What Does It Really Mean to be a Holistic Practitioner?
Holistic is a beautiful word. I always thought of massage as a holistic modality, because we give attention to most of the body in a full-body massage. But is it?
According to one online dictionary, holistic means “characterized by the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole.”
It’s definitely a powerful word — it suggests something natural, complete, and connected. My friend even told me that when she added “holistic” to her practice description, new clients came in just because of that—they were specifically looking for a holistic massage therapist.
But aren’t all massage therapists holistic?
The short answer is no, not every massage therapist is actually holistic. And honestly, giving a “full-body massage” doesn’t necessarily make someone a holistic practitioner.
So what does holistic really mean?
The word itself comes from the idea of treating the whole person — not just one symptom, one muscle, or one system of the body, like the musculoskeletal system. True holistic care looks at how all the body’s systems (and even the mind and emotions) work together.
Most massage therapists, even though we might cover the whole body’s muscles in a session, are still primarily working with one system: the musculoskeletal system. By extension, we could say we are also treating the integumentary system and the circulatory system. Some specialize in lymphatic drainage and focus almost exclusively on the lymphatic system. Others put their energy toward calming the autonomic nervous system through soothing, repetitive strokes that bring up the parasympathetic part, helping the client to relax more fully.
All of these are valuable approaches. They each serve the body in different ways. But are they holistic?
Not necessarily.
Because the body is more than muscles, fascia, and nerves. We also have:
The digestive system, which affects how we absorb energy and nutrients.
The cardiovascular system, circulating life through every cell.
The endocrine system, orchestrating hormones and balance.
The nervous system, not just in the spine and brain, but branching into every corner of the body.
The reproductive system, deeply tied to identity, vitality, and wellbeing.
The urinary system, which filters the blood and maintains the proper pH and electrolyte balance.
Holistic care means understanding that all of these systems (and more) are in constant conversation with each other. If one is subfunctioning, the others have to take up the slack.
A massage therapist who is truly holistic doesn’t just think about “What muscles are tight?” They ask bigger questions:
How is this person sleeping?
What’s their stress load like?
How does their digestion feel?
Are their periods regular and comfortable (without cramps, since cramps aren’t normal)?
How are their bowel movements? Do they go every day?
Do they experience heartburn, acid reflux, or gas and bloating?
Are they having any reproductive problems?
And let’s not forget the endocrine system, which is central to so many aspects of our health. We consider things like blood sugar balance, reproductive hormones, and neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. These hormones can be influenced by things like concussions, brain fog from illnesses like COVID, stress, and much more.
All of these factors are part of the puzzle we’re trying to put together when we take a holistic approach.
To me, that’s the difference between using holistic as a trendy label and actually practicing in a holistic way.
When clients seek out a holistic massage, what they’re often looking for is someone who sees them as more than just a meat suit— someone who respects the whole, interconnected person—their whole body, all body systems, along with their emotions.
So yes, “holistic” is a buzzword. But it’s also an invitation.
For practitioners, it’s a call to expand the way we think about the body (the human being!) in front of us. We need to zoom in on the small areas of restriction, and then zoom out and look at the whole person. And for clients, it’s a reminder that true healing doesn’t come from focusing on just one system (like the muscles) — it comes from recognizing the whole.
