Esalen Massage
by Steve Purcell
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Esalen Institute Massage staffDirector: Steve Purcell
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); Spanish (Unknown); German (Unknown)
Format: NTSC
Running Time: 85 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-09-25
Studio: At Peace Video
Movie Reviews of Esalen Massage
Movie Review: Wonderful, although sometimes misunderstood
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a male Certified Esalen Massage Practitioner with a practice in California, and it's apparent from reading the other reviews that there's a good deal of misunderstanding about the way Esalen Massage is practiced out here.
First, the draping used in this DVD is not typical of the way that I work, nor is it typical of the approach used by any other bodyworker I know. And in Esalen Massage training, held outside of Esalen, standard draping techniques are taught. I'm not opposed to giving a session with a more flexible approach to modesty issues, with a lover or friend, or with another bodyworker, but when dealing with the general public such an approach would be not just inconsiderate and unethical, it would be professional suicide.
In the many trips I've taken to Esalen, most often to watch the therapists work, I have yet to see a recipient draped as liberally as is shown on the DVD. The only "marginal" situations I have witnessed were the few occasions where members of the staff worked on each other, and even then draping was always used. At no time have I ever seen anything remotely improper in all the sessions I've observed.
The Esalen Massage DVD shows members of the staff working on each other: these are people who have reached a heightened comfort level with their own bodies and the bodies of others, and it's reasonable to understand that the liberal approach used by them in this context is not typical of the way the work is done outside of Esalen. After all, this DVD is not presented as a How-To for working with the general public. It was created years before Esalen Massage was first taught outside of Esalen, and was intended largely for people who were unfamiliar with the style and wanted to expand their approach to bodywork. And for that purpose it's very successful.
One reviewer suggested that "there obviously aren't strict ethical boundaries established" in California. That's both unfair and inaccurate. The city where I'm licensed is typical and has regulations as long as your arm, covering everything from draping to proper attire to exchange of gratuities. Some cities require national certification, which tends to eliminate all but the most dedicated practitioners, and one has to take an assortment of medical tests to become licensed. I should add that as a male practitioner in a female-dominated industry I have had to be especially careful of boundary issues. It's hard enough to get female clients on my table because of trust issues, and the last thing I want to do is give them a reason to not come back.
I was taught during Esalen training, and I think it's excellent advice for all therapists, to always communicate well with the client. If you're not sure about something, ask! The only time I don't ask is when the issue concerns draping a female client, because some clients will be suspicious of the question itself. So I utilize standard draping techniques as a matter of course. If I've worked for some time with a client then sometimes the issue comes up in conversation organically. If it doesn't, I'm not going to mention it. I honor the client by communicating openly and giving them space to ask for what they want; if they don't ask, then that's their decision. I believe that because comfort levels vary so widely one has to be somewhat flexible, but at no time would I ever risk creating discomfort or fear in my clients.
I have a collection of instructional massage DVD's and tapes, and while I use many of them for technique, I use the Esalen DVD for inspiration. It offers a glimpse of a more profound approach to bodywork, and for myself and many other practitioners (as well as our clients!) it's proven to be a path to a deeper, more rewarding experience.
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