Elke Mastwijk
Alexander Technique and Craniosacral Therapy
Pupils who have suffered severe emotional trauma or who have been inflicted by physical trauma such as (car) accidents, surgery and long term illnesses can feel out of sorts for a long time. Trauma not only influences patterns of use but also creates tension patterns in all the connective tissues of the body, including those inside the skull. This in turn can interfere with the primary control in quite an unexpected way.
In this workshop we will explore knowledge and insights from craniosacral therapy to examine connective tissue pulls. We will take a look at the forces that are at work inside the skull, around the dural tube and the sacrum. After a basic theoretical introduction we will work “hands on” to gain a deeper understanding of how connective tissue pulls can interfere with the primary control.
Elke Mastwijk took her first Alexander lessons at the age of 23. Although she was never in pain herself, as a young child she had witnessed much back trouble in her family and she was curious about methods that could help her prevent it for herself. Three years after her first lesson she trained as an Alexander Teacher. After qualifying from the Alexandertechniek Opleiding Nederland in 1996, she attended a post graduate term at the Constructive Teaching Centre in London. Within 5 years after graduating she was teaching full time in Amsterdam. By then her curiosity had led her to craniosacral therapy and she trained as a craniosacral therapist at the Upledger Institute in The Netherlands. She lives in Amsterdam where she exerts both professions. She works mainly with clients who are recovering from physical and/or emotional trauma. Presently she is studying craniosacral therapy for horses. In her spare time Elke is a passionate belly dancer.
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