Reminder – we begin with SELF – FIRST
Many fields – -including beginning with others.
Adding Heather’s Gentling Ways
HAWAIIAN /LOMI LOMI
‘Working hands-on the abdomen has always spoken to me, I loved this aspect of Heartworks and Kahuna massages, leading me to study Arvigo ® Self Care and then Professional Training. There was still a call for more, I found Heather Bruce and her Gentling Way Work, and have found that there are so many answers to questions I had in the past, and so many connections to different areas I have studied which make this such a fantastic addition to my professional skills. This work has actually influenced the way I treat clients on many levels. I am more attuned to the various ways in which energy works within the human body, more aware of the basic chemistry and impacts of ‘life’ on the ability of the human body to function effectively. The work has had a significant flow on into my own personal health as well as those I see in my clinic’. Vanessa – Grampians
I am learning how to gently address the pelvic repair almost all of us need. I had the pleasure and wonder of experiencing Heather’s Gentling Way. Heather’s Gentling Way, as the name suggests, is very gentle. The soothing touch of the treatment relaxes the body and the mind, bringing in the recollection of grandma’s touch and the mystery of that love. Although the technique is super gentle, it is extremely powerful in loosening ligaments and tension in the body, especially in the lower back and pelvis. I experienced evidence of this during the session while lying on the table, and it was magnified when I got up and felt the space and ease in my body. The gentleness and non-invasiveness of this technique make it suitable for children, younger people, and older people alike.” (From a very powerful, mindful, sensitive Ka Huna worker). Ivana – Brisbane
SHIATSU PRACTITIONER
I found the Gentling Way whilst searching for a pathway to heal myself. After having 2 years of counseling to work through years of debilitating medical interventions/several operations I had some sessions with Heather. This is after years of trying to heal through using other modalities and my learning so many to practitioner level myself. The lengthy Gentling Way sessions put me back in my body. This gave me the space to unwind. To be able to breathe deeply again. Very much like peeling away the layers of unexpressed emotions and maternal grief that I was still carrying. (Even after all that counseling!).
I could see the way Heather worked with people was unique. She works on opening hearts. To watch/feel her work, and to feel the changes in my own body and heart I knew this was the path I also wanted to travel. Changed my life in a profound way. Allowed me to integrate past experiences previously been packed securely into locked away ‘boxes’. They were blocking my life force from flowing. From me feeling. The Gentling Way’s mentoring, content and hands-on learning through experiential workshops has given me the tools I have needed to grow – not only as a practitioner – but as a woman and as a healing professional.
The Gentling Way has greatly enriched me to become more of the practitioner I am today. Results I get now in my clinical practice are vastly different to what I had achieved previously. As I become clearer (ongoing self development work I have committed to) so does my understanding to assist and model to others.. After every Gentling Way workshop, my business blooms.
On a personal note The Gentling Way has given me an opportunity to Step Up and reinvent myself. I am so much happier, focused, passionate and balanced in all areas of my life.. What drives me is my passion to help others restore their own sense of balance. Working with women who have gotten stuck (as I had been and still am undoing) in their life’s journey, and to help them unblock what it is to find themselves again, and to align with their flows and soul path.
I am not the same practitioner. I have learnt to think differently, to question differently and change my hands on approach to really feel with my hands and heart what it is that is happening for my client. I can hold space now with confidence, whether it be tears that my client is letting go of, or frustration and anger I can simply hold that space for them. I can create change for my client, visible, palpable change that my clients notice throughout the treatment They always comment on how much lighter, brighter and taller they feel at the end. I am thanked after every treatment with heartfelt appreciation.
My tool kit has got much bigger as has my appreciation for respecting nature and biology. Returning to wise woman’s wisdom and having awareness of how to help the body to let go of what is holding it hostage has been such a valuable learning experience. It doesn’t matter who walks into my clinic space, or how complicated their list of medical issues are; I always know where to start. The foundation moves are always needed and Iuse them on everyone, regardless of what therapies they may have had before coming to me. I believe everyone benefits from a Gentling way Session, the work is so beneficial to those with scars and adhesions. I have loved all the training I have done with Heather via online, courses with face-to-face delivery and hands-on clinics and the ongoing mentorship has been invaluable to my practise. Maja – Cairns
HAVENING/N.L.P./PULSING/TOUCH FOR HEALTH
Heather’s Gentling Way is a soft, gentle way to unlock neck, back and abdominal tension. Incorporating this with all else I have been using has enabled me to craft long-lasting results for those seeking help. Pain reduction and healing is achieved through untangling the responses of a body. Magically improving people’s lives with concise treatment plans. Hilary, Chch, NZ
NATUROPATHY
Born and raised on a cane farm in FNQ at the foot of a mountain, I was blessed to be raised in a small country town and spent a great deal of my childhood outside in the fresh air and hot sun, and we grew a great deal of our vegies too. Unfortunately like most farming back then there was a fair amount of poisons, fungicides and sprays used and at times the environment was less than ideal.
Various factors led to the diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis at a young age and there began the first of my healing journeys. Made more noticeable by my dancing, I fully experienced inflammation’s effect on the body and state of mind. Blessed with a mother that wouldn’t quit, she believed something could be done for my health, that diet may be involved and set about finding a solution. Thus my first naturopath. And with the remission of the UC, my intrigue for the body and all things health was born. After studying my Adv Dip’s alongside my husband’s various businesses, we started a fitness business together. Life was busy and my studies slipped… but the experience we gained through that time was invaluable to how I work now – we learnt how peoples personalities work and how to treat within the framework that suited them best, and we created a beautiful safe space that our clients felt at home in which in turn helped to create an incredible and close community – it was through this time that I learnt ‘it takes a tribe’ – the business embodied it.
Through the fitness industry, and with the strains of my husband’s health issues, I nearly gave up building a business as a naturopath. I felt that what it had become for me fell short of what I wanted I and expected it to be…. like only 1 leg of a 3-legged stool. It felt like a clinical recipe/ protocol. And maybe I was not working with the right clients….
Once I found Heather’s Gentling Way, I knew this work was the light I was looking for. A deeper understanding of the environment, what goes into the body, what happens in the body energetically as a result of these things, and then how to set up the body as its blueprint had intended, and how to move though the physical these problem areas that had arisen through the course of that individuals life in order to bring back to that intended blueprint. I had come home. I could finally embody and provide the work through my hands and knowledge that my heart had always wanted to give to others. Melissa Qld
KINESIOLOGY PLUS
I have a passion for teaching and working with people to transform their lives, so that they can be the best version of themselves. I began working In early childhood and later as a Steiner Kindergarten teacher. I really resonated with the head, heart and hands approach to learning, fostering the whole child. Life had other ideas for me. I saw Heather originally for my health in early 2020. I had no idea of what to expect. But I do know that I floated out of her treatment room. It was the most comprehensive multi-modality treatment of the whole mind body and soul that I had ever experienced. I was intrigued as to what she had done. I have been studying with Heather since 2020. Incorporating all that she has taught into my life and that of others.
I had a traumatic second pregnancy and sickly child. Due to chronic stress my health also suffered. Mainstream medicine labelled me as “one of the unlucky ones”, as all their treatments made no difference to the quality of my life. I was told to “learn to live with it”( chronic pain, fatigue, muscle wasting, brain fog the list went on and on). My son also didn’t respond to mainstream medicine. So for both of us I sought answers elsewhere. We tried many alternative therapies which did improve some symptoms, but never fully brought everything together.
Using a variety of modalities, I work with the nervous system, all the trauma /stress that is stored in the body is gently released and the body can return to its natural state of balance. When we feel safe, our body is able to let go and allow change to happen in our bodies and our lives. Change is possible when the body feels safe. I create that safe space for you to transform your life.
I have assisted people with kidney stones, chronic pain, mobility issues, depression and a general feeling of wanting more out of life.
My approach when working with people is to listen to where they are at, address the current concern and also address when/why it started. By working with the whole person, their mind , body and soul are able to align with a new reality transforming their lives. – Lenley, Qld
CHIROPRACTIC
As I was originally a client of Heather’s, I have experienced myself receiving the healing this work can offer. It was so nurturing to feel completely held and supported whilst my body was invited to heal. My first experience of steaming allowed me to sit, steaming overlooking her beautiful garden. I was safe and I was able to just be me. It is a soothing experience and very calming. I find the steaming has a releasing effect.
I love that this work is all about the individual. It’s about holding space, using many different tools to assist the patient. It’s gentle and nurturing and there is time in the sessions to allow people to unravel.After many years of my own abdominal pain I was constantly searching for someone who would work on my belly. Chiropractic runs in my family. Also as myself, chiropractically orientated, this was difficult, until I was referred to Heather. My life changed. Not only did I get relief from her body work but she also acted as a significant mentor, as the new practitioner I was. She initially guided me to the Arvigo techiques of Maya Abdominal Therapy and then onto her own specific teachings of the Gentling Way in which will be life long learning for me. – Zoe, Qld
ACUPUNCTURISTS
Using Heather’s Gentling Way work, I have been impressed at how my clients have made significant transformational leaps in their health since including these hands-on methods. They love the massage and the fact that I now use far less needles and in some cases none! The touching moves lymph, Qi, Blood and Damp at a very deep level and has a lasting effect. It also moves stuck emotions and helps people move on emotionally in their lives. I encourage my clients to continue the self-care massage at home to continue supporting the body’s natural healing system. – Belinda, NZ
I had been following Heather’s work for years and officially embarked on The Gentling Way practitioner journey in 2021, embracing the traditional wisdoms and multi lineage approach of her teachings. Love at first sight! ”It makes so much sense”. Simply. Naturally. It works. I particularly love Heather’s concept of ”Life recipe” and getting access to our own ”Owner’s manual”, which are both essential if one desires to heal and thrive.
Heather’s teachings have brought tangible hands on methods to understand better what is needed for recovery utilizing the very unique language of the body. It has helped me fill-in the gaps from previous trainings. I am now more confident in treating women’s health concerns, pregnant women and complex conditions, and has acquired additional practical tools so I can teach her patients simple, accessible and effective methods of healing that they can use themselves at home. Learning so many hand moves that have transformational effects! It has enhanced my understanding of the natural ways of healing as well as optimizing my practical healing abilities in clinic which translates in many positives and transformative outcomes. – Marie, Victoria
After many years of misdiagnosis, and then limited options for management, I had the awakening that my condition was aggravated, if not caused, by my retroverted uterus creating pressure and anomalies in structures through my sacral area. For many years I have tried different therapies to correct this, yet nothing truly addressed the problem in a deep enough way that would allow any physical changes to ‘stick’. Upon finding Heather and her deeply important work, I feel I have finally found the ‘end’ to this story. Heather’s work addresses the emotional as well as physical scarring left from years of inflammation, and gives me a light at the end of this journey.
Coupling Heather’s gentle yet profoundly moving approach with Acupuncture and the other healing modalities I employ has seen wonderful shifts in the way I approach each client, and the deeply satisfying results we are achieving in the clinic. Freeing and balancing the uterus and pelvis has added a profound depth to the work that I do, and it thrills me to see people hopping off the table feeling freer and more flowing than they have in years. Structure determines function, and it is my sincere wish that I can help others find the path to healing of body, mind and soul as I have myself – through deep exploration and acceptance of the past, nourishing the body and mind with the right ingredients, and deeply moving body work to help undo the ‘life’ lived. – Tanya, Northern NSW
After completing my Arts degree with a major in psychology, I started post graduate studies, however it dawned on me that the medical framework in which I was studying did not sit well for me. I started searching for a healing modality that resonated with me. That was Chinese medicine where the body, emotions and spirit were one and cannot be separated into parts. That is when I started studying Shiatsu, Chinese medicine, meditation and 5 element qi gung. During this time I embarked on a deep healing and spiritual journey as a Buddhist practitioner. This journey really helped me understand how our thoughts and emotions have a profound effect on our physical health. In my 30’s I started studying acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
My twins were born with an emergency C-section about a year after graduating. I lived in Bali for a number of years, working at Yayasan Bumi Sehat, a natural birthing centre. We had a community acupuncture and herbal clinic there and I was giving healthcare to newborn, children, fertility couples, pregnant women and all the way through to palliative care. It was a deep learning curve and I was often researching how to help patients as I sometimes felt out of my depth. I remember when I was asked to run the paediatric clinic as all the other practitioners were away. My response was I have only learned it in theory, I have no practical experience and I was told – well now is the time to gain experience! My time in Bali was an enriching experience . My children came to the clinic and created lots of mischief running around and charming the midwives, nurses and other staff.
I was interested in learning Mayan abdominal massage, and I had a couple of treatments with Heather which I loved. She has woven into her treatments, healing techniques from different traditional societies as well as acupuncture and lymphatic drainage. This coupled with Mayan abdominal massage which readjusts the ligaments of the uterus and adhesion breaking helped with my C-section scar and I instantly felt taller and freer. They were simple techniques that can have profound effect on the quality of peoples lives.
One of the things I really love about the Gentling Way is that the responsibility to heal is in your hands, not the practitioner. Not only do you receive treatment to correct the imbalances that is causing suffering, you also learn self care techniques that you take home and continue the healing/wellness journey in your own home. – Juliette, Brisbane
After significant birth trauma with my first, I was naturally drawn to supporting women through pregnancy and birth. When my eldest was about 6 months old we moved from Melbourne up to Brisbane. During this time I stumbled upon Heather and her work and was lucky enough to shadow and learn from Heather for over a year in her Brisbane clinic. This time strongly influenced the way I work- with many techniques still being used on the majority of my patients (everyone loves a good sacral wake up and moxa fan!!). It also had me thinking about how I work in an entirely new and exciting way.
Nearly 11 years later I came back in contact with Heather and after hearing about the extensive studies she has completed with a number of influential abdominal massage healers I wanted to learn more! One of the most significant things I take away from this work is that gentle is the way forward. There is no point trying to force the body to do something it isn’t ready to. By offering time, space, safety, and support the body is able to gently unravel and go back to how it is meant to be.
What attracts me to this work? What I love most about this work is that every single patient is different. Every person who walks through my door receives a unique treatment tailored specifically to them. I love how gentle, subtle, yet amazingly profound this work is. I love continuously growing as a practitioner, learning new techniques and tools to assist my patients, as well as building on my own knowledge base. I can’t ever see myself getting bored of this amazing work! – April, Victoria, Australia
If I’m really being honest with myself what I see in the clinic doesn’t bear much resemblance to what I was originally taught in class. Sure we can effect changes and a few clients (the fit and healthy ones) do get good results. But today, I mostly see clients who are very stagnant with damp/heat, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, sedentary lifestyles, poor diet, no exercise and toxin build up from food, environment and vaccines. Add to this daily stress and any unresolved past traumas that lock them into patterns of disease and depression and that is a powerful network of “STUCK.” Putting a few needles in (even an 8 Extra treatment) and taking a few pills is not going to shift that.
Talking to patients about making lifestyle changes, dietetics and adding in exercise and meditation is a waste of our time. We know lots but it doesn’t help them when they leave our clinic and go back to their everyday stressful lives where making those changes becomes too difficult for them. There must be a better way. I made a life changing decision to begin a mentoring programme with Heather. She works completely different from anyone else I have encountered in the past 12 years of study and working in TCM. It took me 8 years of following her work and theories on the internet before I finally took the plunge and rang her. I threw myself into it wholeheartedly and immediately began practicing what she taught me instead of what I learned at College. I AM SO GLAD I DID. My results in clinic have gone from good to GREAT overnight.
Heather brings together teaching and healing from all levels, not just the intellectual mumbo jumbo (here are the points and this is their function) that I have heard from every teacher since I began TCM. She is real and relevant to now – Elke, Australia
Working with Heather has taught me how to powerfully move these blockages, clearing away toxins and life debris so that when I put a few needles in I get MAXIMUM IMPACT. I am finally seeing miracles in my clinic – and that’s how it should be. That’s why I studied TCM. Mentoring with a Modern Master is bringing me into my “A Game”, thank you Heather. ELKE
Reconnecting Heart and Wombspace – a prelude into Womb Woes to Womb Wonders – Living Ligaments I
I attended Heather’s workshop – Reconnecting Bao and Dai Mai – Healing after C-Section – in June 2019, and came away with a host of tools to deepen the work I am currently doing as an Acupuncturist. Heather cherry-picked her healing tools over 40 years of work and honed an approach aimed at getting to the root of the problem – clearing physical, emotional and spiritual blockages that impede the free flow of Qi. She then aims to set people up for success by empowering them with the knowledge they need to take charge of their own health.
Starting with removing cold and then moving to unlocking physical and emotional trauma, Heather combines an acupuncture approach rooted in the 8 Extras with a range of other clinically useful tools she collected during her years of practice to gently but firmly return the body to balance by restoring flow. Drawing on extensive training in Arvigo Massage, Mercier technique, and a host of other hands on practices, Heather took what works and what makes sense, creating her own very effective, nurturing and holistic approach, which she now calls The Gentling Way.
Heather was so generous in her desire to pass on her knowledge, so that we as practitioners can really help people undo the damage of a lifetime of living. With a strong emphasis on hearing and healing the whole story, rather than just an isolated complaint, Heather’s work is the epitome of holistic. I have come away from this weekend with so much information, so many resources, and some amazing transformative tools that I can wind into my own practice start taking things to the next level. Elke
WOMB WOES TO WOMB WONDERS
“The Living Ligaments course attracted me for the holistic overview of the women’s and men’s issues both emotional and medically induced from surgery etc in the pelvis and related pain in the sacrum. Commonly seen in clinic. Also for me to have a continuation of the previously courses presented by Heather. And to learn how to shine my light brighter to become a beacon for others.
‘I wanted to achieve knowledge and understanding of the consequences to those that have been affected and to know the ways to rectify them in a subtle gentle way if appropriate. My needs were met, as I was introduced in depth to concepts, new techniques to apply. Demonstrated step by step and able to practice till I felt confident to apply in clinic.
‘The retreat was more than I expected as the content covered a wide range of topics and tools to use in clinic and daily life. The most valuable for me was the realisation of how well everything fit well together in the profound emotional body release that I myself experienced.
‘From the techniques to help the release, the helpers to assist including the Aura Soma, Rose of Raphael essences and the toning music. The grounding of myself and other participants who were holding the space. To feel first hand the expertise, safety and comfort from those involved to help me achieve a successful life changing outcome has given me more than any text book could. This was transformational – life changing for me and would be for any – open to the challenge of surrendering to the process”. Teri. NZ