Graham Carruthers
Dip. Acupuncture (HK) 1975 – Dip. Swedish massage (Syd) 1969
Born and educated in Sydney, Graham has been studying, practicing and teaching, yoga, meditation and healing, including acupuncture since the early 1970s. Graham is the principal of Healing Arts and Sciences.
Graham’s primary interest has been in the Taoist yoga, Tao Yin meaning “soft way – way of breath”, plus Tai Chi and Acupuncture. These he learnt from various masters including Shaolin master, Serge Martiche-Osterman, Tai Chi and Acupuncture master, Tennyson Yui and at Acupuncture Colleges Australia under Russell Jewel. His in-depth studies also include the health sciences; anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, clinical diagnosis, microbiology and pathology.
Graham also explored the Indian Yogas under the guidance of Acharya Upenda Roy, one of Sydney’s earliest and well-known Yoga masters. Included in Acharya’s regime was the practice and study of Hatha yoga (particularly in the style of B.S. Iyenga) plus Kriya, Raja, Kundalini and Tantric yoga.
Further to these disciplines, Graham spent a number of years studying and practicing the principles of postural dynamics as understood in western holistic modalities. These included Swedish, remedial and deep tissue massage and European Osteopathy, under the profound and expert guidance of Dan Albert, who was trained personally by Sir Bruce Fernley-Wood renowned Osteopath to Queen Elizabeth II.
In recent years, Graham has studied and practiced Alchemic Yoga as taught by John Burke. This highly effective blend of “longevity and alchemic practices” draws its source from Taoist, Tibetan, Australian aboriginal and Celtic metaphysical traditions. These practices do not constitute a religion, but are simple, practical and easy to learn. With regular practice they can put us in touch with our true selves and give us continued good health and essential emotional balance.
Through the eighties and nineties, Graham focused his practice in Acupuncture and Massage working in clinics in Thredbo, Berry and Sydney and over some years (combined with additional business activities in Food, Communications Technology & Management Consulting) Graham honed his practice and deepened his research in the (so-called) “esoteric philosophies” and the healing arts.
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Swedish remedial massage
The purpose of massage is to produce a therapeutic effect on the soft tissues of the body and also the body systems such as muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory and skin. Massage can be used for relaxation, relieving stress and tensions, relaxing tight muscles and to give support during or after illness. Regular massage can be part of a healthy lifestyle, producing and promoting better health physically and psychologically.
Massage is not simply a method of physical healing; it is a potent form of interpersonal communication. Masseurs learn to give, to care and to empathize with the understanding that the person receiving the massage is doing so in trust.
Swedish massage improves lymphatic circulation which is vitally important in keeping the internal organs vigorous. This increased circulation is helpful in hastening convalescent periods and improving conditions after surgery, it also improves the condition of the heart and maintains its health.
Swedish massage at regular intervals helps maintain the health of the central nervous system and its many connections. In neurological cases in which there is an interruption of impulses from the central nervous system, artificial activation of muscles can in many cases be affected by massage to delay atrophy in the inactive skeletal muscle. Muscle spasms can be relaxed by inhibiting motor impulses from the central nervous system.
Whenever the body finds it difficult to exercise, massage becomes an indispensable substitute. By intermittent contractions and relaxations the skeletal muscles act as a subsidiary pump aiding the hearts own movement of blood to superficial arteries. Swedish massage promotes superficial and deep venous return, increases capillary blood flow and eases strain on the heart.
The Swedish massage technique is based on specific movements of hands on the body to achieve total effectiveness. Swedish massage utilizes different hand movements upon the body. The first is effleurage, a smooth "upward such as" movement. Next is petrissage which allows pressure and friction to relax tense points and break up muscular adhesions and knots. Tapotement has the effect of relaxing and driving out tenseness.
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