Atlas Therapy is a specialized form of acupressure vibrational massage targeting a specific group of muscles, facilitating the Atlas's return to its natural position without disrupting the neck's anatomical structure, showcasing the method's safety.
Unlike direct manipulation, the Atlas and the rest of the spine remain untouched. Instead, the surrounding tissues of the Atlas are tended to with the aid of advanced Swiss and Canadian devices crafted precisely for this technique.
The massage engages the surrounding tissues, gradually mobilizing the suboccipital muscles, easing the tension within the ligaments and fascia between the atlas and the occipital bone, and alleviating the tightness in the trapezius. This gentle manipulation enhances the elasticity and mobility of the stretched soft tissues, thereby enabling the atlanto-occipital joint's movement, guiding the Atlas naturally back to its central position.
The unique anatomical arrangement of the Atlas, unsecured by a disc to the occiput (back of the head) and the second vertebra (axis), and having shallow joint surfaces, relies on the ligaments and surrounding musculature (soft tissues) for its positioning. This is why vibrational intervention can be effective.
It's not the pressure application or mere massage of points that facilitates the Atlas's repositioning, but rather the precise vibrational movements generated by specially designed devices. When vibrations are administered at exact points and precise angles, they lead to tension release and the mobilization of the suboccipital muscles, encouraging the Atlas to assume its natural position.
This therapy is conducted by trained, licensed, and professional therapists, ensuring a high standard of practice and client care.
Lino Červar and Igor Vori at Atlas Therapy in Health Center Harmony
Atlas Therapy Procedure
Atlas Therapy: A Natural, Safe, and Alternative Therapy for All Ages
Atlas Therapy presents a natural, safe, and alternative approach to promoting well-being across all age demographics. However, it's crucial to note the contraindications which include pregnancy, acute neck injuries, tumors, epilepsy, and nerve inflammation at the back of the head. Should you have any neck or head injuries, it's advisable to consult with your doctor prior to engaging in Atlas therapy as it serves as a preventative measure rather than a treatment.
The therapy procedure unfolds in three seamless steps:
1. Therapeutic Repositioning of the Atlas: Utilizing a specialized Swiss device, the Atlas is gently repositioned. This phase bypasses manual head-turning, eliminating any risk of injury since the neck's anatomical structure remains undisturbed. This is what renders the method harmless and suitable for children, adults, and the elderly alike. The procedure involves vibrational massage at the back of the head, targeting meticulously identified acupuncture points and marmas on both the left and right sides. The vibrations generated by the device coax the Atlas back to its natural position, impacting the soft tissues that cradle the Atlas and link it to the back of the head.
2. Neck and Back Massages: Special thumper massagers are employed, and if necessary, acupressure is applied to distinct points on the neck and back, fostering relaxation and alignment.
3. Neck and Spine Exercises: A curated set of exercises aimed at fortifying the neck and back muscles, augmenting the benefits accrued from the therapy.
Pricing: €130 Enjoy a discount of 15% when two individuals book together, or 20% off for a group of three.
Schedule Your Appointment at: +385 98 731 843
Experience a holistic avenue to fostering spinal harmony and overall wellness with Atlas Therapy.
Who Needs Atlas therapy?
The Atlas (C1) is the First Cervical Vertebra
Enables head movement forwards and backwards
The Unique Significance of the Atlas
The Atlas, denoted as C1 stands as the first cervical vertebra, exhibiting a distinct structure compared to the other vertebrae. This annular bone consists of two lateral masses, interconnected by arches, extending forward and backward. Unlike typical vertebrae, it lacks a body and a spinous process, bearing resemblance to a ring. The upper articular extensions of the atlas accommodate the joints of the occipital bone, facilitating forward and backward movement of the head.
In conjunction with the Axis (C2), the atlas forms a pivotal joint that establishes the connection between the skull and the spine. As one turns their head left or right, both the head and the atlas rotate atop the second cervical vertebra, the Axis, or the rotator cuff. A tooth-like projection, denoted as dens in Latin, extends upward from the body of the Axis, slotting into the anterior portion of the atlas' ring, around which it rotates. Together, the atlas and axis orchestrate the left and right movement of the head.
The nomenclature of the first cervical vertebra pays homage to the Titan Atlas from Greek mythology. Just as Atlas bore the weight of the entire globe upon his back, the atlas vertebra supports the head, serving as a foundational structure upon which the spine rests.
The spine, also known as the backbone (Latin: columna vertebralis), serves as our primary bony support structure, seamlessly connecting the bones of the head, trunk, and limbs. It is indispensable for maintaining body posture, safeguarding the spinal cord, supporting the head and trunk, and facilitating overall body movement. It comprises 33-34 vertebrae (Latin: vertebrae), categorized as follows:
-7 cervical (neck) vertebrae
-12 thoracic (chest) vertebrae
-5 lumbar vertebrae
-5 sacral vertebrae, which are fused to form the sacrum
-3 to 5 coccygeal vertebrae, fused to form the coccyx
Intervertebral discs provide the necessary separation between the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae, aiding in flexibility and cushioning the spine during movement.
Atlas Has Several Functions
Shock Absorption: The Atlas, connected to the Occiput and Axis through robust ligaments and soft tissues, acts as a shock absorber during abrupt head movements. By doing so, it mitigates potential whiplash injuries, safeguarding essential structures such as the brain, veins, arteries, spinal nerves, and the spinal cord.
Compensatory Function: The Atlas plays a crucial role in evenly distributing the weight of our head (averaging between 4.5kg to 6kg) across the spine while maintaining the head's horizontal and vertical planes. This function, in synergy with the balance center, aids in keeping the body upright. When the Atlas is subluxated or misaligned (a condition known as atlanto-occipital subluxation), a compensatory distortion of either part or the entire spine occurs since it supports the spine. If the Atlas is improperly positioned—falling out of its correct postural and natural biomechanical balance—the rest of the spine is adversely affected. This misalignment manifests as disparities in shoulder and hip heights, leg length discrepancies, hip and knee pain, and spinal curvatures such as lordosis, kyphosis, or scoliosis.
Functional Significance: The Atlas houses openings (foramen transverse, foramen vertebrale) through which vital structures like the vertebral artery, vertebral vein, and sympathetic nerves pass. The vertebral artery, upon merging with the basilar artery, is responsible for the blood supply and oxygenation to crucial brain regions. The foramen of the Atlas is bifurcated into two parts: (1) the anterior or smaller part accommodating the odontoid process of the Axis, and (2) the posterior part transmitting the spinal cord.
The improper positioning of the Atlas leads to the tightening of neck muscles and ligaments, exerting pressure on nerves, veins, arteries, and lymphatic vessels. This pressure may result in a myriad of symptoms including, but not limited to, fainting, dizziness, balance loss, nausea, excessive sweating, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, and rapid heartbeats. Furthermore, compromised blood circulation due to pressure on veins and arteries can trigger migraines, headaches, neck pain and stiffness, spinal pain, and shoulder and arm discomfort.
The irregularity of the Atlas manifests in two primary ways:
1. Centering Issue: If the Atlas is not centered, besides the pressure exerted on the vertebral artery, vein, and sympathetic nerves, there's a narrowing of the central channel. This narrowing partially obstructs the passage of the dura mater (external meninges), a vital structure housing large venous channels (sinuses) responsible for venous blood collection and flow towards the heart.
2. Reduced Atlanto-Occipital Joint Mobility: Some individuals may have a centered Atlas but encounter blocked or poorly mobile atlanto-occipital joints. In such instances, a single session of Atlas therapy may not suffice. It requires several gentle vibrational and manual massages, regular exercise, and additional therapies like osteopathy to rectify the issue.
Following Atlas therapy, you may resume normal activities, including exercise and sports participation.
Restoring the Atlas to its natural position is a long-term solution, enduring a lifetime barring instances of traffic accidents or injuries where severe head jerks occur. Generally, a single treatment suffices, although with age, the stiffness of the muscles and tendons in the neck increases. Therefore, a follow-up check-up 2 to 3 weeks after the Atlas adjustment is desirable, during which a complimentary thumper massage is provided.
Post-treatment, it's advisable to engage in specific exercises for the neck and spine for at least 2 to 3 months. With the Atlas adjusted, resuming normal activities, exercises, or sports is safe. However, for the first 2 months following the Atlas adjustment, activities like trampoline jumping and headstands (such as the shirshasana yoga position) should be avoided, while positions like the candle or handstand can be practiced freely.
No single therapy is a cure-all. There isn’t a magical method, or a magical pill that will alleviate all health issues. In many individuals, a misaligned Atlas is the root cause of various disturbances and pains in the neck, shoulders, and back. However, there are painful conditions unrelated to the Atlas's position. For instance, while a significant percentage of migraines diminish or vanish post Atlas repositioning, migraines can also be triggered by weather changes in meteoropathic individuals, hormonal shifts in women (during ovulation and PMS), improper diets, or other diseases.
Issues stemming from an incorrect Atlas position tend to gradually lessen or disappear in the days, weeks, and months following the Atlas's restoration to its natural position. However, for problems not directly caused by the Atlas, alternative solutions will be required. It's realistic to expect reduced pain intensity and frequency, enhanced head mobility, improved oxygen flow to the brain, better head-body coordination, and improved head circulation. Many individuals have also experienced ancillary benefits from Atlas therapy such as improved vision or hearing, reduced excessive sweating, and cartilage restoration in hips and knees. Yet, results are individualistic and require time. Post Atlas correction, the process of regeneration and self-healing commences, with the body gradually awakening, continually improving year after year.
Reactions to the therapy can manifest on the day of the correction, or emerge over the ensuing weeks, months, or even years, depending on one's health state. The reactions might be subtle or more pronounced. The creation of balance, general health improvement, and the alleviation of subjective symptoms might occur instantly—these are subtle reactions that might go unnoticed. Conversely, a "healing crisis" may arise, during which the body rapidly undergoes the natural healing process, thus intensifying reactions. Symptoms might resurface in the reverse order of their initial appearance.
TYPES OF REACTIONS:
Bodily Detoxification Process: Your body may respond by intensifying natural detoxification pathways: expect possible increased sweating, more frequent urination, diarrhea, coughing, and wheezing as ways your body expels bacteria, viruses, and toxins to restore optimal function. We advise consuming one and a half to two liters of water daily, and one liter of Taheebo (Lapacho) tea for a month to support this process.
Fatigue: Fatigue may manifest as your body navigates through inflammatory processes. During the following days and weeks, prioritize rest, quality sleep, and perhaps mindfulness practices like meditation.
Emotional Purging: Transient episodes of depression, anger, or strong negative thoughts may surface, only to gradually dissipate over time.
"Healing Crisis": You might experience transient resurfacing of symptoms from previously encountered physical or psycho-emotional ailments as your spirit/body system undergoes a self-healing and regeneration process. This is especially applicable to individuals with a history of falls, traffic accidents, and/or surgical procedures.
Temporary Muscle Discomfort: Muscle discomfort in areas like the back of the head, neck, shoulders, and lower back might arise as part of the regeneration process and adaptation to a new posture. It’s beneficial to engage in exercises and massages that support this self-healing trajectory.
The journey towards a rejuvenated self is incremental, given that many of us have lived with an off-centered Atlas from birth. The ailments and discomfort stemming from an uncentered Atlas didn't manifest overnight; accordingly, the pace of self-healing is intertwined with your current health status. Amplify the self-healing momentum by embracing massages, exercises, and relinquishing detrimental habits and unhealthy dietary practices.
Atlas therapy is not a panacea that eradicates accumulated concerns instantaneously. Exercise patience with your self-healing endeavor. Post Atlas-centering, both classical and alternative therapies may yield heightened effectiveness, courtesy of the now unobstructed nerve and life energy flow, which might have been stifled before.
Bioresonance therapy has showcased substantial support in the self-healing and body regeneration journey, acting at a cellular level to expedite the healing cadence and alleviate the "healing crisis" phase.
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