Amatsu

amatsu in london & Chichester

I know that pain is so much more than 'It hurts'..

It is only natural to be affected by your pain. Maybe it makes you feel vulnerable, low and depressed. Maybe you put on a brave face for the people around you, but that may make you feel quite alone with the problem. Maybe you wish that your loved ones and colleagues could understand how difficult it is to stay positive when you can't do the simple things in life without fear of pain. Maybe your pain and movement restrictions have caused you to gain weight or affected your sex life, affecting your self-esteem and confidence

I have a deep understanding of how the body works and an appreciation that everything is connected. This means that when clients come to me feeling vulnerable and as if they have tried everything to get out of pain, I can look at them in a different way.

Here are some of the conditions that I have helped with:

back pain including that caused by bulging discs, spinal stenosis, ankylosing spodilitis and post spinal surgery

knee pain and instability
pelvic misalignment, hip flexor tension
jaw pain, misalignment and TMJ syndrome
neck pain, upper back ache, postural issues
repetitive strain injury(RSI),

headaches
ankle pain and instability
frozen shoulder
mobility issues
misalignments of fascia
sporting injuries including tennis elbow, golfers elbow, etc
foot pain, Morton’s neuroma, metatarsalgia, plantarfasciitis

What is Amatsu?

Thousands of years ago, martial artists in Japan devised ways of correcting injuries, using their understanding of movement and their appreciation that everything in the body is connected. Ninjitsu, the martial art that forms the basis of Amatsu means ‘half warrior, half healer’. That’s quite something to live up to! Practitioners still embody these principles which are combined with a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology to create Amatsu as it is today - a highly effective and unique therapy that is powerful but respectful to the body.

Amatsu is a truly holistic treatment as it views your body as a whole. This is extremely important because our modern medical understanding divides the body into distinct units and we may be referred to specialists who focus on individual body parts. As a result, we may miss vital clues as there is no-one who is able to help us to 'join the dots'.

I believe that our body and mind are inextricably linked.

Through my Amatsu work, I understand that everything in our lives is interconnected. I am not daunted when people come to me with an issue that they don't know the cause of, or that hasn't responded to other treatments. In the body, there is always an answer - finding that answer may not be easy and may require us to be patient, and to make changes in our lives or to seek help, but the answer is there somewhere. My role to is work with and alongside you to try to find that answer.

How does Amatsu work?

Your body shows the history of your life. Any physical breaks, strains and blows, as well as emotional stresses and postural habits create the body in which you find yourself today. To help to illustrate this, let me share a metaphor:

Picture four people each holding a corner of a sheet, pulling it taut and keeping it in a state of balanced tension. A fifth person comes along and takes hold somewhere else and pulls too. Immediately, the sheet is distorted and pulled out of shape. The tension is no longer balanced.
Now use the sheet as a metaphor for your body. When the four people are holding the sheet, that balanced tension represents health in your body. If you have an accident or continually adopt specific postural or lifestyle habits, the natural balance of your body will change as though the fifth (or even sixth and seventh!) person takes a pull. You will compensate to reduce pain or favour one arm or leg when you do tasks. Over time, your body adopts a different shape that may or may not result in pain of some sort.

Amatsu works, not only to address the pain and symptoms you are experiencing now, but to re-connect and balance the entire system of your body.

Is Amatsu for you?

If any of the below sound like you, Amatsu could be a great choice. You might…

…have had an accident or injured yourself and you are still feeling the after-effects or maybe you can't actually pinpoint the reason for your pain
…have tried yoga, acupuncture, massage, osteopathy or other complementary treatments which have helped, but they haven't had a lasting effect
…have been advised to do certain exercises to strengthen your muscles, but you are not sure that you are doing them correctly and you are afraid that you might be making things worse
…really like to avoid surgery if at all possible, but you wonder if that might be your only option to get rid of your pain
…like to enjoy a good night's rest without being disturbed by your pain
…feel as though, for the past few years, you have had various different issues and you haven't really felt right for ages
not be in pain, but feel very imbalanced and are starting to notice your body changing shape in a way that doesn’t feel good.
Let me help you.

Work with me

TESTIMONIALS

“I had been suffering from intense pain in my jaw. I had been to doctors and specialists and was facing the idea of taking pain management medication long term to alleviate the symptoms of the problem but there seemed little advice or help as to the treatment of the cause. When I found Lorna, through a personal recommendation, she not only relieved the pain but there were benefits for my whole body. Lorna was incredibly kind and helpful, she was always extremely focused in our sessions. She listened and asked lots of questions to understand my situation which meant that in turn I could understand more about the causes of my pain, which was liberating. I am now pain free and more aware of the underlying causes of the problem. ”

— Coralie

How is Amatsu different?

One of the things that makes Amatsu different to other treatments you may have come across is that the teachings explain that true health comes from many factors. These have been divided up into the 'Big Five' or 'Godai'. When I am working with you, I am always aware of these factors and how they are impacting on your wellbeing as well as focusing on the pain or discomfort you are feeling in your body.

PHYSICAL

Impact, damage, wear-and-tear or imbalance in muscles, ligaments, bones, tendons

CHEMICAL

The food/drink we consume, how hydrated you are, drugs, alcohol, cosmetics, pollution

EMOTIONAL

Stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, (now or in the past)

ELECTRICAL

Nerve issues, exposure to computer screens, TV or mobile phones

ENVIRONMENTAL

The work we do, where we live, our pastimes and hobbies, time spent in Nature, our family circumstances, having support.

What to expect in an Amatsu session

I work out of a bright and comfortable clinic room within a vibrant wellness and co-working space in East Dulwich and a beautiful community-led space in Chichester.

Before any Amatsu session with me, we will speak on the phone first. I offer two options - a free introductory 15 minute conversation or a longer 35- minute consultation for £35. if you feel there is a lot going on and you’d like longer to talk. You can purchase that here. I will ask about your current symptoms and health history, lifestyle, stress levels, diet and other factors. The initial call is very important because it gives me clues about how I can best help you and whether we are a good fit.

The first in-person session is up to one hour and subsequent sessions are 45 minutes. You will be lying on a treatment couch and you will not need to undress as the treatment is carried out through your clothes, but it is more comfortable for you if you wear gym clothes or other soft garments. An essential part of the treatment is the assessment of your body using touch and movement of your limbs. I use muscle testing (used in kinesiology) as a way of 'asking' your body which muscles, ligaments and other tissues are working optimally and which are not. This helps to give me a 3-D understanding of any imbalance in your body.

Every session is different, even for the same person, because I don't treat you using set points on your body. I feel for pulls, tightness and temperature differences so that I know categorically where to work on you to support releases of tension. I can find exactly where your body needs to change that day to be balanced. I can be a detective hunting for clues and seeing the mystery of your pain unravel!

Find out more

How many sessions will I need?

One of the questions I get asked most frequently by my new clients is ‘How many sessions will I need?’ It’s only natural to ask this, and I know I would do the same thing! Of course, we want to know how much time, money and commitment we have to put in so that we can feel OK again. However, when you are in pain, or you injure yourself, you start to do things differently. You walk, sit and do everyday tasks in a slightly different way. Over time, these new compensations crystallise into underdeveloped muscles in some places and overdeveloped in others. Your body changes shape, and that new, imbalanced shape might start to cause you pain in other places. Coming back to balance is also gradual, and unfortunately, there is no fast-track to true health.

As a tried and tested estimate, I suggest that you will need weekly sessions for at least 6 weeks to begin with. You are likely to see some changes more quickly than that, but to give me and your body the best possible chance to make significant and lasting changes, some time is needed. I am always happy to discuss your needs with you and I offer discounts for block bookings to reduce the total financial investment.

Conditions that I see frequently in my work: back pain, knee pain, TMJ syndrome, jaw pain, hip pain, neck pain, reoccuring or unexplained pain, fascial release, tight fascia, misalignment, leg length difference, tennis or golfer’s elbow, meniscus tear, SI joint pain, post-natal pain, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff pain, sports injuries or whiplash.

Working with me: The Details

Is Amatsu right for you?

Over the last 16 years of working with Amatsu, I only accept clients that I feel I can help, for whom I am a great fit and who are as committed to achieving health and wellbeing as I am in assisting them in their process. Amatsu will work best if:

you are ready to commit to weekly sessions for the time-frame suggested. This will be no less than 6 weeks and will depend on your condition and the time you have been experiencing it. The sessions will then continue at less frequent intervals as you show improvement. Most people choose to continue monthly balances to maintain well-being once the initial problem has been addressed.
you are willing to look at other lifestyle changes that may improve your general health.
you realise that we all have a responsibility to our own health and would like to be a participant in the process of your improving well-being.

we may not be a great fit for each other if:

You are unwilling to seek medical advice if advised.
You are unsure that you will be able to commit to regular sessions.
You are not able to look at possible lifestyle changes that can help the process.

INVESTMENT

Amatsu works to define and correct the cause of your problem, not simply to ease the current symptoms. For this reason it works optimally with a series of sessions, which is why I do not offer one-off bookings.

The first session is one hour and includes time to go through your health questionnaire together. There is then a full assessment of your body, followed by an initial treatment of your body. All subsequent sessions are 45 minutes. You can pay by card on the day or a bank transfer before your session.

Cancellation policy: 24 hours notice is required to cancel or reschedule your appointment and you must contact me via phone or text to do so. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be charged the full fee for the missed appointment.

LONDON CLINIC

Three sessions - £285 - Useful if you want to give Amatsu a try before committing.
Six sessions - £540 - Best for new clients with a long-term or very painful condition.
Nine sessions: £765 - Great for ongoing monthly support.
Subsequent single session (45 mins) - £110

I offer discounted treatments for NHS workers. Please contact me for details.