ABOUT THE BODYWORK
My therapeutic bodywork blends myofascial release (Barnes style), soft tissue mobilization, and deep tissue massage and is viewed through a biodynamic lens. A mix of modalities allows me to provide care for all kinds of complex and compounding issues, while the biodynamic lens guides me toward the (sometimes mysterious) root causes. I am looking forward to integrating biodynamic craniosacral therapy into my practice after certification sometime in 2025.
“Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. This essential ‘time element’ has to do with the viscous flow and the piezoelectric phenomenon: a low load (gentle pressure) applied slowly will allow a viscoelastic medium (fascia) to elongate.” (Barnes style myofascial release therapy). Through slow maneuvers, we’re able to bypass the protective mechanisms of the body to facilitate a release in the myofascia; the primary tissue responsible for functional movement and postural alignment.
Soft tissue mobilization is used to prime dense soft tissue for release by breaking the cross-joints of the myofascia. We also integrate joint movement so the body can start the repatterning process on the table in the moment. Deep tissue massage is the most common massage technique in the United States. If you’ve had a massage that was not for relaxation, it was most likely deep tissue. This works by realigning the deep fibers of muscles and can be an effective therapeutic tool.
A biodynamic approach in bodywork means we consider the body as a dynamic system interconnected with its environment and influenced by physical, emotional, and mental factors. We aim to support the body's natural ability to heal and self-regulate by working with the body's inherent rhythms and capacities. Most importantly, we respect the adopted compensatory pattern as an intelligent response to conditions (both current and previous) and allow the body to unfold into health in its own unique way. This biodynamic approach also utilizes Levine’s tools of somatic resonance and subtle observation. I have primarily learned of and practiced biodynamics through my Responsive Body training and through my current biodynamic craniosacral therapy training. This type of approach is especially helpful for people with a history of trauma.
ABOUT NICK
After earning a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Kinesiology from Chapman University, I moved to the Bay Area and attended the World School of Massage & Holistic Healing Arts, earning my CMT in 2019. In 2021, I became a Responsive Body Level I Practitioner. I am pending certification as a Responsive Body Level II Specialist and am currently in a biodynamic craniosacral therapy program which I am expected to finish in 2025. My experiences and prior skills helped me more easily tap into the sensation and experiences of others on the table.
I’ve been interested in anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology from an early age, and dance supported the cultivation of that interest even further. During my undergraduate education, I found my inspiration for bodywork and its transformative nature while working through a chronic injury. To my amazement, I learned how to effectively regulate my body beyond the point of recovery and into increased strength and malleability. I was also met with sensitivity around my passion for dance and my drive to continue, which was a different experience than I’d had with other physical practitioners. My experience reflected an understanding that my rehabilitation was not over when I could walk and complete everyday movements without discomfort, I needed to perform at a high level. This is what I strive to provide for my own clients: beginning with meeting you where you are with an understanding of your goals, and then bridging the gap.