If you've never experienced kinesiology before, it's completely understandable to wonder:
What actually happens during a session?
You might have heard about muscle testing but have no idea what that means.
You might be wondering whether you'll need to know exactly what's wrong, whether the session will feel comfortable, or what you'll actually be doing for the hour.
Perhaps you've even been thinking about booking but haven't quite taken that step because you're not sure what to expect.
So let's take some of the mystery out of it.
Your session starts with a conversation
Before we do any muscle testing, we'll talk.
I'll ask what's been happening for you, what has brought you to kinesiology and whether there's something in particular you'd like support with.
You don't need to arrive with everything worked out.
Sometimes you know exactly what you'd like to work on.
Sometimes you simply know:
"I don't feel like myself at the moment."
"I'm carrying too much."
"I can't seem to switch off."
"Something feels out of balance."
That's enough to start.
The conversation gives us a starting point for the session and helps me understand what is happening for you.
What is muscle testing?
Muscle testing is one of the tools used in kinesiology.
During the session, I use gentle pressure against a muscle and observe its response.
It isn't a test of how strong you are.
And you aren't trying to "pass" or "fail" anything.
Within kinesiology, the muscle response is used as a form of biofeedback to help explore areas of stress and identify what may be most relevant to work with during your session.
I'll explain what we're doing as we go, so you don't need to understand muscle testing before you arrive.
If you'd like to understand the process in more detail, you can also read:
How Does Muscle Testing Work? What Is Your Body Communicating?
What are we actually looking for?
This is often the part people are most curious about.
Kinesiology looks at the relationship between different aspects of your experience, including physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Your body can respond to stress in ways you may not always consciously recognise.
You might know that you're feeling overwhelmed, for example, but not understand why a particular situation continues to affect you.
Or you might be experiencing tension, poor sleep or difficulty switching off without being able to identify what is sitting underneath it.
Muscle testing can help guide the session towards what may be most relevant for you at that time.
There isn't a standard checklist that every person works through.
Your session is individual to you.
You don't need to know what's "wrong"
One of the things I want people to know before their first appointment is that you don't need to diagnose yourself.
You don't need to come in and tell me:
"This is exactly what is wrong and this is exactly what I need you to fix."
You can simply tell me what you're experiencing.
From there, we can explore what your body may be communicating and what may be useful to work with.
Sometimes the things that are sitting beneath how we feel aren't immediately obvious.
That's part of what makes this process interesting.
What does a kinesiology session feel like?
There isn't one universal experience.
Some people find the session deeply relaxing.
Some become aware of emotions or thoughts they hadn't connected with previously.
Others simply enjoy having dedicated time to pause, reflect and focus on themselves.
Muscle testing itself is gentle.
I'll guide you through the process, and you can ask questions at any time.
There is no need to perform or achieve anything during your appointment.
You can simply be present and see what comes up.
What might we work on?
People come to kinesiology for many different reasons.
You might be looking for support with:
Stress and overwhelm
Anxiety
Difficulty switching off
Sleep and recovery
Emotional wellbeing
Feeling stuck
Life transitions
Personal development
Patterns you'd like to understand differently
Supporting your child's emotional wellbeing
You don't need to have a particular label or diagnosis to explore whether kinesiology may be useful for you.
If you're interested in some of the areas I commonly work with, you can read:
What Can a Kinesiologist Help With?
How long does a session take?
A standard kinesiology appointment is 60-90 minutes.
This gives us time to talk about what's happening, work through the session without feeling rushed and finish with some space to reflect on what you've experienced.
For children, the approach and timing can be adapted to suit their age and needs.
What happens at the end of the session?
We'll take a little time to come back to the practical side of things.
We can talk about what you've noticed, anything that feels relevant for you to take away from the session and whether another session may be useful.
There isn't a requirement to book another appointment.
The aim is to support you in understanding yourself and what you're experiencing, rather than creating a sense that you need to keep coming indefinitely.
Can kinesiology be done online?
Yes.
If you don't live locally or would prefer to have your session from home, I also offer online kinesiology sessions.
Online sessions use a surrogate muscle-testing approach to facilitate the session remotely.
You can find out more about how this works here:
What should I bring to my first session?
Nothing complicated.
Come as you are.
It can be helpful to think about what has been happening in your life and what prompted you to make the appointment, but you don't need to prepare a long list.
If you're unsure where to start, that's okay.
We'll have a conversation and go from there.
What if I'm nervous about trying kinesiology?
That's completely understandable.
Anything unfamiliar can feel a little daunting.
You can ask questions before or during your appointment, and I'll explain what we're doing as we go.
You don't need to know how kinesiology works.
You don't need to know what your body is going to say.
And you don't need to have a perfect explanation for why you're there.
You just need to be willing to explore what's happening for you.
Is kinesiology right for you?
Perhaps you've been feeling stressed, overwhelmed or disconnected from yourself.
Maybe you're going through a significant life change.
Perhaps you're functioning well on the outside but feel like you're carrying more than you'd like to.
Or maybe you simply feel that something isn't quite right and you'd like some space to understand it.
You don't have to know whether kinesiology is the answer.
That's what the conversation is for.
Not sure? Start with a 15-minute conversation
If you're curious about kinesiology but aren't quite ready to book a full session, I offer 15-minute discovery calls.
It's an opportunity to tell me a little about what's happening, ask any questions you have and get a feel for how I work.
There's no pressure to book a session afterwards.
Sometimes the most useful first step is simply having a conversation.
BOOK A 15-MINUTE DISCOVERY CALL
If you'd prefer to go ahead and book a session, you can also book here.
A note about complementary support
Kinesiology is a complementary approach to wellbeing and isn't intended to diagnose, treat or cure medical conditions or replace appropriate medical care.
If you have a medical concern, please speak with your GP or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional.