Susan Powell, LMT
I graduated from the Academy of Somatic Healing Arts (ASHA) here in Atlanta in 2000 and have been in private practice ever since. ASHA is the southeast's premier Neuromuscular Institute and I was trained extensively and certified in NMT. In school I became very interested in the Integrated Restorative Techniques as taught by Ira Wikel and I continued my training with Ira in the years following graduation. My favorite technique from Ira by far is the Indirect Myofascial Release, where you allow tissues to unwind gently in the way that is easiest for them.
One day in my practice, I had an Aha! Moment as I realized that the less hard I worked (really allowing the tissues to be in ease), the more effective my work became. This realization transformed my practice.
Since then, my work with patients has led me onto a unique path. I have learned and adapted osteopathic techniques from my awesome veterinarian (!) Kim Parker, DVM, who practices osteopathy on small animals. I got an inkling from her about the power of the osteopathic approach - gentle joint mobilizations, visceral manipulation, and cranio-sacral therapy. I learned from her certain visceral techniques to use on my beloved hound dog, Daisy Ray. The techniques were so gentle and so effective, that I began to wonder, "why am I not using this in my practice??" That question let me to study visceral manipulation for human patients.
Visceral (Organ) Manipulation follows the indirect fascial release model of moving tissues into ease. From this technique I picked up the idea of "listening and following" the tissues - a technique I then adapted to the whole body.
I am currently delving deeper into the world of Biodynamic Cranio-sacral Therapy, learning more techniques that allow the body to de-compress, release trauma, and realign with the original embryonic blueprint for our development. The work is fascinating and magical!
Bodywork is a passion for me. My own journey with and through chronic pain has led me to this profession. And nothing is more satisfying to me than to help a person who has begun to believe that s/he must simply live with increasing pain. I truly believe that each year I get better and better, not just mentally or emotionally, but physically as well. At 25 years old, I hurt every day. My upper back and shoulders ached and burned and sapped me of vital energy. Today at 44, pain is a rare occurrence and I know how to listen when my body is trying to use discomfort to communicate with me. I have learned how to listen and follow the cues that the body is giving in order to return to comfort.
And I can help you do it too!