-The Intensity Program-
with Elise Brown, LMT
at Center of Balance

Details and FAQs

Here's what you receive as part of your year-long Intensity Program:

• One Intensive: 8 hours of bodywork packed into 2 days. Whew!
• Eleven hour-and-a-half bodywork sessions: one per month for each of the remaining months
• $10 discount (off regular prices) on any additional sessions that you receive during the year

Here's what you pay:

• One simple, flat monthly fee of $110, automatically charged to your credit or debit card. That's it. (Or you may pay $105 per month by cash or check. But we will still need to have a credit or debit card number on file for you.) You can also pay the full fee up front by cash or check ($1225) and save an additional $35.
• Because the Intensity Program functions like a membership you are responsible for the monthly fee whether or not you use the service that month. No-shows and last minute cancellations of appointments count toward your monthly appointment. So please join this program only if you have a schedule which allows you to plan ahead to make and keep appointments.

Further details:

How is the Intensive arranged?
How do we pack 8 hours of bodywork into 2 days? Each day starts with a 2-hour session, then a break for lunch, and then another 2-hour session. There's a day off in the middle to give your body a chance to integrate the work from the first day before continuing. We suggest that you spend this day with gentle movements that feel good to you: yoga, tai chi, walking, and swimming are all good activities. Don't do anything strenuous or demanding. In fact, we highly recommend that you make the entire 3-day period a retreat just for yourself. Take off work and take a short break from family responsibilities. Treat yourself to a couple of yoga classes and plan to go for long walks in beautiful surroundings. You might even consider staying at a hotel or B&B in the area, especially one that offers a pool and a hot tub. After all, the whole point to the Intensive Program is that you're making yourself and your health a priority. Take three days out of the year to let that concept soak in.

What kinds of bodywork does the Intensive include?
The Intensive can include any type of bodywork that Elise Brown offers. Since she's got 16 years of experience in the field, that's quite a lot. Here's the list, and then we'll show you how it can all come together:

• Massage (both Swedish and deep tissue)
• Hot RiverStone Massage ($15 extra charge applies)
• Connective Tissue Massage
• Myofascial Release Therapy
• CranioSacral Therapy
• Myoskeletal Alignment Technque
• TRAGER Movement Integration

Let's start out Day 1 with a postural analysis and then a combination of Myofascial Release (stretching) and Connective Tissue Massage (deep tissue fascial work) to get you standing up straighter and moving more freely. After lunch we'll bring in the rhythmic movements of a Trager session to help your body explore its newfound freedom and then we'll end the day with the stillness of craniosacral therapy to make sure that the central nervous system is functioning optimally.

Hopefully you'll enjoy a decadant but healthy dinner that evening and then spend the following day exploring motion through a variety of gentle activities. You'll be surprised how different your body already feels and how very much it welcomes and craves movement.

To begin Day 2, we'll start off with another postural analysis and you can let me know any areas that still feel like they need more work. With a combination of gentle Trager movements and the precision of Myoskeletal Alignment, we'll target all those stubborn spots because when they let go, it will flood your entire body with an incredible feeling of ease and vitality. Then please take your time and have a wonderful lunch, because when you return, it's time for your 2-hour Hot RiverStone Massage. The heat penetrates through muscles into bone, warming and softening tissues throughout your body. The massage is firm and specific, working on each and every muscle. People are known to snore and drool during this massage, and they don't even care.

Enjoy another wonderful dinner and a refreshing night's sleep. And best of all, enjoy your new body. Remember, you've got 11 more months of bodywork to keep you in great shape!

(That's just one example of how you might arrange your Intensive. Each person is different, and we'll work together to create exactly what you need. It's even possible that we could bring in another therapist if you needed a different type of therapy, such as Lymphatic Drainage, Reflexology, or Neuromuscular Therapy. And keep in mind that the Hot RiverStone Massage costs an extra $15 to cover the preparation time involved - but it's well worth it.)

When are the Intensives scheduled?
Intensive sessions span 3 days: a day of bodywork, a day off to rest and integrate, then another day of bodywork. They can be held on a Monday/Wednesday, a Tuesday/Thursday, or a Wednesday/Friday combination.

When scheduling, try to find time when you can take off work for a least a few days and when you can be away from family responsibilities and able to focus on yourself. Additionally, you might consider the season. If you'd like to be outdoors walking or swimming during your "pause" day, you might prefer to schedule your Intensive during warmer weather. If you really like the idea of including a Hot RiverStone Massage, especially when its blustery outside, then schedule during colder weather. Or maybe you just want to get to the Intensive as soon as possible....or maybe you don't think your body is up to 8 hours of bodywork just yet, and you'd like to work up to it by having your monthly massages first and letting your program culminate with the Intensive.

Why isn't this program for everyone?
The Intensity Program requires a commitment and a great deal of advance planning from its participants. You will need to select a time for your Intensive session when you sign up for the Program. That means you need to be able to commit to a 3-day period when you have no other demands on your time and can be free to both experience and integrate the bodywork. And you will need to schedule your monthly sessions about a month ahead of time...in other words, schedule your next month's session at the conclusion of this month's session. You will be responsible for making and keeping your appointments, and you will forfeit appointments that are no-shows or last-minute cancellations or those you simply forgot to schedule. There will simply not be room in Elise's schedule to accomodate rescheduling appointments missed for those reasons, although we can make exceptions in true emergency situations.

When you enroll in the Program, you will be asked to sign a contract. This contract is binding for the full year except in emergency circumstances. While the contract is in force, you will be responsible for the regular montly payments whether you use the services or not. So please only enroll if you are reasonably sure than you can plan your schedule far enough ahead of time and can commit to the Program for a full year.

Additionally, not everyone will enjoy or benefit from the 8-hour Intensive session, which is really the shining star of the Intensity Program. If you feel that you would rather just receive the montly sessions, you can certainly schedule those yourself without needing to commit to the Intensity Program.

Could I schedule an additional Intensive Session?
If time is available in Elise's schedule, you may certainly schedule an additional Intensive session. The cost for all 8 hours would be $400, if you are currently enrolled in the Intensity Program or $440 if you are not currently enrolled. (Additional 6% fee applies if paying by credit or debit card.)