On traditional Mexican massage: introducing Ozlo
Online sex educator and Sensuali writer, Drew aka Wise and Manly received a life changing traditional Mexican massage from masseur Ozlo, and interviewed him afterwards to learn all about his craft.
I’m going to start by being completely honest and saying I don’t often get massages. I don’t know why, but like many of us, I think of massage as an indulgent treat that is only enjoyed once in a blue moon. It was not until I spent time with Ozlo that I realised how important
regular massage is for our bodies.
The origins of massage are ancient, we as humans have been practising massage in various forms for thousands of years back before the times of ancient Greece and ancient Egypt. It’s no secret then, that massage has major health benefits for the body. According to a study
published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, massage therapy significantly reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol by an average of 31%.
From reducing stress levels to improving sleep and removing pain, massage isn’t just a treat for the body, it is a necessity. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) reports that 88% of individuals perceive massage as effective in reducing stress. Set in the leafy hills of a small Oaxacan beach town I walked up the steep hillside to the casita of Oz. Trained in a specific form of FBSM, traditional Mexican massage, I was ready to experience something new and hopefully open my mind and body.
Here is what happened when me and Oz met:
@sensuali_official Thank you Ozlo for sharing your craft with us 🙏🏼 #senuali #massage #mexicanmassage @
After the massage, I spoke more with Ozlo to better understand his journey into traditional Mexican massage.
- Can you introduce yourself?
- What inspired you to start doing massage?
- What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from giving massages to people?
- How long have you been massaging and where did you train?
- How long did it take for you to train as a masseur?
- What’s your favourite thing about giving a massage?
- What’s the most challenging aspect of giving a massage?
- What makes your massage special?
- What’s your favourite massage technique?
- Where would you like massage to take you, do you have plans for the future?
Can you introduce yourself?
Hello, My name is Ozlo and I do a traditional Mexican massage.
What inspired you to start doing massage?
I think, to be honest two things inspired me. The first one was a few years ago when I recently started living here. This Argentinian guy was working on the beach, giving lots of massages. And I thought to myself ‘well, that seems like a great job’. And also my family in Mexico City, I took this course to help them with their bodies and work with their internal issues. These things are why I started doing massage.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from giving massages to people?
The biggest lesson that I have learnt during these years is that all the emotions or all the things we don’t say or express get stuck in our bodies. So I realised the importance of being honest with our feelings and our emotions.
How long have you been massaging and where did you train?
I have been giving massages for around 8 years, and I learnt at the Osana Centre run by a Shaman lady called Irma Luz. I had some friends who took the course before, so I was intrigued by it. At that time, the course was a ‘must’ to do here, because it’s very spiritual and there are things that you need to learn about the traditional medicine and massage of this part of Mexico. It was honestly a life-changing and eye-opening experience.
How long did it take for you to train as a masseur?
To be trained fully, it took a full month from Monday to Sunday, starting at 8am and finishing around 4pm. The first course I took was about Zapotec techniques with some chiropractic and some other Mexican traditional techniques. Then I took another course with a different teacher, this one was shorter and took about one week.
When I started the second course it was a little bit hard because I needed to pay for it and at the time I didn’t have the money. I had to work and take the course at the same time. So it was a little bit stressful finishing the course, doing my work and then waking up early to the same thing the next day.
What’s your favourite thing about giving a massage?
I think one of my favourite things about massaging people is to see their reactions afterwards. Most of them are happy or they are inspired or they feel better about themselves. It’s amazing to see, so I think that’s my favourite part.
What’s the most challenging aspect of giving a massage?
The most challenging thing about giving massage is how it affects the body because my body gets very tired after. I am absorbing a lot of energy and working with people, so I think how it affects my physical energy is the most challenging aspect.
What makes your massage special?
Well, you need to ask my clients. 😉 But I would say, the intention that I put into every massage. Mostly my intentions are love and healing but when the person is very hot or very attractive I also put the intention of respect.
What’s your favourite massage technique?
I enjoy massaging people’s feet because I know how helpful it is. I also love the at the end of the massage when I’m doing the neck. I use a rope and I ‘mantendaur’ under the neck – that’s the name of the technique. I enjoy doing this, maybe also because it’s at the end of the
massage.
Where would you like massage to take you, do you have plans for the future?
Sure. It would be great to be able to travel, give massages around the world and share this incredible knowledge and technique with lots of different people.
When I first received a Mexican massage, I spent the next 90 minutes listening to instruments and feeling intense waves of pleasure all over my body. Laying still was difficult for me, I had to remind myself to relax and to sink deeper into the massage. Feeling my muscles relax, and my bones and joints give a satisfying crack, I began to see colours and feel more at peace with my body than I had done in months.
Allowing yourself to accept the massage and learning to breathe through momentary discomfort paves the way for you to have a transformational experience.
If you are ever in Oaxaca, be sure to make the trip to Ozlo for an intense traditional Mexican massage. Your life may never be the same!
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