teens. During this time I studied and practiced and taught group therapy, leadership skills, communication and emotional regulation tools. During this time I got into tea as a way of connecting with others and more deeply with nature. Tea has become a deep passion, connecting with people in many contexts, where people from many walks of life converge to share stories.
What makes your massage style different than other massage therapists?
Most massage styles in the west are based largely on a sedentary client, a table and an application of oil on bare skin. One of the things that makes my massage different is greater versitility that the floor offers. Working on the floor enables me to get better leverage and therfore specific pressure and movement around my clients becomes easier. I like to stretch, move my clients and will even rock back and forth, roll, press twist and tap. In Thai and Shiatsu inspired styles the abdomen is a focus as many of internal organs are located there, the flow of blood to these regions are an important and overlooked aspect of body health. This massage technique uses the bodies natural gravity to find alignment and to move the chi and the blood. Thai and shiatsu technique observes the pulses and the quality of circulation, awareness of how the body circulates blood is very imporrtant and can signal how disease and inflammation is connected toa the body. This affects organ systems as well as as cellular processes throughout the body. Understanding this can be very potent in a massage context, it opens people up with movement and rocking opening the viscera to deeper possibilities.
Who is your ideal massage client?
I believe that people who care about their body are the best clients, that their body is a temple. The condition of the client is less important than the mindset and belief system of the client. I will massage anyone reguardless what they believe, however, someone who is willing to have an open mind is ideal. People who have a daily practice of some kind, be it yoga, meditation, journaling or perhaps just a daily walk or some kind of activity that helps the psyche tune into each day. Its helpful to observe daily emotions, diet and changes of feelings or physical sensations. Massage is more enjoyable to practice for people who want to be tuned into their body. Massaging people who are working to expand their edge, physically or emotionally feels like time is never wasted. Some people are going through big life changes and need some extra support or are on a journey that is hard to explain to people, this is where I enjoy aiding this process, and working with people who are focused on life initiations.
