about ayres


Ayres Gipson, CMT, EMBA, NCTMB (US), MTI Having previously been a student, a farmer, Japanese translator, a sergeant in the US Marine Corps & Army, a hippy... Ayres is nationally certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork in the US.  A native of the California central coast, Ayres most recently apprenticed, worked, and lived at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California.  He has practiced various bodywork forms in spas, healing centres, clinical settings, and in private practice.  Ayres has led and assisted professional certification courses and professional development courses for bodyworkers in the US and the UK.  He now calls Bath, his home, where he lives with his (very) English wife and two children and practices his unique blend of bodywork techniques.


curriculum vitae

OBJECTIVE

When you work you fulfill a part of earth’s furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born. And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life…

Work is love made visible.

– Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet



PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

March 2006:  co-founded Loving for a Living Institute (now 'intuit' personal and professional development courses)
Bath, UK
www.lovingforaliving.co.uk
www.intuit.erissage.co.uk

  • Facilitate Ongoing Development Groups for massage therapists and bodyworkers.
  • Conduct small group tutorials and provide one-to-one mentorship for massage therapists and bodyworkers.
  • Conduct tutorials for non-professional individuals and couples in introductory Integrative Massage and Bodywork and Prenatal massage.


Oct 2006 – Present:  Workshop Leader
Bristol College of Massage and Bodywork    www.bristolmassage.co.uk

  • Lead  the ‘Integrative Bodywork’ continuing professional development workshop at BCMB.
Oct 2005 – July 2006:  Professional Training Assistant
  •  Paid Assistant for BCMB professional massage training (165 classroom hours).
    • Responsible for identifying individual students for one-to-one support and assistance, leading supervision groups, and reviewing and giving specific feedback on out-of-class assignments.
    • Instructed the class as a whole on certain topics of massage theory and practice.


Apr 2004 – Dec 2004:  Manager of Farm and Garden Department
Esalen Institute Big Sur, California

  • Group leader, facilitator, counselor, and focaliser for staff of Esalen’s educational farm and garden.
  • Responsible for the overall function of Esalen’s one-acre garden and five acre farm – overseeing every aspect of production from seeding, planting, and harvesting to planning crop rotations, forecasting yields, and compost production.
  • Charged with balancing Esalen's existential mission of supporting 'the exploration of human potential' with the practical logistical demands of operating Esalen's commercial farm and garden.
(preceeded by Jan 2003 – Dec 2003: Farm Supervisor) 




Apr 2003 – Dec 2004:  Massage Therapist    Esalen Institute
Big Sur, California    www.esalen.org/sites/emba/index.html

  • Member of a nationally and internationally-renowned crew of bodywork professionals.
  • Using multiple modalities with an emphasis on Esalen Massage and intuitive, skilled touch, I met my clients’ varying needs through nurturing, therapeutic bodywork.






 



Oct 2001 – Dec 2004:  Massage Instructor, 200 Hour Certification Course
Monterey Institute of Touch   Carmel, California   www.montereyinstituteoftouch.com

  • Guided students through their learning of Swedish Massage theory and practice, business and ethics, and creative strategies for self-care.
  • Developed lesson plans and objectives, conducted classroom demonstrations, provided present and patient individual attention, and gave constructive feedback on student performance.
  • Facilitated movement exercises and guided meditations for developing intuition, increasing self-awareness, and honouring the process and practice of self-healing.


Jul 2001 – Dec 2004:  Polarity Therapy Instructor
Monterey Institute of Touch  

  • Provided an introduction to the theory and practice of Polarity Therapy for beginner students.
  • Created lesson plans, training aids and handouts, conducted demonstrations, and provided one-on-one instruction and intuitive kinesthetic feedback.


Sep 2000 – Oct 2002:  Massage Therapist
Pebble Beach Spa at Casa Palmero & The Spanish Bay Club
Pebble Beach, California    www.pebblebeach.com

  • Performed 30 – 80 min. Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue, Sports, and Swedish Massage treatments, wraps, scrubs, and hydrotherapy in one of the world’s premiere, five-star resort spas.


Aug 1999 – Oct 2002:  Independent Massage Contractor

  • Worked at numerous local spas and healing centres as an independent contractor.
  • Performed sports massage at various athletic events and on-site chair massage for businesses.


Aug 1999 – Present:  Certified Massage Therapist in private practice
California (US), Bath & London (UK)   

  • My intention is to create a professional, safe environment where I can hold a space for the realisation of health and well-being. Combining extensive clinical knowledge, a holistic perspective on health and wellness, and a deep, direct relationship with the tissues of the body, I seek to educate my clients about their bodies.  With skilled touch, I facilitate positive changes in body awareness, structure, and movement.  I support 'healing'.
  • Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (United States)
  • Insured Registered Member of Massage Training Institute (United Kingdom)


OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES INCLUDE:

  • U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant – group leader, electronics technician, rifleman
  • U.S. Army Sergeant – linguist/translator: Japanese language
  • Sound and Lighting Technician  &  Commission Salesman
  • Customer/Guest Services and Hospitality Industry
  • more than I'd like to admit...




EDUCATION


Jul 2005 – Present:  Bristol College of Massage and Bodywork   0117 377 1201

  •  Maintain a healthy, ongoing relationship with BCMB as student, classroom assistant, and instructor.


Oct 2002 – Dec 2004:  Scholar-in-Residence   Esalen Institute
Big Sur, California (831) 667-3093   www.esalen.org

  • 300 hours of bodywork instruction and apprenticeship, including Esalen Massage Certification
  • Aug 2004 – Present:  Participating in an on-going Esalen Massage Teacher Training Program


Apr 1999 – Dec 2004:  Monterey Institute of Touch
Carmel, California   (831) 624-1006

  • 720 hours of supervised classroom instruction including initial 200 hour professional training and a 100 hour Certification in Visionary Craniosacral Work
  • Served as a teaching assistant for two 200 hour certification courses, as well as for Advanced Massage and Advanced Polarity Courses.
  • Completed a six-month teaching mentorship.


* I’ve received Reiki attunement and shamanic initiation including DNA activation and work with the Spiritual Unfoldment Network (S.U.N.), also extensive experience receiving hands-on healing.


OTHER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES INCLUDE:

  • Various Military Intelligence, Language, and Electronics Schools
  • 3 years of ‘Junior College’ and University education in general studies (US)


DONATION-BASIS AND VOLUNTEER WORK


Mar 2000 – Sep 2002:  Massage Therapist,   Sally Griffin Senior Center
Pacific Grove, Calif,  (831) 375-4454

  • Performed clothes-on massage and therapeutic touch sessions for senior citizen members and employees of the Sally Griffin Senior Center on a weekly volunteer and donation-basis.


Nov 1999 – Nov 2000:  Massage Therapist,   Monterey County AIDS Project
Seaside, Calif.  (831) 394-4747

  •  Volunteered to massage employees and clients of the Monterey County AIDS Project.

Oct 2006 – present:  Integrative Bodyworker,    Ontrack Therapies, Bath
www.ontracktherapies.co.uk

  •  Volunteered for a community interest project offering affordable treatments for the residents of Snow Hill and those in surrounding areas.