Green Philosophy
Throughout my experience, I have found an emerging trend in the massage and bodywork industry toward a more unsustainable “retail” oriented model of service. Clinics and spas can be very damaging to the earth - chemical-laden products, disposable sheets and face cradles, and lots and lots of waste. Their prices can be out of control as well. With corporate branding and marketing dominating our lives more and more, I wanted to move away from these models. Holistic bodywork should not be treated solely as a commodity in the marketplace, but an opportunity to give back to life, and for us to all feel more “alive.” The following are my core principles I work and live by:
1. Care for People
One of the most important things missing in our connections with others is Empathy. To be fully present with a person, and to recognize “what is alive in them” is one of the greatest gifts we can give.
2. Care for the Earth
I use products that are organic as much as possible. The massage cream I use (Lotus Touch Organic Naturals) is organic, unscented, contains no nut oils, no alcohols, no methylparybens, and is not tested on animals. It is also water soluble, absorbs into the skin, and will not stain your clothing. I use only biodegradable detergents for washing linens as well. I provide discounts to persons who bike to their appointments or use public transportation. I myself often bike and take public transportation to my office.
3. Treat the Whole Person - Body, Mind, and Spirit.
We are all so much more than our stresses, our clinical diagnoses (which you will never get from me), the occupations we choose, the judgments and labels placed upon us, or merely the physical symptoms we exhibit. Healing takes place at all levels. My intention is to create a space where Body, Mind, and Spirit are integrated into the whole.
4. Relaxation is allowed - Not forced.
Whether I do massage, acupressure, or reiki, my intent is to have a quality of touch that allows the mind-body-spirit to naturally and organically unwind. Tension is released in a slow, comforting, and nurturing way. Relaxation should never be forced, but should be allowed to unfold. Whether the pressure for massage is light, medium, or deep, our muscles need time to breath and unwind. “Fast-food relaxation” does not benefit anyone. A greater possibility for healing exists when we as human beings are more at peace, more connected, and more nurtured.
5. Healing is a partnership - Not a prescription
You as the client are the most important person in a session. I am present with you, creating a space for your own interpretation of your own healing and relaxation. We are in a partnership where I allow YOU the space to create your own healing, in your own way. It is my strong belief that we as human beings do not need “yet another diagnosis” in our lives, but that we need more choices and more control of our own well-being.
6. Share in Abundance
I am committed to offering massage and bodywork within a range of prices, to acommodate people of many income levels and obligations. I offer discounts to seniors, students, those who bicycle to their appointment or take public transit. Because I am independent, I can keep more of my income from bodywork, and I can also share in this abundance by offering discounts and a “no-questions-asked” sliding fee. When I offer discounts and a sliding fee, I am sharing my abundance - with people, and with the Earth. I believe that within the realm of holistic healing, we need to recognize and begin to heal the economic injustices that keep some among us very far from services of wellness and well-being. Massage and bodywork should not benefit only the wealthiest among us, but all of us. It should be both affordable for the client and a rewarding career for the practitioner.
Peace,
Scott Schumacher
