BIODYNAMIC MASSAGE TRAINING COURSES

WHO ARE THE COURSES FOR?

The Biodynamic Massage training programme is intended for those in the caring professions (teachers, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, O.T.s, counsellors) and those wanting to pursue an interest in massage. Some of our students pursue our training with a career change in mind. Courses are taught in Cambridge, but it is possible to arrange for a course to be run in your own work-place/town. A minimum of six participants is needed. CBPC has trained many people who work within the NHS and voluntary sector and our one year course has made biodynamic massage more accessible to the general public.

WHAT IS BIODYNAMIC MASSAGE?

Biodynamic massage is a form of psychotherapeutic massage concerned with the integration of all aspects of an individual - physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual within the context of an individual's life and relationships at home, at work and at leisure. It may be considered a holistic form of massage. It is derived from methods used in Norwegian physiotherapy and was developed and brought to the U.K. by Gerda Boyesen, psychologist, physiotherapist and analyst. Biodynamic massage rests on certain theoretical principles, which it holds in common with other therapies. Individuals are perceived as energetic beings and health is apparent when there is a free flow of energy in the system. Given the right circumstances individuals are believed to have the capacity to self heal and to self regulate or look after their own well being. Illness is regarded as being out of harmony with oneself and surroundings. Past and present may have a contribution to any symptom. Rather than trying to cure an illness, the aim of a biodynamic massage therapist would be to understand with the client the meaning and message of an illness, and in this process symptom relief may come about through creating a new balance within oneself and life generally. Being in the company of someone may give the individual a "pain in the neck" and there would be exploration of how that comes about and perhaps an understanding of how to be different in that relationship. Biodynamic massage has a large repertoire of techniques to suit individual needs. Each client receives an individually matched massage session, but no two sessions will be exactly the same for an individual. The basic premise is to communicate or make non-verbal contact with the client. It is a way of relating to each other, which transcends the actual method being used. Through this relationship, the client is able to relate to his or her own inner (bio)dynamic for self healing. Some of the therapeutic hopes in biodynamic massage are the rebalancing of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system; relaxation; vitalisation; pain relief; relief of internal emotional pressure; release of muscular tension; toning of undertoned muscle; increased body awareness; release of toxins; discovery of a more "natural" breathing pattern. Biodynamic massage is suitable for those with psycho-physiological or stress related symptoms such as headaches, aches and pains, anxiety, insomnia, depression, arthritis, M.E., etc.; for those who feel "under the weather" or that something is not quite right, but where there is an absence of diagnosable disease; and for those wanting to embark on a process of self discovery through a body approach. Biodynamic massage can be practised as a form of massage in its own right, or by a fully trained body psychotherapist, it can be a method to access personal awareness.

HOW HAS CBPC DEVELOPED BIODYNAMIC MASSAGE?

CBPC has developed its own particular style of teaching and practising Biodynamic massage. Our students come from all over the U.K. and we have deliberately developed a sense of community among the student body, which is supportive both as a student and practitioner of Biodynamic massage. Our trainers have worked within the NHS and are able to help students to adapt Biodynamic massage for institutional settings. We also have a high success rate in terms of helping qualified practitioners to set up their Biodynamic massage practice. Our style of biodynamic massage has emphasised the exploratory and transformative energy aspects of the work. From the outside this can look like not much is happening, but the principle of "less is more" is a strong guiding principle and much can be happening "underground" in stillness.

FOUNDATION BIODYNAMIC MASSAGE TRAINING COURSE
(CERTIFICATE LEVEL TRAINING)

The Certificate in Basic Biodynamic Massage is awarded to those successfully completing the Biodynamic Massage and Holistic Anatomy and Physiology modules. It is possible to complete these courses over two academic years.

BIODYNAMIC MASSAGE

A series of 9 weekends (108 hours) for those who have completed the Introduction to Biodynamic Massage or equivalent to learn more of the methods of Biodynamic massage.

Weekend:

1. Practical Methods: Basic touch - skin, connective tissue, muscular work; intentionality - vitalising, matter of fact, relaxing, sedating; head and neck massage; lifting.
   Theory: Origins and development of biodynamic massage; aims and objectives of biodynamic massage; indications and contra-indications; the startle reflex; self-regulation; observations in massage; skeletal landmarks.
   Professionalism: Setting up massage table; hygiene; precautions regarding infection; preservation of dignity.
2. Practical methods: Packing; polarization; resistance work for body awareness and self expression; energy distribution.
   Theory: Indications and contra-indications; the vasomotoric cycle; physiology of stress; underbounded and overbounded clients; massage indications; grounding (legs, skin, eyes); the client-therapist relationship - making non-verbal, energetic contact; model of psycho-physiological illness; massage in depression, anxiety, cardiac rehabilitation, rheumatoid arthritis.
   Professionalism: Basic recording of massage session.
3. Practical methods: Connective tissue work - emptying; self care exercises; orgonomie, revision of methods.
   Theory: Indications and contra-indications; selection of practical methods; relating practical methods to vasomotoric cycle; theory of psycho-peristalsis; meaning of peristaltic sounds; transudation and distention pressure; massage in asthma, M.E., panic attacks, hyperventilation; and M.S.
   Professionalism: Looking after own health in massage work; self, peer and trainer evaluation of massage practice.
4. Practical: Deep draining for back and legs.
   Theory: Meaning of deep draining sequence; basic body reading; introduction to the breathing wave and the meaning of different patterns of breathing; indications and contra-indications of deep draining; schizoid structure; bones and muscles in back and legs.
   Professionalism: Note-keeping and session recording; follow-up massage observations and their indications.
5. Practical: Deep draining for arms and chest.
   Theory: Oral structure; bones and muscles of arms and chest.
   Professionalism: Setting up a practice privately; integration of massage into current workplace; selection of clients; working with other practitioners; referring on; confidentiality.
6. Practical: Deep draining for neck and head.
   Theory: Masochistic structure; bones and muscles of neck and head; age-related contra-indications. Professionalism: Code of ethics and practice; insurance; supervision; post-certificate training; research.
7. Practical: Revision of techniques; hypotonus massage; body reading; stretches and deep draining.
   Theory: Hysterical structure; the meaning of autonomic nervous system reactions - indications and contra-indications.
   Professionalism: Initial interview; session recording; review of treatment; future treatment indications.
8. Practical: Abdominal massage, auric massage.
   Theory: "Psychopathic" structure, differentiation of biodynamic massage from other methods; parameters of treatment evaluation.
   Professionalism: Parameters of self evaluation as practitioner.

9. Practical: Live supervision.
   Theory: Selection of appropriate methods, touch contact and verbal level of interaction; levels of therapeutic intervention.
   Professionalism: Self, peer and trainer evaluation.

For the Foundation Course students are asked to do 2-4 hours additional study and practice between training events (approximately 32 hours overall). The course is process and student centred and so the syllabus sequence may be altered accordingly.

HOLISTIC ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

This is a course of 8 weekend days spread over the academic year. It may be taken as a separate module. The course combines the principles of a clinical approach with an understanding of the emotional function of the body. In addition to the bio-physiological function, the physical body is viewed as the the manifestation of an individual's life story. Reich's principle of "psychosomatic unity" is taken to apply to all lelvels of the physical body from the whole person down to the cellular level. This concept is examined and discussed throughout the course and studied concurrently with clinical anatomy and physiology. The major pathologies of the body are examined in a similar light.

SYLLABUS

Each system of the body is is examined considering anatomy, physiology, emotional function, pathology, conventional and complimentary treatments. Recent developments in neuroscience will also be looked at.

1. Bodily systems considered from embryological development using Boadella's theories. Fetal development. Terminology, parameters of Holistic Anatomy and Physiology - anatomical and emotional. Cells and systems. Regulation of cellular activity. Cellular membranes and skin as primary boundary.
2. Fluids, the cardiovascular system including heart electronics, the heart-cell connection, the respiratory system, breathing as bridge between conscious and unconscious processes.
3. The skeletal system, function of bones, emotional function, structure and energy.
4. The nervous system, central and peripheral nervous systems, somatic nervous system, autonomic nervous system, energy and attention, homeostasis and self regulation, including emotional regulation; Changes in shock, trauma

5. The muscular system, fascia, movement and sensation, repatterning of unconscious neuromuscular patterns.
6. The digestive and urinary systems. Digestion of food and emotional experience. Psycho-peristalsis. Emotional function of organs.

7. Reproductive system and skin, sexuality and spirituality, skin as boundary and communication and transformation between inner and outer worlds.
8. The endocrine system, lymphatic system, neuropeptides and the mind-body-emotional link, immunology, glands and chakras.

COURSE TUTORS

Trainers are drawn from the training staff of Cambridge Body Psychotherapy Centre and are practising body psychotherapists. Each training intake has a principal trainer. Trainers for 2005-2006 will be:

Kathrin Stauffer, PhD., UKCP Registered Body Psychotherapist who was born in Switzerland and worked originally as a Biochemist. She is a past chair of the Association of Holistic Biodynamic Massage Therapists and also a Reiki practitioner.

Gill Westland, B.A., Dip.C.O.T., S.R.O.T., I.T.E.C., UKCP Registered Body Psychotherapist. She trained at first in Swedish massage and since 1982 has incorporated Biodynamic Massage in her work as a Body Psychotherapist. She is a full member of the European Association of Body Psychotherapists and founder of the Cambridge Body Psychotherapy Centre.