Are you on board with the whole ASMR phenomenon? I am. Someone in Grand Junction, possibly you, should start an ASMR practice right this instant.

What is ASMR? The letters stand for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. According to Wikipedia:

Autonomous sensory meridian response is an experience characterized by a static-like or tingling sensation on the skin that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine. It has been compared with auditory-tactile synesthesia and may overlap with frisson.

Okay, that's clear as mud. Let's take it a notch farther.

ASMR signifies the subjective experience of "low-grade euphoria" characterized by "a combination of positive feelings and a distinct static-like tingling sensation on the skin.

Okay, that helps a little. Have you seen ASMR demonstrations before? They're all the rage on YouTube. Self-proclaimed ASMR therapists abound. Many have gone on to become minor celebrities. Check out Emma Smith, better known to YouTubers as Whispers Red.

Another popular ASMR artist would be Melissa LaMunyon and her lucky model, Corrina Rachel.

Yet another would be hypnotherapist Jayni Terry, and her YouTube channel, Journey With Jayni.

What would it take to start up an ASMR clinic in Grand Junction? I'm afraid this is way out of my element. While uninformed, it seems to me it wouldn't take much. Here's the list I came up with:

  • A skilled ASMR practitioner
  • Studio space
  • A massage table of some kind
  • One gentle voice

... and I think that's about it. What do you think? Personally, I'm skeptical about some of what I see on YouTube. It seems some videos are not true ASMR. I'm sure there is more to it than simply speaking softly while offering light massage. There's obviously an art to it.

I've become a huge fan of Whispers Red. The same goes for Journey with Jayni. Both are artists. I like Melissa, too. There are, however, a handful of quacks on YouTube.

I've become a huge fan of the various ASMR channels. First, they are relaxing. Second, I can't afford to visit a massage therapist, so I have to live vicariously through these channels. By now someone has probably suggested my fascination is also due in part to my being a perv. Well, there's that, too.

What do you say we get this off of YouTube and bring it to our town? Let's get an ASMR clinic in Grand Junction right away. Tomorrow would be great. If you're a local massage therapist, perhaps you should consider pursuing this direction. Maybe we can lure one of these YouTube artists to the valley. Let's make it happen.

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