ETC Magazine - August 2010

Under Pressure

Chris and Marie Balaam say they can ease your aches and pains this summer. They chat to Johnny Morgan about the benefits of Body Stress Release.

After one of the coldest winters for decades, and with us now benefiting from some long-overdue warmer weather, it's great to get out and about again. But there are plenty of people for who miserable aches and pains mean the dark clouds will stay in place.

An aching back, a stiff joint, a crippling migraine: these are all common problems many of us will experience during our lives. For a lot of people suffering from such ailments, trying to find the right treatment can be time consuming, expensive and, ultimately, unsuccessful.

However, husband and wife Chris and Marie Balam say they can offer people in East Sussex an alternative to regular GP visits, chiropractic sessions and prescription painkillers: Body Stress Release. Two of only a few practitioners in the south east, they believe they can remedy all those aches and pains and help people lead a fuller life.

Mainstream technique

Body Stress Release is a gentle, pressure-based technique that stimulates the body's own healing process. It arrived in the UK in the 1990s from South Africa and, thanks to a rising number of practitioners and satisfied clients, it has risen in popularity and is fast becoming part of mainstream health care.

Chris discovered the technique while looking for a cure for persistent chronic pain in his lower back, caused largely by injuries sustained from racing mountain bikes at an international level.

Marie came across Body Stress Release when seeking relief for a similar complaint, the legacy of a bad fall. Both found that Body Stress Release succeeded where all other treatments had failed, and that it made a remarkable difference to their quality of life.

Such was Chris' belief in Body Stress Release that he left work, stopped racing and headed to South Africa to become a practitioner. "It was a life-changing process for me, a real calling. I knew I wanted to become a practitioner so that I could help others," he remembers.

Inspired by Chris, Marie also began learning the technique, and now they are two of only 30 or so specialists in the country qualified to practice the technique. At their treatment rooms in Hailsham, they see people with a variety of complaints, the most common of which are sciatica, back pain and headaches. People also come to them with conditions such as digestive problems and cramps.

Chris and Marie receive clients of all ages and say the gentle and unobtrusive nature of Body Stress Release is one of its main attractions, especially for older people who find other treatments too invasive or intense. They also say it can offer psychological benefits, with many clients reporting higher energy levels and a more positive outlook following a session.

Stress-busting time

Unlike traditional massage, the practitioner does not come into direct contact with the client's skin (only clothing) and there is none of the heavy pounding or manipulation of joints we associate with chiropractic or physiotherapy. Clients lie fully-clothed on a specifically-designed couch and the practitioner finds areas of stored tension in the muscles using a series of simple tests. Then, a light pressure is applied, which encourages the body to release tension.

Chris and Marie are very positive about the effect the technique can have, describing it as "a superb way of helping your body fight the many kinds of stress it is exposed to on a regular basis."

For more information about Body Stress Release, contact Chris and Marie on 01323 842093 or email info@chrisbsr.co.uk