What can I expect during a Raynor massage session, and how is the experience different from other massages?

When you come in for a Raynor massage, the main thing that helps the most is staying open and really focusing on your breath. The deeper you breathe, the more space you create for your body and mind to finally let go of everything that's been locked up inside—sometimes for years.

We always start by calming down your nervous system first. That's the foundation of everything. I might begin with a gentle head massage, something soothing to help you settle in and feel safe. Then I'll place my hands on your belly and guide you to breathe deeply from there—not shallow chest breathing, but real belly breathing, the kind that moves your whole center.

The belly is such an important place. It's often where we store so much tension without even realizing it. Stress lives there. Digestive issues show up there. Even back pain—you'd be surprised how often it actually starts in the belly, not the back itself. So when we focus on breathing into that space, we're already beginning to release layers of tightness that have been building up.

Once you're breathing deeply and your nervous system has downshifted, that's when we bring in the wooden tools. We usually start at the extremities—the toes or the fingers. I know it might seem odd to start there, but those tight spots at the very tips of your body? They're like keys. Unlocking them helps unlock tension throughout your entire system. As we work, you might feel all kinds of sensations. Warmth spreading through your limbs. Tingling. Sometimes emotions bubble up out of nowhere. Other times there's numbness—and that's okay too. Whatever comes up is exactly what needs to come up. The breath keeps it all moving through and out of you.

From there, we follow the bands of tension as they run through your body. I can feel where the stress has gotten stuck, and we'll often stop to apply acupressure in those spots—holding and breathing into them. And here's the beautiful part: because we've already spent time working in detail on your hands or feet, those stuck areas in the rest of your body release so much faster. It's like we've already unlocked the door, and now we're just walking through it. The breath? It makes everything disappear even faster, like it's dissolving the tension right out of your tissues.

That's the magic of this work—when you breathe with me, your body knows what to do.

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Want to understand your body’s language a little deeper?

Every Raynor Massage session with Lilly McKenzie at Body Mind Care Alexandra is a journey of awareness — not just relief.

By combining breathwork, intuitive touch, and Raynor’s unique tension-band method, these sessions help you reconnect with your body’s natural intelligence and restore flow where stress once lived.

It’s not a pampering treatment — it’s a conversation between your breath, body, and mind.Learn more about how holistic bodywork can support emotional release and nervous-system healing at www.bodymindcare.org.