What Students are Saying….
Cranial Sacral & Holistic Modalities: Emotional Release from Trauma: 2024
“Great class and great space and location! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your humor during the 3 days of class! I have enjoyed and learned from the two classes I have taken from you and hope to attend more in the future. Thank You!!” MK, Gastonia, N.C.
“It was genuinely a pleasure meeting and taking this course with Ellen Gayle. She was very knowledgeable and took time to explain in detail as well as answer any questions. She made the weekend fun and enjoyable and was a gracious host. I look forward to taking another course with her in the future.” JB, Gastonia, N.C.
Working With Trauma: Care for Others:
“Loved the class being smaller and the comfortable and safe venue. Glad to take home amazing information and ideas on working with people that experience PTSD. Hands on part was the most helpful for me, for I am a tactile learner…..” MEP, Fayetteville, N.C.
“Not only was this tremendously helpful in preparation of working with Therapeutic Massage clients, it has given me a multitude of techniques to use as an R.N. with children at Eliada Homes.” LH, Asheville, N.C.
The Cranial System: Structure & Motion 1 & Advanced:
“You are my favorite teacher…….I enjoy your sense of humor, your broad experience, your sensitive touch and your ability to convey the information. I look forward to taking more of your classes and practicing this expansive technique.” H.L., Newton, N.C. 10/2019
“Great class…knowledgeable about course….Details were great..Very ethical..safety of client and therapist. Stayed on track w/course description.” B.W., Brevard, N.C.
“Instructor has a well-rounded knowledge of the material and teaches several approaches to the same goal. I enjoyed the somewhat accelerated curriculum and the hands-on practice….. This was a great class to introduce me to Cranial Sacral work but also give me the tools to incorporate it into my massage routine immediately.” A.M., Hickory
“Gayle is very knowledgeable about the content and willing to help each student be able to feel energy work. She uses good verbal cues to trace intangibles which is helpful to therapists who are unfamiliar with energy work. I like the combination and integration of different schools of thought.” Curry Williams, Asheville
“Gayle is one of the most knowledgeable instructors I have had. She is always positive and clear in her teaching methods. It has been 3 full days of instruction and I feel I will retain 90% of it with the handouts, notes and hands on assistance from Gayle.” Jimmy Weaver, N.C.
“Teacher was joyful and engaging. Very knowledgeable about topic and well organized. Extremely helpful during hands on and to ensure technique. Highly recommend class!!” Linda S.C., Asheville
“Gayle was very detailed in this class. She was very good to answer all questions asked and was patient and enthusiastic throughout the entire class! Thank you for the education!” Amelia Johnson, N.C.
“I thought the class was very good. Very informative. Gayle really took her time to make sure everyone really knew what they were doing. Handouts were good. A nice relaxed setting.” Natalie Palmer, MD
“Great course! I feel very confident to take what I learned into my own practice. Gayle made the class very enjoyable with the right amount of information and hands on. Thank you so much.” H.H., VA.
“I have gotten into a “funk” with work. Working in a chiropractor’s office I see up to 10 different clients a day. I haven’t been able to give the love and attention to the clients I’d like to on top of the content of this class being interesting and beneficial, just learning from Gayle has put me back in touch with why I wanted to be a therapist. This weekend has opened me up to re-evaluating what direction my career is going. THANK YOU SO MUCH!” Ashley Cook, Asheville 5/15
“Gayle’s course provided a thorough introduction to helping clients through the use of cranial system approaches to facilitate a client’s healing. The information was organized, clearly presented and understandable. I look forward to incorporating this knowledge into my practice and also taking future courses with Gayle.”
Morgan J.
Cranial Sacral & H.M., Emotional Release from Trauma:
“Thanks so much for the hands on time and a great balance of support and autonomy. Thanks for taking “brainy” content and making it so accessible.” M.R. – N.C.
“I loved the way each course section was laid out: short lecture, hands on practice; another short lecture and more hands on practice. I like Gayle’s energy; she’s patient and flexible and like how she gathered information from a variety of sources. I like the way she guided us and also allowed us to figure things out. From my other cranial classes, I felt I was learning techniques, like a musician practicing just the scales. In this class I felt like I learned how to play music :)” L.H. Asheville
“Enjoyable class and learned a lot about touch, and different ways to touch. Also Arcing and “flushing meridians” techniques were really very good! I appreciate Gayle’s conscientious caring and meticulous coverage of materials in class.” A.E. Asheville
“A very powerful class for me. This will help me to be more in tune with myself and with others. Thank you Gayle.” K.K. Asheville
Basic Lymphatic Massage:
“The material was presented very clearly and was easy to understand. The instructor was very patient with us and it is obvious that she cares abut the subject material. The illustrations were exceedingly helpful and well drawn!!” S.O. Blowing Rock, N.C. 3/2019
“Ellen Gayle offers a great course to understand and perform Basic Lymphatic Massage. She gives a lot of information and is very hands-on during the practices. I’m so glad I took this course and I’m looking forward to using this massage with my clients. They will benefit greatly from it” D.D. Raleigh (3/18/18)
“Ellen Gayle is thorough, fun and a high energy educator.” K.H. Asheville (3/18/18)
“Ellen Gayle teaches with humor and professionalism combined to make her course very comfortable for someone who may be shy to ask questions.” M. R. (3/18/18)
“A big thank you to Ellen-Gayle for her patience and genuine encouragement to a mature and new student who is still in massage school. The class was a delightful and empowering experience!! M.K., Virginia 3/19/17
“Ellen-Gayle made the subject interesting, was highly knowledgeable and made it clear to understand. Ellen-Gayle showed us compassion and patience, which I don’t always find in teachers. I will be back. No doubt about it.” C.D., Waynesville 3/19/17
“I have not been exposed to a great deal of lymphatic massage since class in 2007. I appreciated that the information was presented in a way I could understand and questions were answered.”
K. Reed, Asheville 4/15/15
“This class was fabulous! Very thorough and informative. The attention that was given on a personal level is most appreciated!” W.H., Asheville 4/15/18
“I feel the course really added to and helped expand my knowledge and awareness of the human body. This will enable me to better help my clients.” E.B., Asheville 5/15
“Gayle is a very patient and knowledgeable teacher. She is responsive and eager to help her students. Thank you!”
J.S. Asheville, NC
“Gayle is a wonderful hands-on teacher and addresses individual and group questions in an experiential way. She is awesome at blending the practical book knowledge with the experiential treatment. M.H., Asheville, NC
“Gayle is very warm and engaging-using a great blend of the didactic, anecdotal and the humorous! She is a devoted and enthusiastic teacher ..and an eternal student herself. She let’s you know we are all in it together. Thank You!!” Caroline Zocher, Weaverville, NC
What Clients are Saying:
“Since starting at Holistic Symmetry. managing chronic neck pain has been so much easier! Ellen Gayle brings her full attention, compassion, and knowledge to every session making each treatment a profound and unique healing experience. I always feel listened to and well cared for and of course so much relief from areas of chronic pain. I’m very grateful that I found Holistic Symmetry to help me reach my health goals! NH, Asheville
“I am so very grateful for the healing session I experienced with you earlier this week. My whole body feels different, lighter, happier! Comments from friends are along the lines that I am glowing and happier. And besides the improved circulation in my head, arms and legs, I have had 3 nights of deep sleep, something that has eluded me for a while. Thank you for the love and time you put into your sessions.” J.M. Asheville
“I’m 59 years old and have been suffering from IBS for many years and arthritis for the last five. My treatments with Gayle have consisted of a combination of visceral manipulation, lymphatic drainage and cranial sacral therapy. After 4 treatments, I feel that Gayle’s knowledge and skilled hands have helped me physically and mentally. I’m still a work in progress and will continue to receive the benefits of these healing treatments. Gayle has a passion for her work and I’m grateful to be working with her.”
Colleen Jamesson, Weaverville, NC
This client originally came to see me because of left ear issues. Symptoms experiencing were “full feeling, stopped up feeling and ringing/roaring”. After first session she said she felt great and the ear nose was at a minimum. After just two sessions, here’s what she wrote:
“Gayle is a wonderful Cranial Sacral therapist. She was available to answer any questions I had and provided a safe and relaxing environment for healing. It is clear she knows what she is doing and creates a trusting atmosphere. Gayle is multi-talented and also did Lymphatic Drainage Therapy. She has many tools to choose from and seems to be able to ‘attack’ any presenting issue with her many areas of expertise. She was available to give me “homework” so I could work on myself between our sessions. I especially appreciated her sharing with me what she found in my body, when she was working with me. What she found, in my body, fit my experience of discomfort in that part of my body. I found relief after our sessions. I will definitely continue to work with Gayle and would easily recommend her with confidence.”
D. Diftler, Tennessee
“I’ve received cranial sacral therapy in 3 different states and highly value its amazing healing potential. Through the Upledger website, I was blessed to find a practitioner as highly skilled, experienced, and gifted as Gayle Sovinee. I’ve benefited from her healing hands and heart over several years now. Her presence and deep trust in the body’s innate intelligence creates a peaceful, healing space where gentle change and shifts can occur naturally – increased flexibility, circulation and overall well-being. So grateful that Gayle is right here in Asheville.
A.Moore.
“Wow, I’m finally getting around to thanking you so much for the last session you gave me. I really felt wonderful shifts in my body and I was able to move in ways I have not been able to in a while. So that you sooo… much. I’m so very grateful I found you. ”
Kathleen Hahn, www.idodances.com, Asheville, N.C. “
“In the past 2 years or so, I have gradually gotten worse and worse lower back pain. After a friend told me about the results she has had with craniosacral therapy I decided to give it a try. I was very happy to report to Gayle that after 2 treatments I vacuumed and cleaned my whole house…without having to stop and rest due to pain – yea!!! After having completed all my sessions I continue to feel the improvements and I’m loving it- being able to sleep on my back without waking up in extreme pain is wonderful…thanks Gayle!!!”
B.H., San Diego, California
“Not only was Gayle very descriptive and helpful about the process of the cranial sacral therapy, but she performed superbly. While I was working as a Raft Guide on the Chattooga River, I was involved in an accident where a boat fell on my head. Gayle was able to nearly heal my spine and neck within one session! And not only was she able to help my neck and spine, but without my mentioning of it, she was able to find previous injuries and my migraine spot and help with those issues as well! I highly recommend this therapy and more particularly Gayle!!”
H.K., Louisiana
“We were fortunate to find Gayle through the “find a practitioner” link on the Upledger website. After reviewing all the local people, Gayle was by far the most experienced and had taken the most courses. My 8 year old had a concussion in June and when he started school he was getting over whelmed in a way he had never been before the concussion.
After seeing Gayle six times over a period of 4 weeks he is now a different child. More focused, less emotional, happier and even states, “I am back to myself”.” As an Occupational Therapist who has taken all three of her children to the best practitioners in the Northeast, (I moved to Asheville from Connecticut), I am thrilled with our services from Gayle. I know it can be hard to understand but I highly recommend this service.”
Cindy Freedman, MOTR, CTRS, Asheville, N.C.
