What Is Spinal Energetics? Understanding the Approach and How I Work With It

If you’ve been searching for Spinal Energetics in London, you may have come across videos, practitioners and very different explanations of what Spinal Energetics actually is.

It can be difficult to know what you are looking at.

Is it energy healing? Is it nervous system work? Is it somatic work? Is it something to do with the spine?

The answer is that it sits across several of these areas, but it is important not to confuse Spinal Energetics with every other practice that looks or feels similar.

Spinal Energetics is a distinct modality developed by Dr Sarah Jane Perri. It works with the spine, nervous system and energetic field, drawing from both Eastern and Western traditions. It has also been influenced by a wider body of work, including Network Spinal, Spinal Flow and somatic approaches.

And this wider history matters, because Spinal Energetics did not appear in isolation. There have been decades of exploration into the relationship between the spine, nervous system, stress, movement, energy and the way the body adapts to experience.

So, what is Spinal Energetics?

At its simplest, Spinal Energetics is a body-based approach that works with the spine, nervous system and energetic field.

But I don't think that definition tells you very much about what actually happens when you work with someone.

Our bodies are continually adapting to what we experience.

Stress, emotions, relationships, injury, trauma, environment and the demands of everyday life can all influence the way we hold ourselves, move, breathe and respond.

What you feel physically can therefore be part of a much bigger picture.

This is why I don't approach Spinal Energetics as a standard treatment that looks the same for everyone.

Every body has a different story.

And that means every session needs to begin with understanding the person in front of me.

Spinal Energetics is not the only approach I use

This is something I think is particularly important to understand when choosing a practitioner.

Although I practise Spinal Energetics, I don't believe that one modality can explain every person or every body.

My work has developed through years of clinical experience, study and investigation into the body, nervous system and different approaches to healing and change.

I have explored the principles behind Network Spinal Analysis, Integral Energetics, Somatic Energy and Spinal Energetics, as well as Eastern and Western approaches to the body and wellbeing.

These approaches have their own histories and are not interchangeable. Network Spinal Analysis, for example, has its own chiropractic methodology and lineage, while Integral Energetics developed from extensive work with Network Spinal and nervous-system regulation. Somatic Energy is another distinct approach with its own development and practitioner training.

For me, understanding these distinctions is important.

I don't want to take a technique, apply it to everyone and expect the same result.

I want to understand why I am doing what I am doing, what I am observing, and whether it is actually appropriate for the individual in front of me.

Why my approach to Spinal Energetics is different

I use Spinal Energetics, but my work is not simply about applying Spinal Energetics as a standalone modality.

Over the years, I have invested significant time in studying and investigating these approaches at a deeper level. I want to understand the principles behind the work rather than simply follow a protocol.

That means looking at the relationship between the spine, nervous system, physical body, emotional patterns and energetic experience — and understanding how these different layers may interact.

My starting point is always the individual.

Every session begins with understanding you, not just your symptoms.

Before deciding what approach is appropriate, I want to understand what has brought you to me, what you have already tried, what you are experiencing now and what you actually want to change.

I then carry out a thorough assessment, drawing on both Eastern and Western perspectives to understand how your body has adapted over time.

From there, I decide how best to work with you.

Sometimes that means working primarily with Spinal Energetics.

Sometimes other elements of my experience and training are relevant.

The important thing is that the modality does not dictate the session. The person does.

There is no standard Spinal Energetics session at Barbra May

You may see Spinal Energetics described online as a particular sequence of contacts, movements or energetic work.

But when you come to work with me, I am not looking to put you into a predetermined category.

Two people can arrive with similar symptoms and have completely different reasons for experiencing them.

One person's body may have adapted to prolonged stress.

Another may be carrying patterns associated with an old injury.

Someone else may feel physically fine but recognise that they are repeating emotional or behavioural patterns they cannot seem to shift.

The symptom may look similar.

The person is not.

This is why I assess first and then tailor the work around what I find.

What does a Spinal Energetics session feel like?

There isn't one universal experience.

Spinal Energetics can involve gentle physical contact with the body or working without direct contact. The work is designed to engage with the spine, nervous system and energetic field, and people's experiences during sessions can vary considerably.

Some people become aware of movement, changes in breathing or sensations in the body.

Others notice emotional responses, changes in their perception or simply a different sense of ease in their body.

There is no particular response that you need to produce.

I am not looking for you to have a dramatic experience.

I'm interested in what your body is communicating and what may be changing underneath the surface.

Who might be interested in Spinal Energetics?

People explore this type of work for many different reasons.

You may be experiencing:

• ongoing stress or feeling overwhelmed

• physical tension or patterns that keep returning

• difficulty switching off or feeling settled

• emotional patterns that you understand intellectually but struggle to change

• a sense of being stuck

• changes in how you feel in your body

• a desire to understand yourself at a deeper level

You don't necessarily need to have a particular diagnosis or condition to explore the work.

The more important question is what you are experiencing and what you would like to be different.

Spinal Energetics should not be considered a replacement for medical care, psychotherapy or other appropriate healthcare. If you have a medical concern, it is important to seek advice from the appropriate healthcare professional.

Why I focus on results

I am interested in experiences, but I am not interested in creating experiences simply for the sake of having them.

My work is individual and result-driven.

That doesn't mean promising a particular outcome or suggesting that one session will fix everything. Bodies don't work that way.

It means having a clear understanding of why you have come, assessing what is happening and continually asking whether the work is helping you move towards what you actually want.

For me, meaningful change is not about following a trend or collecting techniques.

It is about understanding the person, understanding the body and using the right approach for that individual.

So, is Spinal Energetics right for you?

If you've been searching for Spinal Energetics in London and are curious about experiencing it, you don't need to know exactly what you need before you come.

That is part of what the consultation is for.

We can talk about what you are experiencing, what you have tried before and what you would like to change.

From there, I can explain how I work and whether I feel this approach is appropriate for you.

There is no obligation to book a course of sessions.

Start with a conversation.

Book a free consultation with Barbra May to explore whether Spinal Energetics — and my wider approach — is right for you.

Sessions are available in Central London as well as online