My influences are many!

Conventional or alternative?

I value my training in science and conventional medicine. While I am strongly influenced by various forms of energy medicine, particularly Chinese medicine and biodynamic work, I believe that conventional and complementary approaches are not contradictory.

What's key to health?

At the heart of both Chinese medicine and biodynamic work is a valuing of following your inner nature and being true to yourself. I would say that authenticity is key to health and happiness, perhaps even before things like diet, exercise, rest etc. I'd advise anyone interested in this area to read the books of Daniel Santos: Luminous Essence and Feng Shui for the Body.

Psychology

I continue to study the Enneagram and often suggest that clients look into it; it's a powerful way of understanding both yourself and other people, and a great aid to self-awareness and presence. In 2009 I completed a counselling skills course in order to develop my verbal/face-to-face skills; I've also studied NLP.

I particularly like approaches such as Hakomi (gentle experiments in mindfulness to gain self-awareness) and Somatic Experiencing (a body-based therapy for overcoming trauma) and have embarked on three year long professional trainings in both: these are already strongly influencing my practice. I feel that most psychotherapeutic approaches have a part to play; my experience is that it's important to explore and take into account past conditioning, but also vital to develop the skills and level of consciousness to be able to function in the present and plan for the future.

A final influence would be the approach of the OneTaste community in the USA, with particular focusses on the body, on slowing down, on intimacy (not just interpersonally, with all of life), on a deeper sense of truth, and on sexuality.

Bodywork

My work is rooted as much in my personal experience of receiving  biodynamic massage as in my training/theory. My hands are additionally influenced by Zero Balancing, the Anatomy Trains system, Jin Shin Do and by my own experiential learning within my chi kung practice. I have also explored birth process within craniosacral therapy sessions, and feel this style of therapy is influencing my massage work.

Spirituality

I have explored various spiritual traditions, notably Taoism, Buddhism (especially Zen) and Advaita Vedanta. Some of my clients say that my massage sessions are one of the few times in their lives when mental chatter comes to a stop; knowing yourself as more than just your thoughts and beliefs is a key part of spirituality. I have studied mostly with Stephan Bodian and Adyashanti in the USA, but additionally with Mukti (USA), and Tony Parsons and Mooji (UK). I also admire The Work of Byron Katie and look forwards to experiencing her in London during summer 2010.

Acknowledgements

I feel fortunate to have had some good therapists and teachers in my life ... though, in a way, I am also lucky to have experienced less good ones in order to appreciate the difference.