About Prayerful Touch Massage

My career as a massage therapist began in 1993 in New York. I started out working at a five star hotel on Long Island where I administered a relaxing and therapeutic massage to the guests of the hotel. Later, I was hired at a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic where I worked for nearly ten years as a medical massage therapist. I worked in conjunction with a Physiatrist and a physical therapist to assist in patient rehabilitation.

That is where I learned the valuable technique called Neuromuscular/Trigger Point Therapy. It is a therapy that is used to promote healing for soft tissue injuries as well as chronic pain issues. I enjoyed working at the clinic and had good results in helping the patients to feel better.

Although I always considered myself religious, I never gave a thought to praying for the patient before, during, or after the massage. That is, until I moved to North Carolina. I noticed a change in myself right away. I loved how the Southern culture was so openly faithful. It was refreshing to hear people proclaim their love and devotion to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I started listening to the Christian radio station, and I loved every positive, uplifting song I heard. I began praying more often, reading the Bible, and developing a closer relationship to God. I attended many wonderful women’s ministry retreats that left me feeling loved, redeemed, and renewed.

I continued in the field of massage therapy, working at a chiropractic clinic in Charlotte. It was around that time that I felt compelled to pray for my massage clients. I started to pray silently outside the door of the massage room. I always asked God to guide me. Whatever the client needed, God would know. I started to get positive feedback from the clients. It was different from the feedback of the past. The comments were of a spiritual nature, not only were the clients feeling better physically, but they felt positive and uplifted as well.

One client commented on the music I played. The client told me that the hymns reminded her of her childhood. She would sing them in church with her grandmother. It really brought back good memories for her. I started to feel that a real transformation was happening with the massage. I wasn’t just focused on the medical aspect, increasing circulation and breaking down adhesions within the muscles, I was focusing on the spiritual aspect as well. I silently prayed for healing, not just physical but spiritual as well.

I began to think about involving the client in the prayer. We would humbly ask God to step in as His natural role of Healer. Around that same time, a lovely Christian couple who are massage clients of mine gave me a beautiful Christmas gift. It was a study Bible. The inscription brought me to tears. It said, "Lila, we so appreciate the ministry of your work. You have blessed us immeasurably. I so appreciate the sweet spirit that permeates your room, from the hymns to your words of encouragement. Thank you for blessing us!”

That was it! I knew right then and there that God was whispering to my soul. I was to focus the massage with prayer and ask the client to pray with me before and after the massage. We would humbly ask God our Father for healing in the name of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!