Barbara brings her seasoned knowledge of the systems of the body to each and every client whether on the yoga mat or on the massage table.
Join Barbara in a Yoga class taught with gentle expertise and levity, encouraging kindness toward the self.
Her one-on-one Massage therapy sessions are tailored to meet your individual needs whether it be structural pain relief, tension alleviation or deep relaxation.
massage
For over thirty years, I have been practicing therapeutic massage. My work is a synthesis of years of study and practice of many techniques—including deep tissue, cranial-sacral, Body-Mind Centering, strain/counterstrain, and working directly with fascia and joints--that help bring the body into balance and create relief from muscle strain and tension.
Though direct touch and guidance, I work to relieve holding patterns in the connective tissue—tendons and ligaments--unwinding and coaxing the body into a state of relaxation. I’ve found that one of the most important things is listening to a client. A key aspect of my approach is to heighten the importance of kindness to oneself as we approach bringing changes to the body and alleviating discomfort.
yoga
My yoga classes are designed to lead students to an awareness of postural alignment and how the breath moves through the body.
The classes center on the asanas (the poses)--how to get into them with ease and openness, using the support of the bones, organs, muscles, and even the cells. My focus is on helping each student find a way to practice that is designed for their unique needs. Using careful, gentle movement, I help people work with their strengths and limitations and with the physical process of aging.
To me, yoga is a system of body movement that helps sustain and support your health and fitness as the body changes. I work with my students to bring about a sense of enjoyment and balance, as well as a deeper understanding of the connection between body and mind.
approach
Both my yoga teaching style and my approach to body work have been greatly influenced in this past decade by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen and the school for Body Mind Centering (BMC).
Experience
McKinnon Institute, Certificate Swedish Esalen Massage, 1987.
Student of Rodney Yee 1988-1994
Berkeley Yoga Room Certified Teacher Training graduate, 1996.
Studied yoga in India, with K. Pattabhi Jois, 1992.
Lymphatic massage course, Pat Wiltsy, San Francisco 1990.
The School for Body Mind Centering, 500+ hours of teacher training and study.
Embodied Anatomy and Yoga certificate, 2012.
Developmental Movement and Yoga certificate, 2012.
Somatic Movement Educator, teacher certificate, 2014.
“What I love about doing yoga with Barbara is I always stretch my mind as well as my body. She engages your imagination making lots of space internally where you can heal yourself. Barbara is one of the kindest people I know. That, combined with her decades of experience, is an amazing combination! She is a born teacher, helping you to learn to experience your body from the inside out. No judgment, only kindness and encouragement. Inspiring!
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“Barbara has given me a weekly massage for years. Her work has allowed me to function and to manage the pain of Fibromyalgia. She generously assists me, both in body and in mind, to lead a happy, fulfilling life. She is a talented masseuse with ‘good hands’ and a good heart. ”
“It’s rare to come across someone with Barbara’s experience, understanding of bodies, knowledge of so many techniques, and intuition. Barbara is a natural healer. I am a yoga teacher and an athlete and I’ve had many years of using my body and pushing limits. I’m extremely picky about who works on me and about who I recommend to others. Barbara is my top choice when anything feels out of alignment in my body. When Barbara works on me, I feel like she is communicating with my body on a deep level. She quickly figures out how to best help me and then she has many tools to address whatever needs attention.
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