“Jackie Hand has the unique combination of knowledge, skills, expertise, and great sensitivity to the rhythms of the body’s language to achieve healing and balancing of movement in daily living. Jackie’s work has benefited me immeasurably for the past 10 years. As a polio survivor from the 1944 epidemic when I was 19 years old, I have pursued many healing modalities, i.e., chiropractic, dance, singing, physical therapy, and Transcendental Meditation in order to function well. Although these were helpful, over time my body needed a more subtle, profound approach to tight fascia, muscles or a neurological condition in the left jaw. Always, Jackie could release the tension and restore balance to enable my 90-year-old body to live pain free and active.” —Jacqueline Reisberg
New to Bodywork? FAQs: What to expect, How to prepare
Q: How do I prepare for a session? For CTT, Jackie asks that you refrain from any alcohol or over the counter medications for 24 hours before your session. For movement work, please wear comfortable, loose clothing. Please do not wear any perfumes or lotions to your session and bring a container for your contact lenses.
Q: How long is a session? Always plan on 90 minutes for your first visit. Your first visit involves moving, talking and filling out permissions and forms concerning why you asking for treatment, what is your physical health, medical history, lifestyle and other questions pertaining to you and your Bodywork/Movement session.
A treatment on the table may last from a few minutes to an hour or so, though a full hour and 20 minutes is allowed for your movement analysis/re-patterning and treatment.
Movement is a part of your bodywork sessions. You will be guided in movement according to the context of your session.
Q: What if I must cancel a session? There is a 24 hour cancellation policy - 48 hours for sessions outside of North Carolina. You will be charged for your session if you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment or do not show up for your session.
Please respect that this is Jackie’s paid-by-the hour livelihood. She expects the same consideration from you that she gives you in your session.
Q: Must I undress? After your first session, if you are only receiving CranioSacral Therapy you will remain fully clothed. You will lie face up on a bodywork table.
For Connective Tissue Treatment and/or combined CST/CTT session - You will be asked to undress in private and wrap yourself in a towel which is provided. You’ll lie down on a bodywork table and you will be appropriately covered. Only the part of your body that is being worked on is uncovered.
Q: How do I act? You may talk, ask questions, be quiet or sleep according to your needs of the moment. Your physical comfort is most important so please report any discomfort or distractions to Jackie.
If you are unable to lie down, your position can be modified to make you comfortable.
Q: What should I expect during a session? The work you experience should never be painful. You are asked to tell Jackie if you are experiencing pain.
The sessions are a collaboration, an agreement that you and Jackie are working together to promote your health. A session is not the time to escape your body, so please don’t expect a spa-like treatment. There is no music playing. Jackie is observing and listening to your body as she works with you.
Q: What should I do or expect immediately after a session? There can be a wide range of responses to body work immediately after a session - anything from euphoria, feeling lighter, exhausted, energized, hungry, sleepy, achy etc. depending on your body’s individual response to the work. These responses can last from a few minutes to several days. You hopefully will feel more mobile.
Q: What should I do after a session? Do not plan on doing anything too strenuous for a few hours after a session. Listen to your body, use common sense and do what feels ok. Pay attention and tend to your body’s needs: don’t force either rest or activity. Note your sensations and responses.
Drink water. If you are not sure you drank enough, drink some more.
If you were shown movement re patterning or exercises, begin to incorporate the suggestions into your daily life, if only for a few minutes. Practice body awareness. Begin to educate yourself in noting that the way you sit, work on the computer, etc. may be contributing to chronic pain.
Become aware of how your diet affects your energy level and sense of well-being. “How do I feel after I eat ______________?”
Note: How you deal with stress and if you have some means of stress reduction built into each day. Do you need to build in more or find another means of reducing stress?
Q: What else should I expect? After your first session you will receive a follow up inquiry from Jackie in which she will ask you questions as to how you responded to the treatment. It is then that you decide together whether you should continue treatment or not.
Q: How often should I have a session? The frequency of your bodywork/movement sessions depends on your needs and goals. Treatment may continue for a long or short period of time. People often choose to continue sessions for maintenance once the initial reason for sessions has changed. Some people come for the initial problem and then once or twice a year for “tune-ups.” Others schedule weekly as part of their stress reduction and health care. If you arrive with an urgent need, you may have several sessions a week at first and then taper off.
A chronic condition can not be resolved in one session. If you are coming for a chronic issue, it is requested that you complete three sessions before determining whether this type of bodywork is helpful for you. By the end of three sessions we are able to observe whether your body is responding and holding onto change.
Jackie encourages you to take responsibility for your own health and movement ease and know when you need to see a professional. Her goals for you are:
to keep you living and moving as pain free as possible