Public awareness of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is growing. That’s a good thing.
Unfortunately, disability and the need for care of people with TBI is also growing. Sports-related injuries, war trauma, whiplash or concussion in an auto accident, even toxic chemicals and stroke can result in TBI.
Mild to moderate frontal brain injury, or frontal TBI may give people trouble with memory, reasoning, emotions, and social relations.… Read the rest
I have given referrals to a variety of other practitioners and service
providers: chiropractors, acupuncturists, other massage therapists, mental health practitioners, medical doctors, naturopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians, artists, writers, activities developer, elder care facilities, photographers, nutritional coach, business coach, caregivers, pet sitters, web designer and web developer. Often I hear where people have really benefited. Sometimes a client doesn’t follow through and I realize it might be partly from my role in their lives as a massage therapist.… Read the rest
Continued from Therapeutic BreathWork, Self-Care
Coordination of the outgoing breath with letting go of tension is an easy way to bring peace and stillness to the body and mind. It relieves pain and stress and relaxes muscles. There is a physiological basis for the influence of breathwork.
The ribs attach to the spine at the back, and open and close like little wings with each breath.… Read the rest
The lungs extend up under the collarbone. Tension sometimes restricts breathing at the diaphragm, at the base of the lungs. We can change that by conscious breathing and massage.
Most of our breathing is automatic, and we are usually not aware when and how we restrict it. However, we can use the breath as a unique vehicle to responsibly meet and heal from tension, emotional or physical pain, and trauma.… Read the rest
Myths of aging such as belief in inevitable stiffness, inevitable loss of bodily functions, or inevitable cognitive decline activate a feed forward system. Our bodies manifest what we fear the most. We can instead recognize how aging brings wisdom and grace, and awaken postural ease. We can become more resilient.
When we live in a state of chronic stress, we hold chronic contractions.… Read the rest
When we have an incorrect map of where our body parts fit together, and where they live in space, we move according to the body map, not according to our true size, structure and function. We are the only animals that can distort our bodies based on what we believe. Just as imagining a perfect gymnastic routine is a rehearsal that helps Olympic gymnasts win, incorrect beliefs about our body can rehearse our posture into painful distortions.… Read the rest
Dr. John Whitman Ray, N.D., developed the Emotional Tone Scale as part of Body Electronics. Dr. Ray’s teachings encompassed the physical and electrical systems of the body, and their relationship to emotions, thoughts and word patterns, and our spiritual evolution. His teachings spread to Portland around 1982. This was largely due to Thomas Chavez, one of his earliest students, and later the author of Body Electronics.… Read the rest
What is going on when you experience chronic pain? You have pain nerve signals to various body systems, including the immune system and the brain. You may have muscle guarding, contracting nearby muscles or more distant ones, as you attempt to minimize the impact of pain and continue your life. Other times, you may stop moving to let an area heal, which may even decrease the ability of the body to eliminate toxins because of lack of exercise.… Read the rest
When we live with integrity and authenticity, it is obvious from our posture and attitude: how we show up to family, friends, and colleagues, and our resiliency to stresses. We can change our bodies, heal from within. As another Ortho-Bionomy blogger says, “If you observe how your body functions when you are feeling happy, in control and safe, then you have the basis for changing when you are feeling sad and insecure.” (Ortho-Bionomy with Tracy, Posture and Emotions).… Read the rest
Do you have pain or trouble moving easily because of stuck jaw, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, back, hips, legs, knees, ankles, or feet? A simple release of muscle tension might not be enough. You might also need to sweep out the crumbs of old emotions and stuck beliefs to discover what is behind your body’s creakiness.… Read the rest
