From a very young age, I have wanted to help others. It has always been my dream to make the world a little softer, a little kinder. I knew this was my calling, I just had to find my way. After some years working in Hospitality, my path led me to the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts USA. As a leading center in yoga and mindfulness-based education, I found at Kripalu my passion for mindfulness meditation, yoga and deep tissue massage.
At Kripalu, I became fascinated with the mind/body connection. I discovered the transformative power of calming the mind so as to be able to listen to the natural wisdom of the body. I decided that this would be my calling: to help others learn to soften the many voices within their minds and listen to the natural wisdom that lies within the silence of their bodies. I believe that in so doing they will be empowered to transform not only themselves but the communities and families in which they live.
My training
After my initial training at Kripalu, I returned to the Netherlands in 1994 and continued my studies. I completed the three-year Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training course and qualified as a Touch Pro® Chair Massage Therapist. Thereafter, I began my practice to help others experience deeper physical and mental wellbeing, by assisting them through movement, massage, and meditation to calm their minds and drop into the natural wisdom of their bodies. In more recent years, many of my clients who were coming to me were experiencing severe loss and grief. Using my understanding of the mind/body connection, I intuitively began to assist them to unravel the physical manifestations of their emotional pain.
Loss can take many forms. If not handled with care, it can disrupt our physical and mental wellbeing. These experiences with my clients touched me deeply. I felt privileged to witness how gentle touch could help a person meet their grief and, for the moment of a massage and beyond, help them carry their pain. I wanted to learn more and deepen my understanding of the grieving process so that I could help my clients handle their loss more effectively. I decided to train with Corrine de Graaf, founder of Rouwen met Compassie (Grieving with Compassion) in Amsterdam, with whom I have just recently completed my certification in grief counselling.
My practice
Grief is a natural response to loss. It is the emotional pain that surfaces when we lose someone or something we love. At times, such loss can be overwhelming. With Jack Kornfield, I believe that “it takes courage to grieve, to honor the pain we carry.” It requires us to surrender to what we are feeling in the moment and for that, we need courage, a lot of courage. Courage to feel our pain, courage to honor it. In my experience, this is not easy. It takes time.
Grief does not disappear. It dives deep and can be buried in the knots of our bodies for years. And if not carefully cared for, it can rise again, sometimes later in overpowering ways. We cannot ‘fix’ grief, but we can learn to live with it in dignity and compassion. To do so, it helps to have a place where we can go and, without judgement, let go, drop into our body, and slowly find a way to carry our pain. My practice is such a place where everything is OK even if you are not OK.
My practice is a place where, together, through gentle touch, guided stillness, and calm breathing, we can learn to listen to our wounds and invite a softness to our grieving when possible, and self-acceptance and compassion when not. There is no right way or one way to grieve, there is your way. Through silent listening, simple breathing, slow movements, gentle holding, and soft touch, together we will find your way to thaw the pain, relax the body, and allow emotional healing to begin.
Rates
– €80 for 75 min Grief massage
– €375 for 5x session (within 16 weeks) 75 min Grief massage
– €70 for 60 minutes relaxation or Deep tissue massage
Grief support should be affordable and accessible. Please feel free to reach out if cost is an issue for you.
Appointment Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your appointment (by email or by calling) without charge up to 24-hours before your appointment time.
I am a member of the grieving with compassion network.
Contact us
Grief Massage | Groen van Prinstererstraat 65-BG | 1051 EK, Amsterdam
For questions or to make an appointment, you can contact me at:
T: +31 (0)6 25 06 52 49 | E: info@griefmassage.nl
