Rebekah Coggins Massage
I believe that there are millions of factors that make and form our unique selves and the work we do. These factors form from instinctual pulls and external circumstances, tools we are given, and values we embrace. I will share two primary memories of instinct and circumstance, tools given through education, and two aspects or "invitations" of therapy that I deeply value.
I remember visiting nursing homes when I was in elementary school, and thinking that one day I would want to be one of the nurses there. Something within drew me towards the pain, loneliness, and deep wisdom I could feel from these folks. This instinctual pull that I had to help, comfort, soothe, and ultimately learn from their pain, was strong. Then, when I was six, and again when I was twelve, I watched my mom battle breast cancer. I watched her on the brink of death in 1988, and then I watched her pass into death in 1995. I experienced the response of so many people in our community for the better part of a year, namely, Diane, the hospice nurse who spent so many hours right there with us. This external circumstance added more meaning and reason for me to do something with my life that might bring support to other humans, specifically those in some form of pain.
Then, I was given tools I could use to channel who I was becoming. In 2003 I attended the Academy of Somatic Healing Arts in Norcross, Georgia. The program focused on Swedish, Sports, and Neuromuscular Therapy. I pursued further training in various modalities, including pelvic floor healing, Lomi Lomi, deep tissue, Thai massage, an introduction to craniosacral therapy, headache and migraine release, Esalen techniques, and myofascial therapy for the shoulders.
A deep sense of safety and a willingness to slow down are two aspects or "invitations" that I both feel from and give to each massage. In truth, the client and I invite one another to find a meeting place of trust through that safety, where the client's mind and body can find rest. A willingness to slow down allows all of our parts and systems to notice one another and integrate with ease. This rest and ease create a foundation for physical, mental, and emotional support and healing.
I am so very grateful for the invaluable lessons each client imparts. The fusion of internal instincts and external circumstances, alongside the tools of wisdom passed down and the emphasis on safety and slowness, all converge in order to uniquely shape every session.
