Hands-On Shamanic BodyWork: What It Is and How It Could Help You

Shamanic elements are pulled into a hands-on treatment filled with many different techniques learned through many different modalities. Some of them are energetic, and some of them are manual tissue manipulation. All of it is light touch and pain free.

But let’s start with the basics.

The most important element of any bodywork is the environment.

This work is done clothed and typically with you on your back. Bolstering you in a side lying position is also an option if lying on your back is uncomfortable.

I find as we work through layers of freeze states (young/helpless/dissociative nervous system states) you can end up feeling cold. To help support thermal regulation I have a heating pad under you that can be turned on and multiple weights of blankets to choose from to cover you up if needed.

Most times it’s done without speaking to allow you to drop into low alpha/theta states but that’s not to say we can’t talk if that’s how your system is needing to form a connection. There’s no right or wrong in this element.

There will be music in the background unless you request otherwise and the playlist is chosen intuitively as I get the space ready for you. You have full control over the volume and the songs. If you don’t like what was chosen you can bring your own playlist or we can find one that suites your needs.

For those of us who operate at a higher level of activity in our day to day this treatment can be excellent for achieving that elusive rest state so many of us chase. To help facilitate rest the lights are low and we try to keep it as quiet as possible.

Regulating your nervous system is the first thing I’m working towards because healing doesn’t happen in dysregulation.

Our first treatments are meant to introduce my hands to your body, your soul to mine, and those may be heavy in craniosacral, compression or dry massage techniques depending on how well we know each other or how willing your nervous system is.

Once we’ve established trust and safety in your system and I’m working with our guides and your inner wisdom, the treatment feel may change. This will depend on what’s going on within your internal ecosystem, and what layers need to be worked through to uncover the specific pieces you want to work on.

I determine where to go and what to do by “listening” to your tissues and by following the images or messages that come to me as I work. I never force your body to release and techniques are normally gentle and light allowing the most superficial layers to release first, deepening as we go.

As I sense your body’s unique needs I may use my shamanic tools in the treatment to assist with energetic layers. This could include sound and vibration from my drum, a rattle, a bell, a rain stick, chimes, a singing bowl or a specific song or chant. I may also use my breath, invoke medicine through my power animals or use pieces from my medicine bag to help facilitate change. Sometimes the tools are helping to break up energies and sometimes they’re working to increase energy and flow.

When appropriate I may call in my spirit team or your guides to assist us in the work.

In this space I may do energetic removals (entities/curses), additions (lost forgotten or taken soul pieces/vitality), or movements (get the energy that’s there flowing again) depending on what I see and sense.

Overall this type of body work doesn’t just focus on your body, but takes your soul into consideration too.

The Mind – Somato-Emotional Release

This is a tool available to use either right from the beginning or after we’ve developed a rapport with each other. It involves a more in depth body treatment in which we work to discover and move trauma in the tissues.

Trapped trauma can be emotional, mental, soul level or physical.

This technique requires more dialogue and coaching. I pull from my training in Somato-Emotional release but also from my Relational Somatic Therapy training. Blending these together we can begin to work with traumas, either releasing them or transforming them.

Somato trauma therapy also comes with post session integration and a longer treatment time is required to allow for the depth of work required for both of us.