Athens Newsletter Remix

I am reposting the complete version of a 3-question round-up conducted by Christina Thyssen and the Village of Athens Newsletter with her permission…

1) Tell us about your new business, Tenth House Health. What kinds of services do you offer? Describe your practice/approach?

What brings me the most meaning and joy is giving people experiencing illness or chronic pain the space and freedom to live the life of their own choosing. 

Tenth House Health started with self-reflection on how I could be more of service in my decades-long practices of Craniosacral Therapy/Integrative Manual Therapy and yoga. I see the two holistic modalities on a continuum.

In Craniosacral Therapy and Integrative Manual Therapy, the practitioner and client work together through light touch to create a relationship to their energetic and physical structure. The connection between us allows the client’s body to return to “factory settings.” In other words-- we soothe the pain cycle; reduce existing anxiety, depression or PTSD; foreshorten illness; and give the mind and body time to regenerate. Eventually, our symptoms become less dominant, consume less of our inner resources, and often dissipate. 

Yoga allows us to continue to access the healing process with a connection to the functional aspects of structure and energy and with a greater degree of self-direction. In a class setting, we do this by getting to engage with ourselves in the presence of a supportive community. Overall, my teaching style is designed to guide us within through postures, breath, and meditation while fostering a sense of care, ease, and quiet joy.

By opening up Tenth House Health, I am both expanding, refining and integrating these practices organically. Holistic health exists on both an individual and community level. By practicing together, we create a growth path so that as we heal, we move from a mindset of striving to preserve health to actively engaging in our wholeness. 

2) Tell us about yourself. Your background, training, previous business? How did you end up moving your business to Athens?

I have been working in the holistic health fields for 21 years with formal training in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Integrative Manual Therapy, Massage Therapy, Reiki, Yoga and Pilates, and have owned two studios in Brooklyn and Manhattan and participated in many shared spaces throughout NYC. My formal education was heavily informed by playwriting and directing and then I unexpectedly spent a decade belly dancing with a fabulous group of women.

Like many of us during the pandemic, I’ve become slightly codependent with my cat. LB has made some guest appearances in yoga but more recently has taken to loudly proclaiming his presence in what I can only describe as the call of the wild. 

I came to Athens because I wanted a space where I could live, work and invest in a community of care. I sought a location where clients could experience a sense of retreat after their class or session;  take time to enjoy a coffee, sit by the river, grab snacks, have a bite with friend; or, for my out-of-town contingency, spend a weekend here rejuvenating. And speaking personally, I love to hike and want to learn to garden. Athens has already allowed me to connect more deeply with nature than I ever could in NYC. 

3) Anything else you’d like us to know about your work. What it’s like to move to Athens? Opening a business mid-covid? Class schedules etc. How can people find out more?

I want people to know that I’m accessible. I see myself as a resource of healing and support, and hope others will experience the positive aspects of my work and spread the word. (Barter is on the table :) )

I have found much care and generosity in Athens and am so grateful. It’s been quite tough to  start a business in a new location during this time, but I am aware these last months have been tougher for so many others. My heart feels raw when I hear what my clients and students are going through. My hope is that Tenth House Health will serve as one of many examples of how we can each re-seed fellowship and optimism.

For Craniosacral Therapy/IMT:

Sessions are held throughout the day by appointment. Wednesday-Sunday. You may book online at www.tenthhousehealth.com, or contact me directly at jennifer@tenthhousehealth.com or 518-444-2196.

For Yoga:

The class schedule is posted on the door at 29 Second Street as well as online at www.tenthhousehealth.com.

The general outline is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 9am with a monthly restorative class on Sundays at 4pm. Pre-registration is required because the space is small and I’m keeping numbers intentionally low due to covid. 

You may register at www.tenthhousehealth.com, or contact me directly at jennifer@tenthhousehealth.com, or 518-444-2196.