“STRUCTURE GOVERNS FUNCTION” - Dr. Andrew Taylor Still
What Is Amatsu?
Amatsu has its roots in traditional Japanese medicine and the martial art Taijutsu and is based on principles of natural movement. It is a gentle, soft-tissue therapy which restores the body to its anatomical neutral, allowing it to unravel and release restrictions in the fascia/interconnective tissue, organs, ligaments, muscles and skeletal structure. When our bodies start to move out of alignment/balance we aren’t necessarily aware and so our bodies adapt to support the mis-alignment. We continue to function in this adaption and diet, lifestyle and life’s stresses can put us into further adaptions. The human body keeps adapting in order to correct the imbalances, however, at some point pain, discomfort and/or inflammation start to signal to us that something is amiss. Being out of balance has an adverse affect on all the systems of the body - digestive, immune, endocrine, lymphatic, cardiovascular and the central nervous system.
Amatsu identifies imbalances and instability in the body, focussing on the the underlying cause of the symptoms. By treating the body globally in Amatsu, we coax it back to homeostasis, its preferred natural state. This then has a positive affect physically, emotionally and mentally.
The many techniques used in an Amatsu treatment are non-invasive and low impact. The client remains fully clothed and treatments take 50 minutes to one hour using soft tissue and mobilisation techniques. To address a particular issue, we suggest 4 to 6 treatments, and recommend regular assessments and maintenance following that in order to keep the body in balance.
“YOU MUST FLOAT IN YOUR WALK” - MASAAKI HATSUMI, NINJA GRANDMASTER
About Breda & the Clinic:
I’m an Amatsu Orthopath who has been receiving regular Amatsu treatments for over 18 years.
At 18 I hurt my lower back and for many years suffered “putting my back out” on average twice a year. Incapacitated for anything up to a week when this happened, it had a debilitating affect on my life and my work, with dull headaches upon waking, candida, sluggish digestion, regular heart-burn and endless fatigue. This was my “normal” and I wondered what kind of state I would be in by the time I reached middle-age! I felt helpless and despondent until I was introduced to my Amatsu practitioner. Recovery following Amatsu balances was faster than any other therapies I had used and I came to the realisation, guided by my practitioner, that rather than wait for the wheels to come off the wagon I needed to keep my body in neutral alignment by using Amatsu as a prevention rather than a cure. I methodically followed the instructions given to me by my practitioner, and over the course of a couple of years cleaned up my diet and introduced a "rain or shine" daily walking routine into my life. I became increasingly aware of the importance of remaining in correct postural alignment at all times. As a result, my life, health and mental well-being was transformed and my list of symptoms became a thing of the past. I still attend my practitioner for regular balances and in 2015 I commenced my 5-year Amatsu training to Orthopath (Kenku) level. In January 2019 I took a sabbatical from a successful 25 year career in film production, opened my own Amatsu practice and haven’t looked back.
My fascination and curiosity with wellness on a physical, mental and spiritual level is ongoing and I love to share my knowledge and information with others.
In 2019 I completed a training in Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Therapy (H. Dip.) and am a registered member of the Amatsu Association of Ireland (A.A.I.) and R.O.S.T.I. (Register of Orthopaedic Soft Tissue Therapists Ireland).
As a member of R.O.S.T.I. I am approved by VHI, Laya, Aviva Healthcare and other Irish health-care insurers.
In 2019, in keeping with my philosophy that food is medicine, I qualified in Raw Food Mastery at the Plant Based Academy in Dublin and continue to explore how plants offer the fuel, energy and support our bodies crave.
In 2020, I was introduced to the ancient system of Ayurveda. My lifestyle and daily rhythms now follow the wisdom of Ayurvedic guidelines, resulting in an increased feeling of well-being. I share all that I have learned through my own experiences with my clients, where relevant, to help them have agency over their own health and happiness and to feel the benefits of embodying their own bodies.
Testimonials
“I had tried everything for my issue; physiotherapy, chiropractic. I wasted so much money but with only one session of Amatsu my mind was blown away. I am no longer in pain. And besides Breda is amazing.”
“I feel wonderful and restful after my Amatsu treatments with Breda which encourage my body back into balance. To me Breda is a natural healer who has an incredible understanding of anatomy and the workings of the systems in the body. The Amatsu alignments give me an even greater sense of what triggers my imbalances and a deeper awareness of the inner workings of my own body.”
“I needed realignment after having a baby and Breda was just wonderful. I left each treatment feeling physically and mentally stronger and my posture improved immensely. Can‘t wait to go back again. Highly recommend.
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“I began a course of Amatsu treatments with Breda and was evaluated off the bat. A thorough scan of my body picked up some imbalances due to past sports injuries, most notably my left knee. This had caused my right side to naturally over-compensate and protect the injury which was normal but not desirable. Breda began working on me once a week beginning the session with an assessment of my posture and the positioning of my right leg in relation to my left. As the weeks went by I began to see and feel a noticeable difference in how I was walking, being as conscious as I could be through the day, making sure I was positioning my feet correctly as I was taking each step. Also paying attention to how I was carrying myself i.e. my posture. This has caused me to re- assess how I move and stay aware of my body throughout the day - a real mindful exercise which is also doing wonders for my yoga practice. Re-enforcing good posture within each pose. Breda moved through our sessions with great kindness and was extremely thorough. I couldn’t recommend these treatments more. They will cause you to see your body in a new light.”
“Breda is brilliant. She is passionate. She knows how to quickly find what’s going wrong and gives effective thorough treatment of a great length of time (which makes a huge difference comparing to most similar treatments in Dublin). After one treatment I already felt better with my posture, my sore points (post-natal ones) were gone, I could breathe better and the knot in my stomach was gone. On top of all she is extremely positive and explains things very simply so they make complete sense. She also gives very good and helpful movements to do and habits to get, on a daily basis. I hugely recommend Breda’s treatments.”
“LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE AND MEDICINE BE THY FOOD” - HIPPOCRATES, died 370 B.C., aged 90