Manisha Tare

Manisha Tare is a craniosacral therapist and yoga teacher in Washington, D.C. As an occupational therapist, she has worked with children and adults for many years to help them regulate their sensory systems while working through internal and external stress, trauma, and grief. Her primary modalities include craniosacral therapy, yoga, breathwork, meditation, and therapeutic dialogue when appropriate to help uncover the root sources of physical pain, anxiety, sleep issues, and emotional distress. Her passion and interest include working with people to help them understand the messages their bodies are sending them and hold space for intense emotions and experiences to be processed through the body while moving towards mental and physical relief. She believes in creating an environment of safety for clients to be present for what is arising for them and empowering them to feel their own sense of self-compassion, strength, and resilience. Manisha continues to pursue advanced level training in CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release through the Upledger Institute. She has completed two 200-hour yoga teacher trainings in the hatha and vinyasa methods as well as a prenatal yoga teacher training with Yoga For Two. Manisha is also a Certified Infant Touch and Massage Instructor.

Craniosacral therapy consists of light hands on touch while the client is fully dressed. I always check in with clients to see what their experience is of touch. As a client, you are welcome to keep your eyes open and as you feel more comfortable and safe, you can close your eyes in order to tune into your body. Depending on where you are in your own processing, you may be connected to internal subtle sensations within your body or you may be feeling fairly numb. Depending on where I feel physical restrictions or imbalances and what you choose to share, I begin my initial point of contact. The touch is quite light and is along different points on your body though it is often along the spine and at the head. The session may be on the quiet side to give you a sense of safety and restoration in your body or there may be some dialogue as you are noticing physical sensations arise or memories come up. My intention is to end the last portion of the session with less or no talking so your body has the tactile experience of feeling nurtured and safe.

A private yoga session may differ for each person. You may want an active practice to move and feel strength in your body. We may focus on different types of breath work to connect you more with your system and help the energy channels open that may be blocked. I also offer yin yoga and restorative yoga. Yin yoga is extremely grounding. It consists of long held floor based poses where props may be used to support you. We hold the poses, while letting go of the muscles in order to increase our flexibility but also to enter a more meditative state. Restorative yoga consists of resting in poses that are fully supported by props for at least 10-20 minutes per pose to help the nervous system calm, release, and restore.

My experience working with survivors has been through my private practice. I have found that the experience of sexual violence may not be the primary reason they come, though there has been a history for some clients who present with other physical symptoms such as back or neck pain or digestive issues. When people have the experience of feeling unsafe in their bodies, their nervous systems can be impacted on a deep level. Through my training with working with the body through craniosacral therapy and yoga, I work to hold a strong space for the body to share its message and for the client to understand what their body needs to feel safer. Clients have also come for treatment post a significant loss when they are working through grief or other types of trauma related to deployment and war related experiences.