Staying surface or going
deep
To be in a deeply relaxed state, just letting go of tensions
and emotions is the goal to focus on during a massage.
The previously mentioned points about breathing play a
strong role in this. Another is your point of focus. Generally
as a muscle is worked your mind goes directly to this
muscle and you make some mental reference like "that
muscle hurts." This is being at the surface.
Another option you have is to slip away and focus elsewhere
or not at all. By focus I mean the dialog you hold within
your own mind about what is happening. For example, if
you were to focus on the outer realms of the cosmos you
would be focused far away from your body and muscles.
This is beneficial because levels of pain and tension
increase in direct response to your point of focus. If
you say this is painful and you fixate on this you will
also increase the amount of pain you experience. The mind
is very tricky in this way. Take a pro-active position
about your mind and control it instead of it controlling
you. The mind is an imaginary tool.
