Article Archive

The Breath of Life

A Craniosacral Primer

Craniosacral touch is a light contact modality that invites the body to self-correct through skilled touch, conscious presence, deep stillness, and a working knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and embryological development. This modality is known by a variety of names, such as craniosacral therapy, Visionary Craniosacral Work, biodynamic craniosacral therapy, craniosacral biodynamics, and dynamic stillness. The spectrum of approaches to craniosacral touch extends from direct manipulation, as in inducing a stillpoint, to a non-action presence that holds neutral.

Connections

An Integrated Approach to Treating Knee Injuries, Part 2

After introducing the importance of a holistic view of knee rehabilitation in order to restore proper gait, the previous article (November/December 2008, page 52) ended with our fingers deep in the iliotibial (IT) band. The demonstrated techniques (Treatments 1–4) began with more superficial work that is appropriate soon after injury or surgery, and progressed to tools for returning flexion mobility.

Dimensions of Alignment

An Aston-Patterning Perspective

The directive to “stand up straight” is a familiar instruction to properly present oneself in the world. The progression to an upright posture, in terms of both human evolution and individual development, ultimately demands a delicate balance of a complex structure. The question of what is the most correct and credible upright alignment can be debated, depending on perspective and particular school of thought. The subject of this article discusses the Aston-Patterning model of alignment, which is based on Judith Aston’s many years of teaching and observation.

essential skills

Human Touch In Our Lives

Originally published in Massage & Bodywork magazine, January/February 2009. Copyright 2009. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

Attitudes toward touch affect us all. The way a culture understands the role of touch in human lives has a profound impact on the way its people grow, develop, and engage with their physical and social environments. Is touch a necessity or an indulgence? What impact does it have on our physical and psychological health? Is the desire for tactile contact healthy, dysfunctional, or even dangerous?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Metabolic Syndrome: A Hidden Link

pathology perspectives

Meet Ms. X1: she has a problem. She is 28 years old, secure in her career, and financially stable. She and her partner agree that this would be an ideal time to start a family, but her body has other ideas: after two years of trying, she’s still not pregnant. Because of a complex sequence of events, her ovaries don’t release mature ova for the possibility of fertilization on any predictable schedule. In addition, Ms. X struggles with being overweight, constantly fights unwanted body and facial hair, and even in her 20s is still battling acne.

Forward In Your Journey

practitioner parables

You’re thinking about 2009. It’s rich with possibility because this is the year you’ll fire up your practice, get things organized, and become the massage therapist you were meant to be. It’s a fresh start … except chances are it isn’t a fresh start and you won’t make those dreams come true without a plan and some effort. The resolutions you make for 2009 are probably the same ones you made for 2008, 2007, and so on. So how do you change your track record?

’round the table

Go Ahead, Speak Up

Tell us about a specific person who has influenced your bodywork career and why.

When I was 9 years old, my grandmother passed away. She and my grandfather had been married for 50 years, and he took her passing really hard. For a week, he could not sleep or eat. My aunt, who at the time was a practicing massage therapist, gave him a one-hour massage. That was when his body relaxed enough for him to start sleeping. From that point on, I realized what the power of touch can do to help someone heal. That is what made me want to be a massage therapist.

Massage and Body Image

Positive Impact of Touch Therapies

How much time do you spend thinking about your body? Are the thoughts positive or negative?

Body image can be affected by tangible physical factors. In her book, Transforming Body Image (The Crossing Press, 1985), Dr. Marcia Hutchinson suggests body image has little to do with the physical body. “Image and reality are separate,” she says. And if body image is a product of the imagination, Hutchinson proposes that it can also be changed using the imagination.

A Life of Music

A Profile of Peter Kater

You may not recognize his name from your appointment book, but Peter Kater has likely been in your therapy room many times. His calm, distinct presence is often found in the melodic banter used to soothe clients into a relaxing, therapeutic state.

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