Massage Massage can also be very good for your well-being if it is carried out sensitively. However, with massage, the kind of effect experienced and its intensity will depend not only on the method used but especially on the person giving the massage as well. You should consider the masseur's lifestyle, their aura behaviour and your general impression of them as well as, of course, the effect of the actual massage. How do you feel afterwards? Well and relaxed or unwell? What kind of feelings have been released within you? An excellent technique applied purely mechanically can have really adverse results. It is very important for beneficial results that the masseur has sensitivity and intuition and is able to attune their inner self to the person they are to massage. You can find more information on meditative exercises suitable for improving these inner requirements for a good massage in the book by GEORGE DOWNING: 'Massage and Meditation'. The room where the massage is to be done should look inviting and cosy, be well-aired, quiet and very warm. If the massage is optimally performed, you should be able to achieve a state of deep relaxation. However, the room should be warm enough at all times or you risk catching a cold, and you cannot relax properly if the temperature is too low either. If the weather allows, it is even better to have your massage done outdoors, provided you can find yourself a suitable spot where you will not be disturbed. No artificial scents, such as perfume or joss sticks, should be used in the massage room and it should most definitely be a 'smoke-free zone'. The effect of smells is often largely underestimated, yet these have a tremendous effect on our feelings. There is a big difference between enjoying the wonderful smell of the forest and using an essential oil with the same scent, even if it does not contain any artificial additives. There are many courses available for those who would like to become masseurs themselves. Apart from learning different massage techniques it is also of advantage for one's own practice to familiarise oneself with the basics of intuitive massage - a particularly sensitive type of massage.