About Tozai Center
Tozai Center Treament Room
The name Tozai means East-West in Japanese. My practice combines Western trainings (see below) with over 20 years of practicing a Japanese system of movement for heightened sensitivity and improved self-correction that I also teach to those interested.
Some of the Western trainings include:
CranioSacral Therapy
Myofascial Release
Muscle Energy Technique
Strain/Counterstrain (aka Positional Therapy)
NeuroMuscular Technique
In certain cases I employ a dialoguing technique using body-mind cues to support a deepening into the root causes of discomfort. I also offer movement guidance based on a Japanese system that helps the body become more sensitive to internal signals and encourages the ability to self-correct.
CranioSacral Therapy
This is a mode of treatment that lies somewhere between physical structural reorganization and energetic movement of chi, or the non-neural electrical system.
The therapist uses palpation and light touch to ease restricted tissue into a reorganization (called indirect method) on the physical level. Some direct methods can also be employed (see below).
On the energetic level, the non-neural electrical system (as well as the neural system) responds to a light intentioned touch to bring ease to the autonomic system, lowering stress and increasing a sense of well-being. Sometimes deeply held feelings and beliefs come up to consciousness for examination and resolution as safety in the autonomic nervous system is sensed. Therapists are trained in dialoguing techniques to facilitate the process and keep it safe.
Myofascial Release
This is the main physical technique of CST. The key to understanding how this works is to picture the body as a fluid sack with connective tissue wrapped continuously from the toes to the top of the head and from inner to outer (fascial continuity). A pull at the top affects what happens below, and vice versa.
If there is a barrier to movement in the fascial continuity, the held tension can affect any part of the body, even the deep membrane system surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The body puts out signals where this might be happening and provides cues for the therapist on where to go. This tissue can be palpated, followed into its natural pull and held there until it relaxes into a reorganization that it has been prevented from assuming for any number of reasons, both physical and mental. The keywords are gentle and slow, because the body will react with resistance if it senses unwanted force.
Muscle Energy Technique
This is a direct release technique. The therapist finds the barrier in a muscle or soft tissue range of motion or connection and engages it, using the counterforce of the client's own light muscle effort. It is often repeated a number of times to get to articular balance and joint mobility.
Strain-Counterstrain (aka Positional Therapy)
This is an indirect method often used with Myofascial Release and Muscle Energy Technique. In Strain-Counterstrain (sometimes called Positional Therapy), a joint is placed in its position of greatest ease (for 60 to 90 seconds most often). In doing so, a strain is achieved by opposing muscles to the painful muscles. This oppositional strain counters the dysfunctioning proprioceptive reflex or pain reflex in the eased muscles. It works by reassuring proprioceptors with ease that its strain message is false and can be released by relaxing. The nervous system then stops reporting pain.
Neuromuscular Techniques
Hand pressure and friction are used to release areas of strain in a muscle. Various levels of pressure are applied using fingers, knuckles and elbows. The techniques are specialized to correct pain and movement dysfunction by tracking areas of connective tissue patterns, muscle adhesions and trigger points. The treatment reduces or eliminates pain, increases movement, improves posture, balances musculo-skeletal and nervous system patterns, increases circulation, decreases toxins in the system and increases energy levels.
About the Logo
The characters above mean Tozai, or East-West.
The characters above the logo are Japanese Kanji (Kan=Chinese , ji=letter or character). These letters are one of three scripts the Japanese use to communicate and are called ideographs. Each character expresses a meaning or idea, often drawn from how nature or objects appear.
Tozai means East-West. Because the therapy I offer here is a combination of Eastern and Western philosophy and technique, particularly from Japan, the name and symbols seemed appropriate. The balancing movement is based on Japanese techniques called Katsugen and Kanagi from the Noguchi Seitai system and philosophy of therapy. Some techniques used with CST are also drawn from Seitai and Sotai, another form of therapy similar to Strain-Counterstrain and Muscle Energy in the West.
Sally Washabaugh, CST is a licensed Massage Therapist in practice for 27 years, specializing in CranioSacral Therapy. Her interests are in addressing musculo-skeletal pain syndromes, TMJ, headaches, balance problems, nervous system disorders as well as depression. Sally’s training includes the highest level of Advanced CranioSacral, CST Techniques Certification, along with many trainings in related fields for multiple techniques application (see IAHP.com).
Her work history has combined seeing private clients at her home office along with 25 years working at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge, MA as a CranioSacral Therapist and Master Level Energy Practitioner. She is also a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and has completed Pre, Peri and Birth Experience Process training with Myrna Martin and Ray Castellino.
