Optimal Body
Our body is our vehicle for achieving our goals.
But because of injuries, accidents, abuse, mis-use, environmental factors, acquired behaviors, and illness, we accumulate tension. Over time our body adapts to this acquired tension by tightening and shortening; and thus we lose the natural freedom of movement that we were born with. Because our brain and body are connected, when a threshold of tension in accumulated in any part of the body, that area in the brain is aenesthetized and thus we loose awareness of that tension until the next level of the problem arises.
Rolfing® sessions
You can free the body of stress, tension, and accumulated fear to improve optimal performance. Over time, we accumulate tension, or fear in our body. This tension causes muscles, connective, and bone to glue to one another. We loose our refined movement ability and the small muscles that initiate movement within become tight, thus negatively affecting the large muscles of extension and causing imbalance. Joints are thus affected and we lose our lightness and ability to move easily and quickly with agility. For anyone, whether it be an athlete, performer, public speaker, executive, student, domestic scientist- anyone- there is a need to feel light and efficient in order to feel in the flow of life.
I am certified and have trained in numerous manual therapy systems (including the Rolfing® Method of Structural Integration since 1985) and have worked with hundreds of individuals to help them free their bodies of accumulated held fear and tension.
LINK- See the Resource Page to the link for the YouTube video on the Rolfing Method.
** I received certification in 1985 by the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, have a degree from the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in New York City, hold a license for same, and hold several other certifications in therapeutic body systems. I have worked with hundreds of individuals since 1985 and offer therapeutic body sessions for those needing skilled treatment for body conditions impeding their optimal performance.
Abdominal-Diaphragmatic Exercise
Modern research is clear; diaphragmatic-abdominal breathing exercise is key to maintaining a healthy mind and body. Today, 1 in 5 Americans have been diagnosed with hyper-tension; hyper meaning overloaded; and tension meaning physical, mental, and emotional strain.
We in the Western cultures have been indoctrinated into thoracic breathing (upper chest breathing) which promotes anxiety, depression, and a plethora of negative mind-body states; thus, to a degree, we actually produce some of our own suffering. I have taught hundreds of individuals a system of exercise which provides a balanced and complete approach to exercise since 1988. These exercises are easy to learn in 4 to 5 private 50 minute sessions. You will have a routine that provides you with the necessary benefits that will be noticeable in your everyday performance- physically, emotionally, mentally.
T’ai Chi
“Whoever practices t’ai-chi ch’uan, correctly and regularly, twice a day over a period of time will gain the pliability of a child, the health of a lumberjack, and the peace of mind of a sage.”
—Doctor Cheng Man-Ch’ing
(pronounced tie chee)
Chinese exercise system for health and relaxation
This contemplative exercise is an ancient approach that synthesizes simple, effective, and beneficial exercise with mindfullness (thus moving meditation) practice for improved health, concentration improvement, and relaxation. Learning the first-third of this form can prove to be a significant benefit to your health and ability to relax when you become overloaded. I have been practicing this slow and relaxed movement exercise system since 1985 and teaching it to the public since 1995. In approximately twelve private sessions you can be practicing a system utilized by thousands of individuals across the planet to improve and maintain their health, manage stress and improve your performance in life.
I have been a student of T’ai Chi Chuan with the late Patrick Watson and the The School of T’ai Chi Chuan, Inc. since 1985 and have taught classes for them while I lived and worked in Manhattan from 1994 until 2002. I teach individual private lessons of the Yang Style Short Form as developed by Professor Cheng Man Ching, Master of the Five Excellences.
LINK- Cheng Man Ching YouTube video
EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
We do know that when a person is very upset, their brain cannot process information as it does ordinarily in relaxed circumstances. One moment becomes “frozen in time,” and recalling a trauma may feel as bad as going through it the first time because the images, sounds, smells, and feelings haven’t changed. Such memories have a lasting negative effect that interferes with the way a person sees the world and the way they relate to other people.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a body oriented information processing psycho-therapy that was developed to resolve symptoms resulting from disturbing and unresolved life experiences. It uses a structured approach to address past, present, and future aspects of disturbing memories. The approach was developed by Francine Shapiro to resolve the development of trauma-related disorders as resulting from exposure to a traumatic or distressing event. Clinical trials have demonstrated EMDR’s efficacy in the treatment of post traumatic disorder (PTSD).
EMDR has a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information. Normal information processing is resumed, so following a successful EMDR session, a person no longer relives the images, sounds, and feelings when the event is brought to mind. You still remember what happened, but it is less upsetting. Many types of therapy have similar goals. However, EMDR appears to be similar to what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Therefore, EMDR can be thought of as a physiologically based therapy that helps a person see disturbing material in a new and less distressing way.
EMDR can be useful in certain circumstances when there is a trauma that is blocking your ability to function well in a chosen activity. Working with a coach or colleague might have some “charge” associated with it that we cannot process; EMDR can help resolve that block. We also use EMDR for Performance Enhancement related to work and activities and social interaction that go hand in hand with performing well. It is often our interactions with others that are the catalyst for triggering old patterns of negative behavior that interfere with performing at our very best.
