Therapeutic Body Work
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST)
Life is motion. In our bodies there are many rhythms, the heart beat, breath, digestion, cellular metabolism, cranial motion and nervous system motility. These are expressions of life and when their movement is impaired so is our health. Over 100 years ago Dr. Sutherland recognized that there was a force, a Potency, behind all these rhythms which he termed the Breath of Life. It is out of the Breath of Life that the rhythms of craniosacral therapy emerge, Primary Respiration, Fluid Tide, and the movement of the cranial bones themselves – the Cranial Rhythmic Impulse (CRI)
This primal rhythm, Primary Respiration, can be seen in the most basic form of life, protoplasm. Dr. Sutherland felt this fundamental rhythm to be moving in a cycles 50 seconds in length. It wasn’t until scientists discovered this same cycle in protoplasmic streaming that Dr. Sutherlands intuition found it’s first piece of external validation.
It is trust in the organizing effect of Primary Respiration that differentiates biodynamic cranial sacral therapy for other forms of cranial sacral therapy. Dr. Sutherland, and many practitioners since him, found the more he trusted in this organizing force the more effective his treatments became.
In other forms of this work the practitioner follows a protocol and imposes their ideas of ‘normal’ on the clients system. In the biodynamic approach the therapist waits for the inherent treatment plan to arise from Primary Respiration. It is the clients own innate intelligence which does the creative problem solving. Healing comes from within the client not imposed from the outside by the therapist.
Since Dr. Sutherlands discovery and long career his work has been carried on and refined by the likes of Dr. Rollin Becker, Dr. John Upledger, Michael Shea, Franklin Sills, Hugh Milne and many, many more.
For more information please follow these links to BCST national foundation and training centers. This is very helpful reading prior to coming to your first session of BCST.
http://www.craniosacral-biodynamics.org/overview.html
http://www.craniosacraltherapy.org/Whatis.htm
Functional Muscle Manipulation
George Rodafinos created and teaches the FMM, starting with the basic Deep Tissue Massage. In the FMM, we view chronic musculoskeletal problems as a misguided, continuous defense pattern.
We contract to withstand life’s physical and emotional traumas, but we loose our way back to our natural state.
Instead of forcefully trying to defeat those tight knots, the therapist helps you reconnect with your body, find your way back to letting go, and keep it that way.
We aim to ofer deeper relief, closer to the core, with less discomfort, and with results that may last for years.
An important part of the modality is the utilization of a deep, natural sigh, which helps to unwind, to come in better contact with our own contractions and to let go.
Neuromuscular Therapy
Neuromuscular Therapy is a comprehensive program of soft tissue manipulation techniques that balance the central nervous system with the structure and the form of the musculo-skeletal system.
NMT is based on neurological law that explains how the central nervous system maintains homeodynamic balance. These same laws dictate how the central nervous system initiates & perpetuates pain response and controls the musculoskeletal system.
In short the body can refer pain far away from the root cause of the pain. This many times results in the symptom of a problem being treated, rather than the underlying cause. We take a comprehensive look at your body, locate the root cause and solve this problem. It is an amazing way to return to health rather than trying to force a result.
Definition by St. Johns Neuromuscular
For more information about St. Johns click here.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. This essential “time element” has to do with the viscous flow and the piezoelectric phenomenon: a low load (gentle pressure) applied slowly will allow a viscoelastic medium (fascia) to elongate.
Trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures of approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, electromyography, etc.)
The use of Myofascial Release allows us to look at each patient as a unique individual. Our one-on-one therapy sessions are hands-on treatments during which our therapists use a multitude of Myofascial Release techniques and movement therapy. We promote independence through education in proper body mechanics and movement, self treatment instruction, enhancement of strength, improved flexibility, and postural and movement awareness.
Definition by John Barnes, founder of Myofascial Release
BodyTalk Therapy
BodyTalk is an astonishingly simple and effective holistic therapy that allows the body’s energy systems to be re-synchronized so they can operate as nature intended. Each system, cell, and atom is in constant communication with each other at all times. Through exposure to the stresses of day-to-day life, however, these lines of communication can become compromised or disconnected, which then leads to a decline in physical, emotional and/or mental well-being. Reconnecting these lines of communication enables the body’s internal mechanisms to function at optimal levels, thus repairing and preventing disease while rapidly accelerating the healing process. In this way, BodyTalk stimulates the body’s innate ability to balance and heal itself on all levels.
Flexible and Safe
BodyTalk can be used as a stand alone system to treat many chronic and acute health problems, or can be seamlessly integrated with any healthcare regimen to increase its overall effectiveness. BodyTalk’s major assets are its simplicity, safety and the speed of results.
BodyTalk is non-invasive, objective in application and works effectively on humans and animals alike. If a BodyTalk technique is implemented incorrectly, there will be no result or change; it will not make things worse. Because of this built-in safety factor, anyone who receives BodyTalk has nothing to lose and everything to gain as far as his or her health and wellness is concerned.
Information about BodyTalk System, provided by its founder Dr. John Veltheim.
Learn more about BodyTalk at www.bodytalksystem.com/learn/bodytalk/session.cfm
Insurance Information:
Health Insurance: These services are not typically covered by health insurance plans unless combined with other services provided by an Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist or Chiropractor and considered medially necessary.
Auto Insurance: these services may be covered by auto insurance plans when an injury has occurred and diagnosed by a Physician. Typically, a referral from your Physician is needed.
*If you have experienced an injury as a result of a auto accident and are intended or would like to use your auto insurance to pay for services. Please inform your provider so confirmation regarding your auto insurance claim reimbursement requirements and process can be verified.
Flex Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts: Massage therapy may be considered a qualified medical expense when recommended by a physician who has provided a written prescription for services. The IRS ruling states that medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental ailment. Examples of illnesses that qualify include carpal tunnel syndrome, stress, back pain, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression and pain management.
If you suffer from one of the above conditions, let your medical practitioner know that you have an FSA or HSA and you’d like to use some of your funds toward massage for treatment or prevention of your condition.
Your physician will need to provide three pieces of information on the prescription:
- Medical necessity: why you need massage therapy (example: to relieve back pain)
- Frequency: number of sessions per month (example: minimum of two sessions per month)
- Duration: length of treatment (example: 12 months)
Once you’ve obtained the prescription, keep if for your records. While, Bhakti does not require you to give a copy of this prescription to your massage therapist before accept funds from an FSA or HSA, we prefer to have copy for your file.
