BodyWork Associates

Please join us in congratulating Ashley on completing her PNMT Certification!

Becoming certified is a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to Ashley’s dedication and hard work. From attending multiple seminars and testing out of each program, to completing case studies and fulfilling research and education requirements, this certification is an honor that is not taken lightly.

We are incredibly proud of Ashley and all the effort she put into reaching this milestone. Congratulations, Ashley!!

To our amazing Bodywork Associates clients—thank you.

Your trust, referrals, and continued support have allowed us to grow into something we're incredibly proud of.

As we've grown, we've also recognized another need in our community. There are so many people living with pain who either can't get in soon enough or don't know where to turn.

That's one of the reasons The Nelson Center became part of the Bodywork Associates family.

Our vision wasn't simply to grow—it was to expand access to care.
The Nelson Center was designed for people looking for a focused, collaborative approach to pain and movement issues, while helping keep wait times as short as possible.

If you're experiencing pain and looking for a targeted treatment approach, we'd love to help. Helping more people feel better has always been the goal.

Call Bodywork Associates at 217.351.1011 and ask about scheduling at The Nelson Center.

We've watched the Nelson Center grow into an incredible space,
and now it's getting its own place online.

Be sure to follow as they get ready to share their story.

The (productivity) struggle is real! We all know hard work is what produces great results, but how does this translate to our profession and clinical practice?

Listen to this the latest podcast with founder Doug Nelson as he explores how embracing uncertainty, reflecting on your decisions, and developing deeper understanding can help therapists grow into more confident and effective clinicians.

Visit www.abmp.com/podcasts to listen!

A few of our BWA staff recently had the chance to check out Perspire Sauna Studio, new to the Champaign-Urbana area, located at 2223 S. Neil Street.

The space is beautiful, and the staff was warm (pun intended 😉), welcoming, and incredibly helpful. As first-time visitors, we were given a tour and shown how to use the private infrared saunas and showers, making the whole experience easy and relaxing.

Afterward, the word everyone kept using was "recovered." We all left feeling mentally refreshed and physically recharged.

We're always looking for ways to support our clients' wellness beyond the treatment room, and this is an experience we'd definitely recommend.

Thanks, Perspire Sauna Studio, for taking such great care of us!

👋 Hey friends! Becca here.

I wanted to share a story, I think it's something clients and therapists need to hear.

One of my clients taught me a really valuable lesson recently.

We had been working together for about five sessions. As a PNMT therapist, I'm constantly checking in about pressure, pain, location, and how everything feels. We were making progress, but I kept noticing that she would flinch whenever we worked through certain areas of her shoulder.

So I asked, "Is this pressure okay through here? I want it to be engaging, but still lovely."

She laughed and said, "Oh... nothing about our sessions is lovely."

Hard stop.

I asked her what she meant, and she replied, "This is just what we have to do to get through these issues."

That's when I realized I hadn't communicated one of the most important parts of my work clearly enough. I told her, "That's not how this works."

Our goal isn't to force your body to change. It isn't to "beat your tissues into submission." Our goal is to communicate with your nervous system and your tissues.

One of the principles we learn in PNMT is this:

Healing cannot be inflicted.

Every nervous system is different. Some people respond best to deeper pressure. Others need lighter pressure, slower movement, or simply enough safety for their nervous system to let go.

After that conversation, we significantly slowed down and reduced the pressure.
The result? Our sessions became more comfortable and more effective.

So here's your reminder:
If you're on a massage table, please speak up. Tell your therapist what's working and what isn't. Good bodywork should feel engaging, productive, and not like something you have to survive.

[Photo Credit: Becca, Jen C. and Leena]

Did you know Bodywork Associates offers on-location massage services? We bring professional chair massage directly to your workplace, event, or special gathering helping reduce stress, ease tension, and support overall wellbeing without the need for clients to travel.

You can find more information about our On-Location services here: https://www.bodyworkassociates.com/on-location