Below are descriptions of the different techniques, treatments and tools which I use to work with your human body physically and energetically. Whether you're dealing with chronic pain, muscle tension, or stress-related discomfort, my body work services are designed to address your unique needs and concerns with precision and expertise.
I tailor each session to meet your specific requirements, ensuring that you receive personalised care that targets the root cause of your discomfort. From traditional massage techniques through to energy healing modalities, I utilise a diverse set of tools to enhance your overall well-being and promote physical and emotional healing. The diverse and fluid way in which I care for those who choose to work with me is rarely the same, but the tools I use often are.
Allow yourself 2 hours - you will need to find a park, talk to me, get organised for the treatment and then it will take anywhere between 45 to 85 minutes for the actual session (depends if you book for an hour or longer) and then talk to me afterwards and pay. Most people will come in for a 90 minute session and go from there.
Often when you leave you will be taking something with you to support you over the coming days and weeks following your session, part of this will be knowledge or information and I may also make you blends of essential oils, herbal teas, elixirs, tinctures. If required I will make these in my office and arrange for pick up if they can't be made on the day. They are all custom made dependant on your requirement and can include support for headaches, body aches and pains, anxiousness, deep emotions, hormone concerns, resilience in body and mind, immunity and more.
Ortho-bionomy
Gently align your muscles, joints, bones and nervous system.
What is it Ortho-Bionomy?
Developed by British osteopath Dr Arthur Lincoln Pauls in the 1970s, Ortho-Bionomy is a non-invasive healing method that is designed to address conditions associated with pain and stress.
It is based on the principle that a gentle and non-invasive body alignment has a positive effect on various physical and emotional disorders.
How Does Ortho-Bionomy Work?
Based on osteopathic principles, Ortho-Bionomy Therapy focuses primarily on facilitating the natural self-healing and self-regulating responses of the body. To obtain these responses, the practitioner gently works on the body's structural, fluid, and/or energetic imbalances to stimulate its innate self-regulating mechanisms. In return, the comfort and ease of movement within the client is supported.
This technique is very safe even for those people who have limitations due to age, illness or injury.
The techniques used in Ortho-Bionomy Therapy vary from the physical and structural, to a more fluid based, then to the purely energetic.
These allow the practitioner to tailor their treatment plan to the client's condition.
Some of the techniques used include:
*Cranial and visceral balancing
*Gentle rocking Isometric and isotonic techniques
*Neuroendocrine balancing
*Neurolymphatic balancing
*Positional release
*Postural re-education and self-care exercises
*Range-of-motion exploration
*Static holding
*Subtle or minute movements
*Work in the energy field of the body
What are the Benefits of Ortho-Bionomy?
Ortho-Bionomy Therapy is primarily used to help alleviate chronic pain associated with injuries, muscle and joint problems, and arthritis. It can also help with structural problems, autoimmune conditions and other physical conditions linked to emotional stress.
Among the conditions it can help with include:
*Chronic stress
*Poor blood circulation
*Poor posture
*Chronic back, neck and knee pain
*Frozen shoulder
*Headaches and migraines
*Osteoarthritis
*Fibromyalgia
*Rheumatoid arthritis
*Carpal tunnel syndrome
*Scoliosis
*Sprains
*Muscle knots
*Immobility
What Can You Expect From Ortho-Bionomy?
An Ortho-Bionomy treatment session does not involve forceful manipulation techniques.
Expect the one-hour session to be gentle and pain-free from start to finish.
Before the treatment process begins, the practitioner sits down with the client to assess their health and identify the source of their pain. The latter will be asked to perform basic movements or postural positions while the practitioner notes down what causes them pain and identifies its root cause.
The client remains fully clothed throughout the treatment session while the practitioner works on the restricted areas of their body.
The treatment doesn't involve any special equipment, just gentle contact, movement, compression and positioning of the muscle or soft tissue to resolve pain, imbalance or injury. Unlike other bodywork techniques that stretch the muscles to loosen them up, Ortho-Bionomy focuses on placing the problem area in an exaggerated position to relax the muscles surrounding it and allow the body to self-correct the issue using its natural reflexes.
The number of treatment sessions a client needs depends on the severity of their condition as well as how their body responds to the treatment.
Ortho-Bionomy can be used as a stand-alone treatment or as an adjunct to other conventional or complementary therapies.
Is Ortho-Bionomy Safe?
Anyone, regardless of age, will benefit from the healing mechanism of Ortho-Bionomy Therapy. It is, in fact, considered generally safe for newborns, the elderly, and for people in post-operative conditions. Dancers and athletes may improve their performances with this therapy by improving balance and increasing flexibility.
Shirodhara
Is a unique body therapy from the ancient natural medical system of Ayurveda. It has a profound impact on the nervous system, directly and immediately calming, relaxing, and providing a cleansing effect on the mind and nerves. This treatment is for those who want to reset their minds, or to deepen meditation and journey work. (Currently only available in the Busselton clinic)
What Is Shirodhara?
Shirodhara is an ancient Ayurvedic therapy.
Warm oil (or other liquid) is poured in a continuous stream over the forehead or ‘ajna marma‘, where nerves are highly concentrated.
The pressure of the oil onto the forehead creates a vibration. The oil saturates the forehead and scalp and penetrates into the nervous system.
The gentle pressure and soothing warmth of the oil allows the body, mind, and nervous system to experience a deep state of rest, similar to meditation.
Different oils can be mixed and used depending on your make up (Dosha) . Lakshadi oil may be used in Pitta disorders and Dhanwantram oil or Mahanarayana oil may be used in Vata disorders.
In a predominance of Vata, Kapha, or Vata Kapha imbalances, warm oil is generally used.
In the case of Pitta predominance or Pitta imbalances, cool (room temperature) oils and other liquids are used.
In Pitta disorders, lukewarm oil like Chandan Bala Lakshadi oil can be used. If the Pitta is also accompanied by Vata vitiation, then lukewarm herbal ghee like brahmi ghee or saraswat ghee can be used for the shirodhara. (If you are curious about what Vata, Kapha and Pitta are then explore Ayurveda or you can take a quiz and find out what your predominance may be:
Who Benefits From Shirodhara?
Shirodhara is a great treatment for a compromised nervous system.
Shirodhara can help relieve symptoms of anxiety, stress, fatigue, and hypertension. It relieves tension, worry, fear, and headache as well as depression. It regulates mood and gives feelings of pleasure and relaxation.
Shirodhara treatment is advised for the prevention of many psychosomatic disorders. In a healthy individual, the prevention of diseases pertaining to the body, mind and sense organs is the foremost indication.
Shirodhara can also assist with the following conditions:
* Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Shirodhara reduces excess Vata dosha which is a primary factor in PTSD. According to Alakananda Ma of the Alandi Ayurveda Gurukulam in Boulder, CO, shirodhara done with an appropriate shirodhara oilcontaining nervine herbs will deeply soothe the nervous system and help ease the symptoms of PTSD.
* Insomnia and Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD)
Shirodhara is traditionally known for its ability to assist with sleep problems.
Research proves the treatment is effective alone and also when coupled with herbal support.1Shirodhara with milk has also proven effective in treating insomnia.2The process stimulates the pineal gland which produces melatonin, the regulator of the wake-sleep cycle.
It calms an unquiet mind and induces rest. If your insomnia stems from working the night shift and your wake-sleep cycle is out of sync with the natural rhythms of the sun, shirodhara can assist in removing fatigue, restoring energy, and re-establishing harmony in the doshas or constitution.
* Jet Lag
If you’re a frequent flyer and your daily sleep rhythm is often out of sync and you suffer jet lag, shirodhara can help reset your daily pattern of waking and sleeping as well as remove built-up fatigue.
Travel with a Vata soothing oil or Bhringaraj oil and apply to the head before bed.
* Hypertension
Raktagata Vata is an imbalance of Vata dosha that may be correlated with hypertension. Shirodhara has proven effective in lowering blood pressure.3
*Healthy Humans ;)
Shirodhara is also a great treatment for the healthy individual looking to maintain health and enhance well-being, clarity, calm, and immunity.
Shirodhara promotes deep relaxation,relieves fatigue, and renews and reinvigorates the body and mind.
It also balances one’s energy level. If you are in need of rest and relaxation, the process will provide you with that. If you are well rested the process will enhance your clarity and perception.
Shirodhara increases immunity by relieving stress and worry, and balancing the Ayurveda mind-body types or doshas so that your constitution remains strong.
Shirodhara gives deep rest and renewed energy producing an ageless and youthful countenance. Shirodhara relieves stress, worry, and excessive thought. It gives total relaxation as if from meditation. This naturally relaxes and rejuvenates the face and softens worry lines.
Who Should NOT Have Shirodhara?
Shirodhara is suitable for any dosha or constitution however there are some contraindications.
Shirodhara should NOT be given to women in their third trimester of pregnancy. It is very difficult to lay on the back for 40-60 minutes at a time without feeling discomfort. Pregnancy is contraindicated in dhara where warm oil is poured all over the body.
Other contraindications include brain tumor, recent neck injury, abrasions or cuts on the head, fever or chills, acute illness, nausea, vomiting, severe weakness, exhaustion, dizziness, fainting, or spontaneous sweating.
Shirodhara should not be given to those with a rash or sunburn on the forehead or scalp.
If you have an aversion to oil then it is also not recommended for you.
Why Shirodhara?
Consider the human body as an inverted tree.
The roots are at the top and the branches point downwards. The head of the human body will be the root of this tree. The central portion of the body, the thorax, and abdomen, will be the trunk of this tree. The limbs, both upper and lower, will be the branches of this tree.
Just as the roots of tree nurture and control all the activities andwell-being of the tree, the head is the operational center of the entire body.
It controls the function of the brain and spinal cord. It has many marmas or vital points and is the house of the master endocrine gland, the pituitary. It is one of the seats of Vata dosha (Prana Vata in particular) and also houses subtypes of Kapha dosha (tarpak kapha) and Pitta dosha (sadhak pitta).
The seat of sadhak Pitta, a subtype of Pitta dosha, is considered the hridaya which means ‘heart’.
In Ayurveda, hridaya encompasses both the heart and brain. So the head, which houses the brain, also becomes a seat of sadhak Pitta.
Through the respective nerve centers in the brain, the head also controls the sense of hearing, smell, taste, and sight.
Since the three doshas are represented in the head region, any vitiation in the dosha can cause respective disorders with widespread repercussions in the whole body.
Here shirodhara, through the use of various mediums like oils, ghee, and buttermilk, pacifies these doshas and works on the entire body indirectly. Shirodhara will make the head region strong so that the entire body works smoothly.
aromatouch whole body treatment
A synergistic, hands on application of 8 specific essential oils which are used to calm the nervous system whilst assisting the immune system and allowing the body to return to homeostasis. This treatment is performed face down and is very gentle in pressure whilst being deeply healing.
The benefits include stronger immune systems, various levels of stress relief, relaxation of the body and mind, ongoing benefits to the autonomic and central nervous systems plus the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, support for neural and deep brain function and an overall feeling of wellbeing days after.
This treatment can be used to support ongoing holistic health treatments or other alliopathic practices and is a beneficial component to treatment and care plans and can be tailored dependant upon mobility and functionality issues.
Deep Relaxation massage
I really cant make this sound fancy - you come to me to feel good and the best way I know how to help everyone feel good is to help calm your whole system down and look after you during the time I have you in my tranquil space for. I use intuition combined with experience to guide these sessions, I always use body work to help shift emotion or whatever is locking your limbs up, a warm herbal base oils and will vary which other oils i use throughout depending on what is happening for you in the session. I use reflexology, swedish massage, trigger point therapy, ortho-bionomy, cranial sacrum, acupressure, lomi lomi, and other healing modalities to help the tissues of the body unravel and relax and ideally reconnect your body to your mind and energetic field sending you out refreshed, relaxed and reconnected. You can talk to me and let the memories stored in your cells escape or you can just fall asleep - it's up to you. either way I stop when the body tells me it is enough for now and set you up with a nice little drink of water while i make my session notes and you come back to the planet and come and see me.
OmVeda forest flower rituals and divine facials
Hands down the BEST organic, natural, whatever you want to call it - food you would eat, placed lovingly on your face and limbs - with so many different tools to pick from the choices are endless and really you just need to come in and try it - these facials or body treatments are ideal for those of us wanting to ditch the chemical treatments that are in nearly every day spa or beauty place and still have amazing results when the session is done and for days and weeks to come afterwards. I only use OmVeda products for this and it is what i personally use at home as well. I stock the retail size of most products so that you can be happy purchasing from someone you like, both me and Nadine at OmVeda. I will tailor your skin care routine based on what you tell me and what I see. I love this stuff - men and women and kids have skin and we all need to look after it and remember that what you put on your body goes into your body and can really mess you up - so start cleaning yourself up from the outside in and talk to me aobut your dirty genes when we sort this out :)
if you want to see some of the range you can go to the public website and have a look.
OmVeda | Ayurvedic Herbal Skin Care & Hair Care
Marma point massage
In this energising, invigorating and clearing full body treatment I will use warmed Ayurvedic body oils and herbs and work with the 29 marma points associated with pain. This massage is perfect to help with circulation and skin cell revitalisation. The herbal oils are in a black sesame base and all very earthly and grounding. They are chosen based on your profile which we will discuss at the beginning of your session. This technique works well for humans looking to reshape their body or to improve skin tissue and lymphatic systems. It does involve some pressure and is an active massage vs a relaxing meditative one.
According to Ayurveda, marma points are joining points where the muscle (mamsa), vein (sira), ligament (snayu), bone (asthi), and joint (sandhi) meet.
These are special points (sthana) in the human body and any injury to these marmas may lead to disease, disability, and if not properly treated even fatal conditions. Like reflexology, your body is a map, it is all connected and understanding where these vital points are in your body can help you with self care after your session.
Additional Ayurvedic treatments and products (will expand on this)
Herbal blends, tinctures and elixirs
(custom made dependant on client requirement)
The use of aromatherapy varies and is dependant
upon a practitioners training and personal preference.
In my practice I use aroma to assist both the physical and
emotional body and draw upon education and experience from European schools of aromatherapy and herbalism, Ayurvedic uses of herbal oils and body/mind treatments and naturopathic uses of essential oils, essences and herbs.
Essence therapies - for subtle support
Nature provides many of the gentle tools we can use to assist ongoing adherence to the physical adjustments you have in clinic.
Essence therapy includes the creation of a blend for you to take, guidance for the use and adjustments as you progress.
The target is for nervous system support and these guys operate on the metaphysical level, helping you to connect your mind to your body.
I use a variety of flower and mineral/stone essences mixed on a prescription basis.
Bottle brush essence is ideal for those major transitions in life - like a brush we would use to clean a bottle out - this essence clears the bodies and assists in bravely stepping into the new.
Holistic Medical/Health/ Nutritional Coaching
Discussions and guidance - in clinic, online and ongoing to suit your needs and often includes books, articles or things for you to read and action for you to take (I'm not a passive practitioner and you are not a passive human.....). The idea is to help you understand your current medical health and develop a holistic plan. This type of consultation is able to be done with your current GP or other health practitioners involved should they wish to do so, and have the time, and we can organise this at time of booking.
We will be discussing your blood tests, scans and reports and diagnostics in order for you to understand your health. I may also recommend other tests for you to arrange such as hair analysis, heavy metal tests (an OATES test) and you can consider genetic testing via 3 places I recommend in order for you to have access to all your personal data which we can then start to work through and help you operate at your optimal level.
In terms of a plan - this may include nutritional suggestions, treatments, therapies, supplementation, mind work and regular consultations until you have a strong handle on yourself. It's your body, your mind, your soul - YOU are the only one that know's it and it's up to you to look after it.
References:
1Pokharel, Sanjay, and Ajay Kumar Sharma. “Evaluation of Insomrid Tablet andShirodharain the Management ofAnidra(Insomnia).”Ayu, Medknow Publications Pvt Ltd, 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3215320.2http://www.ijrap.net/admin/php/uploads/1058_pdf.pdf
3Kundu, C, et al. “The Role of Psychic Factors in Pathogenesis of Essential Hypertension and Its Management by Shirodhara and Sarpagandha Vati.”Ayu., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22048535.
4Charaka Samhita, Sutra sthan, chapter 5
5Pokharel, Sanjay, and Ajay Kumar Sharma. “Evaluation of Insomrid Tablet andShirodharain the Management ofAnidra(Insomnia).”Ayu, Medknow Publications Pvt Ltd, 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3215320/.