Flex Yoga and Massage - mobile yoga and massage in Adelaide
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Roll and release

I combine my knowledge from massage, anatomy from my science background in pharmacy and yin yoga to teach Roll and Release Worskhops, corporate classes and regular weekly classes around Adelaide.  I am also hosting the Yoga Tune Up Roll Model teacher training series in Adelaide if you'd like to learn how to teach these techniques to your own students.

Students have the opportunity to unwind and release their bodies during these classes and techniques used span from the top of the head to the toes using the student's choice of 4 different sizes of Yoga Tune Up balls or soft golf balls to smooth out trigger points in muscles and allow the fascia to release.  All techniques are done fully clothed, lying on a yoga mat or towel, or leaning against a wall if less pressure is desired.  Each class features different sequences and postures that can be modified to suit the individual's range of motion.  No prior experience in these techniques is necessary.

I stock the entire range of Yoga Tune Up balls on my Shop page.


Why is therapy ball massage beneficial?

Self-myofascial massage techniques can help pry apart muscle adhesions, knots and trigger points.  It works by targeting the myofascia, the web of connective tissue that runs throughout the whole body, surrounding our muscle bundles and fibres.  Muscles that are locked-up with adhesions cannot fully contract or stretch, and can create dysfunctional compensation patterns that lead to more imbalances throughout the body.  Aches, pains, injuries and diminishing returns in performance are inevitable side effects from these imbalances.

These self-massage techniques do so much more than just apply pressure to an annoying knot - it provides a micro-stretch into areas of myofascia that have become adhered due to damage, lack of use, poor nutrition, scar tissue, emotional holding or other reasons.  It accesses the tissues in a way that a normal yoga class or stretching cannot.

Learning self-massage techniques means that you have full control over the amount of pressure you apply and the convenience of being able to work on any trouble areas at your fingertips.  You can spend longer in the areas that need attention as well as get to exactly the right spot.  Whilst it doesn't have to replace your regular massage or body work sessions, it will certainly help you to maintain your body and prevent pain for longer periods between sessions, saving you both time and money.

Self-massage also reduces stress by switching on the parasympathetic nervous system, micro-stretching the muscles and re-calibrating the muscle's resting length by switching off nerves that were maintaining unnecessary tension in the muscle.


What do my classes involve?

My therapy ball workshops combine Yin Yoga, concepts from Tom Myers ‘Anatomy Trains’, therapy ball massage techniques from "The Roll Model" (Yoga Tune Up) and from many other therapy ball and massage trainings that I have attended.  No yoga experience is necessary, as Yin Yoga is a gentle form of yoga that involves holding a static stretch for 2-5 minutes.   All you need is a yoga mat/towel, therapy balls and yoga block (all provided) and yourself in stretchy or comfortable clothing - a tracksuit or clothes you would wear to exercise in is ideal.

My Therapy Ball workshops focus on using the balls to release adhesions and trigger points in the myofascia of specific target areas.  We work on releasing a few areas at a time (for example, rolling out areas in the upper back) before moving into a yin yoga posture (long hold stretch) to lengthen and realign the tissue.  To find out more about my upcoming workshops, please see my Workshop page.

My regular, weekly yin yoga classes generally feature therapy ball work on one or two focus body areas per class, with the main component of the class using the yoga postures themselves for myofascial release.  Alternatively, I may sequence the yin yoga postures with trigger point therapy using the balls at the same time as doing the yoga pose. 

Yin Yoga is different from many other styles of yoga as it involves long, slow holds that targets the connective tissues, such as the ligaments, bones, and even the joints of the body that normally are not exercised very much in a more active style of yoga practice. Suitable for nearly any student, Yin Yoga is a perfect complement to the dynamic activities that we are mostly used to that focus on muscular strength and contraction. Once you have experienced this practice, you’ll realise traditional exercise programs offer only half of what the body needs for optimum function. These classes are a great introduction to rolling techniques or as a refresher for students that have attended my therapy ball workshops. You can find out more about my regular Yin Yoga classes on my class schedule page. 





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Why the Yoga Tune Up brand?

I have personally found the Yoga Tune Up brand balls to be the best massage balls on the market because they are grippy, pliable and portable.  They also come in their own twin tote bag which is useful for certain massage techniques.

Tennis balls are cheap, easy to access and are fine for beginners - you can also tie two balls in a long sock to make your own double-ball tote.  Over time you will appreciate a grippier ball is easier to use (tennis balls are furry and are hard to pin into position) and a more pliable ball will mold around bony prominences better for better comfort.  Lacrosse balls are often commonly used and are harder, and again cannot access the soft tissues in and around bony junctions as well and increases the risk of bruising.

The Yoga Tune Up balls are made of rubber with the right amount of give so they yield to the hardness of bones and can nuzzle into the soft tissues around.  The grippiness of the rubber enables them to take a hold of your skin and the underlying superficial fascia and slide and transition it over the deeper fascias and muscles beneath.  You can try out the Yoga Tune Up balls for yourself during my classes and workshops.  You can purchase them from me in person, my online store or Ebay store.  Students get an additional 10% discount of retail price on my workshop days.


What about Foam Rolling?

Foam rolling is great too, if done correctly.  You'll lose the benefits of myofascial release if you end up tensing up or dumping all of your body weight into an area and potentially damaging tissue.  Foam rollers tend to be quite solid and can't navigate around bony areas as well as the therapy balls can, therefore it is more difficult to target particular trigger points.  They are great for overall rolling out of larger areas.  All myofasical release tools have their place.
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Which size ball is best?

There are 4 different sizes of balls in the Yoga Tune Up range.  The original sized balls can be compared to compressing a thumb into your tissues, the Plus (similar size to a tennis ball) is like a therapist using their elbow, and an Alpha ball is like a fist.  The Coregeous ball is a large, inflatable ball made of soft, stretchy, grippy rubber and can take hold of large sheets of tissue at once but with less depth of pressure than the solid balls. 

All of the balls are useful however if you are just starting out, I recommend the Plus size balls and a yoga block (or thick book) to help build up extra pressure when needed and then add the other balls to your collection as your massage ball love grows!


Corporate/Private Groups
We spend many hours a day at work or playing sports which can involve repetitive movement patterns or poor posture, leading to tightness, muscle pain and potential injury.

Corporate or private groups (work groups, Wellness days, team building, mother's groups, Hen's parties etc) can arrange for a private class, ranging from 60-90 minutes and can be a one off session or a series of classes to target specific areas to suit your needs.  Workshops are fully clothed and accessible to almost everyone - students with mobility issues that cannot lie on the ground will have the option to try variations of the sequences against the wall.  Read more about my corporate programs.

Sporting clubs, groups or events
I can design a therapy ball class to target the areas that get overused or misused in your particular sporting discipline - whether that's cycling, running, weight lifting, gymnastics, dancing, football, tennis, golf or swimming.  Regular myofasical release work can help prevent injury, correct postural imbalance and asymmetry and reverse some of the damage from repetitive movement patterns.  Classes can combine yin yoga (long hold stretches) with the therapy ball techniques, or focus purely on the therapy ball massage.  Workshops can be held as a one off event, or as a series of events where students will begin to learn these skills for themselves and we can target even more problem areas in a variety of different ways. I already work with several sporting teams in Adelaide.  Please contact me to discuss further so I can tailor a program specific for your sport.

Therapy ball work is priced from $30/participant (or $25/participant > 10) for 60mins, all equipment supplied, with a minimum of 6 students per class.






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"My name is Stewart. I am the least flexible participant in your yoga class today!! Cyclist with thigh/glute strain.  Thanks so much for today's class. While not wanting to overstate it, my body and post the class, my mind, felt liberated after doing Yin.  I have enjoyed all your classes, but the Yin today was just the tonic"
Stewart Caust, Jan 2017

"I bought massage balls a few months back and had been playing about with them. However, once I was in Deanne's class I realised that I was only using them to a fraction of their potential! She explained everything very concisely and made it easy to follow where the balls should be placed. I learned lots of new techniques and feel the confidence to use them everyday in my own practice. Thanks so much Deanne! Xx” - Claire Nisbett, October 2017

"I have weekly massage for chronic pain, learning how to do it myself or even paying to come to a workshop each week would save me money.  It also means whenever I have a flare I can treat myself" - Sarah, December 2017

"After completing the Therapy Ball Workshop I felt amazing! As a Massage Therapist I have attended a few similar events but this one really excelled. I was impressed with the content in the workshop and how it was demonstrated to be done at home in your own time. Deanne presented the workshop beautifully and I would completely recommend you invest in your body and experience one of her upcoming workshops” - Kristy Jenkinson, September 2017


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Personalized Massage Self-Care package

Would you prefer to have your own unique massage sequence created just for you?  Let's have a chat about where your problem areas are and we can go from there.

1x Postural assessment and myofascial release / sports massage 90mins 
1x Personalised therapy ball and stretch routine to address your needs 90min program
1x  Follow up session (up to 60mins) in person or Skype with technique tips and correction, additional sequences given as necessary 
1x Yoga Tune Up therapy ball set (size of your choice)
1x Yin, Roll and Release class at Kanti Yoga studio
1x Roll and Release workshop pass for upcoming event

Total massage package $499
*limited time special $449*


Please note that this package is available for existing yoga or massage clients only.


Massage Self Care package
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