Body therapy

The term Body therapy includes various treatment techniques designed to improve posture. Movement sequences can also be improved with the methods of body therapy. Which techniques are used exactly differs depending on the body therapy school.

What is body therapy?

The job title of body therapist and the term body therapy are not protected in Germany. Body therapy as a method of self-awareness is also not subject to any restrictions on practice.

The situation is different when body therapy is used to heal and / or alleviate diseases. In this case, body therapy is reserved for non-medical practitioners, doctors, psychological psychotherapists and child and adolescent psychotherapists. Since the term body therapy is not protected, there is no unanimous opinion as to which procedure is really to be assigned to body therapy and which is not. What is common to all methods is that they aim to improve posture and movement sequences.

Function, effect & goals

One method of body therapy is acupressure. It is a holistic therapy method that comes from traditional Chinese medicine. Through the blunt pressure on certain acupressure points, the life energy, the Qi, should be brought into flow.

The same applies to the acupuncture massage according to Penzel. It is based on acupuncture, but does not use needles, but a small metal rod to stimulate the acupuncture points. The therapist strokes with the metal stick over so-called acupuncture meridians or stimulates individual points directly. The procedure is mainly used in pain therapy or for diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The Alexander Technique is also a body therapy. She mainly focuses on poor posture. These usually show up as tension, pain or functional restrictions. The aim of the technique is for those affected to perceive habits that negatively affect their posture and neuromuscular coordination. The Alexander Technique is often used by musicians, actors, singers or dancers. The Feldenkrais method is similar to the Alexander Technique.

According to the founder, Moshé Feldenkrais, the method should reduce pain so that movements are easier. The focus of the Feldenkrais method is on everyday movement patterns. With the help of the method, patients should be able to perceive these movement sequences more consciously. Disadvantageous patterns should be solved and replaced with better alternatives. The Feldenkrais method is mainly used after injuries in rehabilitation and for pain caused by poor posture. Similar to the Alexander Technique, the Feldenkrais Method is also popular with musicians, dancers and athletes.

Another holistic form of body work is the Esalen massage. It was developed in California in the 1960s and is based on a Swedish form of massage. The Esalen massage is a full body massage that consists of various strokes, passive joint movements and deep tissue work. The Esalen massage is intended to train the patient's body awareness and bring about a harmonious balance. In this way, both physical and energetic blockages should be released.

The procedure is said to be particularly suitable for people with chronic neck and back pain. The Esalen massage is also indicated for migraines and headaches of other origins. Jin Shin Jyutsu is a more esoteric form of body therapy. It should serve to harmonize Qi, the life energy, and is based on different finger positions (mudras) and healing currents. The aim of Jin Shin Jyutsu is to help the organism to heal itself. An offshoot of Jin Shin Jyutsu is Japanese healing currents.

A complementary medical method is Rolfing, which was developed by Ida Rolf. The focus of treatment in Rolfing is on the fascia network. According to Ida Rolf, the connective tissue and especially the fascia play an important role in posture. The fasciae can strengthen or even harden due to incorrect stress, accidents or injuries. Such hardening should then lead to the fixation of incorrect postures and thus to restricted mobility. Qi Gong, Chinese therapeutic gymnastics and Tai Chi, meditative forms of movement, are also part of the body therapies.

With the rose method, gentle and careful touching should enable deep relaxation and access to hidden feelings. The founder of the method assumed that chronic muscle tension can also be emotional. The muscles are supposed to be supported in relaxation by releasing hidden feelings. The method is based on an assumed interaction between soul and body. Postural integration according to Jack Painter is a combination of different body therapies.

The method is based on elements from Rolfing, a connective tissue massage, breath work as well as methods from body psychotherapy and gestalt therapy. Jack Painter also assumes that all mental, spiritual and physical processes are interconnected. Other well-known methods of body therapy are structural body work (SKT), the Trager method, terlusollogy, TRE exercises, rebalancing, kinesthetics, running therapy or even breathing therapy.

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Risks, side effects & dangers

The effectiveness of most body therapies has not been scientifically proven, or only insufficiently. Despite this lack of proof of effectiveness and the accusation of placebo, some procedures are taken over by the health insurance companies.

Many of the body therapies have existed for decades and some of them have been very successful. At a time when medicine is often highly technological and rarely human, more and more people are preferring alternative healing methods such as body therapy. This carries the risk that serious illnesses will simply be overlooked. In case of doubt, a doctor should be consulted if the symptoms do not improve despite body therapy. A doctor should also be consulted before the body therapy if symptoms are unclear or have appeared for the first time.