Robert Kropf, PT, CMT Holistic Body Therapies Sometimes the traditional approach to good health doesn’t work. You know it. You’ve even tried a traditional physical therapist, massage therapist, or chiropractor and still haven’t gotten the results you wanted. You are left with the choice to either try something new to replace what you’ve been doing or supplement what you’ve been doing with a new approach. I offer my clients a dynamic, interactive way to heal their bodies in a way that will last! We all have our everyday stresses as well as past traumas that stop us from living the life we want. We cannot keep doing the same things in the same way and expect things to change. The first step is to get off the treadmill of life, slow down, and become aware of what you are doing. I can help you do this through gentle “hands-on” techniques that awaken your body to the real possibility that life can be better, much better. I am often asked how light touch can be so effective when deep tissue work or manipulation hasn’t worked. Light touch techniques and my verbal cues work together with your body to help get rid of stress and pain. When we work gently with the body in a kind way, we foster cooperation between my training experience and your body’s natural healing powers. Your body is more willing to accept the light touch for it feels supported to make changes instead of feeling pushed, which creates resistance. These are the most common techniques I employ: The Alexander Technique: Good posture is not about sucking your gut in and throwing your shoulders back. It is a kinder and more enjoyable process. No matter what sort of problem you have, you still have to sit, stand, and move everyday in ways that either help or hurt your particular condition. Don’t you think it would be helpful to accomplish all you want without pain? By discovering how to move in a more fluid, easy fashion, you can give up old painful postures and feel and look better. This technique is particularly helpful for musicians, equestrians, actors, and anyone who sits in front of a computer all day. Craniosacral Therapy: Light touch is the essence of craniosacral therapy for it uses only 5 grams of pressure, the weight of a nickel, to initiate profound changes. The reason why this technique is so effective is its ability to work directly with your nervous system. When working gently with the skull, spine, and pelvis, we are working with the system that sends messages to the muscles, so in essence we are getting to the root of the problem. Craniosacral therapy allows restrictions to release and gently unwind and expand toward new pain-free possibilities. This technique is particularly effective with people who suffer from headaches/migraines, post-concussion syndrome, and low back and neck pain. Rubenfeld Synergy Method: By increasing your body’s awareness of unwanted stresses and restrictions, we can create a dialogue—using intuition, humor, and compassion—that can help you to integrate body, mind, and spirit in a simple elegant manner. When you are “stuck” in a physical or emotional issue, this technique provides a venue for these issues to be worked out. Quantum Touch: This subtle hands-on technique focuses or amplifies your life force energy [chi or Prana] through a combination of breathing, body awareness exercises, resonance, and entrainment. It is commonly used for pain, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Which of the above techniques I use for you, alone or in combination, depends on your own desires, motivations, and level of awareness. I have been practicing a multidisciplinary holistic approach to healing for over 25 years. I have gained clinical expertise in treating orthopedic injuries, postural problems, and movement disorders. My introduction to the form of therapy I practice today was a process shaped by working together with patients to increase their awareness of what worked in their lives and using that knowledge to increase their ability to heal themselves. I had a mainstream education in physical therapy, which I found very helpful for many of my patients’ everyday problems. Yet there were always some people who did not respond to standardized treatments. It was these people who motivated me to realize I needed to learn more. My path is one of kindness. Once you are able to see your body as a source of healing rather than a source of pain, then your path to healing becomes joyful. TESTIMONIALS “Robert effects profound and astonishing healing changes in patients by integrating years of experience using gentle hands-on techniques with intuitive wisdom honed by rigorous instruction in mind-body healing techniques. I highly recommend him!” Jack Scherrer, MD Ann Arbor, MI “Robert uses a unique combination of modalities, seamlessly, towards education of the whole self. Every session has brought a new understanding of the connections between my emotional, energetic, and physical organization.” Joanna Myers , Guild certified feldenkrais teacher Ann Arbor, MI “I first visited Robert after receiving several months of traditional treatment for chronic pain. After only 2 visits, I felt I had improved enough to resume many activities without any increase in pain or discomfort. In short, Robert gave me back my life.” SF Ann Arbor, MI www.holistic-bodytherapies.com