Bodywork
Lisa Benson
Neko Kelly
Lisa Benson
831.335.4235
lisa@thelaughingphoenix.com
www.thelaughingphoenix.com
Schedule an appointment
Tao Te Practitioner
Light-touch Somatic Bodywork
"The gentlest thing in the world
overcomes the hardest thing in the world."
– Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Bodywork is a light-touch therapy that supports the exploration of the relationship between emotional, physical and spiritual states. This process allows the body to unwind and release old injuries, negative thought patterns, trauma and stress. The release of pain, stored emotions and stress allows the body to innately restore healthy Qi (vital energy) flow. When Qi flows freely, health, peace and clarity are manifest.
"He who defines himself
can't know who he really is."
– Lao Tzu
Individuals with the following experiences tend to respond well to Tao Te Bodywork:
Someone who is considered "sensitive"
Old injuries that have never completely healed—car accidents, sports injuries, etc.
Stress
Chronic pain
Ready to make life changes
Explored many healing modalities, with little to no change in emotional or physical condition
Tao Te Bodywork focuses on allowing you to be exactly as you are in the present moment. Recognizing current emotional and physical states means no longer resisting yourself. This recognition creates an opening for change.
"Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place."
– Lao Tzu
A Tao Te Practitioner creates a place of support and spaciousness. In a typical session, you will relax on a massage table, wearing comfortable clothing. The Tao Te Practitioner, with your permission, supports you by physically and gently holding an area of the body, such as a hand or a foot. This physical contact brings attention to the inter-relational process between your awareness, your body and your environment and/or life. This uncommon experience presents a unique opportunity for reflection and self-inquiry that leads to the release of stagnant energy/Qi, emotions and injuries.
"Act without doing."
– Lao Tzu
The Tao Te Practitioner does not attempt to fix or heal a client during the session. In fact, the practitioner practices 'not doing' during the session. Creating a time and safe place for self-inquiry allows your innate body wisdom to bring about healing. Any given session may differ from a previous one. Your body may choose deep reflection, laughter, soul-searching conversation or light dozing.
"Let your workings remain a mystery.
Just show people the results."
– Lao Tzu
Testimonials
Lisa's work has a calm and tangible spaciousness. But in that emptiness, I have come face to face with, and released, anger, fear, grief and deep fatigue that resided in my body. Lisa holds the space (and my body) in such a way that I can surrender into a journey of reclaiming that which I have been in resistance to in myself.
Robert
I have found great joy working with Lisa over the past year. I've gained a heightened awareness of past experiences and how they have impacted my body mechanics. I now enjoy a greater sense of emotional and physical balance, and a much better mind-body connection. The perpetual "buzz" running through my body is beginning to calm. Thanks Lisa!
Nanette
Lisa has fine sensitivity, a true heart, deep compassion, quick understanding and a great sense of humor. These make her a wonderful companion and guide on my healing journey.
Ariana Newcomer
Outside, Lisa sits calmly, intently with tender hands on my person. Inside, I experience all manner of body jitters, temperature rushes, heart palpitations and head raptures! All being the confluence of physical/psychic woes witnessed but now finally released! At the end of the hour, Lisa says, "Wow what a ride!", yet knows all too well that the ride was mine alone to have. Lisa's caring presence pulls my focus up and in but my awareness alone lets healing be.
Brendan Ramsden
Tao Te Bodywork has been a powerful healing force in my life. I have noticed deeper clarity and calmness, I'm better able to concentrate, and I am more stable emotionally since I've begun working with Lisa. Tao Te gives many of the benefits that talking therapies 'say' they do. When I go to counseling I leave feeling I know more about my emotional and mental wounds, but not necessarily that they're better. With Tao Te work, I feel old wounds begin to move out of my body, leaving room for newer, healthier patterns in my life.
Laura Bishop
Practitioner, Luminous Body Energy Work
and Owner of Peregrine Strategies Consulting
Before coming to Lisa for Tao Te I had high levels of stress, anxiety and adrenal burnout. In Lisa's sessions I go into a deep state of relaxation. This has greatly improved my day-to-day life. I feel a greater sense of calm and wellbeing.
Lisa Lemuechi
Massage Therapist
After a session with Lisa, I feel so balanced and grounded both physically and emotionally. I feel peaceful, relaxed and completely centered. My body and spirit feel replenished & restored. I have been seeing Lisa weekly for well over a year now, and the healing and balancing affects of our sessions together have helped me to move more easily through a particularly challenging time in my life. Lisa is a joy to work with and I am grateful to have her in my life.
Alison
When I first met Lisa, I connected with her energy and sense of humor. I had no idea what to expect from Tao Te when I started working with her. During the first session my legs started to tingle as if they had been asleep and I was starting to move them. I really believe I actually was waking up the cells in my legs. All my Tao Te sessions with Lisa were phenomenal.
Maureen
Lisa's calm presence has stood by me as I've walked through the transitions I've needed to make to get to my current state of health. Her insight and humor have eased some rocky times; providing me perspective and faith in my own healing.
Ilana King
About Lisa Benson
Lisa Benson is a certified Tao Te Practitioner, having completed the intensive year-long training program at the Tao of the Body Institute. Tao Te Bodywork is a natural extension of Lisa's Feng Shui Consulting practice. Both Feng Shui and Tao Te support people while transforming their relationship between awareness, the physical body, and environment. Feng Shui works with the inter-relationship between the interior state of being and the external environment. Tao Te Bodywork starts with internal awareness and as Qi flows your life transforms.
Lisa has been actively helping people transform their lives since 2001. Certified in Tibetan Black Hat Feng Shui, she is a disciple and ongoing student of H.H. Professor Thomas Lin Yun Rinpoche. She is a graduate of The Accelerated Path™ Feng Shui and the Chakra Energy System Consultant Training Program originated by Nancy Santo Pietro, author of "Feng Shui and Health The Anatomy of a Home." The focus of the Accelerated Path Program is the relationship between environment/home and health.
Listening, intuition and presence are primary elements of Tao Te Bodywork. Lisa mentored extensively with Nancy Rosanoff, PhD, host of the television show, "The Listening Place" and author of "Intuition Workout" and "Knowing When It's Right."
Lisa brings to her Tao Te Bodywork practice the ability to meet her clients in a rather unusual range of life experiences. She's been a competitive figure skater, the manager of a multi-million dollar financial services company, a member of a family of highly successful and unconventional entrepreneurs, and is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. With a wildly colorful set of life experiences like these, Lisa finds herself in a unique position to understand life situations that encompass psychological, business/financial, family, visual, and health issues. Lisa brings not only honor, but humor to the process of healing and change.
Tao Te Pricing/Scheduling
To schedule a Tao Te Session please call – (831) 335.4235 or
click here.
Tao Te Session – $45 per session
One hour session as appointment times are available.
Tao Te – 3 Month Package – $40 per session
Deep, rapid change is more likely to occur when a client has weekly sessions. Client receives a session discount when you commit to a recurring weekly time slot for a three month period. Ex. Mondays at 11AM for March, April and May. To maintain the discounted rate and time slot, the client is limited to two cancellations during the three month period.
Scheduling Suggestion
It is recommended that a client allow themselves 10-15 minutes after a session to take a walk or sit. This time allows the body a chance to integrate the changes discovered during the session.
Referral Program
Referrals are always greatly appreciated! As a thank you I offer a free session when one of your referrals signs up for the Tao Te – 3 Month Package.
Appointment Cancellation Policy
If a client is unable to attend a scheduled appointment, please give me the courtesy of a call at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time. This allows me to offer the appointment time to someone else. Appointments may be cancelled or rescheduled during regular business hours. Appointments changed with less than 24 hours notice will be charged the full session fee.
Appointment No-Show Policy
Missed appointments will be charged the full session fee.
Payment
Payment is due at the time of service either by cash or check. Payment to be placed in the white mailbox in the Cedar Street Clinic lobby. Thank you in advance!
Primary Healthcare Support
Maureen H. Rozenn, LAC, DAOM, PhD (c), Aimée Gould Shunney, ND and Leigh-Anne Fraley, ND offer primary health care at the Clinic, including both conventional and non-conventional lab tests, herbal and some pharmaceutical prescriptions, as well as annual exams.
Links
Tao Te Bodywork is a melding of the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching and a Chinese Light-touch healing method named Yin Tui Na. Both Yin Tui Na and the Tao Te Ching have been helping people find peace and awareness for over 2000 years. For more information:
Quotes from Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching Translated by Stephen Mitchell
Reflexology, Foot Massage, Energy Balancing
Become grounded and energetically balanced from the feet up. Through
detailed attention to each foot it is possible for your:
-
Feet to Soften
-
Legs and Hips to Relax
-
Spine to Straighten
-
Neck to Lengthen
-
Thoughts to Quiet
Drift to sleep during this gentle experience. Move through the
remainder of your day feeling grounded and mellow, yet invigorated.
Enjoy a series of sessions and expand this feeling into a lasting
state.
How would your life change if you allowed yourself a chance
to do nothing?
Click here to schedule an appointment
Neko Kelly C.M.T., Ls.T.
831.566.9974
besthealinghands@aol.com
www.healinghandsbodywork.net
My bodywork education began in 1981 with the study of martial arts.
My Sensei (teacher) instructed me not only in martial technique,
but also in traditional Japanese massage to heal injuries. Today,
in addition to stress reduction, a large part of my practice consists
of helping people heal from acute and chronic injuries.
My bodywork modalities include:
Swedish/Esalen Massage
Esalen massage is a culmination of many styles, and 30 years of
massage influence at the Esalen Institute. This is a flowing style
that blends classical Swedish massage, long strokes, nurturing compassion,
and flowing movements. These techniques aid in healing, relieve
stress, anxiety and pain, and leave the client with a sense of over
all well being.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue massage is a technique that focuses on the deeper layers
of muscle tissue. It aims to release chronic patterns of tension
in the body. This is achieved through slow strokes and deep finger
pressure on the contracted areas, either following or going across
the fibers of the muscles, tendons and fascia.
La Stone Therapy
La Stone Therapy is the application during a massage of heated
stones. Warm Jade and Basalt stones are used to balance and rejuvenate.
Marble stones are used for a deep penetrating effect. Used together
they increase circulation, thereby reducing pain and creating a
deep feeling of calm.
Sports Massage
The main purpose of sports massage therapy is to alleviate the stress
and tension which builds up in the body's soft tissues during physical
activity. This type of massage can help prepare an athlete for peak
performance, drain away fatigue, reduce swelling, relieve muscle
tension and promote flexibility. Sports massage can help prevent those nagging
injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement,
whether a person is a professional athlete or a once a week jogger.
Movement Education
My style of movement education incorporates biomechanics, massage
therapy and Feldenkrais techniques. This technique alleviates pain
and discomfort, helps break old habits, and improves body mechanics,
strength, flexibility and well being.
I continue my study of the healing & martial arts to this day.
Through incorporating all of my skills, I am able to tailor each
session to the needs of my clients.
Links
