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balance & light
by Daphne Katranides

pink Body Work


Professional massage therapy

    soothes the body,
        calms the mind,
            renews the spirit.


Pain Management

People come to me with a variety of complaints, including:

  • stress
  • lower back pain
  • tension in shoulders and neck
  • sore muscles
  • loss of range of motion

Self-Care: Sound Body-Sound Mind

We all know that self-care is important. Exercise, nutrition, social contact, creative expression are all important to maintaining mental, emotional and physical health. Getting regular body work is like taking your car in for an oil change; it helps the engine run better. There is a lot of research that shows very specific benefits resulting from massage. Massage has been shown to do all of the following:

  • increase blood circulation, which in turn increases the oxygen carried through the body; this is good for internal organs, as well as our largest organ: our skin;
  • increase the flow of lymph, which is part of the immune system;
  • lower blood pressure;
  • decrease stress, as seen in lowered cortisol levels;
  • release endorphins and serotonin; and
  • relax muscles, improving recovery time and decreasing the pain of injured or overworked muscles.

My massage practice

At Natural Touch I learned Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, which are most common in the US. The Swedish technique uses "strokes" which are mostly relaxing, while deep tissue techniques involve manipulation of the muscles and can sometimes be painful. I use a combination of the two depending on the client's needs and wishes; generally I use Swedish techniques until I come across a "problem" area and then use deep tissue techniques to address the muscular issue.

To learn about the benefits of massage, have a look at this page.

purple Energy Work


What do I mean by energy work?

We have all experienced energy in various ways. We may sense someone is in a bad mood without speaking to or even looking at them, or perhaps we get "a bad vibe" from a person or even a place. These are examples of our sensing energy. For some reason we more often notice negative energy, but we also recognize when a place or person gives us a particularly good feeling without our knowing exactly why. In the case of the human energy field, energy flows through and around the body. Some people refer to it as "aura"; some talk about "chi". There are different ways to describe it, and how you personally experience it will influence what language you use. The seven chakras are energy centers that run up the center of the body; they are associated with body function and emotion.

First (Root) Chakra - Red
Second (Sacral) Chakra - Yellow
Third (Solar Plexus) Chakra - Orange
Fourth (Heart) Chakra - Green
Fifth (Throat) Chakra - Blue
Sixth (Third Eye) Chakra - Violet
Seventh (Crown) Chakra - White

Each chakra is associated with an energy meridian as well as with particular emotion(s) and parts of life. For example, the third chakra is associated with the ego as well as with intellectual activity, while the second chakra is associated with play, music, creative endeavors, including sex. Higher chakras are associated with more intuitive understanding of the world.

In addition to these major energy centers, there are minor ones throughout the body, particularly at the joints. You may be familiar with some of them because of acupuncture or shiatsu, both of which work with these.

In addition to this concept of energy as circulating through the body, there are layers of energy surrounding the body. In the course of life energy flow can become unbalanced by emotional trauma or physical injury. It may be limited, diverted or entirely blocked. Energy work addresses these imbalances on multiple levels.

In my practice I generally incorporate energy work into a session of massage therapy as needed and as desired by the client. I consciously work with chakras and layers of energy.

Further reading I have learned about the human energy field from a variety of sources: books, formal workshops, fellow practitioners as well as through my own experience. If you are interested in learning more about energy, you might want to look into Caroline Myss, who has a very nice explanation of the chakras (see links); she includes questions to help you explore the emotional and physical issues connected with each chakra. They are at a minimum good jumping off points. I also recommend Barbara Brennan's Hands of Light.

For more on energy, Caroline Myss has a very nice explanation of the chakras.

You may also be interested in Healing Touch (Please note, I am not getting into the debate over which is more authentic): Healing Touch Program

blue About Me


Education

I graduated from Natural Touch School of Massage Therapy (Greensboro, North Carolina) in 2003. In July, 2003, I took the National Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCE) and passed with high marks. I maintain my license through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (http://www.ncbtmb.org/). In 2016 I made the transition to Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. To maintain my certification, I regularly attend continuing education courses covering a variety of subjects, including:

  • deep tissue massage
  • headaches
  • TMJ
  • sports massage
  • foot reflexology
  • Thai Yoga Massage
  • Healing Touch
  • various energy modalities
  • professional ethics

daphne

green Prices


Standard Massage Session: 105 €; (1.5 hours)
Short Massage Session: 75 €; (1 hour)
[After 60 minutes, each additional minute costs 1 €.]
Energy Work: 75 €; (1/2 - 1 hour)

Gift certificates are available in both English and German.

yellow Contact


My massage practice is in Südvorstadt at
Hardenbergstraße 32
04275 Leipzig (map)

Appointments are required. To make an appointment, please call 0176 23 34 63 44 or write me at balanceandlight@gmail.com.

the building

orange Testimonials


Lynnda Curry / Prof. for dance/Choreographer "I depend on Daphne's bodywork to keep me on my toes!"

Cindy F. "Eine Massage bei Daphne ist wie eine Reise in ein Land der Balance, eine Flucht aus dem hektischen Alltag. In einem Anfangsgespräch werden körperliche und seelische Problemchen besprochen und Belastungen, die man vergisst, findet Daphne dann während der Behandlung. Gezielt massiert sie Verspannungen und Stress hinfort. Eine Wohltat für Körper und Seele und eine absolute Empfehlung, um sich etwas Gutes zu tun."
{"A massage at Daphne's (practice) is like a journey to a land of balance, an escape from hectic everyday life. In an initial conversation, physical and emotional problems are discussed, and during the session Daphne finds stress that one forgets. In a targeted way, she massages away tension and stress. A boon for body and soul and an absolute recommendation to do something good for yourself."}

Frank "Ich habe eine 90-Minuten Massage bei Daphne zu meinem Geburtstag geschenkt bekommen und wusste nicht wirklich was mich erwartet. Um so erstaunter war ich, als ich feststellte, dass Daphne eine freundliche, offene und sehr kompetente Frau ist. Ich bin Architekt und sitze jeden Tag am Computer was zu einigen Verspannungen führt. Nicht nur diese waren weg. Ich war absolut entspannt und relaxt und habe jede Minute genossen. Nicht zuletzt auch wegen der professionellen medizinischen Befragung vor der Behandlung. Ich hatte professionelle Massagen schon in Thailand, Bali, Ungarn und Deutschland. Die Erfahrung hier war die Beste."
{"I was given a 90-minute massage at Daphne's for my birthday, and I didn't really know what to expect. So I was all the more astonished when I found that Daphne is a friendly, open and very competent woman. I'm an architect and sit every day at the computer which leads to some tension. Not only these were gone. I was absolutely stress-free and relaxed and enjoyed every minute. Not least because of the professional medical questioning before the treatment. I have had professional massages in Thailand, Bali, Hungary and Germany. The experience here was the best. "}

S.T. An Italian living in Leipzig "I massaggi di Daphne, sono un toccasana non solo per il tuo corpo ma anche per la mente. I suo tocco deciso e liberatorio fa in modo che il tuo corpo ne tragga il massimo solievo, sentendosi flessibile e leggero anche nei giorni succesivi. L'ambiente e' decisamente rilassante e accogliente e la calma e il sorriso che Daphne riserva ai suoi clienti e' la cigliegina sulla torta di questo massage studio. Incantevole per l'anima e un beneficio necessario per il tuo corpo.
{"Daphne's massages are a cure not only for your body but also for your mind. Her strong touch releases the tension in your body, leaving you feeling light and flexible for days after. The environment is very relaxed and friendly; the mindfulness Daphne brings to her work and the smile she gives her customers combine to make the cherry on top at this wonderful massage studio. Enchantment for your soul and necessary maintenance for your body."}

Sarah An American living in Leipzig "Daphne consistently offers the best deep tissue massage in Leipzig. I have tried other massage therapists in the region and her technique is incomparable. She has years of experience and training and that is obvious. She is a fun and approachable person, and will address any issue you may have. I recommend anyone who wants a healthy body and mind to make an appointment with her. The best massage in Leipzig!"