This is a full-time course. The curriculum covers anatomy, principles and philosophy of Body Stress Release (BSR), the BSR technique – theory and practical, communication, client management and the BSR constitution. Class sizes are limited as a great deal of one-to-one teaching is provided.

In South Africa class hours are 9am to 1pm on three days, and 9am to 3pm on two days. The course lasts a total of 21 weeks including a three week apprenticeship which takes place in the final month.

In England the hours are 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, for a total of 16 weeks including a two week apprenticeship. Students are expected to work together outside of the classroom to revise the theory and practise the technique learnt each day.

Certification

On passing examinations in anatomy, principles, technique theory, technique practical and client management, followed by successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, students graduate and are presented with a professional name plate and a Body Stress Release Academy Practitioner Certificate. Body Stress Release is a proprietary technique, is only taught by the Body Stress Release Academy and is not accredited by any state or other academic authority.

The South African Body Stress Release Academy

The Academy is located at Rondevlei, a small village near the scenic lakes on the Garden Route in the Western Cape.

Rondevlei is 6km from a major highway, the N2. The largest towns nearby are Knysna and George. George airport is a 35 minute drive from the Academy.

The Academy building is a double-storey house situated on a hill overlooking one of the lakes. It has two classrooms and a library of 1000 books. Leisure activities in the area include hiking, bird-watching and water sports on the sea, lakes and lagoons.

Reasonably priced accommodation is available in local holiday cottages and guest suites.
Training at the South African Academy takes place from the beginning of May to the end of September each year.

The Academy faculty are Dr Gail Meggersee B.A. U.E.D. (SA) D.C. (USA), one of the founders of BSR, and Boetie Toerien B.A., M.B.A. (SA), the Chairperson of the Body Stress Release Association (SA). The Body Stress Release Academy is overseen by an Executive Committee which controls the future development of Body Stress Release.

The European Body Stress Release Academy:
Dorchester, Dorset, England.

The first training course at the BSR Academy Europe will commence in November 2014 at a beautiful venue just outside of Dorchester in Dorset, England.

Dorchester has excellent train links into London and both Bournemouth and Bristol airports are within reasonable distance.
The course is residential with comfortable furnished accommodation located on site. Students will have use of the swimming pool and tennis courts and there are many beautiful walks in the local woodlands and countryside.

Dorchester is not far from the famous Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Leisure activities in the area including walking, cycling, clay pigeon shooting, horse riding and fishing.

The course will take place from the beginning of November to the beginning of March each year with a two week break over the Christmas and New Year period.

The Academy faculty are Dr Gail Meggersee B.A. U.E.D. (SA) D.C. (USA) and six highly experienced European Body Stress Release practitioners from both the United Kingdom and The Netherlands, who have all undergone the Body Stress Release Tutor Training Program, and are also running their own busy practices.

They are Tracy Highton, Gwen MacPhail-Masureik, Chris Balaam, Caroline aan de Stegge, Erik Onderweegs and Kees Varkevisser.

Professional Affiliations

The South African Body Stress Release Association is a member of COCHASA, the Confederation of Complementary Health Associations of South Africa. It holds a three day annual conference which is attended by practitioners from all over the world.

The Body Stress Release Association (UK) is a member of the B.C.M.A., the British Complementary Medicine Association, and is recognised by the Guild of Complementary Practitioners. Regular workshops and an annual AGM are held in the UK.

The Body Stress Release Associatie Nederland is recognised by a number of Dutch health insurance companies and has a close relationship with both the South African Body Stress Release Association and the Body Stress Release Association (UK). It represents practitioners based in the Netherlands (including Curaçao and Bonaire).

The BSR Associations in different countries oversee the practice of Body Stress Release and provide continuing educational workshops in their countries. All certified BSR practitioners are members of these Associations and are governed by their constitutions. This ensures that professional levels of practice are maintained with defined standards of conduct, practice and ethics and disciplinary powers vesting with these Associations.

A newsletter for practitioners is produced three times a year which provides a forum for practitioners internationally to exchange information and ideas.

At present Body Stress Release is practised in numerous countries around the world including South Africa, United Kingdom, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Curacao, Canada and the U.S.A. The Executive Committee of the International Association oversees the various national Associations.

The U.K. Body Stress Release Association is a member of the B.C.M.A., the British Complementary Medicine Association, and is recognised by the Guild of Complementary Practitioners. Regular workshops and an annual AGM are held in the UK.

The Body Stress Release Associatie Nederland is recognised by a number of Dutch health insurance companies and has a close relationship with both the South African Body Stress Release Association and the U.K. Body Stress Release Association. It represents practitioners based in the Netherlands (including Curaçao and Bonaire).

The Body Stress Release Associations in different countries oversee the practice of Body Stress Release and provide continuing educational workshops in their countries. All certified Body Stress Release practitioners are members of these Associations or the International Body Stress Release Association and are governed by their constitutions. This ensures that professional levels of practice are maintained with defined standards of conduct, practice and ethics and disciplinary powers vesting with these Associations.

A newsletter for practitioners is produced three times a year which provides a forum for practitioners internationally to exchange information and ideas.

At present Body Stress Release is practiced in a number of countries around the world including South Africa, United Kingdom, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Curacao, Canada and the U.S.A. The Executive Committee of the International Association oversees the various national associations.

Gail Meggersee

“As one of the two co-founders of Body Stress Release, I have been training practitioners for the past 25 years at the Body Stress Release Academy in South Africa. The students, from 17 different countries, have represented a wide variety of backgrounds and ages.

I appreciate the commitment they have shown in giving up successful positions in order to pursue a new career in Body Stress Release. It is a profoundly fulfilling experience for me, guiding the development of the students’ skill and knowledge, as well as seeing them undergoing a process of personal growth. My greatest satisfaction is in knowing that, as practitioners, they will make a powerful contribution to the upgrading of their clients’ health and well-being.

The opening of the European branch of the Academy will fulfil a clear need for the training of more practitioners, as each year the South African Academy receives far more applications than it can accommodate. This will enable Body Stress Release health care to be available for more people, in more countries.”

Gail Meggersee (Bachelor of Arts, University Education Diploma, Doctor of Chiropractic).