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Maria De Dauw – Transformative Energetic Bodywork Therapist & Teacher
Frequently Asked Questions – PSOAS Massage, Transformative Energetic Bodywork & Trainings
Sessions
What is Transformative Energetic Bodywork?
Transformative Energetic Bodywork is a method developed by Maria De Dauw that works directly through the body to increase body consciousness, release tension and trauma, refine your senses, and bring your body back into alignment with who you truly are. It combines physical techniques with energetic work, holding the physical, emotional, mental, energetic and spiritual as one interwoven whole.
What is the PSOAS, and why is it called the muscle of the soul?
The psoas is a deep muscle group connecting your spine to your legs, lying in the core of the abdomen. It is the first muscle to react in a fight, flight or freeze response, which is why it holds so much stored stress. Because it sits at the physical centre of the body and responds to everything we feel, it is traditionally called the muscle of the soul.
What is a PSOAS massage and what happens during one?
A PSOAS massage is a deep, slow massage of the psoas and the iliacus, the muscles that connect your spine to your legs. I work on all the muscles affected by the psoas being too tense or too weak, which includes the back and the abdomen, and we work towards direct contact with the psoas muscles themselves. Within Transformative Energetic Bodywork there is attention to and attunement with your nervous system through holistic pulsing and through working with breath, sound, scent and a consciously created energetic field. A session lasts 1.5 hours.
Does a PSOAS massage hurt?
It can be intense, but it is never forced. The psoas lies deep, so pressure is felt more strongly than in a surface massage. My hands listen to your body, and at times I may move towards your pain threshold, but you set the pace and the depth and nothing happens beyond your boundary. Many people describe it as intense and relieving at the same time. If an area is too tender, I have adjusted techniques for that, or we work around it.
Is PSOAS massage safe? When is it not suitable?
A PSOAS massage is safe when it is performed with proper attunement to your body. Within Transformative Energetic Bodywork it is always done with full respect for your body and its boundaries. It is not suitable while you are pregnant or while you are going through cancer. If you have an active hernia or are on heavy medication, it is better to postpone your PSOAS massage.
What should I wear? Do I need to undress?
You stay in your underwear during the session and are covered with towels at all times, except for the area I am working on. For a PSOAS massage I work on the lower back and the abdomen, so wear underwear you feel comfortable in. Nothing is uncovered without asking you first, and if you prefer to stay more clothed, we adapt.
How is a PSOAS massage different from psoas stretches or psoas release exercises?
It is very different, because you can only release so much through stretches and your own movement. At some point the body needs to be helped by professional touch to reach a deeper level of release. A massage reaches the muscle through touch and reaches the deeper layers, so the patterns themselves can begin to release rather than the tension alone. Exercises can support the work well, but they rarely release what has been held for years. In Transformative Energetic Bodywork you are supported by both the facilitator and the consciously created energetic field, which allows release on every layer of your being.
What is body dearmouring?
Within Transformative Energetic Bodywork, body dearmouring is a technique for releasing the protective layers of tension the body builds up over years, often around old pain or trauma. Through focused touch, breath and presence, hardened tissue is invited to soften. It is done slowly and with consent at every step, so what has been held can release without overwhelming the nervous system.
What is bonewashing?
Within Transformative Energetic Bodywork, bonewashing is a refined form of energetic bodywork in which tension and pain stored in the periosteum, the connective tissue lining around the bones, are carefully touched and invited to release. It is deep, precise work that asks for softness and presence. What comes free has often been held in the body for many years.
How is this different from a wellness or relaxation massage?
A wellness massage aims at simple relaxation. Transformative Energetic Bodywork works with the nervous system, breath, energy, sound, scent and touch together, within a consciously created energetic field. The goal is not only rest but release of tension patterns, insight and integration. I also offer pure relaxation massages, and even those include energetic techniques for deeper rest.
What if emotions come up during a session?
Within Transformative Energetic Bodywork, emotions surfacing is normal and welcome. Stored tension often carries feeling with it, and releasing one releases the other. You will not be left alone with it: the session is held in a safe, prepared space, and there is room to pause, breathe, cry or simply be still. Nothing needs to be explained or analysed, but you can be mentally coached as well if you prefer.
Can I come if I am working through trauma or currently in therapy?
Yes, and many people do. Bodywork and talk therapy support each other well; some clients come to me after a psychologist or coach concludes that it is time to be touched. I work with safe touch in a setting where you are fully supported in every way, and nothing is forced. Like any therapeutic process it comes with its challenges, but it is a powerful next step in your healing, and it can help you feel safer and more at home in your own skin and in your body.
Who is this work for?
For anyone with physical or emotional pain, chronic complaints, or tension that does not resolve. For people who want more body awareness, freedom of movement, or grounding. For those working through a blockage. And for artists, bodyworkers, massage therapists and space holders who want to deepen their own sensitivity and skill. Some clients come after a psychologist or coach concludes it is time to be touched.
What does a session cost and how long does it take?
A 3-hour Transformative Energetic Bodywork session is €315. A 2-hour mix and match session is €210. A 1.5-hour PSOAS massage or relaxation massage is €158, and the extended 2-hour PSOAS massage including neck, head and jaw is €210. A 1-hour KoBiDo facial ritual is €105. All rates include 21% VAT.
Where do sessions and trainings take place?
One-on-one sessions take place in my private practice in the centre of Antwerp, at Provinciestraat 17, 2nd floor, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium. Trainings and workshops are held in Antwerp, in Kortemark (West-Flanders) and sometimes in other places in Belgium and the Netherlands. The full address, directions, public transport options and parking arrangements are shared on the website and in your booking confirmation.
Trainings
Do I need prior experience to join a training?
For the PSOAS Deep Dive, no formal massage qualification is required, but at least some experience with massage, other bodywork or energy work is. The work asks for openness, and you will learn both giving and receiving. The same applies to the other trainings. If you are unsure, please contact me.
Which training should I start with?
The 3-day PSOAS Deep Dive is the foundation of the method and the place most people begin. The 1-day Light Field workshop is open to a wider audience and can be taken at any point. Heart Dearmouring and Bonewashing, the Venus mound and Hara masterclass (women only), and the Connective Tissue Techniques masterclass build on that foundation, but can be followed separately provided you work in the field or have experience with other bodywork.
Do I receive a certificate?
Yes. Every training concludes with a certificate of completion. You also receive course materials and lasting access to the instructional videos of the techniques taught, so you can keep integrating them into your practice afterwards.
How do I book, and can I get an invoice?
Sessions are booked through the online booking system on the website, where you choose your time slot first. Trainings are booked via the training page of your choice. Every training price includes an invoice for tax deduction, and all rates include 21% VAT. Accommodation and meals other than those listed are not included.