Tag Archives: Health

Sciatica and Bowenwork

Posted on by
Reply

Sciatica

As a Bowenwork Therapist I treat lots of chronic and acute pains. Sciatica has to be one of the most difficult for the average person to deal with. Here is one story: a client painfully limped into my office one day. She could hardly sit or stand. After a hour-long intake with a lot of personal history I looked at her and said in a loving way: “Did you ever have this pain before?” She stood for a moment and almost began to cry, then she said: “Yes.” It was at a time she was overwhelmed by everything and she had found no alternative except that of ignoring it until it painfully went away. At that point, for me, there was an incredible softening, like something deep inside had changed.

She went to the treatment room and lay down. There is a very specific treatment protocol for sciatica with which I followed. It is a series of moves with space (minutes) in between. An hour later she was fully relaxed and could walk without a limp although there was still pain. She emailed me the very next evening and her testimonial said: “I wanted to thank you for your treatment of my sciatica problem. At precisely 5:00pm (24 hours after I saw you), the pain floated OUT of my body, and I’m back to new. I sure don’t understand this Bowen Technique, but I sure am loving my results!”
K.L. Woodinville, WA

Japan’s Nuclear Reactor Crisis and Undiagnosed Physical Dysfunction/Pain

Posted on by
Reply

Japan’s Nuclear Reactor Crisis & Undiagnosed Physical Dysfunction/Pain.

Japan’s Fukushima Reactors are in a deep crisis and most people have no idea what’s going on. Even the experts only have basic knowledge and are speculating what is happening and what can be done. When they can send in a robot to assess the damages, then they actually may know more.

What happens when you get an intense pain? I just want it to go away. Almost everyone will experience pain at some point in his or her life. What do you do about it? I suspect most of the time people will self-treat unless the pain is too intense and then they will see a doctor.

Most people that come to see me in my Bowenwork practice have undiagnosed pain. There is nothing wrong with that, although it’s just like the nuclear power plant, the operators are still in the dark. When I do an assessment I can see the physical & skeletal alignment and have a good understanding of what muscles are tight (hyper) or loose (hypo) and develop a plan to help bring them back into balance.

When the body is balanced skeletally, the myriad of muscle groups will function smoothly and naturally. A classic imbalance may start with the big toe. When the big toe becomes rigid and cranky, there is a ripple through the whole body. When one valve in the cooling system of a nuclear plant fails, it can be devastating for the whole system. When they build the plant numerous back up systems are what keep the reactor functioning and in balance.

There are times it is important to get a diagnosis and there are times it is better to stay in the dark. Orthopedic surgeon and author Nickolas A. DiNubile, MD states an interesting opinion in his book “Framework for the Lower Back.” Dr. DiNubile says regarding NOT getting an MRI his own back injuries: “ Because everyone-especially an orthopedic surgeon like me-knows there isn’t a surgical option that would apply to my circumstances.” Hmmmmmm?

Back Pain got you down?

Posted on by
Reply

What are the most common ailments I treat with Bowenwork?

1. Back Pain – this is usually medically undiagnosed and has a wide range of symptoms and history. Generally there has been an injury to some of the backs muscle groups and when overworked or stressed, the muscle tissue gets inflamed and the specific area becomes dehydrated and the pain lives on, sometimes better, sometimes worse. Contributing factors: life stresses, overworking a particular muscle group, kidney imbalance, skeletal misalignments, digestive issues or poor circulation. Bowenwork address the body by bringing awareness to the muscles, so they can shift back into balance, effectively neutralizing hyper (tight) or hypo (loose) muscles.

2. What can you do to change the cycle of back pain? Being proactive is the very first course of action.

Staying well hydrated, especially when here is more life stress present (60-75 ounces per day of clean pure water). If you drink caffeinated beverages like coffee, black tea or cola, drink 4 ounces of water first. You will be less thirsty and the water will prepare your body. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it removes water from the body, like lots of water.
Having a simple daily exercise practice. 5 minutes a day of targeted exercise will do wonders. Setting up a session with a personal trainer can establish the key muscle groups and habits to pay attention to. Its amazing how just 5 minutes can change your body and attitude about what’s possible.
Practice proper alignment and body mechanics by getting onto both feet at the same time when you stand up, get out of bed, get out of the car or get up from a chair. It’s amazing how unaware I was until I started this practice. Now I don’t even have to think about it, it’s natural.

Integral Transformational Practice Open House

Posted on by
Reply

Transform Yourself, Transform the World

ITP OPEN HOUSE!

On the Threshold of Life Possibilities…
Develop & Sustain a Dynamic, Life Balancing Personal Practice

Integral Transformative Practice

January 23, 2011
6:30-8:30 pm
Seattle Healing Arts Center
6300 9th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115

Come experience ITP…
Learn about the holistic elements of “The Practice”
…that can lead to true life transformations in Business & Self
…within a supportive ITP community

OUR MISSION: supporting individuals to fully develop and sustain a dynamic long term personal practice balancing Body, Mind, Heart & Soul.



For further information call: Scott (206) 524-5511
and visit: www.itp-international.org
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ITP Open House January 23rd, 6:30 – 8:30 PM Seattle Healing Arts Center

The Seattle ITP Community has been active for more than four years. Please visit us on our Open House to celebrate the gifts of the ITP as given by the illustrious George Leonard and Michael Murphy. Our mission is one of supporting individual to fully develop and sustain a dynamic personal practice balancing Body, Mind, Heart & Soul.

In February we will be closing the circle to newcomers for six months. We would love to have you involved and the commitment is for two Sunday evenings per month for six months. You will get a deeper relationship with a core group of committed practitioners and be able to look at your own desires/affirmations on how you want to proceed and fully develop your practice.

Habit or Habitual?

Posted on by
Reply

What is the difference between a habit and being habitual? My version is something like this; A habit is something we know we are doing (conscious) and habitual implies we simply keep doing it (unconsciously). I have a habit of brushing my teeth (conscious) and I find I habitually place my tongue on the roof of my mouth (unconscious). So then, what is the running (unconscious pattern) which occurs? When are you aware of your runnings? I began using the tongue on the roof of the mouth as a taoist practice called the microcosmic orbit.  When I recently certified to teach Qigong, I found this habit with the tongue was now habitual.  I was doing it all the time!   Sometimes this seems so simple and yet there is an astounding complexity between our awareness around habits and that which seems habitual.   It had to start somewhere and maybe it’s not a habit until it overwhelms you or someone else brings it to your attention that we become aware.

What’s Running You?

Posted on by
Reply

What’s running you?

You were born into this physical world after spending nine months swimming in a warm fluid-filled environment. Now what? Each person has unique life experiences and sensitivities which are affected by how they feel inside. What does it take for you to feel rejuvenated while your sense of responsibility keeps tugging you to get more done? As a busy professional, time’s challenges may not feel physically or emotionally supportive. Remember those endless perfect days of summer as a well-loved child? Where is your island paradise where you feel the restorative powers healing and supporting your own wellbeing? It may simply be right in front or shall I say, inside of you.

As a natural health care provider people arrive in my office fixated on their sense of dis-ease. During and immediately after treatment there seems to be a neutral place where healing occurs. In the physiology of our nervous system this place is called the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) where our body/mind accesses a rest and digest phase. In healing our body from any injury, condition or simple stress pattern, I have found practices of physical/mental peacefulness allow for an ease and quickness of the inherent healing process. From a practitioner’s viewpoint: when our mind releases it’s hyper-vigilance (sensitivity overcompensation), then the body awakens deeper capacities and abilities for self-healing. In a natural health care understanding, I see the overcompensation pattern happening on two possible levels; physical injuries create specific neuromuscular imbalances (muscle length) and mental/emotional/life traumas/challenges affecting systemic balances involving organs and endocrine functions.

When someone changes his or her perspective (view of the story) a whole new paradigm of possibility (healing) can emerge. I recently had an experience where a facilitator led me through a physical visualization process. In the beginning I felt as though areas of my body had heavy gravitational pulls holding me painfully to the floor. I moved deeply into the awareness of my breathing, air flowing through my nose, sinuses, diaphragm and lungs. My body-mind concentration altered my previous perception of heaviness and then slowly, an overall sense of ease prevailed. I found for myself in creating safe harbors or neutral environments while being present, the stresses appeared to melt away.

What natural environments do you find create a calm, peaceful state of being?