About Grief Massage

Death, Grief & Massage 

Death is just as important just as Life. Yet we support and celebrate a birth well beyond labor. Whereas in death we tend to move on quickly leaving the grieving with a sense of loneliness and isolation.      

With this knowledge, I believe an important part of letting go is having a safe space to grieve and a supportive person to be present within this space. Massage and the massage practitioner can be a perfect pairing to fulfill these needs in an honoring and private way.      

My Training  

While attending School of Visual Arts in NYC I took a minor in Art Therapy with a concentration in death and dying. My training experience was done in the pediatric oncology hematology units at Mount Sinai Hospital and Long Island Jewish Hospital and New York’s AIDS, TB resistant end stage isolation units.        

During my training I had the opportunity to sit with and witness many people young and old in their dying process. And then had the opportunity to support their loved ones in their process of grief. In the end, the most important lesson I learned was, at times, simply being silent yet “present” for another in an open and accepting way was the best support for healing. 

AIDS to COVID  

From the early onset of the AIDS Epidemic to the present Covid 19 Pandemic, I have bore witness to our collective process of death, dying and grief. And with this reality I have been called once again to hold space for this unfolding.      

My Offering 

Drawing from my clinical training with death & dying and with my 13 years of massage I have created a Grief Massage Session which includes aspects of ancient ceremonial traditions, modern psychology and body-centered healing.   

If you or someone you know has recently experienced the loss of a loved one, I invite you to open yourself to the healing nature of massage during this tender time. 

~ Amanda D. ~