The Body Stress Release Academy

The Body Stress Release academy is set in a rural area called Rondevlei between Wilderness and Sedgefield, Knysna and George the largest towns nearby. The whole area is know as the Garden Route, George airport is 45 minute drive from the academy. Here Gail and Ewald Meggersee focus on teaching the five month BSR training course.

The course attracts applicants from all over the world but they take only 24 students at a time, all of whom stay near the Meggersee's centre for the duration of their training.
It is not necessary to have a medical or massage background previous to become a BSR practitioner. Body Stress Release is a career for those who enjoy working with and helping people. It provides independence and the ability to choose one's working hours. Once a full-time practice has been established, a substantial income can be generated.

The Academy conducts the practitioner training course over 5 months (usually May to September), including an apprenticeship programme. Classes take place during the morning, Monday to Friday, and some afternoons with the rest of the day available for studying, extra practice and leisure pursuits.

The subjects covered are anatomy, BSR philosophy and principles, technique theory and practise, communication, office procedures, client management, case studies and a study of the BSR constitution. Instruction is in the form of lecturing/teaching, demonstration and practical experience. The class size is limited to 24 students, as a great deal of one-to-one teaching is provided. On successfully passing the 4 final examinations and completing the apprenticeship programme, the student receives the BSR Practitioner Certificate.

The faculty are:
Gail Meggersee BA, UED (SA), DC (USA)
Ewald Meggersee BSc (SA), DC (USA).

Applicants should have a matriculation certificate or equivalent (A levels in UK) and be at least 25 years old. A BSR practitioner needs to have self-confidence, maturity and empathy. It is important to have the ability to listen and relate to people from all walks of life, and understand those who may be in pain and under stress. It is vital to be able to concentrate and explain clearly.

The Body Stress Release technique was developed in South Africa by Ewald and Gail Meggersee and has been researched and practised since 1981. In 1988 the International Body Stress Release Association was formed. The Association controls the mode of practice of practitioners and is governed by its constitution, a legal document by which all practitioners are bound. This ensures that a professional level of practise is maintained and provides a code of ethics and disciplinary powers.

Qualified practitioners leaving the academy are slowly but surely spreading the word about this amazing technique around the globe. Currently there are: 74 practitioners in South Africa
15 in Netherlands
18 in the United Kingdom
5 in New Zealand
3 in Australia
2 in USA
1 in Canada
1 in Iceland.

If you would like a prospectus for the next course please contact me

Some pictures I took on the course.

A sunset over Roendavlei	Studying hard
Getting to know the locals	The Karoo
Cape Town from Table mountain	It wasn't all work, work, work
Knysna lagoon from the Knysna Heads	A baby whale close to the shore
One of the many walks	A view from the train across swartvlei lake
The class of 2002