Down in Kouchi I hung out with some dolphins for awhile, and I realized that even dolphins get stressed. They feel tense when they can’t find fish, or when they get tired of swimming all day, or when another dolphin gets all the attention. So I decided to teach a dolphin massage class.
Teaching people to massage dolphins is almost as fun as teaching people to massage humans. In fact the lessons are quite similar.
What does a dolphin feel like?
In case you’re wondering, the skin of dolphins is kind of soft, more soft than it looks. It’s like touching soft, wet rubber.
Do dolphins like massage?
Hey, everyone loves a good massage! These dolphins enjoy being touched, and would spin in the water to let us touch their bellies.
After all, touch is the mother of the senses. Dolphins are mammals, just like people. For all of us, our brain reaches out to touch the world through our skin, and touch feels great because it stimulates these deeper parts of our brains. Dolphins feel this too!
Are dolphins good clients?
Actually, dolphins are very shy clients. Human clients can be this way too. Dolphins know that they would love a good massage, but they also fear bodywork for various reasons. Lesson 1 in dolphin massage is to soothe the client’s fears.
Here are a few things that dolphins worry about when they get a massage session:
As bodyworkers, we are used to touching people, exploring our senses, and being comfortable with our bodies. Many dolphins, and people, are not like this at all.
It’s important to express to a dolphin that they are in complete control of their session, and that they are free to ask for any changes, or end the session at any time.
Unfortunately, many dolphins and people feel shy or awkward speaking up during a session. That’s why in dolphin massage, we often ask the client how they are feeling. It’s better to use open-ended questions such as “How is that pressure?” or “Would you like more or less pressure?”
Is it worth the price?
People have money and time to spend, and dolphins have fish and time. Both dolphins and people protect their time and money/fish, and tend to be conservative with spending a lot of time or money on new things. Especially expensive things like massages.
But, everyone loves spending money on things that are valuable, that help them feel better, look better, get more energy, and feel pleasure with being alive. Lesson 2 of dolphin massage is learning how to express to dolphins how valuable their massage session can be. Through writing, giving short talks, and following up with our dolphin clients, we can remind them how valuable our services are.
Can I trust this practitioner?
During a massage, a dolphin will roll over and relax in the water, releasing the tensions of their deep sea world and giving themselves to the massage. It’s important to let the dolphin know that they can trust you. And the best way to do this is to be trustworthy and ethical, and to meet people and dolphins without judgment.
Coming Soon…Part II
What happens in a session?