Christine Sutherland - Dying in Good Hands

Christine Sutherland is a filmmaker, author, and registered massage therapist. This book and her previous work Birthing in Good Hands are massage inspirations to teach both the medical professional and the layperson to alleviate pain and increase comfort during two of lifes major transitions: birth and death. She makes Nelson, British Columbia, her home base as she travels the world spreading her message of hands-on healing.

Christine started the Sutherland-Chan School of Massage Therapy with her former student from the 3HO School of Massage, Grace Chan, in 1978. Since then, her career has taken her around the world, touring with musicians all over Europe and North America, working with Olympic and wheelchair athletes, and helping with births (of humans, horses, cows, and other animals) and with deaths.

Teaching massage to others is her passion, and the global classroomfrom studying in Germany at the Kneipp School to teaching midwives in a 120-family collective of Guatemalan freedom fightersis her venue. She has staged massage flash mobs at local hospitals and other events to teach people how to share a healing touch. Her favorite massage activity is Bridging the Gap, in which she teaches youth in Canada and, using computer technology, as far afield as Africa, Haiti, and Guatemalato massage seniors. Christines YouTube channel, which includes films for all stages of maternity and baby massage, wheelchair massage, palliative massage, and pet massage, teaches millions of people 24/7. She has also made a series of documentary films, in collaboration with her patients and massage teams, called In Good Hands !

Find Christine at her website, www.christinesutherland.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristineLSutherland/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SutherlandMassage

Dying in Good Hands

Dying in Good Hands

Palliative Massage and the Power of Touch

Christine Sutherland, RMT

Palliative Massage and the Power of Touch

Therapeutic massage is gaining increased attention as a way to provide both physical and emotional benefits to people in palliative care. Chief physical benefits include the following:

Preventing pressure sores

Keeping food moving through the digestive system

Helping to clear the lungs so breathing is easier

Lessening physical pain

More than just tangible, hands-on benefits, massage also creates a host of intangible comforts related to connection and communication; these benefits are reciprocal, affecting both the massager and the massaged.

For massage professionals and those in training, and for volunteers at hospices and hospitals, this book will provide all the tools needed to massage for every stage of dying, from the diagnosis of a chronic terminal illness with months or years to live to a short-term departure with only days to prepare. I cover the important aspects of traditional massage theory and stroke sequences for the entire body, taking into consideration that palliative bodies are often swollen or emaciated.

Medical professionals will learn how to use massage techniques for patients and will get tips for teaching massage to others. By teaching massage to your patients family and friendsindividuals who may be providing much of your patients daily care and comfortyou will not only augment the care you provide, but also give these loved ones a way to direct their energy and anxiety in positive directions. Even children can participate.

This book is also meant for friends and family members of someone who is dying. As family, you may be in the best position to provide hands-on help. Professionals and volunteers sometimes have to abide by protocols and restrictions that keep them at bay, unable to do everything that palliative massage can offer to keep a dying patient comfortable. Even if you have never massaged before, this book teaches what you need to know to provide hands-on care that will make your loved one more comfortable until their last breath.

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