Gestalt is a way of being as well as a therapeutic method. At the Florida School of Massage, gestalt techniques have been incorporated into our whole method and philosophy for making respectful and supportive contact with people that is not intrusive.

When offered in a context of awareness, massage therapy training can be a vehicle for personal growth and transformation. Through touch we are invited to inquire into the process of our tension. When we attend to that process, we change.   - Paul Davenport

A deep, slow, and comfortable form of massage which allows the muscles to return to their natural resting length so that the dynamic system of muscle tendon ligament and bone can function more effectively while resting or in motion. The slow nature of this work and the immediacy of finding together a comfortable depth facilitate awareness and presence.

The focus is similar to deep tissue work while at the same time moving fluids like blood and lymph and creating a sense of relaxation and ease. With awareness this work can facilitate the experience of "just being".
Florida School of Massage

"I have long been intrigued by this subtle form of retraining the nervous system, which I currently recommend to patients whose movement has been restricted by injury, cerebral palsy, stroke, fibromyalgia, or chronic pain. (I find it to be much more useful than standard physical therapy.) I also believe that the Feldenkrais Method can help older people achieve greater range of motion and flexibility, and help all of us feel more comfortable in our bodies."
Dr. Andrew Weil

Using passive movements and gentle specific guidance, I help students to learn to widen their range of possibilities for pleasurable and efficient movement, posture and balance. Functional Integration® is widely recognized for its ability to successfully address serious muscular-skeletal and neurological problems.

Functional Integration® and Awareness Through Movement® lessons were developed by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais. (for more info click here )

An educational method derived from the Feldenkrais® method, the practitioner helps children who have disabilities learn to explore many variations of movement. Even small changes in movement learning enhance global changes in children's functional abilities.
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Ruby's Story: A Case Study

One of the necessities of being youthful is having a brain that continues learning. Since the brain is involved with movement for most of our waking hours, movement informs the brain and "is the language of the brain". Therefore, we use movement to keep the body and the brain supple and responsive. There are certain movements that are present in youth that adults relinquish with aging. Lessons are structured to enhance the learning processes in the areas that are essential to health and vitality.

Anat Baniel Method for Vitality & Anti-aging^sm sessions may address:
(based on the work of Moshe Feldenkrais)

• Relief from stress
• Movement & flexibility
• Balance
• Recovery & Improvement from:
  • Surgery
  • Stroke
  • Injuries
• Learning to improve motor skills

For this type of session wear loose and comfortable clothing. I may ask you to move or move you passively. You should feel comfortable at all times. The intention of the lesson is to inform your nervous system about ease in movement in many combinations. The results can range from an overall feeling of well-being to a precise improvement of motor control. In this way people have regained skills that have been lost through injury, aging or stroke (for example) often with reduced pain, stress and reduced tendency for re-injury.

"Wow! I can't tell you how much you helped my whole right side!! I've been singing your praises and now several friends want to get some work done. Thanks."
- SW - Artist

"After our last session I felt very loose and a little giddy. Actually, through the evening I felt more and more giddy until after dinner. It was quite a pleasant experience! When I rode, I was able to use my right side considerably more than previously."
- SC - Dressage Rider