What is Biodynamic Massage?
A psychotherapeutic approach to massage that works with the whole person — body and mind together.
Biodynamic massage is a form of massage that addresses both the body and the mind. It is concerned with the integration of every aspect of a person — physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual — within the context of their life: home, work and relationships.
The approach has its roots in Norwegian physiotherapy and was established in the UK by Gerda Boyesen, a psychologist, physiotherapist and analyst who brought her work to London in 1968.
The thinking behind the work
Biodynamic massage rests on a small number of core convictions:
- We function as energetic beings — mind and body are not separate systems.
- Health flourishes when energy can flow freely through the whole person.
- Given the right conditions, people have an innate capacity for self-healing and self-regulation.
- Illness can be understood as disharmony — with ourselves and with our surroundings.
- What we experience today may carry influences from both past and present.
Rather than setting out to “cure” a complaint, the biodynamic massage therapist works alongside the client to understand what a symptom might mean, using touch and non-verbal communication to support the client's own healing capacity.
No two sessions the same
Because the work follows the person rather than a protocol, sessions are highly individual. The therapist draws on a wide repertoire of techniques and adapts them to what the client's body presents on the day. You can read more about what happens in a session, the theoretical principles behind the work, and its therapeutic aims.