Body of knowledge : self-organisation in a gentle bodywork practice

Abstract

This research locates my work in a theoretical and practical context, exemplified by a five-day intensive fieldwork project with a group of eight participants at my home and consulting rooms. My practice is based on two main ways of working with the body: Ortho-Bionomy (SOBI, 2006); and Bowen Technique (Navratil, 2003), especially the former, which is the focal modality (or method) of my work and this research. Ortho-Bionomy is a respectful way to attend to aspects of the body's self-organising ability, also known as emergence. The work basically involves taking the body into positions of comfort, allowing time and space for the easing of pain and tension. In the research I have also explored two other modalities: Open Space Technology, designed by Harrison Owen (1994) for group meetings, and Process Work (sometimes known as Process Oriented Psychology), developed by Arnold Mindell and colleagues in Switzerland and USA (Mindell, 1982). Like Ortho-Bionomy (Kain and Berns, 1992), these two ways of working also provide time, space and structure for issues of concern to be resolved. All are described in the Modalities chapter. This research follows on from my Masters research (Baensch, 2002b) about the effects of my learning, life experiences and work, on my body. This time my focus is on researching my practices using two meanings of the word 'practice'. One meaning relates to the hands-on work I carry out and the principles and concepts behind that, which I will generally call my 'work'. As well, I touch on aspects of my practice as an enterprise in the community.

Date of Award	2009
Original language	English