Introducing Jamie Wilson, a passionate massage therapist who turned her dreams into reality after a life-changing journey. With a deep appreciation for the art and science of massage therapy, Jamie has honed her skills in various modalities, including lymphatic drainage, reflexology, and hot stone massage, among others. Learn more in the newest edition of MysticMag interviews.
How did you get into the field of massage therapy and what sparked your interest in it?
I first became interested in massage therapy at the age of 16, when my father’s partner at the time was attending a massage therapy school. She already owned her own spa where she was a successful aesthetician. I was shocked to discover that Massage Therapists require such in-depth studies of anatomy and physiology. It fascinated me. I became very busy with average jobs, relationships, and becoming a mother, so my dreams were placed on hold through my young adult life, until 17 years later, at the age of 33 when I got a divorce and finally pursued the dream of going to massage therapy school.
I wanted to maintain a healthy family life at the same time, and so with a goal of working for myself, and making my own schedule, I would still be able to attend all of the important things in my children’s lives. I began my massage therapy education at North Texas School of Swedish Massage and fell in love immediately. I poured myself into my studies and made the highest grades. Every detail had me captivated, and what most students say is the hardest most grueling subject, Anatomy & Physiology, was my absolute favorite subject I had ever taken. My teachers were passionate healers and undeniably intelligent about every fiber of massage therapy.
I learned the beautiful blend of science and art in massage. Every effleurage movement is like a dance or painting the most elaborate and energetically pure picture on the canvas of each person’s body, mind, and soul. We are led by our hands and can do our work with our eyes closed. We listen to the muscles under the surface and the inaudible whispers of energy guiding our movements, our pressure, and our intent.
What is Lymphatic Drainage?
Lymphatic Drainage is a modality of massage therapy that utilizes light touch in smooth, rhythmic and continuous strokes to help move lymph fluid through the lymphatic system in the body. The lymphatic system does not have its own pump like our circulatory system has a heart or our respiratory system has lungs to move the material through its system, so the lymphatic system needs the help from those other systems around them (such as breathing) along with physical movement like jumping, in order to move fluid along the lymph ducts and through the filters of lymph nodes. Massage can facilitate that movement more effectively to speed up recovery from surgeries or reduce swelling. Lymphatic Drainage specifically targets the movement of lymph fluid by using specific directional strokes along the lymph ducts in the body, towards the lymph node locations in the body. There are also specific pumping motions to effectively move the lymph fluid through the lymph pathways in the body.
What are the principles behind Reflexology?
Reflexology is based on addressing sensitive spots, these hard little gravely nodules in the feet and hands that correlate to dysfunction in structures and organs in the body. Reflexology mapping of the hands, feet, and even ears, shows which areas of the body correlate to which areas of the foot, the hand, and the ear. Reflexology is usually uncomfortable in the spots that are found, and placing pressure on and working the spots thoroughly can help the body’s natural processes by freeing up the blockages of chi and allow healing energy to effectively flow through the system in order to bring the body back into homeostasis or balance. Try to envision that our feet are like roots— and we should cultivate healthy roots to help our body be at its healthiest. Massaging the feet thoroughly and utilizing reflexology techniques, helps to break up and till the soil and create space for free-flowing energy.
Can you walk me through a Group Chair Massage session?
For my Group Chair Massage sessions, I arrive at a business, school, gym, home, or any event with my massage chair and disposable face cradle covers, along with any lotion or oil and Thera gun tool that I may utilize depending on each client’s needs. One at a time, I ask each person if they have any areas they’d like me to focus on or if they would just like a relaxing release of stress for their 5 to 20-minute massage session—depending on what was planned for the event. I usually work on the neck, shoulders, upper back, mid back, low back, the top and side area of the glutes that I can easily access from the massage chair, and then, if time permits, I ask if they would like a scalp and or hand massage to complete the session.
Occasionally there’s time for the forearms and upper arms as well. If the client complains of pain in the hips, knees, or other lower extremities that would need me to address the feet or legs, then I have them turn around in the chair to sit so that I may access each leg or foot. On rare occasions, I have them lie on their back on the floor to do a couple of therapist-assisted leg stretches to help with low back pain. I work on each person, consecutively, with scheduled water, restroom, or meal breaks for myself. I arrive as early as 8:30 AM and leave by 4 PM Monday through Friday.
What other services do you offer?
All of my offered services center around massage therapy. In addition to the above-discussed reflexology and lymphatic drainage, I offer hot stone massage, deep tissue massage, Thai massage for the table, prenatal massage, pediatric massage for children, sports massage, gentle massage for cancer patients, and CBD massage. I cater each session to the needs of the client so that it is a tailored massage based on the areas they want me to focus on and the level of pressure they prefer. I listen to my hands and what their body is telling me underneath the surface if they want me to find areas of dysfunction and help relieve them.
Is there anything else about your work that you’d like to share that we haven’t covered?
The first rule in massage therapy is “do no harm,” and this encompasses so much more than just physical harm. So energetically speaking, we do not want to transfer any negative feelings or energy to our clients, or even from our clients back to us. So before I begin every massage as soon as I lay my hands on the client, I silently in my own head say, “Protect this client and protect me. Bless this client and bless me.”
Then, through every movement and interaction with my client, I am consistently and silently asking for guidance and healing. I envision, feel, hope, and believe in removing all negative energy out through my hands and out of me through the earth and intentionally channel positive, healing energy to flow through me and into each client. I love this work. I love every person that I have the privilege of treating on my table, and love pouring my knowledge, skills, and intent out to help my clients in any way I am able to.
To learn more about Jamie and her work, you can visit her website at www.naturallyanointed.com
