GREAT ADAPTATIONS

This is a guest post by Gina Loree’ Marks. Suzanna returns from Europe November 3rd. In the meantime, enjoy my guests!

**I am a bodyworker, in particular, a shiatsu practitioner.  My area of expertise lies in my ability to put my hands on a person’s body, feel what’s going on, and then bring my training, skills, and intuition to bear on what this body is telling me it needs.

Seems like a world away from that of the topic of online communication.

Or is it?

I had identified, when first writing copy for my website, that the heart of what I do, what all bodyworkers do, heck, what all humans do for each other is engage in communication. That the real healing power lies, not in my techniques or  whatever that thing is that ‘opening chi flow’ does, but in the connection between human beings. To be taken care of, listened to, held in a sacred space, even for an hour, triggers our own internal healing capabilities.

No matter how estranged we seem to get from one another, and how isolated our modern way of life appears to be, we humans still have managed to find ways in which to reach out to one another. Dis’ the internet if you will, but I am amazed at how the technology has morphed and evolved over recent years in order to better meet our needs and desire for connection.

The definition of communication is the process of sending and receiving information using a common language. Yes, I would say that, on a very basic level, this is what bodywork has in common with our online activity.

And what about some definitions of ‘communion’?:

1) the act of sharing; possession in common; participation a communion of interest
2) the act of sharing one’s thoughts and emotions with another or others; intimate converse
3) an intimate relationship with deep understanding
4) joining together of minds or spirits

Ah… now we’re really on to something. I believe this better describes what we’re really seeking when we communicate, whether within the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and client, or in the seemingly ‘impersonal’ electronic interaction via email, blogging, instant messaging, twittering, etc.

It’s an interesting time we live in. The tools and technology evolve almost as quickly as we discern a need for them. And here’s what’s of particular interest for me: I’m currently involved in exploring how to translate my services into something I can offer to people beyond the reach of my office, using the tools and capabilities of the internet. Is it possible to provide the best of both worlds, using ‘communication’ as the jumping-off point, and create a means of healing support that transcends geographical limitations? Where else we can we take this technology?

Pretty exciting stuff to ponder…

Gina Loree’ Marks
Shiatsu-Shin tai Practitioner
http://EmbodyGrace.com
gina@embodygrace.com