Volkier Bentinck Massage Therapy

Massage therapy according to Volkier Bentinck is not recognised as Anthroposophical Body Therapy by the Medical Section at the Goetheanum.
Status: Summer 2023

Description:

The starting point in this therapy is the primordial rhythm: Heart-breath rhythm 4:1.
This has a dissolving effect in the massage together with surprising massage strokes (e.g. interruptions, inversions) in relation to stuck and blocking habits. That is why we also call it reducing or a form of cutting back or pruning, just as one cuts back roses, for example.

With the help of massage therapy, one reduces, prunes that of which there is too much. Through this, the dynamic balance recovers.

Example:
In the case of problems falling asleep, one can say that "someone cannot switch off his head". This means that the nervous system is overstimulated - the pole of consciousness then predominates, so to speak - called the "nervous-sensory system" in anthroposophical terms. These can be pushed back by treating the upper pole (arm and head massage).
In the case of problems sleeping through the night, the "lower pole" predominates, so that the patient is sleepy and unconcentrated during the day. Therefore, the legs are treated here in order to push back this imbalance.

Through observation and examination, the therapist determines which processes are out of balance.
The massage can take place 1-2 times a week in a rhythm over seven weeks.
The therapist learns to adjust the treatment to the constitution and the reactions of the individual patient.
The treatment of the upper pole is followed by a rest of about 15 minutes, after a treatment of the lower pole the patient takes a short active walk.

Historical context

Volkier Bentinck (1912- 2007, Dutch physiotherapist) developed the massage therapy named after him after a meeting with Ita Wegman, MD, in 1942 in Ascona.
 
Very surprisingly, she made the proposal to personally introduce him to the medical massage therapy she had developed.

With this impulse from Ita Wegman, his life's work began.

A key experience was the impressive encounter with an 8-year-old child in the curative education institute "Huize Thomas" in Rotterdam, Peter.

Volkier Bentinck suddenly experienced in this child, almost tangibly, the two primal processes of building up and breaking down that correspond to the processes of life and consciousness in human beings.

Marijan van Veen (*1933), a nurse and later an art therapist, took the initiative in 1970 to secure this special form of massage for the future. She questioned Volkier Bentinck intensively about his knowledge and practical skills and wrote everything down in detail. 

With a lot of patience and perseverance and in a joint exchange, a book on the basics of this method was developed from these manuscripts in a process over seven years.

Also during this time, an interdisciplinary group of doctors, physiotherapists and nurses was formed, which continues to pass on the practical skills of this method to this day. 

To date, monthly colloquia have taken place within the framework of this initiative group.
The existing further and advanced training courses have been organised and carried out by this group.

Fields of work

In principle, the Bentinck massage can be carried out anywhere and at any time. 

In addition to the usual therapeutic situation in practices, it can also take place in a sitting or standing position. 

The best experiences so far have been made in curative education and in general practice (therapeutic practice), which is visited by people with a wide variety of complaints.
 
Other areas of application are in psychiatry as well as in schools and residential institutions. 

This massage is suitable for all age groups and genders and can be used in the care of the elderly, children, employees of companies, in hospitals and many more.

Interdisciplinary work

The Volkier Bentinck Massage Therapy initiative group consists of doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, an art therapist (Collot d'Herbois method) and a children's physiotherapist. 

Referrals are made by doctors, paediatricians or psychotherapists. 

Training opportunities

A training facility exists in Amersfoort (Netherlands) in particular.

On-site training is also available on request, adapted to individual possibilities if necessary.

Current information can be found at www.volkierbentincktherapieen.nl.  

Admission requirements for further training:

Doctors (anthroposophically trained)
Nurses with the basic course in anthroposophic nursing (NL)
Physiotherapists with the one-year "Interdisciplinaire Basismodule Academie Antroposofische Gezondheidszorg (NL)".