Once massage begins, the therapist gives each client 60–90 seconds of massage in each pose. The Yomassage therapist then leads clients into their first pose, making sure they are completely comfortable before beginning the massage. With essential oils diffusing, spa music playing-where mats and props are laid out and ready for participants-the class begins with a focus on the breath, bringing clients into the present moment. What Happens in Class?Ī typical Yomassage class is held in a warm, dark, candlelit room. Yomassage began appealing to all kinds of clientele, including those who had never been to a yoga class or experienced traditional massage. Yomassage was originally intended to be an accessible way to receive massage on a regular basis, since it was less expensive than a one-on-one massage therapy session, but it turned into something more. I wanted this class to make you feel like that for an entire 90 minutes.”
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Like nothing else in the world matters but being still and melting into your yoga mat. “Have you ever been in a yoga class,” Parker asks, “and during the final pose, your yoga teacher comes around and gives you a temple rub or a head massage? It makes your whole body tingle-and makes you feel totally and completely relaxed. Thus, the Restorative Yoga and Massage classes became a popular addition to the My Yoga Room studio.Īs the popularity of their yoga-massage mash-up grew, it became apparent to the women that they were on to something, prompting them to create Yomassage. Restorative poses can include light twists, seated forward folds, and gentle backbends.īy adding touch through massage to these restorative poses, Ryan and Parker discovered that their class participants were able to rest and enter the relaxation mode much more easily. Each restorative yoga session includes five or six poses that are held for five minutes or more, and participants are supported by props (blankets, bolsters, and blocks) that allow complete relaxation and rest. Restorative yoga is a yoga practice that aims to restore or heal the body by cultivating stillness, expanding meditation, and deepening muscle stretch without putting strain on the body. “We wanted to make this class as accessible as possible,” Ryan says, “so practicing the poses with my husband was great because he’s pretty inflexible and has very little yoga experience.” To develop the dual modality, Ryan began practicing different poses and techniques on her husband-as well as Parker, her friends, and members of the studio-until they came up with a class they called Restorative Yoga and Massage. With this new information, a new idea-merging yoga with the healing science of touch-prompted her to ask Ryan to create a class.
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Even as a member of the wellness community, she was completely unaware of the scientific evidence behind touch therapy. Previous to their meeting, Parker (like many others in the US) viewed massage as a luxury-just something you do in spas for special occasions. Ryan also shared her experiences in yoga and massage, and the two began discussing the importance of massage and touch. Ryan had recently moved to Oregon after completing her massage and yoga training in Costa Rica, and she was looking for a job.Īlthough Parker didn’t have any open positions, the women shared similar backgrounds.
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Yomassage creators Katherine Parker and Tiffany Ryan first crossed paths when Ryan approached Parker about teaching at My Yoga Room, her yoga studio in Portland, Oregon. Yomassage allows bodyworkers to serve, on average, eight clients in a single 90-minute session, and it’s easier on the practitioner’s body too. Yomassage also offers enticing business advantages over traditional massage and bodywork modalities. As long as clients are able to get up and down from the floor (at the beginning and end of class), they can participate in Yomassage. No previous yoga experience is necessary or required to participate in a class, and Yomassage is particularly inviting to anyone uncomfortable with traditional one-on-one massage, those who are new to receiving therapeutic touch, or anyone wanting to remain clothed. Yomassage is unique in its accessibility. Yomassage is one new option that combines stretching and mindfulness with touch, and can open the door to new clientele. With an ever-growing list of modalities and specialties for bodyworkers and massage therapists to choose from, it can be difficult to make a decision regarding what’s best for you and your business, or what skills you want to add to your toolbox. Yomassage Combining Yoga, Massage, and Mindfulness By Lisa Bakewell Massage and Bodywork Magazine for the Visually Impaired - Yomassage Back to Massage and Bodywork Issue List March/April 2019 Issue Back to March/April 2019 Article List