Introduction to Squish
“Squish” is a dynamic, interactive, and holistic approach to massage that focuses on the fluid nature of the human body and the interconnectedness of energy, sensation, and awareness. It’s not just about applying pressure; it’s about facilitating flow, liberating stuck energy, and creating a mutually beneficial experience through neurological entrainment and mindful interaction. The goal is to move away from reactive patterns and towards responsive engagement, addressing root causes and transmuting pain into pleasure by mobilizing the body’s inherent fluidity.
Principles of Squish
1. Core Principles of Energy and Awareness
- Follow Energy: This is the central tenet of Squish. It involves sensing and responding to the flow of energy within the body. When energy is liberated, that energy can be used to mobilize other stuck energy, creating a cascade of release and flow.
- Fluid Awareness: Recognizing that the human body is primarily fluid, this principle focuses on mobilizing that fluidity. Many bodily reactions manifest as inflammation, essentially fluid retention. Fluid Awareness is about tuning into these fluid dynamics and facilitating their movement.
- Respond vs React: This is about shifting from impulsive reactions to thoughtful responses. The key difference is expanding awareness beyond the symptom to the cause. Instead of reacting to a tense muscle, the practitioner seeks to understand the underlying energetic or fluid stagnation.
2. Principles of Transformation and Sensation
- Cultivate Pleasure: Stuck energy often manifests as pain, while liberated energy is experienced as pleasure. This principle emphasizes transmuting pain into pleasure, ensuring that the pleasurable sensations become the dominant experience, facilitating further release and flow.
3. Principles of Technique and Mutual Influence
- Minimize Effort: This isn’t just about conserving energy. It’s primarily about neurological entrainment. We influence each other through our nervous systems, and minimizing effort allows for clearer, more resonant communication. This creates a space of relaxation and receptivity.
- Collective Orientation: Neurological entrainment works both ways. The massage is a mutually beneficial experience where both practitioner and recipient influence each other. Relaxed interaction is key, as the process should benefit both parties.
- Stack Functions: Going beyond equal and opposite pressure, this involves layering passive gravimetrics and axis leverage. This maximizes the impact of techniques and enhances the mutual flow of energy.
4. Principles of Integrity and Attention
- Baseline Integrity: Given the mutual influence, it’s crucial to have a strong sense of self. This principle ensures that the practitioner knows what is their own energy and what is not, maintaining clarity and boundaries within the interaction.
- Balance of Attention: Holding a balanced awareness of the entire field – the recipient’s body, the practitioner’s body, and the energetic space between them – is essential for effective practice.
By organizing the principles this way, it highlights the interconnectedness of energy, awareness, technique, and mutual influence, providing a clearer and deeper understanding of the “Squish” approach.
Etymology of Squish?
“Squish,” in this context, is a dynamic, interactive, and holistic approach to massage and movement that emphasizes adaptability and the inherent “squishy” quality of the human body. It recognizes that:
- Healthy Tissue is Squishy: Much like a comfortable couch or bed, healthy tissue in our bodies is designed to conform under pressure and provide support without losing structural integrity. This “squishy” quality allows for flexibility, resilience, and efficient movement.
- Actions Can Be Squishy: Just as tissue can be squishy, actions within the Squish practice are fluid and adaptive. This means responding to the moment, adjusting techniques based on feedback, and prioritizing flow over rigid structure.
- Adaptability is Key: The central quality of Squish is adaptability. It’s about meeting the body where it is, responding to its unique needs, and facilitating change through gentle, yielding engagement rather than forceful manipulation.
In essence, Squish is a practice that:
- Recognizes and works with the fluid, adaptable nature of the human body.
- Prioritizes responsiveness over reaction, adapting techniques to the moment.
- Aims to liberate stuck energy and restore flow through gentle, “squishy” engagement.
- Facilitates a mutually beneficial experience through neurological entrainment and mindful interaction.
Therefore, “What is Squish?” can be answered as: Squish is an adaptable, fluid, and responsive approach to massage and movement that honors the inherent “squishy” quality of the human body to facilitate flow, release, and mutual well-being.
More information at Squish Salon II
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