The Power of Massage Therapy
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog that highlights stories of black women’s struggles and success.
Visit her YOUTUBE, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK
By Hadiatou Wann | 01/04/2019
Whenever Jericka Henry’s mother returned home exhausted from working a night shift, she would smother her mother with cocoa butter and let her hands work their magic.
“My mom was my first client,” Henry recalled to the time she was eight years old and discovered that she enjoyed giving massages.
When Henry became an adult, she learned the power of touch and the different types of touch. She remembers one study that examined two groups of children that were ill. The study found that children that were touched recovered faster than those that were not. The study helped Henry understand that touch is a necessity in keeping human beings healthy and content. ”Every single person needs to be touched! A hug releases so many hormones that makes you feel good,” she said. Since then, her mantra became “one hug a day keeps the worry or heartache away.”
Henry always gave massages to people she dated. One day, her estranged boyfriend encouraged her to turn her passion into a profession. She took his advice and went to school for occupational studies. In 2011, after taking a bulk of science courses, she acquired her degree from the Swedish Institute for Massage Therapy.
There are so many misconceptions about massage therapists. Since masseuse are associated with giving sexual services, many have the idea that a professional massage therapist also does the same. But Henry says that professional massage therapists can lose their license and have a difficult time in the workforce if they decide to offer services that are restricted.
“Massage is supposed to make you feel relax in your body and because of this, sometimes people will get aroused,” Henry explained.
Her job requires her to be in full control of her urges. Once, she had an NFL player as a client. He was well-built and had a chocolate-like complexion. Although Henry felt some chemistry flare up, she suppressed her emotions, focused on the task at hand and reminded herself that “it’s just another body on the table that needs nurturing.”
Henry clarified that massage therapy was initially a job for the blind, because it’s a profession that doesn’t require a person to have sight. One just needs to have a connection with a higher power and allow the hands to guide. Also, people used to consider massage therapy a luxury. But now, they are turning away from medication and turning to massage therapy in order to heal naturally and holistically.
The Cuban-Jamaican is a full-time professional massage therapist working for two companies: Zeel and Soothe. Every 3 years, massage therapists are required to take educational courses for a certain amount of hours and submit them to the state in order to get their license renewed.
When a client walks in for a session (which can last 1 to 2 hours), she does a small intake to figure out the client’s medical condition, puts on music that is slow and relaxing, dims the light, and allows her hands do the talking.
“Your emotions are connected with your body,” Henry said. So many of her clients don’t know that they have a problem until they get on the table for a massage. Just by touching them in certain areas, a lot can be revealed. “Sometimes you can be disconnected with your body until someone brings awareness,” she added.
Henry is trained to identify certain body language as a red flag. Whenever she feels uncomfortable due to a client’s body language or remarks, she’ll end the session or remind them that she is not there to offer sexual favors.
Every client that walks in has a different energy. “I am empathetic. I feel what people feel and then I have to pull back because if someone has a certain energy I don’t like, I don’t want to feel that way.” Henry is very big on energy. Even when she goes to a hair salon, she is very picky with who her hairdresser is going to be because she doesn’t want the person’s negative vibe to transfer over to her. “There is no bad energy. It’s just energy that you’re not comfortable with.”
Naquanna Keith, Henry’s bestfriend since high school, says “she’s beyond my bestfriend. She’s my sister! No matter what she goes through, she’s always positive. Her energy level is always high!”
Henry is changing lives one touch at a time. With the goal of helping people feel good in mind, she intends to one day open a wellness center that has a sauna, yoga studio, water aerobics, acupuncture, chiropractor, and a psychologist that clients can have access to.
Welcome to Henry’s World
“I love what I do and I want people to respect my craft. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea of what I do. I would never do anything to jeapordize my degree or license.”
“At anytime you can change your life. You have to take some risks. You can’t always be in your cozy blanket. ”
“Laughter is good for the soul, it’s a natural medicine.”
“You have to learn the anatomy of the body if you want to become a professional massage therapist.”
“If you want to be healthy, you have to have a healthy mind. Whatever you focus on mentally will manifest. Becareful what you plant in your brain. ”
“People are out there miserable at their jobs. No one is forcing you to do that. You chose that job. You can find time to do what you really want to do. You have to make a sacrifice. You will get tired, but if you know you are working towards what you love, it will be worth it in the end. ”
Connect with Henry:
Instagram: @Jerickah
Email: Jericka.henry@yahoo.com
Thank you for reading! Knowledge is only valuable when you share it. (1) SHARE THIS ARTICLE on your social media because it can change someone's life. There are more inspirational stories on this blog. (2) Scroll down and click NEXT to read about another person. (3) SUBSCRIBE NOW to be informed whenever a new person is featured on the blog.