The Thompson Method of Bodywork: Structural Alignment, Core Strength, and Emotional Release

256 Pages·2018·7.83 MB·English

by  Cathy Thompson

Thompson Method
THE
Bodywork
OF
“Cathy Thompson had the rarest combination of experience, knowledge,
and pure instinct. I only had to walk in the door for her to understand
where I was at physically and emotionally. And the results were as
unorthodox and surprising as her methods. She was one of a kind.”
HUGH JACKMAN, ACTOR AND PRODUCER
“Cathy’s extraordinary gift began in her brain, traveled to her heart, and
continued through the tips of her fingers.”
KATHIE LEE GIFFORD, TV PERSONALITY AND AUTHOR
“Throughout my professional operatic and teaching careers, I have been
blessed with many who have supported and enabled my vocal strength
and health. Cathy Thompson and now Tara Thompson Lewis have been
instrumental in my success as a singer and teacher. Specializing in
physical manipulation for professional singers, actors, and dancers, they
are able to relieve pain, tension, and realign the body to achieve optimal
health and performance. Here in New York City in my own professional
voice studio, I am able to utilize their techniques to help my students
understand the importance of proper physical organization as it applies
especially to singing. I urge anyone who wants to be a better, healthier
performer to read this book. I enthusiastically recommend their
techniques, and I continue to be a delighted and grateful client.”
CANDACE GOETZ, OPERA SINGER AND FOUNDER OF THE CANDACE GOETZ
VOICE STUDIO
“Tara Thompson Lewis has done a masterful job in completing this
ambitious book begun by her late mentor and mother, Cathy Thompson,
thus making these brilliant teachings available to anyone. The Thompson
Method of Bodywork presents mountains of useful information (much of
it drawn from Zen Shiatsu) and offers a banquet of exercises for healing
the kyo/jitsu relationship within ourselves, whether the triggers happen
to be physical injury, structural misalignment, or psychological,
spiritual, or emotional pain.”
KATHLEEN PORTER, AUTHOR OF NATURAL POSTURE FOR PAIN-FREE LIVING
AND HEALTHY POSTURE FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN
“I spent many years working with Cathy Thompson (and then with
Tara), and reading this material reminded me of Cathy’s very specific
genius: her profound understanding of the body and, may I say, much
more. Working with both of them had a profound effect on my singing,
and indeed my life, and it’s a great pleasure to be able to reconnect with
Cathy’s way of thinking and working while reading this book. I
recommend it highly for anyone interested in changing, improving, and
enriching their lives. It certainly did mine.”
STEVEN LUTVAK, SINGER-SONGWRITER AND COMPOSER AND LYRICIST OF
THE TONY AWARD–WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO
LOVE AND MURDER
“I first began seeing Cathy Thompson in my 20s, while starting on
Broadway. Both my physical life and emotional life were quite
demanding, and I needed all around custom-tailored care. After each and
every session I’ve had, I’ve walked out feeling calmer, yet more
energized, as well as open. As a vocalist and performer, being a clear
channel is of the utmost importance.”
DEBBIE GIBSON, AMERICAN SINGER-SONGWRITER, RECORD PRODUCER, AND
ACTRESS
“I began working with Cathy Thompson over 20 years ago, as a young
singer with chronic throat tension. At the time, I thought her work was
magical, her intuition uncanny. Over the years, I began to understand
how the Thompson Method works and what Cathy was doing when she
worked on my body and encouraged me to explore on my own. Now,
two decades later, I am thrilled that Cathy’s work is available to
everyone who is interested in learning about how to take care of their
bodies, voices, and minds. In addition to singing, I teach voice to a wide
range of students. Access to the Thompson Method will add a great deal
of value to their practice routines. In each chapter, Cathy explores and
explains possible reasons for tension or lack of strength and mobility and
then offers well-explained and illustrated exercises to address each of
these aspects. Twenty plus years after being introduced to it, I am still
reaping benefits from and learning about the Thompson Method, and I
am grateful for it.”
JAMIE LEONHART, SINGER, SONGWRITER, AND VOICE TEACHER
Acknowledgments I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK Suzan Postel, who worked
closely for years with Cathy and me, for
her dedicated help and support with the
entire writing process. Special thanks
also to Joan Lader, Candace Goetz,
Jamie Leonhart, Judith Clurman, Trebbe
Johnson, Carrie Jacquith, Chris
Simpson, Darren Aronofsky, Megan
Frummer, Steven Lutvak, Ruth Williams
Hennessy, Elissa Lewis, and Ohashi. I
would also like to thank Mike Saijo,
Michelle Joo, and Miguel (the three Ms!)
for their dedication to creating the
essential and beautiful illustrations to
complement my mother’s text, and all of
our clients who have provided
themselves for the development of the
material. Thank you to everyone at Inner
Traditions/Healing Arts Press for making
the publishing process a pleasure. I’d
also like to thank my husband, Brandon
Lewis, for always supporting and
motivating me and patiently helping me
bring this project to you. I would like to
thank my daughter, Adela, for giving me
motivation and her wonderful nanny,
Ariane, who made it possible.
T.T.L.
Contents
1. Cover Image
2. Title Page
3. Epigraph
4. Acknowledgments
5. Foreword by Ohashi
6. Preface by Tara Thompson Lewis
7. Introduction
1. Learning to Listen to the Body
2. Keys to Change
3. Facing the Mystery
8. Part 1: Cathy Thompson’s Philosophy of Bodywork
1. Chapter 1. Kyo and Jitsu
1. We Are the Problem
2. Kyo and Jitsu: A Starting Point
3. Functional and Structural Kyo/jitsu
4. Using the Kyo/jitsu Paradigm
2. Chapter 2. Structural Health: Symmetry, Space, and Flow
1. Gravity
2. Becoming Correctly Upright
3. Correct the Position of Your Thighbones
4. Stability and Foundation
3. Chapter 3. Mind/Body
1. Memory and Experience
2. The Power of Imagery and Visualization
3. The Evocative Power of Touch
4. Working with Emotions through the Body
5. Relaxation or Shavasana
6. “Switching” to Relax
4. Chapter 4. What Is Tension?
1. Muscular Tension
2. The Interplay of Bones and Muscles
3. The Main Causes of Musculoskeletal Pain
5. Chapter 5. Injury and Trauma
1. The Legacy of Injuries
2. Specifics of Injury
6. Chapter 6. Pain
1. Structural Methods
2. How We React to Pain and What We Can Do About It
7. Chapter 7. About the Exercises in This Book
1. Familiar Imbalances
2. Using Kyo and Jitsu to Increase Body Awareness
3. The Importance of Corrective Exercise
4. Taking a Kinesthetic “Photograph”
5. How to Stretch
6. Types of Strengthening Exercises
7. Avoiding Tilting at Windmills
8. Popular Misconceptions