Research, literature, insight and pondering about breasts in health care and culture.
A dear colleague, Barbara Helynn Heard, forwarded this post to my attention. It is a letter from a woman to Dan Savage, the sex advice columnist, detailing her experience with breast massage during a bodywork session. She left the treatment feeling confused that she may have been drawn into a questionably sordid situation, rather than confident that she received a therapeutic treatment by a sincere professional.
In Part 1, I shared a story from “The Stranger” blog from a woman who felt uncomfortable and confused after receiving breast massage during a bodywork session. Here I offer the world an idyllic “redo” where both parties are safe and protected.
Is all massage just palliative care? What started this inquiry is my disillusionment with evidence-based medicine. I have recently viewed many posts citing “massage myths”. These center around whether massage has any influence on "toxins" (let's call them cellular metabolites and have a different conversation) or if drinking water is helpful after massage (only if you don't already drink enough water, so probably YES).
There is a dearth of education available on breast massage and I have had to create some of the work as I go. While working hands-on with a client, I am gathering dozens of pieces of data. How does this tissue feel? What is its story? Where does it relate to other areas of tension? Is it medically safe for me to work here? Does the client feel emotionally safe with me treating her breast tissue?
