Rosen Method Bodywork uses gentle touch and words to relieve muscle tension or pain and to create more positivity and an enhanced sense of aliveness.
Marion Rosen, founder of the Rosen Method, studied breath and relaxation in the 1930s in Germany. Her background was as a physical therapist prior to developing her seminal work. “The work is about transformation – from the person we think we are to the person we really are.” There are Rosen Method Bodywork schools throughout Europe, Australia, Canada and in the U.S. in New York and California. Additionally, there are trainings for Rosen Method Movement and Bodywork in multiple states.
The Rosen Method process takes place on a massage table but, unlike massage, there is no active kneading of muscles, rather there is a quiet acknowledgment of the emotional holding in the muscles through gentle touch. The emphasis is on being rather than doing or fixing a situation. As a result of the deep relaxation, a client is able to achieve greater awareness, amend negative thought patterns and release much of the tension and pain that have been accumulating over the years. The focus of the practitioner is on breathing patterns as well as muscle tension.
Clients often present with physical issues, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue or pain, connective tissue disorders, arthritis or other ailments. Many clients who have been experiencing anxiety from known or unknown causes, depression or sleeplessness benefit through this work. Rosen Method Bodywork is often used with people who have felt disconnected from themselves and their senses due to histories of abuse or other types of trauma. Previous diagnoses of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are common in many clients. People with relationship issues often achieve more clarity about themselves and their own internal processes as a result of this bodywork. This can positively affect their relationships.
Minimally, clients report that they feel lighter, less burdened and more alive following a Rosen Method Bodywork session. There may be a reduction in pain, a more positive attitude toward life, better self-awareness, enhanced relationships and, sometimes, deep healing of the self at the subconscious level. Rosen Method Bodywork is an effective complement to psychotherapy, medical treatments and other alternative modalities. It is a powerful tool for re-establishing our mind, body and spirit connections.
Susan Dunhaupt, Certified Rosen Method Bodywork Practitioner, M.S. Community Counseling, is the owner of ENLIVEN! Bodywork and Counseling and can be reached at enlivenrosen@gmail.com or 612-702-0161
