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For much of my life I thought life could be navigated solely with my intellect. 

I believed that my mind had all the answers and if I studied enough I could access all the information I needed, understand the whole ‘map’ so I could navigate life and never get lost.

I had a good mind and it was celebrated so I learned to rely on it for all the answers and it served me well.

But it was in the late 90s, on the late-night dancefloors of Northern England that I began to drop below the neck and discover there was much more to life than thought, idea and intellect.

That a richer experience of life was available under the surface. That the map was not as flat as I had first thought. Beautiful I thought, more to discover…

This began my relationship with the body and in the early 2000’s I began exploring and studying various forms of therapeutic bodywork - reflexology, reiki, massage, aromatherapy, flower remedies, indian head massage, tapping… the list goes on.

Each of those studies were really helpful jigsaw pieces that helped me access more of my experience.

But when I look back now, I realise I was still approaching this learning from a place of wanting to ‘acquire the knowledge, to get the answers, to know what the whole map looked like so I could avoid getting lost.

On one of these courses I met a woman (who became a friend) who had attended a workshop that she said was the most powerful and ‘complete’ bodywork she had experienced - and of course I wanted in. I went for a session of this Amanae, ready to receive the whole picture.

And instead, in the course of that first session, the map, the map I had carefully drawn and added to and embellished over all the courses, MY map, the one that I was gripping onto so tightly got lovingly prised from my hand and completely torn apart.

And there I was in what felt like suspended animation. 

In a space where intellect was no longer a suitable anchor to tether myself to. 

In a space where I understood deeply there was nowhere to ‘get to’, no ‘final destination’ to relentlessly run towards and no ‘complete manual’ for how to get there.

There was this deep, wide, expansive understanding that the deal is to practice opening again and again and again. 

To practice opening to this breath, to this connection, to this touch, to this experience, to this moment, to this joy, discomfort, grief, love, petty grievance, rainstorm, embarrassment, queue jumper, sorrow, friend, rival, preference, annoyance - not to be unboundaried, not that, but to open again and again to what you are being shown and from that place to take the next step.

My friend was right, it is the most complete bodywork I have been involved in because it teaches this. 

How to open and be present in what unfolds from that place.

Who needs a scrappy map when you have that powerful skillset?

I am rhapsodic to be able to share this work.

Much love

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Cat x

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Next sessions 

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One to One Sessions

Bristol: Sunday 4th June 2023 - 2 spaces available, email me to book your spot

London: June 2023 (dates TBC) - drop me an email to register interest

Brighton: June 2023 (dates TBC) - drop me an email to register interest

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Group Sessions

Frome: July 2023 (dates TBC)  - drop me an email to register interest

Guatemala (I am beyond excited about this workshop - more soon): 24-30 August 2023 - click here fore more info - 

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Photo by Dariusz Sankowski on Unsplash

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