“There is a natural, simple and practical way to ignite your body’s self-healing mechanism: by using your own hands to massage yourself!” Dr. Dorothea Atkins declares. “You don’t have to be dependent on endless amounts of pills. You truly have the power to heal yourself through something as common sense as your own touch. It’s what I offer: empowerment, self-care education and effective pain relief—all in an unobtrusive, safe and healthy way.”
 

Atkins spent years as a nurse, witnessing patients repeatedly returning to doctors with the  same problems. It wasn’t until she entered into the world of massage that she discovered the body’s innate ability to heal itself. After extensive careers as a nurse, massage therapist, educator, scientific researcher and holistic self-help facilitator, she combined all of her experience, expertise and vision into her own practice: Holos Touch. She specializes in advanced muscle release treatments and self-care education for natural pain relief.
 

Dotty, as she is lovingly called by her patients, guarantees that she didn’t “just create something,” but that she proved that her techniques actually work. “I validated them through my doctorate research. I believe it’s important for techniques to be evidence-based and statistically significant before you start promoting their effectiveness.”

Atkins was determined to solve the problems of many, and therefore pioneered a highly personal approach: she started visiting her clients’ homes. This way she could look at the whole lifestyle of a person, and all the habits that could be perpetuating their pain. “I wanted to understand why people were coming back with the same problems, what was undoing all my work,” she shares. “I wanted to make people aware of the disconnection in their daily lives. I found that nobody knew how to support their joints and relax their muscles. They had no clue what pillow or mattress they needed, or about pillow placement, or what the best sleeping or driving position was for them.”
 

Over the years, Atkins developed a very hands-on, active and educational approach. “I always tell my clients: ‘There’s no sleeping on my table! You’re going to learn, so you can problem-solve yourself!’ I do teach with a sense of humor though,” she says, laughing, and pointing out the anatomy suit she wears so that her clients have a clear mental image of what muscles they are massaging. “I want to offer people authority over their pain, so I make sure to teach them: What is pain? What is touch? How do muscles work? What is the mind-body connection? True understanding is the key to chronic pain relief.”

Dotty endorses that pain isn’t the enemy—it’s an awareness that draws your attention, communicates a need and requires an action. Simply put: it is mind-body communication. She attests that your body is telling you that you need to do something different before you injure yourself further, and that this problem demands your undivided attention.
 

She treats a wide variety of people with musculoskeletal pain—young, old, athletes, people suffering from fibromyalgia, arthritis, sciatica and injuries. “Everybody is different,” she explains, “and there really isn’t one solution for everybody, as doctors and pharmaceutical companies would have you believe. Pills should really be the last resort, not the first! Why not try this instead?”
 

This month, Atkins launches her online educational series of self-help techniques with the intention of helping as many people as possible. “Life is God’s gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift to God,” she philosophizes.
 

Regarding practical advice, she urges people to touch, tap and trust their bodies again, above all else. She is convinced from her many years of experience that the physical, mental and emotional relief is instantaneous when you massage yourself correctly, and that every person that walks into her office, walks out feeling better.

“You can have the same effects at home,” she assures. “I know it’s hard to stay positive when you are always in pain and never get some relief. So, if you are in pain, or if you know someone in pain, call me. Come experience it for yourself.”

For more information about Dr. Atkins and Holos Touch, to make an appointment or to inquire about online classes, call 856-546-7500 or visit HolosTouch.com. Her practice is at 17 White Horse Pike, Ste. 6, Haddon Heights, NJ.

Giulia Eve Flores is an actress, writer, artistic director, voice and presence coach, and spiritual practitioner, based in South Jersey. Connect via [email protected].