Learn how to manage and minimize musculoskeletal pain and enhance physical and emotional health function at any age.
Overview of
The Wisdom of Point Release – Intelligent Maps of Acupressure & Strain Counterstrain
Joe defines Acupressure as “intelligent myofascial touch along functionally related strings of points” because knowing where one part of the body links with another, both structurally and functionally, allows the clinician and the client to understand and assist the body & mind in restoring homeostasis. This is a highly useful tool for awareness and body-mind connection. People can be taught to better self-manage their areas of accumulated tension/pain and/or their areas of decreased body awareness, by learning appropriate points tailored to their own body patterns and symptoms.
Both Joe and Karel are trained in basic and advanced forms of acupressure and are skilled in setting up home programs and educating clients on how to help themselves better.
Like most PT’s, Joe graduated with significant exposure and training in multiple ways to release Travell’s Trigger Points. This approach was quickly surpassed in effectiveness, by exposure and training in Strain Counterstrain positional release techniques, from the osteopathic manual therapy teachers at MSU Osteopathic school’s continuing education series, which Joe attended for almost a decade. These points link tender points on the front and back of the body with specific segments of the vertebrae, and they not only assist joint release, but they point the way to what muscles need balancing & functional integration. Joe not only learned the technique in those courses but assisted teaching of Strain Counterstrain training to the DO students in ’87. In 1991, Joe had the pleasure of learning Strain Counterstrain from the founder himself, Dr. Lawrence Jones, DO, in a class in East Lansing.
Joe continued his journey in learning point techniques for rehab and was heavily influenced by the effectiveness and accuracy of utilizing a 5-Element model for guiding sessions. He was introduced to this with a form of applied kinesiology called “Applied Physiology“, by Richard Utt, back in 1991. This showed effective methods for seeing correlations between muscles, acupoints, and various short circuits in function, and impressive ways to balance them.
Since then he has combined the two meridian couplets and multi-element teaching of AP with various acupressure models in use today, along with multiple 5 element balancing methods in use today in both acupressure and applied kinesiology models, to reach an even more effective result for specific client-tailored balancing of function. Justin Pomeroy, certified acupuncturist and acupressurist, and respected teacher of acupressure in the Chicago area was a significant contributor to Joe’s education on effective acupoint release, over five separate classes attended.
Joe is well known for introducing a significant number of local physical/occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and many local massage therapists to the value of acupressure in their practices, and many have gone on to pursue further training in acupressure.
Empowering clients to know how to treat their own trigger points and acupoints have been a major thrust of Joe’s work since he first started in the 80’s. Clients learn from both Joe and Karel, specific ways to help themselves with Acupoints, as well as Strain Counterstrain release points, that lead to more effective control of their symptoms in their own homes and facilitate a return to function. These are combined with Feldenkrais Awareness through Movement lessons for an ideal home program (see pages on Feldenkrais).
How can we help?
Sound Body, Sound Brain: Somatic Education Center is and has been a leader in the West Michigan area for training and teaching how the Feldenkrais method can impact health and wellness through movement.