Amanae is a multidimensional heart-based bodywork technique designed to facilitate the release of deeply held emotions and clear the way for profound self-healing ❤
The multidimensional part means that the Amanae magic takes place and affects you on many levels: body sensations, emotions, your spirit, and your connection to other people and other places in other times. Note that there's no mention of your mind here. Memory and realization are great. But we try to keep your thinking self (your interpretation and your old story) out of the process. The other thing is that there's an invitation for you to probe deeper and deeper into what you are feeling. What starts with a physical sensation can lead you to noticing different vibrations of energy, emotions, memories, experiences, and realizations about your inner self. It's an internal journey which is propelled by your attention, curiosity, awareness, and acceptance of who you truly are. At our core, we are all Love--loving and lovable.
What does this mean to me?
At its core Amanae is about clearing, or unblocking, anything within me that is limiting the flow of love in my life. Limiting my connection to my heart and to the hearts of others. Limiting my connection to healing and abundance. Any authentic expression includes our connection to Love. Any experience that isn’t authentic is blocking, or withholding, the flow of love through our experience.
The beautiful part is that the self-healing that occurs is NOT a rooting out of all that I don't like about myself once and for all. Instead, through this Amanae practice, I have discovered that if I am successful in lovingly luring the wounded parts of me and giving expression to the pain that has been stuffed and stuck within me, what gets exposed is my true authentic self.
This is the best part of me. It feels both vulnerable and powerful. It feels sort of sacred to have access to this raw energy within me. It's sacred because what I used to think were my fatal flaws turn out to be my most precious gift that allows me to connect more fully with everything and everyone that my true heart desires.
What does it mean for me to be able to practice Amanae?
For me, practicing Amanae with you, my client, is like guiding a meditation into yourSelf. It’s such an honor for me to have the opportunity to show up in the world in this way. My job is to assist you with overcoming the distractions and defense mechanisms of your ego to find what's been hiding in the shadows of your body. It's an exploration, a journey, into the deepest parts of you. Sometimes these places seem murky and scary. Sometimes they are light and blissful. Part of this journey is about discovery, part of it is about giving expression to what is discovered, and ultimately, it's about bringing these precious parts of you back into the flow of love in your life. Furthermore, opening a channel of love for you in our sessions requires me to open the flow of love through me as well. There’s no place I’d rather be than connected with others through love.
What is the typical Amanae experience for YOU?
A typical visit last approximately 90 to 120 minutes. There is about 15 minutes of conversation before the session to establish a clear intention of our work on the Amanae table. The actual session lasts approximately 50 to 80 minutes. Afterwards you will have a few minutes to integrate the session on your own, and then maybe 10 or 15 minutes for us to have a conversation to wrap things up.
Your safety and care are of utmost importance, so your confidentiality is assured. The physical setup of an Amanae session is that you, my client, will lay on a massage table. I will be making contact (with my thumbs or the palm of my hand) with specific areas throughout your body where energy typically gets blocked. It's most effective if the physical contact is skin to skin. So, it's best if you undress down to your underwear. Privacy and care will be maintained using a sheet, blanket, or shawl to cover you as appropriate. Your physical participation in the process is to breathe through your mouth--using your inhale to bring your awareness to where I am making contact with your body and using your exhale to express anything that may come up for you.
There is a lot of work that can be done in an Amanae session that hasn't been worked through in your day to day life. It's an interactive session. You need to be an active participant for the magic to happen. These sessions are a safe place for you to address unpleasant things that may be showing up in your life now. The truth is that these unpleasant feelings have probably been disguised or dormant within you for much of your life.
Furthermore, there is usually a lot more going on below the surface of your awareness. It's common for us to limit our full expression of an experience that seems to be too overwhelming or uncomfortable for us to deal with throughout our lives. What happens in this case is we stuff it into someplace in our body in an attempt to hide this bad experience. The problem is that this energy that wasn't expressed doesn't go away. It stays there where you stuffed it indefinitely. However, it eeks out sometimes in seemingly random ways that wreak havoc on our lives. Or, worse yet, it lays hidden or dormant within you along with some of your authentic power and light. With the safety and guidance of an Amanae session, what we get to do is explore the depths of yourself to find these places where you're wounded and suffering. You will have an opportunity to lovingly peer into your shadow areas and encourage these suppressed experiences to be more fully expressed. What lies on the other side of this full expression is an expanded flow of love and healing. This newly expressed part of yourself now has a chance to thrive as your authentic self--your vulnerability and your power. There's also integration work that can be addressed in subsequent Amanae sessions. But ultimately it is work that will continue within you, and throughout your life. With the help of your heartfelt attention and intention, you can learn to embrace your vulnerability and your true power.
What is a standard protocol for accomplishing these amazing results with Amanae?
Good question! And I have an answer that’s more like a guideline. Usually, you will notice an increased awareness of what's going on within your heart in the first session. Perhaps we'll explore and discover more. Sometimes this is enough to give you a nudge toward your path to self-discovery. However, a standard protocol is to commit to three to five sessions to be completed within a few weeks to a month. After that it's a good idea to take some time to integrate what you've discovered. To embrace it in your daily life. That could be all you need.
However, if you feel a desire to delve deeper, then another round of sessions could help. Alternatively, you could attend a more intensive one day Amanae workshop or go for the full Amanae experience in a 5-day workshop. The advantage of the other options is that you are sharing the room with other participants. Somehow this shared experience with others can amplify the intensity of your internal journey. Also, there's an opportunity to participate in a talking circle with the group where the participants have an opportunity to share from their heart. This is an opportunity to practice bringing your authentic self out into the light of day in community with others. You get a chance to practice seeing and being seen in a heartfelt expression. These expressions are often not all happy and sweet. Sometimes deep and dark feelings are expressed. It's so beautiful to witness these neglected or suppressed feelings being welcomed into the flow of one's life. So, obviously, I have a bias or preference for guiding my clients into this type of Amanae experience whenever possible. One on one sessions are great. But they are not designed to be a regular ongoing or indefinite series of sessions.
If you really have a desire to do this work more regularly, you can enroll in a practitioner certification program where the experience is much more extensive and intensive. But don't jump ahead. It's best to take one step at a time. Don't let all the options hinder you from taking the next step. Simply begin by scheduling an Amanae session as soon as you notice the murmurings of your inner self trying to get your attention.
How much does it cost for a practicum session?
· I am currently in the six-month Amanae practitioner training program. Throughout this training period I get an opportunity to practice the Amanae work with different people every week. I’m also required to perform practicum sessions on clients outside the classroom. These practicum sessions that I am offering are on a sliding scale from $20-$100 for a 90-120 minute session.
