At the end of an Ortho-Bionomy treatment one or two self-care practices/exercises are given to a client to assist the body in integrating the structural changes that happen during the session. Movements shown, and practiced, in a self-care class are built around these many self-care methods.
Self-care exercises are very simple and gentle, so suitable for all body capacities. Explanations for the different movements are given throughout the class.

Attendees at a self-care class are encouraged to notice what is structurally occuring in their body. This allows them to gain a sense of their body and what it most needs. This fosters mindfulness/embodiment. In this world of increasingly expensive medical procedures, many with dangerous side effects, mindfulness has now been well documented as a safe, effective method of optimising health.
Self-care techniques help the body make permanent structural and functional changes in a very comfortable way. After a self-care class people are left with a deep sense of relaxation, as the nervous system shifts from "fight or flight" mode to "rest and restore" mode.

Physical, mental and emotion balance results.
Each self-care class is different, meeting the class needs on the day, but generally having a focus topic. Regular attendees will have a different experience each time.

In 2024 I plan to run self-care classes as a 90 minute practice, on specific Saturday afternoons from 3 till 4.30 pm.

For students in the Ortho-Bionomy Australia training programs a 90 minute self-care class will gain credit as a partial study group, and provide methods useful for working with clients.
For others, it will provide an opportunity to learn and practice gentle effective methods to restore the self-corrective processes within the nervous system, ease pain, create structural balance, increase range of motion, rest the mind, and gain methods to use in your own self-care practice, or even to encourage others.

Phone the clinic on 0411713405, or follow the "Fraser Coast Ortho-Bionomy" Facebook page for details about the next self-care class group.

People choose to study Ortho-Bionomy for a range of reasons:

• Some want to learn how to release pain and tension to help themselves or family and friends.
• Some want to add these gentle manual techniques to their existing counselling, massage, physiotherapy, osteopathy or other healing practice.
• Others want to complete the entire 500 hour course to qualify as Ortho-Bionomy Practitioners.

Regardless of their reasons for learning Ortho-Bionomy, many people find that the added ‘bonus’ is the evolvement of their relationship with their own body, creating possibilities for change and wellbeing that they haven’t experienced before.

Ortho-Bionomy classes offer a unique approach to learning, that provides a trully holistic experience. Rather than lecture-style, students learn the philosophy, principles and techniques of Ortho-Bionomy through discussion, demonstration and practice.
Students work in pairs and practice the techniques so that each person has the opportunity to experience Ortho-Bionomy as both "client" and "practitioner.
They learn ways to work that provide benefits for the "practitioner’s" body as much as the "client’s."

Ortho-Bionomy classes run over 2-3 days.
Cost is $430, with discounts avilable when payment is received 2 weeks prior to class.

From the very first class, Ortho-Bionomy is easily integrated with other modalities. Join a class and learn how.

Phase 6/Engaging with the Aura or Body Schema with Advanced Instructor Bruce Stark and Associate Advanced Instructor Clive Salzer, in Hervey Bay, Qld.

24th and 25th February, 2024, 9 am till 5.30 pm.
Ortho-Bionomy is generally considered to be a body therapy, with the practitioner's hands making a safe and deep connection with the client’s body, awakening nature’s self-corrective reflexes to restore balance and health.
However, Ortho-Bionomy work can interact with more than the physical level.
In Phase 6 Ortho-Bionomy students develop more subtle connection skills in the energetic, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of existence. Arthur Pauls, the founder of Ortho-Bionomy, called this ‘Aura’ work.
In this class students will learn how to:
- Access and track sensation and energetic perception in themselves and in their clients
- Make contact without necessarily engaging physically, and facilitate changes for the client by working "off-the-body"
- Monitor and acknowledge the inter-relationship between energetic, emotional and physical levels
- Experience the ways energetic shifts can affect changes in physical patterns.
This class is required before attending a Residential.
Pre-requisite: Phase 4 Fundamentals.

Phase 4/The Fundamentals of Ortho-Bionomy, in Hervey Bay, Qld.

9th and 10th March, 2024, 9 am till 5.30 pm.
This foundation class covers the history, philosophy and concepts of Ortho-Bionomy and provides an overview of the basic release techniques and anatomy for each major joint in the body.
Movements and positions of comfort are demonstrated to facilitate the release of muscular tension and overall stress by stimulating the inherent, self-corrective reflexes of the body. This helps the body create structural alignment and balance from within.
This class is often considered the "beginner" class, and provides the tools to allow attendees to begin to practice Ortho-Bionomy.
No pre-requisites are required.

Phase 5, Exploring the Reflexes and Fascial Movement Patterns with Advanced Instructor Bruce Stark, in Townsville, Qld.

13th and 14th April, 2024, 9am till 5.30pm.
Phase 5 Ortho-Bionomy is about having a conversation with the tissue. The gentle and subtle approach of this work is especially appropriate for releasing severe, acute pain, chronic patterning, and for interrupting the mental and emotional fixated aspects that reinforce the tension patterns.
The Phase 5 class presents practical, gentle release techniques that can seem almost magical in their effectiveness. Releases for psoas, pelvis, lumbars, coccyx, neck, shoulders, clavicle, ears, eyes, and jaw will be presented and practiced.
In this class students will:
- Refine subtle palpatory listening skills
- Clarify the capacity to more clearly track mental, emotional and physical aspects
- Observe and work with tissue preferences in relationship to structural alignment
- Reinforce the body’s wisdom, not the patient’s story lines
- Detect mood in the tissue
- Use internal state shifts to influence and interrupt habituated story lines and holding patterns.
Pre-requisite: Phase 4 Fundamentals.

Ethics and Emotions 3-hour Study Group: On-line via Zoom

Saturday, 26th October, 2024 1pm till 4pm.
Participants will learn and explore skills for meeting emotional responses that may arise within themselves or their client, during an Ortho-Bionomy session, in an ethical and supportive manner. In addition, we'll discuss the guidelines for professional conduct, how the principles of Ortho-Bionomy can support these, and review Ortho-Bionomy Australia's Code of Ethics.
We'll use role play, discussion and exploration of the ways we can navigate ethical processes.

The total (3) hour attendance will gain students, in the Ortho-Bionomy AUstralia training programs, credit as a study group, equalling (3) training credits in the Practitioner Training Program.
It will also fulfill the alternative Ethics and Emotional Issues (E and E) component for students looking to evolve to Associate Practitioner status, allowing them to then receive the benefits that level of membership provides.
No pre-requisites are required.
The content will provide a valuable learning experience and tools for therapists from all backgrounds.
Cost is $80.

Call 0411 713405 or email orthobionomyonthefrasercoast@gmail.com to register your interest, invite me to teach in your area, or request more class information.