Authentic Eastern Bodywork Therapy & Natural Healing Modalities.

The Essence of BODYWORK as we define it:

Ancient healing science of physical hands-on treatment,

musculoskeletal therapy, body alignment and healing touch by use of specialized skill, technique, and intuitive ability.

The human body-landscape as a living dynamic interconnected whole.

That which supports the innate self-corrective function of the body and its natural ability to restore, heal and maintain balance.

A wholistic way of natural healing.

Suikido Bodywork is developed by Chris Valles through his longstanding training within the Eastern healing arts.

The core roots of the treatment system are Shiatsu 指圧 (Authentic Japanese bodywork and acupressure therapy), Sekkotsu 接骨 (Traditional Japanese Bone-setting) and Vedic Marma Kalari Chikitsa (Ancient Indian Acupressure Therapy).

The spirit of Suikido Bodywork is Iyashi Bushido 癒武士道 which means Healing Path and Warrior Way. It comes from the authentic Japanese Way of the Samurai Warrior. The path in life where the martial artist refines his art and becomes a healer – mastering the techniques of defeating and killing (Sappou) as well as the art of curing and healing (Kappou).

In every Eastern Healing Tradition, the core of the body is considered of vital importance; both as a physical center for the distribution of biomechanical forces but more importantly as an energetic organ for the inflow, the cultivation and the distribution of Life Energy (Ki, Chi, Prana).

In Japanese it is named HARA.
In Chinese TANTIEN.
In the Vedic science UDIANA BANDHA.

The Hara is located one handspan below the navel and about two inches inside the abdomen.

The HARA is the anchor of the biomechanical center of the human body. Hence, when referring to Hara we include the entire pelvic area: pelvic floor, hip joint, sacroiliac joints the lower back and the lower abdomen with the Hara as the center point within this area.

The alignment of the pelvic area (Hara) will determine the placement of the individual’s center of gravity and hence how the weight is distributed downwards to the soles of the feet and how the upper body is placed and carried. This alignment will determine if the joints, organs and soft tissues can function in a balanced way and if the vital fluids can move freely throughout the body.

Hara can only be fully expressed if the correct center of gravity is maintained.

“See how a new born baby boy develops. First, he moves on his belly and on his back; activating, stimulating and strengthening his Hara; his connection to the Life Force. He then begins to lift up his Hara; sitting and crawling around, interacting with gravity. Now he is on his feet and squats very low – from here, like a spring, the energy in his Hara is released downwards, to let his feet connect and push the Earth – the Earth pushes back returning the energy and he effortlessly lifts himself up to standing straight; the energy rising through the Hara to the top of the skull. He is now a standing two-legged being; centered in his Hara and connected with the Earth and the Sky.”

As an energetic organ, we perceive Hara as a gate, a cauldron and a reservoir for the for inflow, cultivation and distribution of the Life Force. It is the prime space from where our energy and substances vital for life flows and are distributed throughout the body.

Just like digestion, heartbeat, breathing and any of our other life sustaining functions, Hara is a natural force that we cannot live without.

The Hara is the mother of physical life - the womb from where physical life on Earth is created.

Hara is our unbroken connection with Nature; the embodiment of our connection to the Greater Life and the prime gate for the inflow of the mysterious Life Force. If this connection is lost our life will become out of balance and we will create only life degrading practices for ourselves as individuals and as a society.

Hence, it is natural and of great significance that all ancient holistic traditions; be it healing practices or movement arts; evolves around the Hara (Tandien, Udiana Bandha).

In the authentic Japanese tradition it is said that a master of swordsmanship, calligraphy, tea ceremony, martial arts, curative arts, and other Do arts is “acting from the Hara”.

The essence of a Wholistic practice is inclusiveness, finding the root cause and mending the “microcosmic” imbalances by supporting and strengthening the the body as a whole.

Everything happening within the body is considered and taken into account.

The healing science of the East holds comprehensive knowledge of how the physiological systems interrelate and work in unison to keep the organism in a healthy vital state.

Organs, nervous system, circulatory system, lymphatic system, respiratory system and musculoskeletal system are not seen as separate entities but as interconnected, interdepended, synergistic creators of Life, with each their specific task. Like an orchestra of various specialized instruments playing in concert to create the melody of Life.

In the Eastern Healing Wisdom Traditions, the human body is viewed as a vast biodiverse landscape with mountains, forests, meadows, lakes, rivers, streams, trees, plants. A complete and balanced microcosmic reflection of the larger macrocosmic manifestation of the Natural World around us.

This is the foundation.

Like the Natural World around us, the human body is alive and constantly renewing itself. Hence, we see the current state of the body and the immediate symptoms as a momentary imbalance in the natural landscape. By tonifying the body-landscape as a whole, we activate the self-healing mechanisms of the organism and the flow of life energy (Ki) will be directed to the areas in need of support and nursing.

We do not work with diagnosis as a set thing.

Any given symptom is seen as a communication from within; making us aware that something inside the body-landscape is out of balance. The specific nature of the symptom is the voice and language of the body; a precise pointer and guide leading us towards the root cause of the problem.

A pain in the shoulder does not necessarily originate from the shoulder – the pain can be a symptom of an imbalance or dysfunction elsewhere in the body-landscape.

Hence a symptom is not something to repress and eliminate – it is the inborn intelligence of the body giving us a lead to follow; enabling us to direct the treatment more precisely towards the root cause.