Claire Darling

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Claire is a woman of much knowledge and talent! She has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2006 after completing a 601hr program at the EastWest College of Healing Arts in Portland, Oregon. She first received her BA in Philosophy / Mathematics in 1993 and then went on to work on Pre-Med coursework at Keene State College in New Hampshire before discovering her true calling as an LMT. Throughout the years, she has taught various classes including group music lessons for young children and their caregivers, Active Isolated Stretching, and TRE® Tension/Trauma Release Exercises. Claire's passion for her work is clear, and we are so excited that she chose to relocate to Missouri and join us at Rejuvenate! 

What do I do with a trusting body on my treatment table?  And why?   

I could have left you with the following list of techniques and trainings, but that’s really not the point. In fact, that’s exactly what the point is not. The most effective techniques yield little to no results in uncaring or preoccupied hands. Conversely, fairly simple techniques sometimes yield astonishing miracles when applied, performed, used by hands full of love and listening.  What my treatment is always based upon as the foundation and the core: my hands, (and possibly elbows), will love you for the duration of your time with me, no matter who you are, what’s wrong or right in your life or your body, no matter what you’ve done or failed to do. My hands don’t discriminate as long as you’re still breathing, they are curious to listen to the story your soft tissues are telling in every moment. And they’re eager to assist in the development of the plot.  It’s not a verbal story, it’s beyond verbal. I can remain nearly silent for an hour at a time while my hands and your body have a fascinating conversation I know almost nothing about! I absolutely respect the privacy of everyone’s body and I strive to never explore tissue at a depth or in a manner that isn’t invited by the body. I don’t mind the details; my sole purpose and focus is to shine the love and light wherever needed so your body can more easily bring softening, healing, releasing of tension or pain to those places. I think of myself as the magic wand but you the client are the magician.  

My favorite styles of bodywork right now are:   

MyoFascial Release, John F. Barnes Method, Bio-Mechanical CranioSacral Therapy, (especially for head and brain trauma), Visceral Manipulation ala Jean-Pierre Barral and Active Isolated Stretching, the Mattes Method. I also rely occasionally on deep tissue techniques for acute injuries and issues, because they can be very effective. For the most part though, they’re unpleasant to receive and not much fun to give and I’m really after lasting relief which simply requires enlisting the body to initiate the changes. This happens by respecting the 3-D fascial web, not by forcing tissue according to outside whims.    

Please follow your curiosity in any of the above techniques by visiting the links below: 

 www.myofascialrelease.com 

 www.upledger.com 

 www.barralinstitute.com 

 www.stretchingusa.com   

I’ve listed my four favorite techniques in the order in which I use them generally on a daily basis for an average situation. I do still perform Swedish Relaxation or Wellness Massage, but the above techniques are so vastly superior in long term outcome in addition to being generally very relaxing to receive that I spend more time with them.  What all four of those favorite perspectives or languages have in common is deep respect for fascia. This white stuff, so long ignored by medical students in cadavers, is so important to effective bodywork, and is probably the most important piece of true physical wellness.

Main Educational Background: 

BA in Philosophy / Mathematics (St. John's College, 1993) 

Pre-Med Science Coursework: Anatomy and Physiology, Calculus, Chemistry (GPA 4.0, Keene State College, 1998) 

601hr Massage Program (EastWest College of Healing Arts, 2006)  

Professional Memberships: 

Licensed Massage Therapist (State of Oregon and Missouri)  

Massage Therapy Continuing education experience:  

BioMechanical CranioSacral Therapy (Upledger Institute) 

Bowen Work Therapy Myofascial Release (John F. Barnes Technique) 

Visceral Manipulation 1 (24hrs, Barral Institute) 

Visceral Manipulation 1 (24hrs, Barral Institute) 

Visceral Manipulation 3 (24hrs, Barral Institute) 

Visceral Manipulation 4 (24hrs, Barral Institute) 

Listening Techniques 1 (24hrs?, Barral Institute) 

Esoteric Acupuncture 

Active Isolated Stretching (the Mattes Method) 

Lymphatic Drainage 

Pediatric Massage 

Deep Tissue Massage 

Shiatsu 

Polarity Therapy   

Other Certifications:

Certified TRE® Tension/Trauma Release Instructor (2015-current) 

Active Isolated Stretching Instructor (since 2009)