BODY WORK
About Body Work
Massage is one of the oldest Healing Arts and has been called the mother of all therapies. It is found in some form in every age and culture. On a physical level it eases muscular tension, drains congested tissue and improves circulation and breathing. It is a powerful relaxation aid, promotes energy balance and health and enhances our sense of well-being. Besides feeling good and being an affirmative experience, a massage treatment can increase the body’s self-awareness and sensitivity to one’s inner processes. This contributes to reduction of stress, tension and anxiety. Massage therapy calms the nervous system and has a centring and balancing effect, relaxing and focusing the mind. Studies and experiments prove that Massage treatments help to improve and maintain good posture and boost our immune system thereby increasing our overall potential for good health.
Body Work & Me
I started to train in the field of alternative medicine in 1978 and I have been a bodywork practitioner since 1981. I am a practitioner, trainer and supervisor in several forms of massage (including Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish Massage, Chinese Massage, Myofascial Release, and Postural Realignment), I have trained in Osteopathy and Cranial Sacral Therapy. My main interest in this field is in supporting the politics of effective Alternative and Complementary health care, working with holistic awareness and in developing a synthesis between Eastern and Western systems of psychology and health.
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I have been a member and later chairperson of the BMTC (The British Massage Therapy Council), a member and later chairperson of the General Council of Massage Therapy (GCMT) and one of three representatives of the massage profession on the Professional Service Board of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)l. I am an Honorary Member of the Northern Massage Association.
Currently I have stepped back from organisational activities to concentrate on further study and training and to refine and deepen the experience of 40 years of experience to add to my individual practise
Methods Used
Swedish Massage (SM) is the most common and best-known type of massage in the West. It is the foundation for other types of massage including sports massage, deep tissue massage and aromatherapy massage and is based on Western concepts of anatomy and physiology. It’s style of use depends on the therapist’s personal approach but usually involves combinations of slow and gentle techniques and more vigorous tonifying techniques.
Deep Tissue Massage (DTM) is a type of massage therapy that uses firm pressure and slow strokes to reach deeper layers of muscle and fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles). It is used for chronic aches and pains, and contracted areas anywhere in the body including stiff neck shoulders and upper back, lower back and leg pain. It is used to ease scar tissue and physically break down muscle ‘knots’ or adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) that can disrupt circulation and cause pain or inflammation, and limits our range of motion. These knots can be treated with ‘trigger point’ techniques which have some overlap with the acupressure techniques mentioned under Chinese Massage.
Myofascial Release (MFR) is a specialized physical and manual therapy used for the effective treatment and rehabilitation of soft tissue and fascial aches, pains, tension and restrictions. Myofascia is the connective tissue in and around muscles, where muscles are the powerhouses of locomotion and posture for the body and fascia holds shape and is the main loadbearing mechanism of the body. Myofascial release is an application used to alleviate tension, restrictions and adhesions in the fascia to restore balance, and function. MFR uses a relatively firm force applied by the practitioner and tools such as rollers or tennis balls to consolidate the myofascial release between sessions.
Cranio-sacral Therapy was invented by William Sutherland who identified rhythms and intrinsic movements of the bones that form the cranium and of the flow of cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) around the brain and spinal cord. He found that these movements are inextricably linked to physical, mental and emotional health. The Cranio-sacral therapist can hold and palpate specific points along the spine and around the client’s head and face to attune to the movements and interruption of rhythm of the cerebro-spinal fluid. Releasing constriction and rebalancing the CSF flow promotes rest, relaxation and replenishment of the body’s resources. This helps an overstimulated nervous system and enhances the body’s natural ability to heal. It is safe to use for everybody and is particularly useful for working with babies. It is highly effective in working with states of energy depletion and features of shock.
Chinese Massage and Acupressure is the name for a family of massage therapies practiced within traditional Chinese medicine for over 4.000 years. There are a wide range of massage techniques and they are based on a life energy concept of ‘Qi’ (Chi) flowing through the body in energy channels called meridians. Healthy energy flow is conceptualised as underpinning the health of muscles and organs. Working with the meridians (that can be mapped throughout the body and have many acupressure points along their paths) can greatly enhance other body work techniques. Chinese massage is not intended to be purely an experience of relaxation. It is a form of deep energy therapy that offers many of the following benefits: speeding the healing of injuries and stimulating blood circulation, easing emotional distress, increasing flexibility in the joints, relieving chronic pain and boosting the health of our internal organs.
