Meet Thomas Victor
Interview by Jeff Bond
Thomas Victor is a Massage Therapist who works in Manhattan.
Having gotten a massage from you recently, I can attest that it's the best I ever had. Tell me about what you do.
I do mostly Deep Tissue and Swedish. To me, they're about the same, though the first works deeper, and it's more specific. Swedish tends to be more focused on being relaxing and soothing.
How many years have you been doing this?
Professionally for fourteen years.
Where did you study?
My first training was in Sweden, where I grew up. I also studied in Denmark and the States.
The massage I got from you was like nothing I'd had before. What makes what you so different?
I keep it simple.
What does that mean?
Sometimes less is more. For me, it's about narrowing it down to which spots are causing the issue that brought you to me. It's about letting a healing take place.
If you're coming to me with a specific issue, then this work, at its best, is a two-way street. You have to be part of the work, willing to change habits and let go to get long-term results. Quite often we store in our muscles a lot of memories, or traumas, from long ago, even from childhood. We lacked the understanding of what was going on around us and a language to set boundaries. We hold on to these memories in our body. Often they need to be released for healing to take place.
What do you do for people whom you see holding on to some old trauma?
I first get a sense if they're open to the possibility that our psyches are connected to our bodies - and reflected in them. If they're open to talking about it, I give some suggestions. There are certain patterns to what kinds of emotions and traumas are held in different parts of the body.
So you look for these patterns?
I notice the patterns. When clients are open to it, I let them know what I've found other clients storing in those same places. From there I can support them in beginning to explore it for themselves.
Is this something that was covered in your training?
No!
So how did you discover it?
My sister and I, when we were young, both had bad backs. We traded massages with each other. As I didn't yet have any formal training, I said to myself, "You've got to listen to the muscles to know what will relax them." About twelve or thirteen years ago, they started talking back to me.
Really?
Well, talking back to me in a new way. I kept getting messages about what kinds of patterns were hidden in different areas in the bodies of my clients.
Do you have an example?
Sure. A while ago, I was working on a man in his early 40's who had a back problem. As I was working, I discovered on his left side what I can only describe as this pure joy and love for his wife. It was really strong - any person who received this kind of love would be in heaven. Unfortunately I saw he was unable to express it, it was blocked, or "held," in the muscles. On the other side, there was something else: a lot of insecurity and self-doubt. That was blocking his communication and had become a contributing element driving him to cheat on his wife.
Was that true?
..Yes. I brought it up, and because he was open enough to listen to it, I asked him to be willing to let the good qualities start to nurture the insecurities - so he could let them go and build confidence. And that's when his back started healing.
Was he surprised when you brought all this up?
[laughs] Yes! So was I.
Did he stop cheating on his wife?
I have no idea! It takes two to tango, I guess. In retrospect, I don't know if either one was ready to fully face some fundamental facts about their relationship. But his back healed. And he accepted himself a bit more. To me, as a therapist, that's the key point, to empower and assist people on their journey through life. Though now, I tend to resist verifying the messages. Instead, I try to be more of a support for my clients to discover the messages on their own. They are the ones who really need to know.
I would imagine there's quite a bit of trust that's built up between you and your clients.
Now that I think about it: Yes, yes there is! Still, everyone has a different focus: physical, spiritual/physical, preventive or a plain feel-good-release-the-stress massage. It's that variety that keeps it fun for me.
Thomas grew up in Sweden where he studied Classical massage (usually referred to as Deep Tissue or Swedish massage) as well as Shiatsu. In Denmark and the US he has studied CranioSacral Therapy, Deep Tissue Healing with Hot and Cold Stones and energy work. He teaches workshops in meditation and hands-on healing and trains teachers for the same.
His massage practice is tailored to those seeking massage for their well being, whether for stress release, specific physical issues or a spirit-mind-body healing.
Thomas maintains an office in Midtown Manhattan; he also is available to see clients in their homes.
He can be reached at 917-449-0637 or Th@MoonMoods.com