body - oriented therapy
restoring coherence and your body’s innate ability to heal and balance itself through touch, conscious movement, and breath
BODY-ORIENTED THERAPY
Body-oriented therapy understands and approaches healing as an interconnected process that flourishes when we offer space and bring awareness to the various layers of our being. Our bodies carry the imprint of our life stories, yet they also possess an innate intelligence and an extraordinary capacity for healing and adaptation.
This personalized approach bridges Western evidence-based knowledge and anatomical understanding with embodiment practices and energy healing from Eastern traditions, enabling your body to access this potential.
Through an array of techniques that incorporate touch, movement, breath, and somatics, this therapy is efficient at reducing stress, regulating the nervous system, eliminating pain and physical tension, restoring movement, and increasing wellbeing and integrating body and mind.
WHAT I SPECIALIZE IN
I support people in their journey towards greater physical and emotional harmony.
We begin with a thorough assessment to identify the best ways to manage and resolve the root causes of your physical pain or tension, heal injuries, or develop more resilient movement and posture patterns.
I specialize in guiding people towards re-establishing mind-body coherence and regulating their nervous system. This process unlocks the body’s innate healing capacity and movement intelligence, which we support through touch, body work, activations, breath, and conscious movement. We want to invite your body’s natural orientation to repattern itself towards thriving.
ABOUT ME
The focus of my work is to activate the innate capacities for healing and thriving within each person’s body. My approach is informed by my education and clinical background in Physiotherapy and Musculoskeletal Therapy. For over twenty years, I have supported individuals experiencing pain, injury, physical limitations, stress, and life transitions, helping them restore movement, improve posture, and reconnect with their bodies.
My clinical practice in Amsterdam unfolded over fifteen years. After being involved in humanitarian initiatives in India and Turkey, I decided to run a free clinic in Amsterdam, offering care to people with limited access to healthcare. Working with people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds taught me that healing extends beyond the physical body. Our thoughts, emotions, beliefs, relationships, and life experiences all influence how we feel, move, and recover; true healing and recovery happen beyond the mechanical level.
My foundation is thus grounded in Western evidence-based science, anatomy, and movement. Through years of working with touch, manual mobilization, myofascial release, guided exercise, breathwork, and body-awareness practices, I have developed a deep understanding of the body's remarkable capacity to adapt, self-regulate, and heal. To be able to properly recover and return to vitality, bodies need to be in a state of coherence and regulation. This insight led me to deepen my studies in somatics, mindfulness, meditation, breathwork, Reiki, and Hatha Yoga.
The integrative approach to health that I offer now has been shaped not only by working with people but also by my own personal experience and inquiry. As a former professional athlete, I understand first-hand the impact of injury, recovery, and the connection between body and mind.
In a warm, grounded, and respectful environment—where your experience is met with care and full attention, I offer personalized sessions that combine evidence-based bodywork with somatic and awareness-based practices. Together, we will create the conditions for greater resilience, ease, and well-being by supporting the body's natural capacity for healing, adaptation, and self-regulation.
This Work Is for You If You...
Experience pain, tension, physical discomfort, or recurring injuries.
Want to improve mobility, posture, movement quality, and overall well-being.
Feel disconnected from your body and want to cultivate greater awareness, presence, and connection.
Feel your body is often in a state of tension, alertness, or exhaustion.
Want to better understand the relationship between your body, mind, and emotions.
Are interested in using hands-on techniques, breathwork, movement, and awareness practices to support your well-being.
Value a personalized approach that meets you as a whole person.
Want to support your body's natural capacity for healing, adaptation, and resilience.
Are willing to actively participate in your own process of recovery, growth, and transformation.
“pawo” - one who is brave
"pawo" is taken from the Shambhala vision. It is the Tibetan term meaning "one who is brave." In this context, being brave refers to being a warrior. Warriorship here is the tradition of human bravery and fearlessness, not being afraid of who you are.
Luc Nefkens
PAWO HEALTH / pawo therapy
Based in Lisbon (PT) & Amsterdam (NL)
Inquiries: lucnefkens@gmail.com
Disclaimer
Luc Nefkens provides non-medical, complementary care services that support wellbeing and nervous system regulation. These services do not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.