Years ago while searching for a massage therapist to fill one of the treatment rooms at my retreat centre, I was contacted by a manual osteopathic practitioner. I had no idea what that was, and more so, if my clients would be interested in treatment from one. I remember saying "What the heck is that?"
The practitioner gave me a little description, but then offered a treatment so I could experience it for myself. Well, I love to learn new things, and who doesn't love a free treatment! So, of course, I said yes :)
After my first treatment, I was impressed. My body felt great - but I had a lot of questions. What was she doing, and how do I feel so good?! I changed the ad and began "researching" osteopathic therapists. Each one I met left me feeling fantastic and bewildered. I had to know more!
What I discovered in my first few treatments was what I had been looking for for more than a decade. Every ache, pain, repetitive issue, and concern boiled down to a few places in my body that had not been address with regular treatments. I had regular monthly massage from outstanding therapists, occasional chiropractic care, a ton of energy work, and lots of self care rituals, so this really blew my mind.
One of my discoveries was a treatment that address a pain I had been concerned about for several years. After my daughter was born, a pain below my solar plexus. I had several medical doctors look at it, imaging, and blood work done, and several holistic practitioners weighed in. No one could tell me why it hurt. In one session with an osteopath, she did some visceral work on my organs (which I had never even heard of until then), and shockingly, the pain disappeared within hours and never returned. In fact, it seemed, my body had energy to spare.
I couldn't keep these personal transformations to myself. I told clients, and class attendees, and soon many wanted to give it a try. So, I brought an Osteopath on board, and we began to work as a team with clients. Together we'd discover that exercise and nutrition could work better if their body could be released and realigned in a treatment. Clients would see me for a session, then her, then we'd put our heads together and develop a treatment plan. The time I normally would expect to see clients succeed was cut in half! Clients came for things like back pain, knee pain, surgery recovery, and postural headaches. But what was most interesting is, I experienced an increase in a clients stress response, and weight loss. Now perhaps they were just more committed than the others, but our clients were making great changes and I was inspired!
As a business owner, managing a team, and my own practice it was really impractical to go back to school, but I couldn't shake the idea. I loved running the retreat, and had great pride in the business I had created, but I often found myself investigating osteopathy philosophy and techniques, and dreaming I had more time to pursue this interest.
As life unfolds, a few years later, I found myself primed for a new adventure. I sold my retreat centre, scaled down to a small private studio working as a private health coach for a few exclusive clients and athletes, and jumped in with both feet back to school!
To be able to follow your passion and help others with the most important part of their life is a gift I appreciate every single day! Of all the things I've studied as a health professional over the past 25 years, Osteopathy has had the most impact for reducing pain and achieving athletic performance.
Osteopaths are typically the person someone would go to once they tried everything else, only to then wish they started their first. I'd like to see Osteopathy become more widely known and experienced early on. Osteopathy is so beneficial for posture, joint pain, injuries, preparing and recovering from surgery, and in some cases preventing surgery. Osteopathy can also help to improve athletic performance and prevent career ending injuries. As a healthy active person, this is my experience!
If you're considering a chiropractor, massage or physio, but not sure which will be best, start with an Osteopath. They incorporate many of the same techniques, but see the body as a whole rather than compartmentalizing it into bones, muscles, and joints. An Osteopath, doesn't pigeon hole you into a diagnosis, or preach a treatment plan, nor do they leave you in a room with assistants to follow a persription. Osteopaths listen to you, and to your body. They consider all of you - muscles, bone, nerves, brain, organs, and even your cerebral spinal fluid to support your body moving back into health.
Our bodies are an incredible work of mechanical art, and I expect to continue to be inspired by my Osteopathic mentors as I bring this new set of tools into my practice!
To your health!
Gina Faubert
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