Movement Images by Louisa Kratka
What if movement could free you, when you feel stuck?
|
Could movement help you find self, and advance with centered alignment?
|
What if movement and rhythm could ground you, when you can't find the support beneath your feet?
|
On Movement:
** Movement sessions may be offered online or in-person.
Movement is a rich way to explore and understand self, and to shift tension that arises from anxiety and stuck-ness.
Bodily sensation goes deeper than logical thinking. Our feelings are manifest in our physiology.
This may be in states of tension, relaxation, deep engagement or disengagement in muscles and joints. Emotional physiology occurs in the various responses of the endocrine system, which activate our organs like heart rate and blood pressure, breath depth and timing, digestive system activity and more.
Whether our feelings are enjoyable or challenging, whether they result from little day-to-day experiences, and/ or larger events and issues; whether they are simple or complex, whether they are based on external situations, internal beliefs or both, they all happen in and impact the body.
One way or another we embody our thoughts, feelings and beliefs in our postures, voice and movements.
Tending to what we hold in our body and giving options to how we move helps manage the physiology, sensations and feelings like the tension from anxiety.
We all have individual movement signatures or preferences. By noticing them we may notice our inner selves, and also see what we are bringing into our interactions.
Also, these habitual postures and movement patterns may cause held tension and discomfort from misalignment.
Using movement to relax, free, ground, feel, awaken can shift our sense of self, enable a greater sense of confidence and support calmness and groundedness.
Movement sessions may include:
Observation through deep listening, guided body tracking, noticing, and possibly recorded movement to observe.
Any recordings are done by you, and shared at your consent and comfort level. Typically this looks like: 30 seconds-1 min each of you: doing some housework or chores, doing your professional work if possible, and doing expressive movement. The expressive movement could be you boogying to your favorite song, of if that feels uncomfortable, your excercize or yoga routine. Additionally you could also record yourself in conversation with another person who also gives their consent to be recorded.
Supporting through observing what already works, grounding, breath work, weight sensing, gentle touch and exploring movement.
Then we can explore Options from:
Breath and Sounding: Breath is fundamental, and I will probably do some breath with nearly everyone I work with. Breath is a very important as it brings our noticing easily inward (interoception), it moves the joints of each rib and the muscles of the ribcage are near by area which gives more sensory information. Very importantly, slow breathing will gently slow the heart rate. The heart sends many many signals to the brain (more than it actually receives from the brain) and so by slowing the heart rate, the amygdala will decrease it's fight-flight survival reactions, and your thinking brain can operate more calmly. Additionally, a full breath will also be moving your spine, abdominal organs, and pelvis a little. This can be useful for mild back stiffness, and very important in pelvic issues such as pain and over-engagement as well as disconnection/ loss of tone.
Sounding/ toning/ humming is known to activate the vagal nerve's calming reflexes, can create deep vibrations and sensory experience in the gut. Additionally it can support the use of voice, for those who tend towards not being able to say what they need to say, always speak in a very small or high voice, etc.
Developmental Movement Patterns: these are the 5 sequential patterns we are programed to move through the first 9 months of life. These patterns are associated with deeply ingrained reflexes. These are important because as we move through and respond to our world through movement, our brains and nervous systems develop in connection with each experience. Sometimes we have a dominant pattern and it can be useful to integrate that and move beyond this. These movement patterns underlie our more complex movement through the rest of life.
Bartenieff Fundamentals and concepts: this work looks at body level connections (ie having a palm-scapular or heel-sit bone connection), finding efficient movement, how breath supports movement, how we initiate and sequence movement. It primes the body for further movement.
The Satisfaction Cycle: exploring Yield, push, reach, pull, grasp, integrate. We need to yield to have an effective push. Yielding means releasing weigh and making greater contact with our surface of support- often the floor. The more connection with a stable surface of support the more strength and clarity we can bring into our push. From push we move into reaching for what we want or where we are reaching towards. Reaching may be pulling us forward in a crawl or walk, or perhaps we are reaching to clasp something. Then we integrate what we have accomplished.
Sensory and tactile explorations: these can bring us deeper into our physical senses- scents or essential oils, exploring the feelings of things like the texture of a pine cone, the weight of a rock, the smooth and lightness of silk, etc.
Laban Themes and Movement Analysis:
Exploring Laban Themes Exertion and Recuperation, Stability and Mobility, Inner and Outer and Function and Expression.
Exploring Movement Analysis: Through the categories of: Body -Bartenieff, Developmental Movement Patterns, etc, through Shaping -how we shape in relation to self and others, carving, spreading and enclosing, advancing and retreating, etc Efforts -our usage of flow, timing, space and weight, and their combined usage, and Space-where we go in our kinesphere (the space around us in which we can move), how much space we use, and the pathways we habitually move through.
Authentic Movement: the mover is given a set time to move exactly as they feel. This can include no movement at all or very tiny movement. It is entirely a time to honour themselves and their truth. The role of the witness is to observe and track the movement. After the movement time is done, the mover is given some time to reflect on their movement, perhaps through writing or drawing, and then speak about it if they want to. The role of the witness is to affirm and acknowledge what the mover says and may add observations framed in the language of "I", ie "I saw you rise quickly". The language stays very grounded, descriptive of what movement happened. The experience of the mover is the priority, no personal inferences are made.
Embodied or Experiential Anatomy: often with movement, imagery can be used to change the tone or qualities of movement and feeling. Here the imagining focus is embodying anatomical parts or physiological processes that every body already has. Perhaps if our world is falling apart, we may embody the strength, solidity, structure and protection of our bones. Perhaps if we are sad, after sitting with that and we are ready to shift, we may embody the huge, life-giving pulse of the heart-beat, or the slow, gentle pathway of the cerebrospinal fluid. If we are stuck in our thinking, we may embody the slippery, loose, non-directness of the synovial fluid, or experience the stimulating feelings of our endocrine system. If we are feeling over-stimulated we can feel into our organs. This can also involve both moving like or feeling into an area as well as doing movement initiating from an area (ie initiating movement from the kidneys or the heart).
Heart Math: Heart Math is a scientifically developed use of breath, gentle touch on heart area, gratitude and self-compassion, used to calm the heart and feel the warm, calm sensation spreading through your body.
Additionally I can work with eyes and gaze for tired eyes ie from screen.
Tasters: I think of 1-3 sessions as a taster, you get some experience of what I offer, we begin to establish a rapport, I get to know you a little through movement, you receive some options and tools to take into your life.
Deeper Dives, Bigger Changes and Transformation:
For more support, larger change and deeper repatterning, committing to more sessions- around 9-12, allows for deepened familiarity and integration of tools, more client-therapist trust which allows deeper exploration of self-through-movement, a more solid foundation of movement information and concepts so as to begin to use the tools individually, create routines and practices that work with your life and world. This is where larger change begins to emerge.
|
|
massage images by Gayle Gorman photography, [email protected]
|
On Massage Therapy:
Kind, intentional touch through massage therapy can help restore calm and support a sense of safety where there has been stored tension from upset or stress. Humans have been compassionately soothing each other through caring touch for millennia. We are wired towards this. Massage is very useful in releasing tight tissue, increasing mobility and range of motion, and supporting pain management.
Massage Techniques: Esalen massage (slow, grounding), may range from gentle effleurage, to deeper petrissage increasing local circulation and tissue pliability, trigger point release in areas of extreme tightness of tissue, passive stretches and joint movement, guided relaxing breath and body sensing. I am also trained in Pelvic Floor external work. If you have a complex injury, please see a physiotherapist.
Occasional Massage: can be a lovely experience of relaxing and calming the body during times of tension.
For Larger Change: greater intervention in tension holding and pain management, regular appointments allow tension to be decreased and maintained over time.
About the work I am doing:
Sessions may be just Massage Therapy, just Somatic Movement Therapy or a mix of Somatic Movement Therapy and Registered Massage Therapy. Let me know in advance what you are wanting to receive.
**Insurance receipts can only reflect the time spent on Massage Therapy or related stretches, excercizes, movement related to massage scope of practice goals- ie tight shoulders, decreased joint mobility etc. Generally, Somatic Movement Therapy is not recognized by insurance companies.
Treatments/ Sessions may also include:
Pelvic Floor Therapy ***External, Non-Touching Work Only**
I have completed 2 trainings with Pelvic Floor Solutions and Core Excercise Solutions and can offer assessments to understand which type of pelvic floor issue you may be experiencing, lead you through appropriate breath engagement, excercizes or relaxation, etc. This can be helpful where long-term pelvic or lumbar pain has been an issue, as well as incontinence or prolapse. It is an ongoing process to recover from these issues.
Reiki:
Reiki means universal energy.
I have trained to level 2. I often feel this healing energy flowing through my hands as I massage or use touch w clients in movement.
This can help with stress, physical ailments.
It is a part of the massage I give, I don't do separate Reiki treatments.
Astrology:
I have been learning astrology since I was 17. I would skip morning class and read the newspaper's daily horoscope while drinking too much coffee. This grew into studying layout of whole birthchart, and transits, etc. I work within an evolutionary astrology framework, meaning there are no bad placements or transits. I look at birth charts to see basic personality/ soul traits. Sometimes this help me see what strengths a person has, or where they may need support to become unstuck. I do not look at predictive astrology, or partnership astrology. Please ask me if you would like your birth chart to be included in your sessions.
Rates per session :
60 min $110.
75 min $135.
90 min $160.
105 mins $185.
2 hrs $220.
In some circumstances there is the possibility of discussing and creating a reduced rate, where genuinely needed. This is for those on a low fixed income, such as ppl on odsp, single parents or seniors, who are in need of massage or movement support. I am also willing to reduce my rate for financially challenged bipoc people. All such agreements will be made on a case by case basis.
Terms of payment:
debit, cash, e-transfer and credit card
**credit card extra fee of $1.50
Times and bookings:
Initial Appointment is at least 1hr 15mins in length, to give time for intake discussion
Appointments can be booked by texting, emailing or phoning.
[email protected]
519-216-7716
Where:
Online
In-person, Guelph
In your home may also be an option
Mobile treatments (in your home) are offered with an additional $20./ treatment for travelling. Rates higher than $20 will be for out-of-town requests.
Relevant Articles:
The Importance Of Touch
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201503/8-reasons-why-we-need-human-touch-more-ever
https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201303/the-power-touch
The Transformative Power Of Posture and Movement
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25222091/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00410/full
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_your_body_posture_communicates_feelings_to_others?utm_source=Greater+Good+Science+Center&utm_campaign=14f0c7e470-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_GG_Newsletter_April_27_2023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ae73e326e-14f0c7e470-52259883
https://www.fastcompany.com/3041688/the-surprising-and-powerful-links-between-posture-and-mood
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338711223_Gait_Balance_and_Posture_in_Major_Mental_Illnesses_Depression_Anxiety_and_Schizophrenia/link/5e26a3daa6fdcc38d24e0221/download
Kind, intentional touch through massage therapy can help restore calm and support a sense of safety where there has been stored tension from upset or stress. Humans have been compassionately soothing each other through caring touch for millennia. We are wired towards this. Massage is very useful in releasing tight tissue, increasing mobility and range of motion, and supporting pain management.
Massage Techniques: Esalen massage (slow, grounding), may range from gentle effleurage, to deeper petrissage increasing local circulation and tissue pliability, trigger point release in areas of extreme tightness of tissue, passive stretches and joint movement, guided relaxing breath and body sensing. I am also trained in Pelvic Floor external work. If you have a complex injury, please see a physiotherapist.
Occasional Massage: can be a lovely experience of relaxing and calming the body during times of tension.
For Larger Change: greater intervention in tension holding and pain management, regular appointments allow tension to be decreased and maintained over time.
About the work I am doing:
Sessions may be just Massage Therapy, just Somatic Movement Therapy or a mix of Somatic Movement Therapy and Registered Massage Therapy. Let me know in advance what you are wanting to receive.
**Insurance receipts can only reflect the time spent on Massage Therapy or related stretches, excercizes, movement related to massage scope of practice goals- ie tight shoulders, decreased joint mobility etc. Generally, Somatic Movement Therapy is not recognized by insurance companies.
Treatments/ Sessions may also include:
Pelvic Floor Therapy ***External, Non-Touching Work Only**
I have completed 2 trainings with Pelvic Floor Solutions and Core Excercise Solutions and can offer assessments to understand which type of pelvic floor issue you may be experiencing, lead you through appropriate breath engagement, excercizes or relaxation, etc. This can be helpful where long-term pelvic or lumbar pain has been an issue, as well as incontinence or prolapse. It is an ongoing process to recover from these issues.
Reiki:
Reiki means universal energy.
I have trained to level 2. I often feel this healing energy flowing through my hands as I massage or use touch w clients in movement.
This can help with stress, physical ailments.
It is a part of the massage I give, I don't do separate Reiki treatments.
Astrology:
I have been learning astrology since I was 17. I would skip morning class and read the newspaper's daily horoscope while drinking too much coffee. This grew into studying layout of whole birthchart, and transits, etc. I work within an evolutionary astrology framework, meaning there are no bad placements or transits. I look at birth charts to see basic personality/ soul traits. Sometimes this help me see what strengths a person has, or where they may need support to become unstuck. I do not look at predictive astrology, or partnership astrology. Please ask me if you would like your birth chart to be included in your sessions.
Rates per session :
60 min $110.
75 min $135.
90 min $160.
105 mins $185.
2 hrs $220.
In some circumstances there is the possibility of discussing and creating a reduced rate, where genuinely needed. This is for those on a low fixed income, such as ppl on odsp, single parents or seniors, who are in need of massage or movement support. I am also willing to reduce my rate for financially challenged bipoc people. All such agreements will be made on a case by case basis.
Terms of payment:
debit, cash, e-transfer and credit card
**credit card extra fee of $1.50
Times and bookings:
Initial Appointment is at least 1hr 15mins in length, to give time for intake discussion
Appointments can be booked by texting, emailing or phoning.
[email protected]
519-216-7716
Where:
Online
In-person, Guelph
In your home may also be an option
Mobile treatments (in your home) are offered with an additional $20./ treatment for travelling. Rates higher than $20 will be for out-of-town requests.
Relevant Articles:
The Importance Of Touch
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201503/8-reasons-why-we-need-human-touch-more-ever
https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201303/the-power-touch
The Transformative Power Of Posture and Movement
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25222091/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00410/full
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_your_body_posture_communicates_feelings_to_others?utm_source=Greater+Good+Science+Center&utm_campaign=14f0c7e470-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_GG_Newsletter_April_27_2023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ae73e326e-14f0c7e470-52259883
https://www.fastcompany.com/3041688/the-surprising-and-powerful-links-between-posture-and-mood
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338711223_Gait_Balance_and_Posture_in_Major_Mental_Illnesses_Depression_Anxiety_and_Schizophrenia/link/5e26a3daa6fdcc38d24e0221/download