Aug 2019 - Lowveld

Tension
free!
Melissa Appel
Text: Liezel Lüneburg. Photographer: Tanya Erasmus
Body stress release
is an interesting
complementary
technique. We visit
expert Melissa Appel
at her practice in White
River to find out more.
Melissa was born in Middelburg,
Mpumalanga and matriculated
at St Mary’s School for girls in
Waverley, Johannesburg. Since she
can remember, she has wanted to
heal. After finishing school she
studied for a national diploma in
radiography at Wits Technikon in
Johannesburg. After completing
her studies, Melissa practised as a
radiographer at Sandton Clinic and
was also involved in the medical
schemes and insurance industry for
a couple of years.
She met her husband, pilot André
Joubert, in 2010 and, according
to her, it was love at first sight. The
couple made a lifestyle decision to
relocate from Johannesburg to White
River in 2016 and they have never
looked back. “We absolutely love the
bushveld and White River is close
enough to Limpopo to enjoy a
weekend in Hoedspruit, where my
parents have a place,” Melissa says.
“Of course the traffic is a breeze after
Joburg and the people and
discussions are just more ‘real’ than
those in the city.”
The technique
really is powerful,
non-invasive and
not too expensive
André flies international long-haul
flights for SAA and so is away for a
couple of nights every week. When
he is out of town Melissa looks after
daughter Lexi, who is in grade one,
What does BSR entail?
Modern society is a minefield of
demanding situations and many
times the body struggles to adapt to
inevitable stressful situations. We are
exposed every single day to
mechanical, chemical and mental
or emotional stress.
Mechanical stress can occur due to
injury, strain or bad posture while
chemical stress can be brought on by
pollution, additives and food colourants.
Because of these factors, muscles
tighten and the body finds it hard to
naturally relax again.
Layer upon layer of unaddressed
muscle tension builds up and
before long negative symptoms,
which inhibit quality of life, start
appearing. Accumulated muscle
tightness leads to a point of
overload and the tension may
become locked in the body’s
physical structures.
“This exerts pressure on the spinal
nerves and could result in pain,
numbness, muscle weakness
and stiffness, bad posture and
impaired functioning,” she
explains. “This body stress
needs to be effectively
released to encourage
and restore normal
functioning and
to stop the cycle of
stress overload and
compensation.”
and son Andrew (5). Despite the fact
that the couple do not have family
support in the area, Melissa copes
quite well. She has a brilliant nanny,
Emmah, and since moving here she
has built up a strong support system
of wonderful friends who are more
than willing to lend a hand when
necessary.
Melissa practises as a flexitime practitioner
at the White River Macadamia
Care and enjoys it thoroughly. But
why body stress release (BSR), which
entails a more natural approach to
healing than modern medicine? “In
2002 I suffered from an excruciating
This is where the practice of BSR
comes in - it gently utilises the body’s
natural yearning to be stress-free
to help the body to release stored
muscle tension. While lying down
fully clothed, Melissa tests the client’s
body for stress. She then applies a
gentle and localised pressure to the
affected areas, encouraging the body
to naturally release the tension. She
does not only apply the technique,
but also gives advice on posture, suggests
simple self-help techniques and
discusses further follow-up sessions.
pain in my shoulder and a locked jaw,”
Melissa explains. “Nothing helped and
I was quite discouraged. A friend
suggested BSR and I was ready to try
anything that could possibly bring
relief.”
The technique did wonders. In 2004
she decided to enrol for training
at the BSR Academy situated near
Sedgefield on the picturesque
Western Cape Garden Route.
Details
Melissa on 082-337-3893 or at
melis.joubs@vodamail.co.za
The technique really is powerful,
non-invasive and not too expensive
and we recommend trying it, even
if it is only to promote relaxation. As
Melissa points out: it can benefit
people of all ages, even those who
are not acutely aware of persistent
muscle stress. It is suitable for all ages
and levels of health, including infants.
BSR has an interesting history and not
many people know that it is a proudly
South African technique. It was
researched and developed in 1980s,
by Gail and Ewald Meggersee, and is
nowpractised worldwide.
Although BSR is not a diagnosis or
treatment, it could assist in the
improvement of the following
conditions by locating and releasing
stored muscle tension
• Musculoskeletal complaints
including, among many others,
whiplash, hip pain, arthritis and
scoliosis
• Gynaecological disorders such as
fertility and period problems and
menopausal side effects
• Emotional problems including
insomnia, anxiety and stress
• Gastrointestinal complaints such as
heartburn, IBS and many more
• Childhood complaints including
colic, growing pains and bed-wetting.
26 Get It Lowveld August 2019 August 2019 Get It Lowveld 27