CHARLOTTE – I’ve never been a fan of the word “healer” when used in massage. To me, it evokes way more power than I, as a human, am capable of wielding. However, there are some, and I respect their right to feel the way they do, that call themselves healers.

Perhaps I’m wrong but I think they feel this way because when your client walks in and you “fix” the issue at hand, they certainly praise you and make you feel as if you can conquer the world. But, that’s all part of why we choose to be massage therapists. I would imagine if you ask 100 therapists why they’ve chosen this profession, they’ll say it’s because they wanted to help people. A growing population of those needing help are our seniors. Helping our seniors takes a different approach.

Because our bodies change with age, so might the reasons we seek massage. For our elderly clients, it may just be the need for comfort. Muscle mass is generally reduced significantly in the elderly population, therefore, I’m not going to have the intention of working out “trigger points” or problems in their muscle tissue. Massage at any age is helpful.

Generally, these sessions are different from an average massage. They may be shorter and the client may only have certain body parts touched – for instance, hands and arms. If your loved one is able to visit the therapist’s office, make sure your therapist knows your loved one’s limitations and has suitable equipment to help.

-Lisa Lane #13098, is a licensed massage and bodywork therapist and has been in business in Mint Hill for 10 years. To book, visit her website at ncmasagesanctuary.massagetherapy.com