Bodywork informed by the body's language.
Medical Manual Therapy | Sports Massage | Lymphatic Therapy
We Work With Everything You Bring To The Session
Every session is a response to what is actually present — how you carry yourself, where you guard, what the body is protecting, and what energy you bring through the door.
Drawing from eastern and western knowledge systems, clinical and intuitive technique is applied with anatomical, physiological, and energetic precision.
People come in for shoulder pain and leave with an ease that radiates from somewhere deeper.
This Is Collaborative Care
When you book your first session, you will receive an intake package — this is where the communication begins. It gives you a chance to check in with your body and tell me in your own words what you have been experiencing, along with any clinical detail that will help me plan your session.
Please take your time with this important first step.
Sessions may include a variety of techniques and modalities — from simple stretching to cupping or scraping — applied as needed and always with your consent, at no additional cost. The work is progressive by design. The goal is to help you find a functional and comfortable baseline in your body, and you will leave most sessions with homework and practices to continue on your own.
While I do see people for single or urgent sessions, my schedule is largely held for clients working through a series — this consistently produces the best results. Each quarter I open my schedule for both new and returning clients to book regular sessions in advance. Availability outside of that window is limited, but new and returning clients are welcome to book what is available and add themselves to the waitlist. Cancellations are offered there first.
Book a session
Arrabella Schippers, LMTIllinois License 227.013817 | NCBTMB Certified | ABMP Member
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Gift Certificates
Digital Gift Certificates are available for purchase online
About the studio
The ARVAmethod practice is located within the River West Fitness Collective — a community of experienced, independently owned practitioners offering clinical bodywork, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and movement training in Chicago's River West neighborhood.
The space is intentional. Quiet, focused, and designed for the kind of work that requires both privacy and presence. 664 W Hubbard Street, Suite 200.
Street parking is available on Hubbard and several CTA bus and rail lines serve the area. The building is a historic landmark built in 1887 — there is no elevator and the studio is located on the second floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. All sessions are provided at the River West studio. I no longer offer in-home or mobile bodywork.
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I draw from an extensive range of eastern and western systems — including medical manual therapy, sports massage, lymphatic therapy, myofascial release, Thai bodywork, cupping, Gua sha, trigger point therapy, Tui Na, acupressure, and fascial stretch therapy, among others.
Sessions are not built around a requested modality. They are built around what the body actually needs that day. If you have a preference or a contraindication, we discuss it in the intake.
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Yes. I provide clinically informed prenatal care at all stages of pregnancy. Sessions are guided by medical and therapeutic principles, with the goal of relieving pain, tension, and movement-related discomfort associated with pregnancy.
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Medical manual therapy is a clinically focused approach to hands-on treatment that addresses pain, restriction, and dysfunction through assessment and precise technique. It is commonly used in rehabilitation and injury recovery and is designed to improve function, mobility, and tissue health.
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Lymphatic therapy is a gentle, specialized technique that supports circulation of lymphatic fluid and reduces swelling, inflammation, and fluid retention. It is often used for post-surgical recovery, chronic swelling, and immune system support.
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Sports massage focuses on the needs of active individuals and athletes. It supports performance, recovery, and injury prevention by addressing overuse, muscle imbalance, and movement-related strain.
Sessions are adapted to training cycles, injury history, and activity level.
Want to talk first?
If you have specific questions about bodywork and your needs for care, please use the contact form or schedule a free consultation.
For questions about availability or scheduling, please use the booking link and waitlist. Appointment access is managed through the scheduling system, and availability is not provided through the contact form.