About Randi
Randi Jordan is a licensed physical therapist with over 30 years of experience in the beautiful Berkshire mountains, MA. While skilled in many diverse techniques, Randi’s current practice and training focus on those learned through the Barral Institute, where she has studied intensively since the early 1990s. At the heart of this work is learning how to palpate (feel) where dysfunctions in the body are located and the order in which they should be treated. Using gentle but very specific manipulations, she is able to release “stuck” tissues and emotional trauma. Through ongoing training, Randi continues to develop greater precision and a wide range of skills, reducing the length of treatment time required and achieving better results (see “What clients say”).
Among her professional achievements is her work as a teaching assistant at the Barral Institute – for the first four levels of the visceral manipulation curriculum and the first three levels of the neuromeningeal manipulation/trauma and whiplash classes. She also assisted Gail Wetzler, PT and director of the Barral Institute in the United States, with gynecologic visceral manipulation. In addition, Randi has trained extensively with the Upledger Institute, where she learned craniosacral therapy and somato-emotional release, and also served as a teaching assistant. Her most recent training was through the Chickly Institute, focusing on the physical structures of the brain and balancing them. Randi has studied with notable teachers and pioneers including Robin McKenzie, DO; Florence Kendell, PT; Shirley Sarnehman, PT; Phillip Greenman, DO; Loren Rex, DO; and Lawrence Jones, DO. She has also led craniosacral therapy and visceral mobilization study groups for practitioners seeking to improve their practice. She deepens her own skills with colleagues in an advanced study group. A detailed explanation of the types of therapy she offers are listed under “techniques.”
Randi began her training in 1985 after graduating from Temple University. From 1986 to 1990, she served as staff physical therapist at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She worked with many of the more than 300 residents there, often referring them to alternative and conventional healthcare professionals to deal with various health concerns, including structural dysfunction. In addition, Kripalu afforded her the opportunity to experience first-hand the skills of at least 100 practitioners who came to donate their talents to Kripalu residents. This enabled her to match practitioners with residents who needed specific types of bodywork, movement therapy or other forms of healthcare. At Kripalu, Randi participated in countless training sessions in health-related therapies available to resident health and guest services staff. These included courses in Bach flower remedies, herbal treatments, homeopathic first aid, macrobiotic and Ayurvedic nutrition, polarity, and meditation, visualization and breathing techniques. Randi is certified in Kripalu massage and as a Kripalu yoga teacher.
While benefiting from exposure to these diverse modalities, Randi realized that manual therapy, especially techniques practiced by osteopathic doctors such as John Upledger, DO, and Greg Blaney, MD (with whom she trained one-on-one at Kripalu), were the most consistently effective. Residents with problems ranging from headaches to back pain to fibromyalgia often responded well to limited treatment with osteopathic work. These techniques were grounded in science and taught by highly trained professionals in the medical field. Moreover, they seemed to get to the root of the problem by working with the tissues, joints and fluids with minimal force. It made sense to rebalance the body and treat causes as well as symptoms.
After Randi left Kripalu Center, she worked both at a local physical therapy practice and on her own for several years until starting Darshan Physical Therapy in 1995. Darshan had offices in Williamstown and Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and served as a state-of-the-art provider of manual and physical therapy, exercise rehabilitation and massage. Randi was co-owner and clinical director of Darshan from 1995 to 2005. She oversaw all clinical treatment provided to clients as well as training in manual therapy and other therapeutic techniques, including yoga and exercises to help clients with bone-density issues. The staff she supervised included physical therapists, physical therapy assistants and massage therapists.
In 2005, Randi transitioned to a solo practice, which she maintains today. She continues her training through the Barral and Chickly institutes as well as the Essentrics (Classical Stretch) fitness program. She complements her hands-on work with clients with advice on how they can maintain their improved health and well-being though an exercise regimen tailored to their needs and lifestyle.
Randi is a member of the International Association of Healthcare Practitioners.
