Unwinding from Stress is no small feat in the pace and bustle of life in 2015. According to the Mayo Clinic "85% of all disease is a result of stress." The challenge of unwinding from stress in today's world is that most of it is abstract and is not something we can resolve through the body's stress coping mechanisms of "fight or flight. The coping me chanism of the sympathetic nervous system takes our body into high adrenaline output in preparation for fleeing from or fighting a lion, tiger or bear. The problem with that approach is that in today's world we rarely encounter a lion, tiger or bear that we can physically, fight or flee from. Instead we encounter a barrage of stimuli, more often abstract in nature that we perceive as  threats.

My client last night summed up this  predicament  with his own contrasting life experiences of real vs perceived threats:  "Life as a marine in Cambodia in the late 60s, when someone was threatening me with a gun, was less stressful than dealing with stuff coming at me in today's world."  This morning's reflection on the state of his body/mind after an hour's bodywork session the night before " I feel a lot better about everything. " 

Unwinding from stress is a primary focus for me as I unwind my body's mechanisms for coping with stress at the end of my day and as I engage with the nervous and glandular system of every client I see in the context of a bodywork session. What are these mechanisms that I am focused on unwinding? They are the glandular and nervous systems and their interpenetrating correlates within the subtle body. 

Understanding the science behind how and why we can all benefit from unwinding from stress, the words of Craniosacral Therapist, Paul Weisbart  I find illuminating and inspiring. "The universe is 99% neutral energy or space, and when we relax and unwind the polarity, or cell memory, the cell opens up to this unified field of energy. Our approach is to restore harmony to the field, which is the underlying and essential nature of the body. In fact, the body is really a dimensional contraction of the field. When we understand the nature and operation of this dynamic relationship, our work as stewards of health is to simply unwind, clear, detoxify, regenerate or activate the system."  

Among the many wonderful bodywork modalities we offer here at the Institute, Craniosacral Therapy and the adjunctive technique offered in our Integrative approach, affectionately termed "Rub Spine" is one of my favorite approaches to unwind clients from stress.  Integrative Craniosacral Therapy offers a protocol of techniques that allow the therapist to engage the parasympathetic or  the rest, relax branch the nervous sys tem as well as  "ground" or "clear the polarity charge" on each of  the individual  peripheral nerves where they first branch out from the spinal column as well as each vertebra along the column. This clearing technique is done with the lightest of touch and as Paul illuminates its impact penetrates down to the level of the cell, and opens the cells up to the unified field of energy.

 "I feel relaxed, but full of  energy!!" is a common remark clients and students make after receiving this approach to bodywork. This approach allows for a fundamental clearing of polarity charge or cellular memory such that the body can open to the abundant resources available within the unified field. This principle of grounding the spinal column, or clearing polarity charge is also incorporated into our approach to Reflexology, Swedish Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Polarity Therapy and assorted modalities. 

The power of this approach is also expressed in the vitality and enthusiasm of are grads, especially our seniors who are experiencing their own personal transformation as they unwind, clear, detoxify, regenerate and activate their body's systems. This month we begin another Integrative Craniosacral Therapy Tract and Massage Practitioner Program. If you are intrigued to learn more or to experience the profound benefits of this approach to bodywork and restorative living, I invite you to read comments from students below and  join us for an upcoming free intro, course or clinic.  

Peace and ease be with you,

 

Katie Mickey

Director of the Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute

" At this stage in life coming to this school has restored and renewed my spirit and given me a very positive outlook on life. I feel very hopeful to be involved in an enterprise in an activity that is not only helpful to me but to so many others, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. The experience has given me an understanding in myself and life in general. I feel a greater understanding in myself and life in general. I feel a renewed sense of joyful involvement with life and I am having fun!!

 

I plan to open my own practice in time and that will be quite a new adventure. I strongly encourage anyone at any age to be involved with massage therapy. Working with Katie Mickey at the Institute is an experience in itself. She will blow your mind!"

 

~Richard (Campion) Bourain,

Current 550 Student,  Massage Practitioner, working in SBBTI's grad clinic, going on 75 and going strong. 

  

"Studying Integrative Craniosacral Therapy has changed my approach to the deeper work that I do. I integrate the Craniosacral Therapy with various Deep Tissue modalities. Hypertonic muscles let go sooner. I do a lot of 20 minute sessions in offices and get a much faster shift contacting the spine and sacrum while I work. The results are dramatically different."

 

~ Sonia Ross, SBBTI instructor and Sports Massage Therapist

 

 

"At Essential Touch, we get a wide range of patients: stroke, cancer, infants, NICU. Essential Touch is a spa within Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Hospital. It's the first of its kind in a hospital setting in the country.  What I find with the general population is that so many people have not been touched. Very often I do half massage, half cranial. Craniosacral therapy for people with fibromyalgia is incredible. I also use it a lot with cancer patients, post-surgical patients and others who have tried everything mainstream - it works really well."
-Amy Zac-Urban, advanced modality student 

May 21- Jun 11  (Wed) 12:30-5pm,

(Thu) 8am-12:30pm
 

This 30 hour course prepares body-workers to provide support for the mother to be and the prenatal/infant.   Learn More  

Tuesday & Thursday at 5:45-8:45pm  (sessions at 6 & 7:30pm)

Saturday at 1:45-4:45pm  (sessions at 2 & 3:30pm

Clients are charged $40 per 60 minute session.  Therapists receive $20 per session.

• Copy of SB city Massage Permit or CAMTC certificate
• Copy of your up to date Liability Insurance
• City Business License
• Resume
• Business Cards (optional)