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Elevate Your Skills with the Emmett Technique

The EMMETT Technique is a unique form of body relaxation therapy for both people and animals, involving the application of light finger pressure at specific points.  It is based on the belief that light touch can trigger a relaxation response in the soft tissues of the body, and that the therapist may thereby help relieve feelings of tension. Many people find they feel more at ease within their body and their emotional well being is enhanced. Animals appear more calm and at ease.

The result is often instantaneous feelings of greater comfort. See the Client Testimonials page to read some examples of the kinds of problems helped by the EMMETT Technique.

EMMETT is truly a complementary therapy. It may be applied in isolation but it also combines easily with all other bodywork and exercise specialities such as massage, chiropractic, physiotherapy, Bowen therapy, craniosacral therapy, yoga, Pilates and personal training as some typical examples.  

How does EMMETT work?

Good question!  It is based on the belief that light touch can trigger a relaxation response in the soft tissues of the body, and that the therapist thereby may help relieve tension which results in feelings of improved comfort.

We believe a good analogy is that of a digital touch-screen. With the touch-screen, if you touch too hard, nothing happens. If you touch on the wrong spot nothing happens. If you hold for too long, all the icons start to shake. But if you touch with just the right amount of pressure in a specific location, an application opens and you are good to go. We believe the EMMETT points are small sensory receptors that allow access to the brain via the therapists’ touch. With the correct light touch, the brain receives and evaluates this stimulus and initiates the relaxation response in the soft tissue.  There are receptor points all over the body so the therapist can target the area of concern.  It may sound surprising but the relaxation response and the feeling of ease in the area is often immediate. 

The pressure required is not heavy or painful. “No pain no gain” has NO place in the EMMETT therapist’s approach. 

What can I expect in a treatment?

Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..”, comes from a line in section 1.10.32.

The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.

What can I expect in a treatment?

People can be treated while sitting, standing or lying down. The treatment can be applied directly to the skin or through clothing. Sessions can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes if the EMMETT Technique is used alone – longer if combined with a relaxing massage or other modality.

Animals can be treated wherever they are comfortable eg in a field or in the home. Sessions can also last from 10 – 30 minutes.