Formal Qualifications

Gentling Way Practitioner

• Healing the Wounded Healer
• Healing from C-Section
• Living Ligaments I
• Master Coach of Neuro-Linguistic Programming 2022
• Master Practitioner Time Line Therapy 2022
• Hypnotherapy Certification 2021
• Adv Diploma Tradition Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture  2009
• Diploma of Remedial Massage  2009
• Certification Cosmetic Acupuncture & Advanced Cosmetic Acupuncture 2009
• Certificate of Manaka Style Acupuncture 2012
• Diploma of Bowen Therapy (Bowtec)  2004
• Emmett Technique Modules 1-4 2004/2005
• Cranio-Sacral Therapy Level I & II (Upledger Institute) 2000
• Reiki 1994
• Certificate of Professional Massage & Bodywork 1995
• Accredited Life Coach 1998
• Bachelor of Design 1989

My Story

I had a chronic and debilitating illness as a child that was severe and lasted for years. The Doctors as the hospital told my mother I was going to die from it. 

My Mum was desperate to not let this happen and after trying all allopathic medicine had to offer with no results, took me to see a Doctor of Osteopathy, who was new in town and who said he thought he could help.  He fixed me in just three months with a strict diet (a hybrid of GAPS & Paleo) and treatment every three days.  While he was treating me, he told me stories of his experiences with the American Indians out on their reservations (he was from Canada) – I now know he was working on healing my Spirit as much as my body.  He had to convince a seven year old child to choose life.

After I was well, and a few years older, my Mum revealed to me that my Osteopath had had a vision in Canada that he had to come to Adelaide to save two peoples’ lives, and I was one of them.  After he did that job, he left to go and work in India healing the sick.

This profound experience has led to a lifetime interested in natural health and healing and the study and practice of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine was the path I chose to help as many people as I could.

Why I became a Gentling Way Practitioner

Twenty years ago when I had my son I wanted to have a natural delivery but things did not go as planned.  Both timing (Christmas day) and my own naivety (my first pregnancy) conspired against me and I ended up having to have a C-Section after 3 days of labour.  As if this was not bad enough my anesthetic stopped working half way through the surgery and they were unable to stop and top it up or I would have died.  The trauma of this experience and the resulting scarring both physical, mental and emotional have taken me on a twenty-year journey to learn how to repair myself, while still helping others and being a Mum.

Of course I eventually found Heather Bruce and after experiencing her treatments, studying and training with her over the past 6 years I have had some deep healing as a result.

When she put together Living Ligaments and what she knew about pelvic repair, health and healing, I knew I wanted to be able to offer this to women who have experienced birth trauma and its’ resulting difficulties.

Formal Qualifications 

·        Boulder College of Massage Therapy Certified 2004

·        CIYT Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher 2015

·        Certified Quantum Healing Practitioner 2020

Trainings in various massage modalities including:

• Myofascial Release from a Hellerwork Perspective: Upper and Lower extremities
• Usui Shiki Reiki
• Maya Abdominal Therapy with Rosita Arvigo in the jungles of Belize – Certification, Prenatal, labor, and postpartum massage & Spiritual Healing
• Birth doula
• CranioSacral Therapy (Upledger Institute)
• Lymphatic Drainage (Upledger Institute)
• Visceral Manipulation (Barral Institute)- Visceral Listening (Ursula Popp)
• Transpersonal Hypnotherapist 2018
• Quantum Healing Practitioner 2021

Thea’s Story

As a young woman I suffered from painful periods, migraines, and chronic low back pain resulting from a car accident at the age of 11 which caused severe damage to my spine, face, and teeth. The subsequent “treatments” that I was subjected to by modern medicine and dentistry did little to improve the situation and, in fact, likely made things worse. I pursued (and became skilled in) so-called alternative therapies – massage, yoga, and energy healing. All of these were effective and helpful in their own way.  But it was the teachings of Rosita Arvigo, Nicole Gayle, and Heather Bruce that have helped to crystalize these various practices into an integrated whole.

What I have discovered is we are not purely a physical body. We are multidimensional beings and can access unlimited amounts of healing in this very moment.

I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and proud owner of Solar Womb. My mission is to help women awaken to the True Power of their wombs (whether you have your physical womb or not).

Self-care starts with body literacy. Body literacy is the first step to having control over your own health and wellness. This requires a basic understanding of female reproductive anatomy and uterine positions (signs, symptoms, and causes of a displaced uterus). Structure determines function and the flows (venous, arterial, nervous, lymph, and Qi) must flow if you want to obtain optimal health. I teach these basics, as well as sacred tools such as abdominal massage, pelvic steaming, castor oil packs, and yoga therapy. Once blockages are removed and the body is provided with proper ingredients, it can start to heal itself.

Beyond the physical, the womb is a potent source of creation. I help my clients create a new consciousness within their womb in order to transcend the traumas or limitations of the past. My wish is for every woman to connect to the sovereign power that resides within their womb (or the energy that remains there). My offerings – Quantum Healing, Solar Activations, and Inner Masculine Alchemy – all provide ways to tap into that power.

I offer my services both in-person and online. Find me at theasatrom.simplybook.me to schedule an individual session or package of sessions. Have questions? Not sure where to start? Book a free initial consultation.

Why I chose the Gentling Way 

Since recently meeting Heather, I am motivated to take my health fully into my hands to come into complete sovereignty. The Gentling way is like a beautiful lotus opening, providing the care my body has craved this entire lifetime. Once I get the toxicity out, and the right ingredients in, it can blossom. Simple. I look forward to doing the selfing techniques as they provide clarity, care and release and touch on places and spaces that have been in darkness are now coming to light. Heather is an absolute wealth of knowledge around the traditional wise woman ways that have been lost. It is common sense and needs to be remembered and applied. I cannot express the relief and gratitude I feel having found her, as I return to what wise women (including my own inner knowing) have always known. Her courses are thorough and can be done at your own speed. There’s so much to learn including pulling the cold out, moxa, castor oil packs, scar tissue care, abdominal massage, gua sha and bringing proper minerals like magnesium and iodine into the body so it can function optimally. Thank you, Heather, for all you do to make this world and our bodies a better place. 

Gentling Way Practitioners

Find your local practitioner here

Formal Qualifications

• Bachelor’s of Arts Degree 1999
• Certified in Massage Therapy 2000
• Currently State Licensed in Massage Therapy

Trainings in various massage modalities including:

• Maya abdominal massage through the teachings of Dr. Rosita Arvigo DN- Prenatal, labor, and postpartum massage (Carol Osborne-Sheets, Michelle Kolakowski, Shoshana Halpern)- Birth doula (D.O.N.A.)- CranioSacral Therapy (Upledger Institute)
• Visceral Manipulation (Barral Institute)- Women’s home herbalism (Living Awareness Institute, Kami McBride)
• Infant massage
• Zen Shiatsu- Energy therapy/traditional healing apprenticeships
• Intelligent deep tissue/neuromuscular therapies
• European cupping (Julia Graves, ND, herbalist)- Medicupping (ACE Cupping, Anita J. Shannon)
• Abdominal massage (Regeneration Springs, Donna Caire LMT)- The Spurgeon Method of Breast MassageTM (Sally Spurgeon, LMT)- Flower Essence Foundations (Mind Is Body, Loey Colebeck)
• Biodynamic Pelvic Hydrotherapy (Lisa Kelly)- Orthobionomy; Chapman’s Reflexes

My Story (as I currently see it!)

I came to this work as a survivor turned thrivor of a two decades adventure of living with chronic debilitating female pain.

My cycles started at age 11 and kicked off with a bang: severe cramps, nausea, and an overwhelming nervous system awareness that something was terribly wrong. 

Every month it continued, worsening.
By my mid teens I had experienced hospitalization from ovarian cysts rupturing, and exploratory surgery that was inconclusive.

I had been told by my first gynecologist that my tissues felt ‘menopausal’. 

By the end of my teen years I had tried a variety of medications to control my cycles, pain, and the emotional dysregulation/depression I felt from having trauma for a week every month.

I worked hard to maintain a ‘normal’ life, but my joy was gone. 
I was young, scared, and warrioring hard to just get through and understand why me, why this, why now, and what did I do wrong to deserve this?

In my 20’s the female pain diversified into other organ systems. 
I left western medical approaches and sought alternative options. 
I worked with acupuncture, herbalism, and energy therapies.  I began to look inward. 
All I knew was that these alternative things helped, but I would regress or plateau short of the distance I needed to feel better.
I had not yet found my personal keystone… the piece that would make my puzzle come together and make sense.

At the end of my 20’s I reached a turning point: I was headed for an early hysterectomy if I couldn’t change course. I was exhausted. 
One particularly difficult day on my cycle, I lay down in the orchard where I lived, and through exhaustion, obstinancy, and frustration, I changed the prayer I was saying.

I finally got angry enough to say ‘Ok, God, clearly you are not solving this for me. 
So help me learn how to help myself!!’ 
Though I didn’t know it at the time, this was my first step into taking accountability for my own health. 
That week, three people reached out from the blue to ask if I’d heard about maya abdominal massage.
My prayer had been heard.  Spirit had sent an answer.

I launched body and soul into learning about my womb from the angle of sacredness, instead of symptomatology and dysfunction. 
I worked hard at my self care activities…  learning how to palpate my own belly and observing acutely what happened internally when I moved, during certain activities, and massaged my womb myself. 
I acted as though my life depended on it… because, in a way, it did.  I immersed into the teachings of Dr. Rosita Arvigo, DN with a passion to understand my painful experiences and how to heal forward.  

When my womb finally came into a wellness alignment… out of the pretzel position it had been sitting in for ages (it was folded in half, upside down, retroverted to the back of my body, and twisted off to the left behind my descending colon – yes, they really can do this kind of yoga!)
I felt a fundamental shift immediately! 
I felt joy again. I felt light again.

There was hope in the world, and my energy to my pelvis began flowing. 
I noticed after that shift, that all the other modalities I had spent years working with (acupuncture, herbs, energetic healing) finally began to deliver their full impacts to my body, mind, and spirit.
Because they could finally reach the womb!! 
I made swift progress in reversing out of the organ dysfunctions, and I began to actually build vitality.
Like a boat that weathers storms, I began to move through each menstrual cycle wave with more and more steadiness.
I had finally found my key!!  

My work with myself led to working with women in a clinical setting through massage therapy. 
My work with massage clients led to teaching students from beginners and mothers and to doctors, nurses, acupuncturists, and other professionals about womb self care and self massage.
On behalf of Dr. Rosita’s teachings, I travelled throughout the US, to Mexico, and to Australia to teach what I’d learned to help women. 

… And then my life changed for personal reasons, and I began a new cycle.

Why I became a Gentling Way Practitioner:

My 40’s have been about slowing down and re envisioning the work I do to assist women in their wellbeing. 

I found Heather during the pandemic, and recognized immediately that her integration of traditional healing ways was my next step.   
I see that her work primarily does three things: 

• changing our relationship to our body to be loving and kind
• teaching gentle self activities and self awareness for personal healing
• and through her practitioners, addresses the common underlying physical and energetic imbalances that generate female dysfunction.

I see my work with Heather as a wonderful next step into a more expansive understanding of how to help women help themselves
…. and in the process, reclaim their joy of being in a female body, and all that embodiment offers.

I am grateful to be on my way as a student once again.

Formal Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of California, Irvine, California – 1988
• Therapeutic Massage Certificate, Institute of Therapeutic Studies, Santa Ana, California – 1992
• Kripalu Yoga Teacher Certificate, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Lenox, Massachusetts – 1996
• CELTA Certificate Teaching English to Adults, Australian Tesol Training Centre, Brisbane, Australia – 2003
• Diploma of Acupuncture, Medicina Alternativa Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka – 2006
• Acupuncture Studies, Australian College of Natural Medicine, Brisbane, Australia – 2007
• Certificate of Advanced Studies in Acupuncture, Guanxi Traditional Chinese Medical University, Nanning, China – 2007
• Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Infant Massage Information Service, Cairns, Australia – 2008

• Shonishin Japanese Pediatric Acupuncture, Workshop with Soma Glick, Brisbane, Australia – 2008
• Modern Day Cupping Workshop, Bruce Bentley, Cairns, Australia – March 2012

The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy

• Certification Training, Belize – March 2013
• Introduction to Spiritual Healing, Belize – March 2013
• Professional Care Training, California – September 2012
• Self Care Training, Australia – May 2012

• Thai Womblifting Baan Hom Samunphrai Chiang Mai, Thailand – May 2019

My story

I first heard of Heather Bruce while I was studying Chinese medicine in Brisbane. I followed her online and resonated with what she had to say. Years later, when we both had become ArvigoÒ Practitioners and Teachers we met in person. I like to joke that we bounded over sperm. I had become increasingly frustrated with the prevailing narrative around women’s health, fertility and birth while I was working in Singapore. Since I had nobody there to discuss this with we started to chat online. I always resonated with the fact that we really need to return to the simple healing tools that grandmothers and wise women held, which is what Heathers work is about.

It really can be that simple!

I learned that myself when in my early twenties I became seriously ill. I was sure I was dying as I spent six months in bed looking down at my body having out of body experiences.

When it became clear that allopathic medicine had no idea what to do with me, I took it upon myself to find another path to healing.
Like any pivotal moment this changed the trajectory of my life.
I started to study massage, yoga, Chinese medicine, etc. in different places around the world.

Abdominal work really resonated with me as I had a profound experience with a Maya healer while working at a yoga retreat in Mexico.
Years later, after I found out I had fibroids, I remembered this work. Realizing that the belly is a microcosm, like the foot in Chinese medicine, I became fascinated with belly work.

Since the belly is our core, our power source, our movement and life force originate from this focal point, it makes sense to start there to attend to our health concerns. I am passionate about empowering my clients with tools to help themselves.

The Gentling Way adds to these tools. It is an essential addition to what I do to empower people to realize they really do have the ability to heal themselves. Sometimes the body just needs a little nudge.

Formal Qualifications:

• Havening Certification 2021 (Currently)
• Meta-Medicine Integrative Health Care Coach with Richard Flook 2009
• Psychosomatic Therapist and Body Mind Analyst with Hermann Muller 2004
• Master Practitioner NLP with Richard Bolstad of Transformations 2000
• Healing Touch for Health L1 2008
• Holistic Pulsing L1 2007
• Vibrational Medicine Science Practitioner Training with Denie Heistand 2001
• Time-Line Therapy Training 1999
• Transforming Communication 1999
• Keys to Success 1999
• Resolve Depression and Anxiety 1999
• Certificate in Adult Education L5 2009

With Heather:

• Pricklies
• Living Ligaments 1 and 2
• Foundational Moves
• Perineal Steaming
• Self-Soothing
• Pelvic Opening
• Gentling Trauma Relief
• Reconnecting Bao and Dai Mai

Heather Bruce’s ‘The Gentling Way’ is a soft and gentle neck, back and abdominal treatment technique. 
Studying with Heather has enabled me to craft long-lasting results for those seeking help.

Pain reduction and healing is achieved through untangling the responses of a body. 
People’s lives are being magically improved with concise treatment plans. 

I offer valuable insight by incorporate The Gentling Way with other healing techniques. 
This is done to ensure the best possible results for my clients. 
Results can be life-changing for people, and results can often be achieved quickly.

My treatments are customised for any individual of any age who wishes to decrease pain and achieve healing as a result of:

• Accidents,
• Injuries,
• Surgery,
• Incident Trauma,
• Physical Stress, and
• Emotional Pain. 

My treatment room is located at 5 Harrod Place, Rangiora, North Canterbury, New Zealand. 

Private appointments are made by contacting me directly – Hilary – 027 222 5652.

Formal Qualifications

• Master of Psychology
• Training with Heather
• Years of voluntary youth work, and voluntary teaching overseas
• Training as  Flinch Lock practitioner

Life Experiences

– Gut issues starting at a very young age, leading into an exploration of how to function and how to put things right. – Childhood anxiety, which possibly not only caused, but was made worse by get issues. The learning to be brave, and not be fearful about trivial matters – or even significant matters! – Deep spiritual connection to God and the earth. Observing nature. – Began life in a religious cult, and developed into a very devout young lady.

Why I follow the Gentling Way

My passion

Gentling Way Practitioner

Keren Donaldson

Formal Qualifications

• Master of Psychology
• Training with Heather
• Years of voluntary youth work, and voluntary teaching overseas
• Training as  Flinch Lock practitioner

Life Experiences

– Gut issues starting at a very young age, leading into an exploration of how to function and how to put things right. – Childhood anxiety, which possibly not only caused, but was made worse by get issues. The learning to be brave, and not be fearful about trivial matters – or even significant matters! – Deep spiritual connection to God and the earth. Observing nature. – Began life in a religious cult, and developed into a very devout young lady.

Why I follow the Gentling Way

My passion

Spiritual freedom – the freedom to question, the freedom to just be and the freedom to live in unconditional love.
Healing of body – able to maintain functional constitution, although remain very sensitive to disruption.
Healing of anxiety – have learned to trust the process of life, through doing things I was afraid of and discovering my own ability to show up.

Formal Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, 1982
• Diploma of Tuina, 2007
• Diploma of Qigong, 2008
• Bachelor of Health Science, Acupuncture, 2009

With Heather:

• Foundational Moves
• Perineal Steaming
• Self-Soothing
• Pelvic Opening
• Living Ligaments 1

Other:

• Holistic Pulsing Foundations, Level 1 & 2, 2005
• Japanese Acupuncture Techniques; Cupping, Bloodletting & Home Therapies, Manaka Protocols, 2008
• Touch for Health 1 & 2, 2008
• 5 Element Approach to Treatment, 2009
• Dr Tan’s Balance Method, 2011
• Manaka Protocols & Specialised Japanese Acupuncture Series, 2011
• Japanese Acupuncture for Psycho-Emotional Problems, 2012
• Kiiko Matsumoto Style Acupuncture, Treating the Tan Tien & Fertility, 2012
• Dr Tan’s Global Balance & Zang Fu Disorders, 2012
• Mastery of Palpation, The Art of Diagnosis + Master Nagano, T. Shimamura & S Hokazono, 2014
• Hands On Treatment with Kiiko Matsumoto & Monika Kobylecka, 2014
• The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy, Level 1 Self Care, 2015
• Foundations of IST + Pain Treatment, Dr Masaaki Nakano, 2016
• Musculoskeletal Mastery & Motor Point Integration, 2018
• Zhu Ming Qing Scalp Acupuncture, 2019
• Korean Hand Acupuncture, 2019
• Kiiko Matsumoto Style Acupuncture, Online Theoretical Essentials, 2020

Acupuncture has been a second half of life career for me.

In the first half, I gave birth naturally to two children. The first time was medically interfered with and by me in terms of my fear. The birth of my second child was amazingly empowered and almost spiritual experience.

When the children were older, I worked in the corporate sector and totally burned myself out and had an inevitable mid-life crisis! This led me to explore different healing modalities and where I stumbled upon acupuncture and was hooked from the first session! Having recently split from my 26-year marriage and at a major crossroads, I threw myself into studying acupuncture.

Having completed my acupuncture degree and diploma’s, I was still not satisfied that I had what I needed to really help people and see lasting results – you can see all the post graduate training I have done!

The Kiiko Matsumoto Style (KMS) of acupuncture is the one I continue to love using. It involves palpating the body and especially the belly for diagnosis and treatment. The client and practitioner both experience seeing and feeling the release of tension or pain on reflex areas after a few needles have been inserted. This method treats the constitution of the person as well as the main complaint. The results are instantaneous – no waiting for a week to find out if the treatment helped!

I have recently been studying and using Heather’s Gentling Way work and have been impressed at how my clients have made significant transformational leaps in their health since including these hands-on methods. They love the massage and the fact that I now use far less needles and in some cases none! The massage moves lymph, Qi, Blood and Damp at a very deep level and has a lasting effect. It also moves stuck emotions and helps people move on emotionally in their lives. I encourage my clients to continue the self-care massage at home to continue supporting the body’s natural healing system.

I live and work in Waikanae, Kapiti Coast, New Zealand. My interests include gym classes, jogging, table tennis, e-biking, yoga, reflecting, meditating, being in nature, spending time with family and grandchildren … and continually learning!

Formal Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Nursing – QUT (1996)
• Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) – 2010

Continuing education:

With Heather:

• Reconnecting the Bao and Dai Mai;
• Gentling Trauma Relief,
• Perineal Steaming,
• Living Ligaments I.

Other:

• Qi Gong Meridian Therapy – Gregory Williams;
• Foundations in Kiiko Matsumoto Style Acupuncture;
• Japanese Meridian Therapy Seminar with Miyawaki Sensei;
• The Wisdom of Master Nagano with Shimamura Sensei;
• Traditional and Modern Cupping with Bruce Bentley;
• Spinning Babies Foundations;
• Reiki Level I.
• Co-presenter of ‘Tools for Natural Birthing’ – a workshop for mum-to-be AND their birth partners.

Herstory:

After allowing an emotionally abusive relationship in my early twenties, as part of which I chose to have two terminations, I experienced a depth of emotional trauma that resulted in the triggering of the autoimmune condition Ankylosing Spondilitis – an arthritis that characteristically effects the sacroiliac joints and spine.

After many years of misdiagnosis, and then limited options for management, I had the awakening that my condition was aggravated, if not caused, by my retroverted uterus creating pressure and anomalies in structures through my sacral area.

For many years I have tried different therapies to correct this, yet nothing truly addressed the problem in a deep enough way that would allow any physical changes to ‘stick’.

Upon finding Heather and her deeply important work, I feel I have finally found the ‘end’ to this story. Heather’s work addresses the emotional as well as physical scarring left from years of inflammation, and gives me a light at the end of this journey.

Coupling Heather’s gentle yet profoundly moving approach with Acupuncture and the other healing modalities I employ has seen wonderful shifts in the way I approach each client, and the deeply satisfying results we are achieving in the clinic.

Freeing and balancing the uterus and pelvis has added a profound depth to the work that I do, and it thrills me to see people hopping off the table feeling freer and more flowing than they have in years.

Structure determines function, and it is my sincere wish that I can help others find the path to healing of body, mind and soul as I have myself – through deep exploration and acceptance of the past, nourishing the body and mind with the right ingredients, and deeply moving body work to help undo the ‘life’ lived.

Clinic

www.blissfulbeingacupuncture.com.au

Banora Point, NSW

0413 672 160