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Integrative Bodywork in Lakewood, Ohio
You aren't looking for deep tissue, you're seeking deep release.
When you choose Ava Leben Ayurveda for bodywork, you are going to get more than your traditional Swedish massage. Here, you're investing in care that prioritizes consideration on the deepest levels--integrative bodywork combines anatomical and physiological comprehension with embodied listening and responding to the messages your systems are expressing in real time on the table.
It's More Than a Massage. It's the Holistic Care You've Been Searching For.
Each integrative bodywork session is intentionally curated to meet you exactly where you're at, every time you're on the session table. Instead of approaching the systems and structures of your body in isolation, your practitioner maintains a panoramic view of the interconnections and relationships between your fascia, muscles, joints, organs, nervous systems, and how everything is organized in response to your lived experiences.
Protocol and sequencing is only a general guideline for the care you recieve. Organic and responsive treatment is prioritized over conventional care.
Resonsive, Adaptive Care That Listens To Your Body
What sets apart the work I do from your usual massage is that I provide care from a place of curiosity and deep listening because I know that your body desperately wants to be a part of the conversation, even if it's messaging is too muted to recognize in most situations.
In my nearly ten years of experience as a licensed bodyworker, I have never been able to force physical changes in a client's body simply because they wanted me to work deeper. While everything the client has to say with words is important to the conversation, I have found that the most substantial shifts have always occurred when I listen and respond to what their body was saying through subtle variations in the tissues, breath, posture, and energy.
The care you recieve with integrative bodywork is adaptive to the subtle expressions and messaging your body sends up. This approach helps your systems to recognize safety in sessions instead of engendering a sense of defensiveness that can come, sometimes unconsciously, from working on the body rather than with the body.
Developing Trust & Demobilizing Your Nervous System
There is a certain level of trust that is necessary for clients to cultivate for the kind of work that we do together. Because our systems are so used to an overload of stimulus and such high demand of mobility and activity on a daily basis, it is natural for there to be a resistance to slow, subtle bodywork.
Sometimes, stillness can give rise to feelings of frustration because our perception of work usually includes more force, pressure, and action. Stillness can also reveal feelings of anxiety, as our body is finally stopped in one place and our thoughts begin to catch up to us and we have nothing to distract ourselves from our own mind.
In Ayurveda, we recognize that the subtle quality (Sūkshma Guna) is the most powerful because it has the ability to go deep into the body. Similarly, subtlety in bodywork is not to be confused with weakness or ineffectiveness. Subtle bodywork is so powerful because it is able to bypass a hypermobile nervous system on high-alert and circumvent any protective responses that would normally prevent bodywork from having any lasting effect on the physiology. When we work in such a way that reminds the body it is safe and supported--and that what it has to express is important--we enable the nervous system to give us permission to encourage positive shifts on any scale, organically.
Ava's Approach to Bodywork
The modalities that comprise your bodywork session include craniosacral therapy, myofascial release therapy, gentle massage therapy, triggerpoint release, reflexology, and marma therapy. Ava Leben Ayurveda is a practice focused on full-spectrum holistic care, so it is common for elements of Ayurvedic medicine and healing to find their way into bodywork sessions.
Your treatment is steeped in appreciation for the interrelationship between the Earth, external influences, your personal experiences and mental/emotional state, and your physical body.
Nothing Is Off The Table: Your Wellness Journey Is Related to Your Body
As an integral part of your wellness team, I consider it pertinent to hear the long answers. No tangent is irrelevent and every aside is information I draw upon during your sessions. Though it is not essential to go into detail about lab reports, medical history, family drama, etc., these pieces of information do help me cultivate a comprehensive understanding of you, how you respond to your environment, and how you process your experiences. All of which is information that only further influences the ways in which I can provide you with more personalized and collaborative care.
Respect Over Resolve
The goal of bodywork depends on the individual, and there is no wrong reason to recieve professional care. Whether your sessions are intended to help you with anxiety or insomnia, to ease chronic or acute pain, or simply to provide you with the opportunity to relax outside of a demanding schedule, integrative bodywork is just right for you.
Although this therapeutic approach can encourage shifts that help you feel better in your body, it's important to remember that bodywork is only one aspect of holistic care.
Ava is not a doctor, as she holds no medical degree.
Ava is not a healer, as only the divine can perform miraculous healing acts.
Ava is simply a guide, an educator, a curious and caring human who is dedicated to holding space for you so that you might begin to navigate life with more ease. Bodywork may not be the catalyst for a complete lifestyle shift, but it can absolutely help us reorganize our systems and structures around our experiences in ways that provide us a deeper capacity for alignment and embodiment. The beauty of therapeutic touch is not it's ability to magically resolve every ache and pain and ailment, but to enable us to recognize our bodies with more awareness and, though this, foster a deep respect for our limitations as well as our capabilities.
Massage Therapy, Bodywork, and Ayurveda at the Willow Room Collective in Lakewod, Ohio
Whether you're looking for seasonal guidance, wellness support, integrative massage, or a combination of these offerings, Ava Leben Ayurveda provides flexible and adaptive care to meet your needs every time.
To learn more about session structure and pricing, follow me.
Integrative Bodywork OfferingsStress Triangle Focus: blended bodywork for the head, face, neck, and shouldersUpper Body FocusJust the Hands: blended modalities for hand careAbdomen Focus: support for digestion and stressSpine and Sacral: support for back pain, sciatica, piriformis syndrome, and nervous system hypermobilityLower Body FocusJust the Feet: blended modalities for feet careFull Body Integrative BodyworkNidra: support for migraines, headaches, TMJ, anxiety, and insomniaBarely There Hands-On Care: subtle support through superficial fascia release, craniosacral therapy, marma therapy, and reikiPrenatal/Postnatal Integrative Bodywork
Treatment Specialties Include
Migraines / Headaches
TMJ / Tongue tie
Digestive issues (including IBS, GERD, SIBO, and Ulcerative Colitis)
Skin conditions (including cystic acne, dermatitis, and eczema)
Fibromyalgia
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) / Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)
Anxiety and Nervous system hypermobility
Adrenal fatigue / Adrenal burnout
Immunodeficiencies / Autoimmune disorders
Insomnia and/or Brain fog
Joint pain
Sciatica / Piriformis Syndrome
Plantar fasciitis
Treatment Modalities Include
CranioSacral Therapy
MyoFascial Release Therapy
Intraoral Massage and Fascia Release
Massage Therapy
Trigger Point Release Therapy
Marma Therapy / Reflexology
Reiki energywork
Guided visualization and/or breathwork
Abhyanga (oil massage therapy)
Swedana (therapeutic steam-induced sweating)
Basti (external oil retention therapy)
Ayurvedic Counseling and Education
Treatment Location
The Willow Room Collective
15810 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
*Please enter through the breezeway. The charming cottage door in front remains closed to maintain the privacy and peace of my sessions. Thank you!
To learn more about The Willow Room, follow me.
Who this work is intended for
My approach to bodywork and wellness counseling is particularly suited for people who are...
Struggling to make sense of their health and cultivate supportive routines
Suffering from digestive upset due to either physical imbalance or nervous system hypermobility
Experiencing complex conditions and/or chronic pain
Desiring full-spectrum care that fosters reconnections within the body and mind
As a part of your healthcare team, I take a multi-disciplinary approach that includes physical assessment and in-depth conversations that explore the many facets of your being. By navigating your health challenges with an open mind and a blend of Western and Eastern perspectives, we can collaborate on care that reaches beyond dismissive diagnoses and placating perscriptions.
All of your experiences are valid here and the varying ways we understand these experiences--how our bodies organize around them--are all welcome.
Who you will be working with
Ava Leben Wentzel Shively (she/they)
When my mother was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in her early thirites, my young mind was suddenly percieving a new world in which even those who appear healthy can be experiencing internal imbalances whether or not they are consciously aware of it. This formative experience seeded a new paradigm for my curiosity to shine through:
If there is more to our health than meets the eye, how can we seek for and approach problems proactively instead of waiting for them to develop over time?
After nearly 10 years of practice, I have learned that my inquisitiveness and intuition are the tools needed to do this preliminary work of revealing what lies beneath the surface so that we can witness it and offer it the space to evolve.
The care you receive from me is steeped in the kinetic comprehension of the nervous systems, making my work slow and subtle in nearly every way. Whether we are exploring fascia tension in your body or cultivating and restructuring new routines to support your mental wellbeing, patience is the new perscription. I'm grateful (always) for my clients who not only trust in me, but who trust in the process of their own unfolding. It is a joy and an honor to be your witness and guide through these homecomings.
To read more about my personal struggle with chronic digestive upset and adult acne before Ayurveda found me and changed my personal and professional practice, follow me.
Schedule your appointment. Integrative bodywork, Massage therapy, and Ayurvedic counseling in Lakewood, Ohio
Frequently Asked Questions
Billing and Scheduling
Do you take insurance?
Currently, I am able to accept HSA payments for all sessions.The Willow Room also offers Pay Later through our Vagaro booking system, which eneables you to make 4 interest-free payments over 6 weeks time. You can sign up for pre-approval ahead of time in your Vagaro account. Please reach out to info@willowroomsalon.com if you have questions or need assistance.In a perfect world, integrative and holistic healthcare would be accessible to everyone. However, because I do not take insurance, there are fewer limitations on the work we can do together. Less restrictions due to predetermined conditions of insurance means that I can utilize the full scope of my skills to curate comprehensive and intentional care.If your healthcare plan covers out-of-network providers, we are happy to provide you with whatever you may need for reimbursement.
How much does a session cost?
Session cost is based on an hourly pricing model of $125/hour.
How can I schedule appointments?
All appointments can be scheduled online through Vagaro. You can either download the Vagaro app for your mobile device or access Vagaro online in any web browser. Once you make your Vagaro account, you can easily schedule and fill out any necessary forms before your session.You can also easily reschedule or cancel your sessions through Vagaro. To set up your Vagaro account and schedule your next session, head to Book a Session.
I'm a new client--what session should I book?
If you are a new client, please schedule a New Client Consultation the first time you come in to work with me.
What to Expect
I'm a new client--what does the first session look like?
New Client Consultations are first and foremost an opportunity for me to get to know you and garner a deeper understanding of your lived experiences, your health challenges, and your wellness goals. Initial sessions help me get a better understanding of why you have come in for care.I will ask questions that give me a more detailed picture of your life and how you are impacted by your external environment and then offer my perspective and understanding of your situation. I will give you an idea of what treatment plan I think may be helpful for you moving forward.Do not feel pressured or stressed to put all of the information on the table during your first session; trust that over time, through our sessions and as our relationship develops, the important pieces will come to light at the right time.
How frequently should I come in for a session?
Session frequency depends on the individual. We will work together to settle on a session plan that works for you. Treatment plans are also flexible and can often change over time. You are never locked into a certain frequency, as your plan is personal and should reflect your needs as they evolve over time.
What should I wear to a session?
You can wear anything you'd like when you come in for your sessions, but if we are going to be doing any bodywork or Ayurvedic treatments you may want to dress comfortably so that you feel at ease and unrestricted after your session.If you know you are coming in for Abhyanga and Swedana, you may want to bring a change of underclothes as they may become stained from the oil or damp from the steam treatment.
What modalities do you offer?
The modalities I use include craniosacral therapy, myofascial release therapy, massage therapy, trigger point release, marma therapy and reflexology, and reiki energywork. I also utilize my Ayurvedic expertise and experience to intentionally choose oils, offer recommendations, and curate supportive lifestyle routines over time that are personal to yo
Where are you located?
The Willow Room Collective15810 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
Health Considerations
What conditions / health challenges do you commonly work with?
I frequently work with clients who are experiencing:
Migraines / Headaches
TMJ / Tongue tie
Digestive issues (including IBS, GERD, SIBO, and Ulcerative Colitis)
Skin conditions (including cystic acne, dermatitis, and eczema)
Fibromyalgia
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) / Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)
Anxiety and Nervous system hypermobility
Adrenal fatigue / Adrenal burnout
Immunodeficiencies / Autoimmune disorders
Insomnia and/or Brain fog
Joint pain
Sciatica / Piriformis Syndrome
Plantar fasciitis
If you are not experiencing any of the health chalenges above, please know that you are still welcome to work with me! You do not need to be experiencing pain or discomfort to benefit from Intagrative Bodywork and Ayurveda therapies. I believe deeply in the power of preventative care and there is no prerequisite to receiving my care.
Is your aproach right for me?
My approach is particularly suited for those who are open to new ways of viewing and navigating their health because I take a full-systems approach. This means that I don't look at anything you're experiencing in isolation. As a result, many people find that the work we do together fills the gaps that are left open from other treatments. I want to try to connect the dots with you so that no piece of your experience sticks out and goes unaddressed.
By working on your fascia health, managing your stress levels, and cultivating a more supportive lifestyle (just to name a few things we do together) you may find that other treatments you may be involved in begin to have more of an effect. This impact cannot be guaranteed, but my clients often feel a true sense of validation and relief that lasts far beyond the session room and impacts other aspects of their daily life.
Adaptiveness is a part of my work, and when your needs change you can trust your treatment to adjust to you in real time. Sessions should never feel one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter, or stale. They are responsive to your individual, evolutionary experience.
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Ava Leben Ayurveda, LLC | Integrative Bodywork & Ayurveda Therapy
The Willow Room Collective | 15810 Detroit Ave. Lakewood, OH 44107
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