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This is the site of Stress-vrij, the Body Stress Release (BSR) practice of Caroline aan de Stegge and Annette Vermeulen. On this site you can find information about:
English web-sites: Member of the Body Stress Release Association of the Netherlands and South Africa Info Practice The practice Stress-vrij is located in Weesp near Amsterdam and easy to get to by car or public transport (see routedescription car and public transport). You can park on the free parking lot of the Theetuin of Weesp BSR-practitioners: Annette Vermeulen and Caroline aan de Stegge. Address practice: Ossenmarkt 42a 1381 LX Weesp A visit is always by appointment. Please leave a message in case the phone is not answered.
PS! It is possible to change an appointment 24 hours in advance; after that the costs have to be payed. Opening hours:
Start up With BSR a process of ‘reorganisation' of muscle tone is started and the body's self healing capacity will start restoring previously suppressed areas; In order to be effective this process will be facilitated by the BSR-practitioner during at least 3 sessions. Years of experience has proven that the sequence of 1st, 4th and 11th day is highly effective. Depending on the clients progress, the 11th day will be moved forward. If the client makes an appointment for the first time, his/her startup days can be:
The first visit will take about 40 minutes, the follow-ups will take about 30 minutes. During the releases you'll stay fully clothed. About Body Stress Release To download and print: brochure Topics:
BSR assists the body in its in-built ability to maintain and heal itself by releasing stored tensions. In our daily lives we are constantly subjected to various forms of stress on physical, emotional and mental level. A certain amount of stress is necessary to provide us with challenges and to stimulate us to strive for survival and progress. A stress overload however will result in ‘locked in' muscle tensions which suppresses our nervous-system. As a result of this suppression any of the body's functions can be affected negatively. Some examples:
Body Stress Release activates the self-healing ability of the body. The body has mechanisms that constantly monitor every function that is taking place, and is continuously adapting to both external influences and stresses, and to internal changes and stresses. It is capable of healing wounds and fractures, counteracting harmful chemicals, adapting to sudden changes in temperature, etc. STRESS OVERLOAD Stress becomes a negative, destructive factor in life when it goes beyond the individual's ability to adapt to it. When the point of stress overload is reached, instead of the stress being released from the body, it becomes stored within the body, as ‘body stress'. As we differ in our emotional and physical makeup, we have varying degrees of susceptibility to stress overload.
THE CAUSES OF BODY STRESS Emotional/mental stress factors These include fear of the future, financial worries, competition in the work-place, disintegrating family relationships. At times we experience sudden violent emotions, such as anger or shock, or we undergo milder but ongoing forms of mental strain, eg. anxiety, depression, resentment. We may become aware of the physical effect of emotional pressures, as the diaphragm, jaw, neck and shoulders tighten in a defensive posture, to armour us against the onslaught of life's stresses. Mechanical stress factors The body is designed to withstand a certain amount of physical force-bumps, jerks and falls, but if the mechanical stress goes beyond the body's limit of the adaptability, the effects may become stored as body stress. The causes may be sudden and violent, such as a car accident, a severe fall, or lifting a heavy object incorrectly. Or, there may be a gradual accumulation of milder mechanical stress, eg. habitually sitting incorrectly, or doing inappropriate exercises. Chemical stress factors The sources of chemical stress include pollutants in the air, insecticides and certain food additives and preservatives. Harmful chemicals may be consumed, inhaled, or even absorbed when contacting the skin. THE EFFECTS OF BODY STRESS When the point of stress overload is reached, the stress becomes ‘locked' into the body and manifests as lines of tension.The body adapts a protective mode of action by means of automatic reflexes, causing adjacent and overlying muscles to splint the area. It appears that this action has a dampening effect on the nervous system, thereby causing the brain's filtering mechanism to ignore the areas of body stress. As a result it is also possible for body stress to be present without the individual feeling any pain or stiffness. In time as the body is required to take greater defensive action, stiffness may become noticeable, ultimately leading to postural distortions. It may also lead to loss of flexibility, pain, or numbness. A person with body stress may also feel tense, tired, and lacking in energy and enthusiasm for life. Headaches, backache and indigestion may follow. While the stress or tension remains stored in the body, the normal tone of the body is disturbed, causing a reduction in its general efficiency. As its defence mechanisms become weakened, the body becomes less and less able to deal with further stresses to which it is subjected daily. In this way the individual moves increasingly further away from the optimum state of health. BSR - TECHNIQUE This technique is designed to help the body release its stored tensions. With the person fully clothed and lying down, the practitioner carries out a series of tests to locate the exact sites of the body stress, and determine the precise directions in which the lines of tension exist. This is done by applying light pressure to various points on the body, and observing the response. In this way, the body acts as a biofeedback mechanism, supplying the information required. The practitioner then applies stimuli, by means of light but definite pressure, in the exact directions necessary to encourage the body to release the stored tension. If the body stress has occurred recently, the process of releasing it is usually very rapid (3 consults). However, if the stress has been stored for a long time, the stress releases may have to be carried out a number of times, over a period. This is because the tight, protective layers of the muscles tend to relax by degrees back to their normal tone. WHO NEEDS BODY STRESS RELEASE? Body Stress Release is for everyone, from infants to the elderly. As we are all subjected to the stresses of living, we all tend to accumulate stored tension, with the resultant decline in the body's efficiency. Even babies may have body stress after a difficult birth. Therefore, everyone's quality of life may be enhanced, by being assessed for body stress and having it released from time to time. |