Dustin Conducting The Symphony of the Body
                                                        
                                                  

As Massage Therapist we all enjoy music and most will have it playing in the background.  It will almost never be selected based on it's ability to make us want to dance but there is something to be said about wanting to dance.  Vibrational Attunement Massage (VAM) is a technique of massage application that truly began in 1990, when it's innovator, Dustin Fox, CMT, RM, LRM discovered that musically induced vibrations could be utilized to facilitate a deeper level of relaxation during massage.   It makes one want to dance!  The definition of VAM is, a technique of touch that, when combined with the vibrational qualities of fast or slow uplifting music, offers an opportunity for a retuning of the vibrations of the physiology.

The VAM technique is most effective when the Facilitator understands the psychology of stress and how the mind's bio-electro chemical functions work.  Most clinical massage educational venues do teach anatomy/physiology and medical massage training may go deeper into these subjects, but all attempt to assess and treat the symptom rather than the cause.  This is, after all, based in the western medical model and as such is the most widely accepted and profitable in this country.  Whatever the symptom is there is always an emotion attached to it.  That is the cause that triggers the release of stress hormones.  In our society we are educated to believe that it all things revolve around how we are accepted.  Our image and what others think of us is more important than what we think of our selves.  Basically, it is what we accept as real that makes it real and the very process of accepting triggers the emotions.  Negative input to our senses means that our physiology will react negatively.  Over time this can have truly detrimental effects as we evolve into
a deeper acceptance of "Fight & Flight". 

Vam is not based in the western medical model although it can facilitate resolution of many physiological issues.  It is a massage technique that is based in the premise that it attempts to instill in the recipient a desire to relax the causes of stress on their physiology.  Music and unconditional touch that is applied in concert with the music touches the recipient at a deeper emotional level.  VAM gives them unspoken permission to begin the journey to letting it go.   The definition of stress that is provided by the Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary is as follows:  " In medicine, (stress is) the result produced when a structure, system or organism is acted upon by a stressor.  It is generally believed that biological organisms require a certain amount of stress in order to maintain their well-being."  We are a biological organism and in our society stressors are primarily triggered by something that effects us at an emotional level.  That is to say, that when something happens that we have a feeling about,  it will effect us emotionally before it does physically.  If we walked in Grizzly Bear country and a bear charged out of the brush we would react emotionally (in fear) before we reacted physically (Running) or intellectually (rolling into a ball and playing dead).  We have been educated to have and react to the emotions of fear and love.  For example, we are mostly afraid of not having what we have been educated to believe and accept that we should have or even do to have.  When this fear is brought to us by our actions, circumstances, training or the actions of others, the stress hormones Cortisol and Adrenalin begin to drip into our system.  Our respiratory and cardiovascular system functions change and we are locking into the "fight & flight" of our sympathetic nervous function.  Muscles tighten, our breathing changes and we are out of balance!  Just imagine being out of balance most of the time!  Immune function declines and we may become open to everything bad that is floating in the air, food, soil and water.  We do require some stressors to be emotionally motivated to achieve, but it is the way in which we choose to accept them that makes them
work for us instead of against us as we work to stay in a balanced state.  

VAM is a tool that provides three key ingredients that have stood the test of time in the promotion of assisting our biological organism to achieve and maintain balance.  The first and foremost is the intent of the Facilitator.  Massage Therapist or Brain Surgeon, we should all have this an intent for the betterment of the well being of those who permit us to work with them.  The second is the simple fact that the unconditional touch of the Facilitator facilitates a move to higher functions within the Para-Sympathetic nervous system and the last is the vibrational qualities of uplifting music that completes an emotional connection for the recipient.  In short, it is a powerful tool that can bring joy and comfort to the recipient.  The VAM Facilitator should come to the table with a clear spiritual intent that is totally focused on the overall well-being of the recipient.  It is  from this Heart Centered intent that the unconditional touch flows.  The Facilitator uses the vibrations of the music to conduct the symphony of the body.   Endorphins begin to flow at a higher rate as the flow of Cortisol and Adrenalin are greatly reduced.  The internal vibrations of the physiology begin to merge with the vibrations of the music and those of the Facilitator.  The door to healing opens and the Recipient can choose to participate in bringing balance back to their body.  The healing of the physical begins with the instilling of the emotional relaxation.  As with everything else regarding our health and well-being, VAM or any other form of massage is not designed as a "one shot fixes everything" solution.  We still need to incorporate proper breathing techniques http://www.IntegralBreathwork.com healthy eating habits, healthy supplements http://www.GesundheitWithJacobus.com , drink healthy water, exercise and most of all accept that we can be and deserve to be well from within.  VAM is designed specifically to lay a solid foundation of treating yourself to a break in the cycle of stress.  It is not a clinically applied massage that forces you to relax physically.  Quite the contrary, it is a massage technique that supports as it encourages you to relax emotionally that will lead to relaxation physically.  It allows the recipient time to release the accumulation of stress hormones that are toxic to the body's health and the negative emotions that have been stored in the cellular memory.  Take a break and enjoy a relaxing massage once per month and practice preventative health care.

Food For Thought:  The last person to get a massage is usually a Massage Therapist or health care provider.  To be a good Giver we must all be good Receivers.  Get a massage once per month and break your own cycle of Stress!  Accepting unconditional love for yourself everyday will make your recipients happy as well.