The bones of our ancestors and the ancestors of our indigenous neighbors, plants, animals are our soil, their breath is our air, their blood-our water, their spirits-the fire that keeps us warm and brought us life. Through the body we are in, we are connected to the Earth, to this world, we are a part of this whole. We are not alone. We are in constant evolving relationship with the seen and unseen, with belonging on earth. Our bodies feel the personal, communal and earthly loss, pains and griefs. They also feel the personal, communal and earthly love, joys and gratitudes. Our bodies are the short-term physical foundations of our souls, relationships, memories and wisdoms. They are not just the vessel; they are our expression and our existence.
In this Somatic bodywork practice, your participation is not as an individual, but as a web of connections. Your ailments and healing are connected to your environment, your ancestry, the people around you, the plants, animals, mountains, technologies, water-bodies you live with. My (mars Eskina) ability to support you comes from my web of relations as well; my community of living, lived and spirit beings. It comes from my relationships and moves through relationship. Trust, consent and nervous system care are essential in body work because they build the relationship through which the hands-on techniques have an impact.
Somatic Body work – Done on a massage table with a mix of modalities that are aligned for the care you are seeking. This can be a clothed or unclothed and sheet draped massage. The modalities utilized are Myofascial Release, Swedish, Shiatsu, and graceful deep tissue.
Tul ‘ix Abdominal work– This massage is focused on the abdomen, lower back, sacrum and tailbone. This gentle yet powerful work is from the Masawal Maya of the Yucatan region and is supportive for uterus, bladder, digestive organs as well as emotional and spiritual healing. It offers a way to re/connect with your internal body wisdom and supports your organs in moving into their optimal places.
Touch optional somatic work– A session that centers connection with the body and care for the experiences that have left us feeling unsafe or unable to connect with our bodies. Through the tools of somatic experiencing and imagination these sessions are supportive for reclaiming boundaries, gaining access to personal desires, sensing and practicing consent, and re-membering + regaining trust with body.
Shiatsu – Meridian based Acu-pressure massage. It is done fully clothed, includes stretches, holds, and pressure along meridians. It utilizes the framework, or map, of 5 Element-based Traditional Chinese Medicine. This work intentionally considers and impacts the energetic, emotional and physical bodies.
Myofascial Release – Slow technique utilized without oil, either directly on skin or through clothing, targeting fascia, a connective tissue that wraps and weaves around the entire internal body. Like a casing, it holds the muscles, tendons, organs within it; it says lubricated and alive with water and mobility. When there is injury, tightness, repetitive movement, fascia can be restricting movement or causing pain in various parts of the body. This techniques done overtime can support structural change in the body.
Graceful Deep Tissue – This form of touch and connection aims to accesses deeper tissue that is often covered fully or partially by other connective tissue. By listening to the body, moving with patience and going to deeper layers when the body welcomes and trusts the touch is how graceful deep tissue works. This technique can have long-term pain relief.
Cupping – Using a plastic cupping set, we create anti-pressure on points of tension, pain, scarring or meridians to release soreness, pain, adhesions and bring ailments from the depths up to the surface so they can move up and out of the body. It is non-invasive and leaves marks that take time to disappear. Cupping is especially supportive during acute back pain (ex: stiff neck, sharp back pain and immobility).
Swedish Massage – Techniques performed on the skin, mostly with oil, that intend for relaxation and short-term pain relief. Commonly used in Spa’s and what many people think is “a regular massage.”
Listening – A form of connective touch that does not intend to change anything, but to meet you exactly as you are. To listen to what the body (energy, emotional, physical) is saying, screaming, singing, whispering.