Bodywork For Real life
Medical Manual Therapy | Sports Massage | Lymphatic Therapy
Clinical Precision Meets Intuitive Care
Every session responds to what's present in the body — 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 anatomy, and cultivated intuition, 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.
Introducing
The ARVAmethod Body
The ARVAmethod Body is a two and a half hour signature session that brings the layers of somatic experience together in one room. Guided by what the body reveals, we work with somatic inquiry to learn what the body holds, breathwork to access its natural rhythm, movement to process what surfaces, and hands on techniques that address tension, restriction, resistance, and fluid balance. You leave in a fundamentally different place than where you started, with a personal follow up of insights and practices to carry into your daily life.
Questions before you book? Schedule a free 15 minute consultation to see if the ARVAmethod Body session is a good fit for you.
Book a session
Arrabella Schippers, LMT Illinois License 227.013817 | NCBTMB Certified | ABMP Member
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This Is Collaborative Care
Communication begins when you book your first session and receive your intake package. The intake form gives you a chance to check in with your body and tell me what you have been experiencing, what your goals are for our work together, and any clinical detail that will help me plan your session.
Bodywork sessions may include a variety of techniques and modalities — from simple stretching to cupping or scraping — applied as needed and always with your consent. The work is progressive and holistic 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 you are welcome to book what’s available and add yourself to the waitlist to get notified when last minute openings become available.
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.