The Embodied Healer

Accessing your client’s trust is an elusive yet critical element in effective body work. Your skilled techniques will be met with resistance until you accept what your client brings to the session and you meet “belly to belly”. The seductive concept of “fixing” implies that you know more than your client knows about their body, setting the stage for dependence or resistance. In this class, you may choose to let go of the hero helper role as you instead engage with your client. Following insights from Esalen Institute, Brita will guide you to activate your own compass as you hold space for your client’s natural impulse toward health and wholeness. Brita suggests that you take on the three-pronged daily practice of self-nurturing, reflection, and reaching out. This reboots your senses, opening direct perception with your client and their needs as distinct than your own. One teacher respectfully framed it, “what’s their story?” At the end of the day, this model leaves you refreshed, even with your most demanding client. Brita’s brief narrative and supportive neuroscience will invite you to experience how working from a centered place allows you to open your senses and truly see hear, and touch your client. She will briefly demonstrate the smooth pace and pause of Esalen® Massage. Come prepared to participate.