Rhythmical Massage Therapy according to Dr. Ita Wegman
Rhythmical massage Therapy as indicated by Dr. Ita Wegman
Rhythmical Massage Therapy as indicated by Dr. Ita Wegman, as a method is recognized within the field of Anthroposophic Body Therapy by the Medical Section of the Free School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland.
Poster 100 years Rhythmical Massage Therapy
Historic context
Rhythmical Massage Therapy has its roots within Classical Swedish Massage; Its further development began around 1920 through Dr. Ita Wegman, as she was both inspired by and a close colleague to Dr. Rudolf Steiner.
Together with Dr. Margarethe Hauschka, M.D., this method was elaborated for the anthroposophic and spiritual-scientific understanding of health and disease processes.
It forms an integral part of the anthroposophical body therapies as a therapy method under the name "Rhythmical Massage Therapy as indicated by Dr. Ita Wegman".
The basic forms of this massage and its various differentiations were developed for the purpose of specific effects and taught in advanced training courses at various locations for three decades. After many years of close collaboration between Margarethe Hauschka and Irmgard Marbach, the Margarethe Hauschka School was opened in 1962 as a training center for Rhythmical Massage and Artistic Therapy in Boll (D). Over time, further training centers have developed. Since 2003 the IFRMT (International Forum Rhythmical Massage Therapy) became co-responsible, in the light of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum, for the continuation and recognition of trainings worldwide.
Basis of the method
The therapeutic approach of Rhythmical Massage Therapy consists of strengthening the self-regulating powers of the organism, supporting self-awareness and promotion of the competence towards recovery.
The use of differentiated movement and touch qualities in the treatment can have a regulating effect on the fluid/liquid, gaseous and warmth-bearing processes within the organism. Interaction and harmony are stimulated.
If the sensitive, healthy balance is disturbed by a one-sided predominance of individual functions, Rhythmical Massage Therapy can have a regulating effect, such as on the polar processes of the degrading nerve activity on the one hand, and the constructive metabolic activity on the other.
The rhythmic processes in the human being, may be regarded as the origin of every healing process, these can be stimulated in a general as well as in a differentiated way.
Rhythmical Massage Therapy addresses the human being on all levels of their existence – physical, mental and spiritual. It supports the individual in connecting with their own body in a positive way, using it as an instrument of the soul for their own intentions and thereby prevailing over disease processes.
This unlocks indications beyond the purely somatic area.
Rhythmical Massage Therapy primarily has a regulating effect on the flow of fluids and breathing within the whole organism. It stimulates the flow of fluids in the body via the subcutaneous cellular tissue. Cellular respiration is activated. Solidified and compacted structures, congestion and tension are released. A positive sense of bodily life can be established.
The hand movements particular to Rhythmical Massage Therapy are directly space-creating due to their special sucking quality, which leads from the center to the periphery without pressure. A participation with the inner space of the soul may occur and a widening can be experienced.
By stimulating the body's own warmth, the patient experiences a new self-awareness. New initiative can emerge and have a positive effect on the healing processes.
Particularly noteworthy is the dialogue and procedural correspondence that pervades the entire treatment as a basic quality.
A non-verbal dialogue develops between therapist and patient in a dialogue-based process.
The hands touch the tissue, perceive and respond to what they perceive. In each movement and hold, there is an alternation between perceiving (withdrawing) and responding (being active). The therapist perceives changes in the patient whilst withholding any active intention of their own. Accordingly, he/she adapts the touch and movement qualities to the perceived requirements. The intensity of the touch is based on the elasticity and firmness of the tissue and only goes as far as the palpable resistance, never beyond this in a coercive manner.
The patient feels accepted and understood by the touch and can thus open to the impulses of the treatment.
The continual process of adaptation maintains the constantly evolving living quality of the treatment, which is an effectiveness in itself.
Fields of work
The effective factors described above enable Rhythmical Massage Therapy to be used in a wide range of applications.
This results in the following indications, among others:
- Stimulation of blood circulation
- Mobilization of tissue fluids
- Regulation of incorrect tension in muscle and connective tissue
- Supporting the self-regulation of the organism
- Regulation of pulse and respiration
- Improvement of cardiovascular function
- Regulation of metabolic processes
- Stimulation of excretion
- Normalization of the waking -sleeping rhythm
In addition, Rhythmical Massage Therapy is also used to treat tumor diseases, patients in the fields of curative education, geriatrics and psychiatry, early rehabilitation and intensive care as well as psychosomatic illnesses.
Rhythmical Massage Therapy is practiced in clinics, institutions and in private practice.
Interdisciplinary work
The cooperation and exchange with other therapy methods proves to be very helpful in practice.
In this way, healing and development processes can be achieved on different levels by cooperation with therapeutic modalities such as eurythmy therapy, art therapy, baths/hydrotherapy, external applications such as wraps and compresses, heat therapy as well as other body therapy methods, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Further training
Training in Anthroposophic Body Therapie
Forms of organization
Association for Rhythmical Massage Therapy in Germany:
https://www.rhythmischemassage.com
Contact: E-mail: info.bv@rhythmischemassage.LÖSCHEN.com
Association Rhythmical Massage Therapie Switzerland:
https://www.rhythmische-massage.ch
Contact: E-mail: sekretariat@vrms.LÖSCHEN.ch
IFRMT (International Forum for Rhythmical Massage Therapy):
international association of training providers and associations of Rhythmical Massage Therapy.
Contact: E-Mail: aoinelandweer.cooke@gmail.LÖSCHEN.com
Literature
- Hauschka M Rhythmische Massage nach Dr. Ita Wegman, 5. Auflage 1996, Margarethe Hauschka-Schule 1972
- Praxisbuch der Rhythmischen Massage, Eva-Marie Batschko, Susanne Dengler, 2011
- Kienle H Komplementäre Methodenlehre in der klinischen Forschung. Cognition-based Medicine, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York 2001
- Ammann Albertin L, Härter S Berührung – Rhythmus – Ausgleich. Rhythmische Massage Therapie, 2022 anthrosana – Verein für anthroposophisch erweitertes Heilwesen, Arlesheim, Heft 244
- Allmer C Rhythmische Massage nach Dr. Ita Wegman bei COPD; Der Merkurstab 2011;64(5):500-505.
- Allmer C, Studer-Senn K Rhythmische Massage unter dem Gesichtspunkt des Vortrages „Der unsichtbare Mensch in uns“ Teil I: Ich-Ströme, Massagegriffe und Griffqualitäten; Der Merkurstab 2019;72(1):21-31
- Böning A Qualitative Studie zur Auswirkung von Rhythmischer Massage und HRV- Biofeedback auf primäre Dysmenorrhoe. Angegliedert an eine randomisiert-kontrollierte Pilotstudie; verfügbar unter: https://publikationen.uni-tuebingen.de/xmlui/handle/10900/72348
- Göbels R, Allmer C Die Behandlung mit Rhythmischer Massage bei einer Patientin mit Mammakarzinom; Der Merkurstab 2014;67(2):126-135.
- David Martin, Einzelfall eröffnet Forschung (11); Das Goetheanum, Nr. 38, 18. September 2015, S. 8
- Uhlenhoff R Rhythmische Massage in der Heilpädagogik – Anwendungsbeobachtung an einem Kind mit Autismus; Zeitschrift Seelenpflege in Heilpädagogik und Sozialtherapie, Heft 3/ 2012, S.6 -21
- Wälchli C, Saltzwedel G, Bach-Meguid B, Eberhard J, Decker M, Simoes-Wüst AP: Klinische Ergebnisse Rhythmischer Massage – Eine prospektive Kohortenstudie mit ambulanten Patientinnen und Patienten in der Schweiz; Der Merkurstab 2017;70(4):287-29
- Weidke A Rhythmische Massage nach Ita Wegman in der Onkologie; Der Merkurstab 2009;62(4):344-351.