Here I would like to pay tribute to two people whose influence has been decisive for my professional progress . My approach of the body is still based on what they gave me early in life.

Dagmar Bergenström, born Littorin (1874-1967), my grandmother
Here in Cannes (France) with her patients, survivors of the First World War.
In the Suquet she treated, together with her husband Ernst, fishermen from the "Vieux-Port" of Cannes as well as Russian princesses. My Swedish grandparents had attended the first course that accepted women in the Swedish school for teachers in gymnastics, with a specialization in "Gymnastics for the sick people".
This beloved grandmother awoke my consciousness of the differences through the senses of observation and touch.

"Madame Jaquet", born Monica Poppius, my rhythmical-dance teacher.
Her classes gave me, from the age of four years old on: the experience of a mobile structure with ever renewing creative possibilities, the sense of the body movement in space and, in the stillness of the "collective statues' game" the consciousness of the bodies' volumes and lengths.
After five years of attending her classes, Monica Jaquet sent me to a ballet course, which happened to be a prelude to four years of travelling for dance studies and shows. I had the happiness of meeting her again twenty-five years after our first encounter. Vital and limber like few, she still gave one class a week until she turned ninety!

From these two ladies' lives and our interchanges I keep memories of precision and creativity, mildness and hope.

It was amongst dancers that I heard for the first time speaking of Françoise Mézières, in 1980. Later I realized her invaluable contribution to physiotherapy. Nowadays there are several books and trainings inspired by her method. As an R.P.G. graduate I took courses in other trainings. Former students and assistants of F. Mézières my teachers progressed, some of them creating their own method. My current approach resides in respecting the spirit in which she's said to have worked with, stressing on observing the whole patient and adapting the treatment accordingly. During the time of a treatment  the communication with the patient allows his/her own rhythm to flow and we don't "go faster than the music" as we say in French.

If getting established was more a question of circumstances, the life in the quarter and collaboration with all kinds of professionals have given me a rich experience. Presently the Nordic Walking classes develop the offers of the practice, and allow us enjoy the very beautiful parks in Geneva, with a view over the lake. In all types of weather we are in contact with nature downtown.
The making of the website is contemporary to the start of this activity, therefore the first part of the title: "Nordic". "Wave" symbolizes hope in life: whatever terrible thing may occur, there's always a wave moving on a beach somewhere in the world. In the world of music "Wave" belongs to the work of Antonio Carlos Jobim. This title from his discography brings a touch of sweetness and well-being.
I hope that "Nordic Wave" will call up still many more positive images!

Thanks:
It is impossible to mention here all the teachers, colleagues and patients who have taught me my work. I would like to thank them, as well as the kind people who will recognize themselves here.

The spirals that have been with me from the very beginning are by Justus Hultgren, a Swedish artist living on an island.

                                                       Caroline Bergenström, 2004