hello
here in Paris I have been going for some sensitive gestalt massage sessions and enjoyed it a lot.
have researched it online and the founder was a Californian woman...so how come I cannot find any gestalt massage in the UK? there is gestalt psychotherapy (where it evolved from)/ couselling but I cant find any mention of sensitive gestalt massage, so why is that?
Never heard of it, but I did some Gestalt training when I did my psychology degree and I'd be very interested to learn more!
Edit: Just Googled it, and most of the references seem to be French, but worryingly those that aren't seem to be marketing it as an erotic massage. 🙁
well how weird that the references are all French, given the anti-alternative therapies attitude of France (giving a massage is actually illegal. only physitherapists are allowed to. so all those therapies are underground and hidden and not well developped). also given the fact that the woman who invented that technique was American...how strange.
I shall enquire more with my Gestalt massage therapist soon then!
basically it is a very soothing massage, in flowing moves, a bit like californian or swedish massage but gentler. the therapist starts at the feet and ends at the feet for grounding. it felt fantastic, what she did on my feet! and she asks me to breath in the belly and when I breath out she applies pressure specifically to certain points. it workd with breathing. however the real stuff involves some speaking to, the patient is asked to associate words, ideas and colours to parts that are worked on. the aim is to reclaim one's body, and not leave it to the total care of the therapist. not to be in a "fusion" with the therapist, but being aware one one's body.
Also of importance is the way the therapist is very very attuned to the patient's well being. mine constantly asks "how are you feeling now? is this fine?" which makes me feel Im totally pampered! 🙂
(giving a massage is actually illegal. only physitherapists are allowed to. so all those therapies are underground and hidden and not well developped).
I never knew that. What is the reason for France being so against complimentary therapy - do you know?
Also of importance is the way the therapist is very very attuned to the patient's well being. mine constantly asks "how are you feeling now? is this fine?" which makes me feel Im totally pampered!
I am not sure this would be for me. I don't like anyone talking to me when I am being massaged. This sounds much more participative on the part of the client than anything I am used to and I guess this is because the purpose of having one is different. Interesting......
Hi
I know someone in France that practises Tui-Na Massage & Acupuncture. To practice (so I believe) legally, he joined an organisation called I'Union Francaise des Practiciens de Medecine Traditionelle Chinose. Basically he is described as a TCM practitioner, not an acupuncturist or massage therapist.
I haven't come across Gesalt Massage, but there are various psychotherapeutic massage techniques out there.
RP
well how weird that the references are all French, given the anti-alternative therapies attitude of France (giving a massage is actually illegal. only physitherapists are allowed to. so all those therapies are underground and hidden and not well developped).
I cannot believe in that! Considering that I really wanted to move there. I'm still thinking about it, but your claim is like a blow to me.
It's that field really restricted to physiotherapist only? Our certificates are completely useless in France?
martinx, sorry for the bad news but it is the reality. most european countries are less free concerning the field of complementary therapies than the Uk and Ireland...most require more diplomas etc. but France I believe is way behind. as well as Italy and Belgium. the only reason for that is the blocking of Doctors and physiotherapists, and the pharmaceutical industry. competition. like homeopathy, the only homeopaths are Doctors (GP) who have studied homeopathy as an add-on, for something like a few weeks. same for acupuncture, I was treated by a GP/acupuncturist so I know about that, he never enquired about my diet or talked about organs, even less about plants, he just planted needles like I was a bit of plumbery.
massage is tricky. It took me 3 months to find a massage therapist!! Ive met a Russian woman in Paris since last year and she hasnt found one! the only ones to give massage are:
-beauty therapists working in salons (depilation etc)
-physio (and I dont call that massage, more like exercise and poking about!)
-the misleading chinese salons that are popping up on every street corners offering massage and reflexology, with high pvc black shiny boots, revealing clothes and heavy make up young chinese girls....yea you got it. 🙂
There are some therapists offering massage but they are few and hiding. I managed to find some through harassing my naturopath! and I also found that apart from naturopaths, holistic dentists and yoga places have boards with lots of business cards from shiatsu/massage people etc.
So think well before moving. I was told being a massage therapist out in the countryside is easier, word of mouth is way faster and you dont even need to advertize, ie get in trouble legally, people will talk about you and your results. then you can always mascarade regarding the law as a "relaxation" practicioner, like they all call themselves!
so countryside and maybe highly touristic area (that attract wealthy people like Cannes and Biarritz...)..?
Hello Martin!
I live in Lille, feel free to pm me! (Fadette told me you want to move to Lille and you're not pmable yet!) 🙂
Claire.
Original Gestalt therapy is built upon two ideas: that the most helpful focus of psychotherapy is the experiential present moment, and that everyone is caught in webs of relationships; thus, it is only possible to know ourselves against the background of our relationship to the other. Sensitive Gestalt massage combines this understanding with massage.
The term - Gestalt massage, reminds me somewhat of other body orientated psychotherapy treatment modalities.
For example: The Rubenfeld Synergy Method, created by Ilana Rubenfeld a powerful system that integrates bodywork, intuition, and psychotherapy. Others are: Body Psychotherapy and Biodynamic Body Psychotherapy developed by Gerda Boyesen.
In my own work with clients with post-traumatic stress disorder or for example a history of childhood sexual abuse, I also use similar approach, integrating bodywork with intuition and my understanding of psychotherapy. But I think it is important to give the client the option to relax and remain silent during the treatment, or to talk about emerging feelings, sensations.
A
well thanks André
I think Gestalt sensitive massage must be fantastic for the ones seeking some form of dialogue, putting words on problems etc.
As for me Im not going to train in this form of massage since I dont feel attracted to psychotherapy and feel there is already too much intellect and talking in the French mind and culture. 🙂
I personally feel action such as touching, moving, energizing, acupunture etc are more powerful tools of comfort, soothing and healing.
hello
here in Paris I have been going for some sensitive gestalt massage sessions and enjoyed it a lot.
have researched it online and the founder was a Californian woman...so how come I cannot find any gestalt massage in the UK? there is gestalt psychotherapy (where it evolved from)/ couselling but I cant find any mention of sensitive gestalt massage, so why is that?
Hi Fadette,
I am a Soma-therapist and I do Sensitive Gestalt Massage in York. I know, I think I am probably the only one who does it in the UK! Unfortunately I have to fly to Spain to get my dose of sensitive joy :).
I studied SGM in between Spain and Switzerland and I moved to the UK 8 years ago. I am now self employed and owner of a small business. I also teach workshops about the relevance of touch as well as sports injuries classes.
There is some information if you really check but it is still pretty new to the UK.
Ana Guerrero
Wilhelm Reich, who originated body psychotherapy, was a key influence on Fritz Perls, who went on to create Gestalt therapy. Gestalt therapy in turn has been profoundly influential on the body therapies that developed from Reich's work. Some of these modern Reichian therapies are body psychotherapies (working on both body and mind), while some are best described as transformative bodywork (working only with the body, but guided by an understanding of the therapeutic issues present).
Gestalt massage appears to be a transformative bodywork. From the description I've read online it seems to be a version of Esalen massage, which is perhaps better-known in the UK and USA. Try googling that instead.
You might also try lomilomi, where the focus is very much on sensuality. Or for something with the same ethos, but using movement you could try Pulsing rhythmic bodywork - list of practitioners here: http://www.pulsing.org.uk/find-a-practitioner