The power of connection: your nervous system
Your nervous system is your body's communication network. It handles everything you never have to think about: your heartbeat and breathing, digestion, immune response, and even healing a small wound automatically. When this system is free of blockages, your body can keep itself optimally healthy.
How blockages form
Throughout life we experience events that affect our health. When these events aren't fully processed, your body stores them as blockages in your spine. There are three types of stressors that cause these blockages:
Physical: such as injuries, overexertion or poor posture.
Chemical: such as unhealthy or processed food, medication or a hormonal imbalance.
Emotional: such as mental pressure, trauma or unprocessed emotions.
When tension settles in your spine for a long time, it can lead to a wide range of symptoms. Think of persistent pain and fatigue, but also digestive issues, sleep problems, burnout, anxiety, or a constant feeling of being overstimulated.
“Your body isn't broken, it's asking to be heard.”
Dr. Carli Axford, founder of the Spinal Flow Technique®
What Spinal Flow does
The Spinal Flow Technique focuses on clearing blockages and helping the nervous system regulate itself. Through gentle touch at specific points near your head and along your spine, your body gets help releasing stored stress patterns. This restores the natural communication between your nervous system, your body and your brain — so your organs, muscles and cells receive the right nerve supply again, symptoms ease, and your body can function optimally once more.
Your body is intelligent enough to recover on its own — it sometimes just needs the right conditions to do so. My role as a practitioner is to create those conditions, so your body can set its own recovery in motion.
Does this resonate with you?
Spinal Flow is suitable for people of any age. Many come when they notice their body or mind no longer settles, or when other routes have brought little relief. If one or more of these points feels familiar, an intake is worth your time.
- You're constantly ‘switched on’ and struggle to unwind
- You have recurring tension in your neck, shoulders or back
- You sleep restlessly or often feel tired
- You experience stress, overthinking or a rushed feeling
- You have headaches or tight, shallow breathing
- You have long-term symptoms and want a gentle approach
- You're recovering from a busy or difficult period
- You feel out of balance or ‘not quite yourself’
- You don't want any cracking or firm manipulation
- You want support alongside your regular care, not instead of it
- You're pregnant or recently gave birth and want something gentle
- You simply want to maintain calm and balance
Curious? Book a free posture and spine assessment, and we'll look together at whether Spinal Flow suits what you need.
Book a free intakeSpinal Flow is a complementary method and does not replace medical care. No diagnosis is made. You will never be advised to forgo regular medical care.
What clients say
I felt more relaxation in my neck and shoulder area. I slept well and woke up rested — that hadn't happened in a long time. Normally I'd rather stay in bed or still feel tired. More effective than a massage!
After the session I felt more relaxed, less tense. My headache is gone! I have more energy and feel less tired.
I really enjoyed the deep relaxation during the session. Afterwards, too, I felt calmer and better able to let go — as if I was less in survival mode. I felt comfortable on the treatment table, and the communication before and after was pleasant and natural. Anke comes across as friendly and attentive.
The treatment with Spinal Flow at Anke's does me a lot of good. I've been sleeping restlessly and too little since COVID. It really helps; to relax my muscles more deeply and sleep better. Anke is a calm, genuine woman with gentle hands. You can trust yourself to her care. Happy with her.
“You don't need to ‘do’ anything. Your body already knows what to do. Spinal Flow simply creates the space for it to happen.”
Dr. Carli Axford
What a session involves
Below you can read exactly what to expect, how you might feel during and after a session, and what the rates are.
What can you expect in a session?
You lie fully clothed on your front, on a treatment table in a calm, safe space.
I examine the blockages in your spine and the surrounding tissue.
With gentle, targeted touch at your head, sacrum and tailbone, I make direct contact with your nervous system. I also guide the flow along your spine, with light pressure on your thighs and feet.
Your body may move slightly on its own; deeper breathing, light twitches or tears are all normal.
How you might feel, during and after the session
During the session
Light movements, deeper breathing, twitches or tears.
After the session
Calm and relaxation — sometimes a little tired too, as the body is still processing.
Feeling lighter and more energetic right away.
Tingling or warmth.
Temporarily a bit more pain, fatigue or emotional release, as your body processes the treatment.
All these responses are a good sign: your nervous system feels safe enough to work on a reset, so your body can recover.
Afterwards, clients often experience a deep sense of relaxation, calm and connection with themselves.
Rates
Choose a single session, or build on your recovery with a package.
A single session already brings relief, especially if you only have mild symptoms.
Do you have recurring or chronic symptoms; stored stress builds up over time, and the nervous system often needs consistency to feel safe and allow lasting change. Several sessions close together give your body the best chance to recover fully on its own.
As a CAT therapist, I am subject to GAT-Wkkgz complaints law and GAT disciplinary law through the Geschilleninstantie Alternatieve Therapeuten (GAT). For more information about my complaints procedure: gatgeschillen.nl.
Waluya means whole, safe and well.
Waluya comes from Sundanese — the language and culture of West Java, and of my own roots in Bandung. In Sundanese culture we also know Panca Waluya — the Five Wholenesses — which together represent a person in balance, where body, mind and spirit live in harmony. But Waluya means more than ‘not being ill’. It describes the idea that you've come through a difficult period — such as pain, stress or blockages — and returned home to your true, healthy self.
“Mugia waluya” — a blessing from elders and spiritual teachers: may you be blessed with a long, healthy and flowing life.
That's what this practice is about: a place to become whole, safe and well again, where you're welcome to come home to yourself.
About me
I'm Anke — wife of Tjipke, mother of Lotus, and the first certified Spinal Flow therapist in The Hague.
In 2020 I had to stop working as a pedagogical support worker. From then on I was at home, dealing with the chronic pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia. My rheumatologist eventually told me she could no longer treat me. That I'd simply have to learn to live with it.
But surely there had to be a way out? I was determined; if regular healthcare had no answers, I'd find them myself. I started researching, and it soon became clear to me that it had to be something to do with a dysregulated nervous system.
Then I found the Spinal Flow Technique.
Within a year I had more than 40 sessions. After a few sessions, something began to shift. First I felt lighter, happier. Then more energetic — I could walk further. Now I have far less pain, and when I've overdone it, I recover so much faster. No more unbearable pain; truly a transformation!
Spinal Flow has touched me in a way I could never have imagined beforehand — in my body, in my thinking, in how I look at health and the nervous system.
My own pain led me to a new passion: the nervous system, the foundation of everything. When it's under constant strain, the rest of your body doesn't work as it should either. What I love most about Spinal Flow is that it looks for the cause, rather than fighting the symptoms.
What I want to offer is a place where you learn to feel again what your body is telling you. Where tension can make way for calm, and where you don't have to analyse what's stored — you're allowed to simply let it go. A place where you're fully present again, not just in your head, but in your whole body.
My mission is to help people move out of survival mode, away from stress, tension and pain — and to create the right conditions for your body to recover on its own. Coming home to yourself, so you can live fully.
Ready for a change? Send me a message — I'd love to help.
Anke
Location
Sessions take place at Stories — a calm shared practice building with warm, welcoming rooms and plenty of natural light. A pleasant, professional place to unwind.
Stories
Eisenhowerlaan 114
2517 KP The Hague
Statenkwartier district · next to the World Forum.
Public transport
The World Forum stop is about a 1-minute walk away, served by bus 28 among others. Tram 17 stops at the neighbouring Kunstmuseum stop, also within walking distance. From The Hague Central Station you're at the practice within 15 to 20 minutes.
Parking
Paid parking applies in Statenkwartier from 13:00–24:00 (7 days, zone 2263). You can also park in the ParkBee Eisenhowerlaan and World Forum garages nearby.
Parking rates may change — check the current rate at the garage or via a parking app.
Good to know
What exactly is Spinal Flow?
Spinal Flow is a gentle, non-invasive session that works with your nervous system. Using light touch along the spine, stress-related blockages are released so your body gets the space it needs to recover on its own.
Does it feel like chiropractic or massage?
No. There's no cracking, manipulation or firm massage. The touch is subtle and precise. Most people find it deeply relaxing. Some clients even say they find Spinal Flow more effective than massage!
How long does a session take?
Your first appointment — including an intake conversation, a posture and spine assessment, and the treatment — takes about 75 minutes. A follow-up session usually takes 45 minutes, including a welcome beforehand and a debrief afterwards. The treatment itself takes 30 minutes.
What does a session cost?
The first introductory session — a posture and spine assessment — is free. A single session afterwards costs €65. With a package of 6 or 12 sessions you pay less per session. All rates are listed under Treatment.
Who is Spinal Flow suitable for?
For young and old. People come with a range of symptoms — from stress and tension to fatigue and long-term pain — or to maintain calm and balance. See also Is Spinal Flow for me?
What can I expect at the first appointment?
We start with a short introductory talk. Then follows a posture and spine assessment (about 30 minutes) and your first treatment of 30 minutes — you stay clothed throughout. The debrief afterwards takes a maximum of 15 minutes.
Do I need to prepare anything?
No preparation is needed, but do wear loose, comfortable clothing; no jeans, no tight trousers such as leggings or shapewear. After a session it's good to drink extra water, take a walk — ideally somewhere in nature — and take it easy for the rest of the day.
Is Spinal Flow a replacement for medical care?
No. Spinal Flow® is a complementary method, not a registered or regulated form of regular healthcare. No diagnosis is made. You will never be advised to forgo regular medical care.
Book a free intake.
Curious whether Spinal Flow suits you? Leave a message or get in touch directly. I reply personally and am glad to think along with you.
