Breathe. Center.

"Take a deep breath for me. You'll feel my hands on your back as you breathe out."

She breathes out and your hands move laterally, allowing the warmth of your skin to move into her back. As you wait for the fascia to soften, you focus on your own breath.

Deep from the diaphragm. Slow down. It's not a race. There are no expectations. You are here now.

"One more breath for me," and her tissue releases farther on the exhale. You revel in the subtlety of the tactile sensations, and the profundity of the energy you are sharing.

The tissue and underlying structures are fluid beneath your touch. Thixotropy, you remember from lecture, allowing your analytical mind to surface for just that moment. Down, girl, you tell yourself, and you continue.

Again breathing. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, and now on the exhale you let your palm sink into her thigh. As slowly as possible, you move up from the knee to the hip, taking almost two minutes on this journey. She indicates that your pressure is good. Her face smiles, then relaxes. Her eyes do not open.

Second pass. Breathe in, out, then the journey upward, this time with the back of your flattened fist, on the longest parts of your fingers. You feel the tissue letting you in deeper. You concentrate on going even more slowly than last time, to allow for increased release.

Last pass, breathing, now moving toward the hip using your forearm, the ulnar ridge. With care to keep the pressure even, you focus your own breath and sink into the movement. Back straight, weight on your back foot, front knee bent, fluid weight transfer. A sigh from your friend on the table.

Check in with the quadriceps. Jostle and gentle knead it. Glide lightly down and up the entire leg, and redrape.

Take a cleansing breath and give yourself credit for slowing down and learning how good that can be. Look at your friend's blissful face and acknowledge your ability to bring peace and health to someone.