Leslie Bendig
Modality of Care: Bowen Technique, Craniosacral, Reiki, Breathwork
Life has an interesting way of taking you in a direction and showing you what possibilities are out there. Leslie has been working as a teacher for the last 10 years, but reached a turning point - bringing her to a point of focus in self care, both physical and emotional, a priority.
Drawn to becoming educated in healing modalities she began learning how to install these modalities for herself and drove a passion to helping others. Studies taking her through the peaceful realms of Breathwork, Bowen, Reiki healing + craniosacral to provide to a wider audience and enforce their path to
Bowen 60 minutes $100 - The Bowen Technique is a gentle form of body work/physical therapy where subtle moves performed over muscles and connective tissue act upon the fascia and nervous system. This sends messages deep into the body, providing relaxation, relief, and balance back to the body. A typical session can generally last from 15 to 45 minutes. A session involves ‘procedures’, each of which consists of several sets of rolling moves. The moves are gentle but purposeful and can be done through light clothing. These moves deliver signals to the nervous system at specific locations (on muscles, tendons, ligaments, or nerves), and the body responds in its own time within its capacity. Between each set of moves, the practitioner pauses for as many minutes as are needed for the client’s body to begin responding. The nervous system begins to adjust the tension level in the soft tissue. These movements intervene with the brain’s signals to prompt the body to let go of tension and stress, helping to support the body back into alignment. A common approach in a session is to balance the entire body by addressing the lower back, then the upper back, and then the neck.
Bowen takes a more ‘whole-body’ approach to facilitate alignment and recovery. This technique addresses the entire body by restoring balance via the autonomic nervous system. Most people today live in a constant state of high stress and over-stimulation (fight, flight or freeze mode). Healing can occur when the body is able to shift to a parasympathetic (rest, relax and repair mode) state. During a session, people often drop into deep relaxation or fall asleep, promoting the rest and repair state. It can be very subtle and the body responds over time, so its best to avoid manipulative therapies a few days before/after a session. To support the shift and adjustments, 3 sessions 1 week apart are recommended.
The technique can be considered for many indications. Here are a few: Overall wellness and balance in the body, Upper/lower back pain, Acute and/or chronic muscle pain. Sports injuries including knee, ankle, foot problems. Pelvic problems/Hip pain/Sciatica/Hamstring/Psoas, Shoulder problems, Neck problems – stiffness or restricted mobility, TMJ/ Sinus problems, Carpal Tunnel/ Tennis Elbow, Digestive, Respiratory Problems, Chronic Fatigue, Emotional Stress, Fibromyalgia, Hormonal Imbalances, Pre/Post Natal, Pregnancy and Children
Craniosacral 60 minutes $100 - Craniosacral Therapy is a light-touch technique that addresses fascia/soft tissue to help release tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction, helping to improve whole body health and well-being. This technique is based on supporting the craniosacral system – the fluid and soft tissue that surround, protect, and nourish the brain and spinal cord. Our body works to compensate for stresses and strains that it absorbs in our daily lives and these changes can cause body tissues to tighten. Unfortunately, this can compromise the performance of the central nervous system, as well as other body systems, muscle, and fascia. By supporting the environment around the brain and spinal cord and enhancing the body's ability to self-correct, Craniosacral works to alleviate stressors and pain, enhancing one’s well-being and health
Reiki 60 minutes $100 - Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is done by a ‘laying on hands’, or hands-off approach, and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
Reiki treats the whole person - body, emotions, mind, and spirit, creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security, and wellbeing. Everybody and everything exist of energy. As we go through life, we may develop energetic blocks that prevent us from our energy flowing in an optimum way. If this persists, we may feel emotionally drained or possibly physically unwell. We may experience symptoms like fatigue and depression and our energy becomes imbalanced. Reiki focuses on seven main energy centres, called chakras, in your body. The energy should flow freely through the chakras to support one in overall health and wellbeing. Each healing experience is unique to the individual. Some report feeling cold, a pulsating warmth, or a tingling sensation during a session, and most fall into a calm, relaxed state. After an energy healing treatment, most people feel a sense of calm and peace although it is different for every person. Reiki is a natural and safe method for those of any age, a wonderful complement to promote recovery and relaxation as the energy goes exactly where it is needed.
Breathwork 60 minutes $85 - Breathwork is a body based meditative practice, a method where we use continual intentional breath patterns to break down emotions in the body that are stagnant and create havoc on our energetic systems. This can feel like stress, overwhelm, anxiety, etc. or a session can be created to invite in self-love, abundance, flow, and goes a little deeper than breathing for relaxation. It can help to regulate the nervous system, of allowing our systems to see a different perspective whereby we feel deeply connected to our bodies and understand and experience the intelligence contained within our systems. Pause Breathwork is a way to heal, release, and transform. Emotional and physical responses/sensations may occur while in a breathwork session.
Sessions are designed to create focus and direction using an intention & mantra and can be designed with either (or both) integrative and meditative techniques. This can be discussed at the beginning so the session is unique to the person/pair. Sessions can also include journaling/drawing as part of the session to allow embodiment of the work.
Due to the nature of Breathwork, such as possible physical & emotional responses, increased oxygen in the body, trauma-release and other energetic releases, there are some health/medical contraindications to certain types of Breathwork. Before a session, it’s important to go through the medical/liability form and connect with the facilitator to see what type of session will best support you.
3 Session Package $246: Combination of modalities tailored to help with what's needed for you and your well-being, self-care and physical/emotional/energetic support. Our first session together will include conversation and connection to create a starting point and how myofascial/soft tissue, energy & breathwork together or individually can benefit you. A session a week or two apart is recommended to build and create consistency.
Breathwork + Reiki 75 minutes $120: This session begins with a conversation around what you are looking for support with or moving through/feeling along with an intention to tailor your session around, then into an integrative and/or meditative guided Breathwork practice. Following your practice will be an energy session with Reiki to balance and support the energetic, emotional & physical body, supporting your wellbeing and nervous system and anything that may have expressed itself during your breathwork session. If you want to incorporate time for journalling to ground in and connect within at the end of your session, please add it as a note when booking and/or bring one with you.
Craniosacral + Reiki 60 minutes $100: This session begins with a gentle hands-on method which evaluates and supports the body system called the Craniosacral System, which influences the Central Nervous System and fascial tissue. A session begins with gently palpating various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebral spinal fluid. Soft-touch techniques are then used to release restrictions noticed in the tissues/fascia, as well as around the head, influencing this system and enhancing the body’s ability to self-correct and alleviate tension. We then flow into Reiki, a modality to balance and support the energetic, emotional and physical body and energy centres, known as Chakras for the remainder of your session. Please see detailed description for conditions where Craniosacral is contraindicated.