Here’s the short version: Like many other massage therapists and bodyworkers in Washington State and across the country/world, I have made the very difficult decision to suspend my practice until it is safe to see clients once again. This happened a while ago, but as a writer, a perfectionist, and a professional who is fiercely dedicated to my work, I struggled with the finality of making any type of announcement until now.
I know this is the right decision, even if it feels like I have a finger on the lever controlling the trolley tracks.
We have moral and ethical obligations to our fellow humans even in the best of times; now, when we are faced with a global pandemic and countless related social and economic crises, there is a glaring spotlight following each of us as we attempt to navigate some personal and professional dilemmas we might not have ever encountered. While we hope things like the Trolley Problem remain hypothetical thought experiments, the truth is we are called upon to make challenging decisions every day. If you are a rational and empathetic human, you contemplate these decisions by considering which choice brings the most benefit to the most people.
Being met with the strange paradox where the choice which brings the most benefit to the most people is the one which also confines you to your home office and the virtual thunderdome of social media–that feels unthinkable and absurd.
For weeks, as information and worry about the novel coronavirus began to spread and influence our behavior in the US, I marveled at how odd it was to be in a touch therapy profession as people were being told not to touch one another. What for me began as an intrigued fascination with this dynamic gradually turned into the realization that I, in spite of all the usual caution and sanitization protocols I normally employ, could be one of the most glaring examples of foolhardy individuals who perpetuate the problem and speed the rate of infections. Like many other massage therapists, I wrestled with wanting to provide what for some is necessary care–both in terms of pain relief and nervous system comfort–and wanting to avoid endangering more of the public as a side effect of coming into contact with more people.
Each of us who has ultimately made the decision to close up shop has probably done so for different, very personal, reasons. The exponential ramifications of touching just one person can be too abstract to effect a decision based on those considerations alone. In the end, most of us end up applying our more intimate care and concern for our loved ones to strangers and the world at large. My deliberations came to a swift halt when I asked myself whether I would be doing massage for my own parents, and my immediate answer had to be No.
The clear path forward professionally was NO path forward. After all, a great many of my clients are someone’s parents or grandparents… and every one of us also comes into contact with someone else’s parents or grandparents.
Luckily, the lever my hand rested on had the power to stop the trolley instead of diverting its path. It’s the lever I’m pulling now, and I am asking others to do the same. My responsibility as a healer is to treat and protect anyone and everyone I can. For the first time since I’ve been a massage therapist, I am called to do so by abstaining from touch and finding alternative ways to care for and help those around me.
And this brings me to the “What now?”
- You can still support Harmonic Wellness Massage by purchasing gift certificates (20% off during COVID-19 hiatus!)–either for your own use when my practice reopens, or for a loved one to look forward to using. As you are probably aware, small businesses continue to feel the pressures of office rent, professional license upkeep, continuing education requirements, business license renewals, and many more fees that don’t vanish in times of crisis. Gift certificate sales help us local businesses bridge this gap in operations so we can continue serving you when it is safe to do so!
- I understand pain does not disappear when pain relief services are unavailable. In fact, pain and many other health conditions are prone to flaring when activities and social contact are limited (or banned). There ARE options for addressing pain and other health concerns remotely, however. More and more healthcare professionals, in both mental health and pain management fields, are recognizing the brain controls pain, discomfort, and other health issues we experience. By treating these symptoms at the source, we can often experience even more long-lasting relief and good health. BodyMind Bridge is one modality that addresses underlying causes of pain and other ailments. As a certified BodyMind Bridge practitioner, I can help clients start healing and feeling relief remotely. Stay tuned for more information about BodyMind Bridge and how to schedule a session with me.
Thank you so much for your patience during this uncertain time. I know it can be difficult to stomach the thought of delayed or inaccessible care, especially when the time frame is indefinite. I do not take lightly the struggle of going without massage or other services many of us deem essential. I hope you will consider trying a BodyMind Bridge session or other alternatives (yoga, meditation) that can help you manage the next several weeks or months.
In health and harmony,
Jo
Harmonic Wellness Massage and Bodywork 