What is your body trying to tell you... and why should you care?

What is your body trying to tell you...

and why should you care?

Have you spent years in therapy, only to rehash the same stories over and over? Do you have aches and pains, fatigue or digestive issues for which doctors can find no explanation? Many of us try to deal with our pains and traumas without recognizing that our bodies can be an invaluable resource for healing. Some of us even see our bodies as the enemy. Have you ever said that you have a "bad back," or that your "knees are shot," or expressed contempt for your hips, thighs, belly? We live in a culture where many of us dislike our bodies and strive endlessly toward an impossible ideal. What might happen if, instead, you befriended your body? How might it change your mind...and your heart?

Rubenfeld Synergy Method is a holistic healing technique that begins with giving attention to the body. When you begin to listen to the messages that your body has for you, you can bring awareness, understanding, relief, and transformation to your life.

Your Body is Your Only Home

Your body holds the key to everything that has ever happened to you. All of your stories, experiences, joys and sorrows, traumas and triumphs are held within your cells. The gentle, listening touch of a Synergist can help bring these stories forward, and help you move toward healing in a way that simple talk doesn't.

So what, you might be thinking. What if I don't want to pay attention to my body's stories? What if more awareness in my body just means I hurt more? How will listening to my body help me?

In this newsletter, we will share stories of how this listening has helped others, and how befriending your body can help you. In future issues, we'll also alert you about upcoming events, opportunities to be part of this community, and exercises to aid you in your personal healing journey.

 

Karen's Story: Safe to be Seen

Karen, a writer and a tall woman with a large frame, came to Synergy with a recurring injury. Her shoulders were constantly tight, and every six months or so, her back and neck would go into spasm to the point where raising her arm above the shoulder was agonizing. A few visits to a chiropractor and subsequent massage and rest would tend to calm it down, but sooner or later and without warning, the spasm and the pain would return. It usually seemed to be triggered by an increase in the difficulty of exercise, and she was becoming frustrated that she couldn't seem to improve in the ways she wanted to without hurting herself. At the same time, Karen was concerned about her career, and feeling frustrated that she hadn't published a book yet. As Karen talked about all of these things, the Synergist, named Sarah, gently cradled Karen's shoulder.

Sarah urged Karen to tune into her shoulders as she talked about this. Karen noticed that she was pulling her shoulders in to her spine. "I'm thinking about myself in high school," she said, "when I was all pulled in to protect myself from bullying. I thought I could make myself invisible."

As she thought this and voiced it, her shoulders pulled in even more tightly to her spine. Sarah felt this and responded. "What might happen," Sarah asked gently, "if you published a book?"

In the ensuing pause, tears began to run down Karen's cheeks. "I might be seen," she whispered. "And being seen isn't safe."

As Karen let the emotion of this realization move through her, her shoulders began to relax and expand. She was able to realize that by pulling herself in, she was keeping herself safe, but she couldn't become bigger, couldn't become what she wanted to be. What had been an essential protective mechanism had to be acknowledged, but she realized that it was no longer needed. Karen didn't need to be invisible anymore to be safe: it was time for her to come out and be seen.

And the back spasm didn't recur after that.

Listening to the Body, Transforming your Life

For Karen, what seemed like a simple physical injury was actually the result of a web of causes: emotional, physical, historical. Only by approaching her body and her story with compassion could she recognize the physical habits that were causing her pain.

What will the value be for you?

Warmly,

The Rubenfeld Synergy Community

"Helping you Befriend your Body and Transform your Life"

 

What do you think???? 

How to Live Consciously In Your Body!

I was a guest on Living Consciously TV show recently and talked about how we can living consciously in our body and start to listen to the messages our body sends us daily.

"How to Live in the Present Moment" TV Show

I will be on the Living Consciously TV show tomorrow, Saturday 7/7 at 3 pm mountain time - the show theme is "How to live in the present moment".

You can view on the below link if you are outside of the Denver area - for those in Denver, go to public access channel 57 to view.

streamhttp://www.livingconsciously.tv/content/internet-stream

Symptoms of the Shift - Rubenfeld Synergy

Looking at the symptoms of the shift raises the question that when we ignore the messages our body is sending us such as in the form of pain and/or tension and we continue to ignore the wisdom of our body - the symptoms of the shift could be the body produces a physical symptoms (the shift to physical dis-ease in the body) that scream out louder - listen to me - I have important information to share with you -  Through Rubenfeld Synergy sessions, you will be guided and learn how to turn into your body messages in a safe, healing environment.  Visit www.bodywhisperer1.com where you can learn more and schedule your appointment online with ease.

How to Live Consciously in your Body - I will be a guest

How to Live Consciously in your Body" will be the theme to the TV show that I will be on - Saturday, May 12th, Denver, Colorado - you can see it on Comcast Channel 56 in the Denver area!

http://www.livingconsciously.tv/

Visit www.bodywhisperer1.com to learn more about Rubenfeld Synergy Method.

Omega Institute Presents: Spirit Embodied: An Introduction to the Rubenfeld Synergy Method

Omega Institute Presents:

Spirit Embodied: an introduction to the Rubenfeld Synergy Method

with Noël & Joe

June 15- 17, 2012

Spirit expresses itself through the body. Aligning Spirit with body, mind and emotions is one of the guiding principles of the Rubenfeld Synergy Methodâ. Through the use of listening touch and gentle presence RSM connects you to the sacred place of wholeness within.

Spirit helps you shed the past. It holds for you the nectar, the joy, & the sweetness of life. Its messages are the antidote to your struggle, the healing balm for your aches and pains, and the feast your soul needs for nourishment. It allows your body to find ease and freedom of movement. Freeing your body, allows your Spirit to soar and returns you to the knowledge that your body truly is the sanctuary of your soul

Joe Weldon and Noël Wight, Co directors of the Rubenfeld Synergy Training Institute and master teachers of the method, create a loving space that will bring you back in touch with the sacred in you.

For more information: 215-659-1495

SAVE THE DATE!!- Registration begins in March at www.eomega.org

Here is a coupon to give to friends and clients. Please spread the word and help us fill the workshop!!!

Live Interview with Noel Wight on Rubenfeld Synergy

Noel Wight, Co-Director of the Rubenfeld Synergy Method Training Program was interviewed on Life Improvement Radio.

Use the below link to listen to this exciting interview about Rubenfeld Synergy.

http://remmelwellness.com/filechute/HolisticViews3.24.11.mp3


For more information, visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/

We Have A Choice - Heal Through Rubenfeld Synergy

With each day, we have this choice: we can build walls, block ourselves from the light, and suffer a dampness in the soul.  Or we can live barely, shine on through, and suffer the nicks of erosion for living in the open.

Most of us live behind walls that were started by others and finished by ourselves.  Very often, we fear each other without reason - the wall builders and those who shine on through.  But it really comes down to how to make it through life - safely or fully.  What I've learned is that the more I risk being who I am - like a sun daring to shine - the thinner the walls need to be outside of me.

As we move through life, there were times when walls were necessary, but more often we can protect ourselves by being who we are.  Neither hiding nor revealing ourselves will prevent our share of pain we hold in our body but through Rubenfeld Synergy you will learn how to be comfortable and feel safe on who you truly are. 

Your body holds your life story.  Through Rubenfeld Synergy, you will learn how to listen to the wisdom of your body and become aware of what and how many walls you hold in your life.  With each session, Rubenfeld Synergy helps you to become aware of  those walls, habitual patterns and tensions and decode their messages empowering you to make concrete improvements in your daily life and relationships. The uniqueness of Rubenfeld Synergy lies in the use of talk and touch together. Touch heightens awareness, both emotionally and physically, and allows you to explore levels that are difficult to access through talk alone.

For more information, visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/

Pain Is A Sign - Rubenfeld Synergy

Pain is often a sign that something has to change.  Our hearts and bodies often give us a message we fail to pay attention to.  Ironically, we are all so aware of pain, can hardly ignore it, but we rarely hear what it has to say.  It is true that we may need to withstand great pain, great heartache, great disappointment, and loss in order to unfold into the rest of our life.  But our pain may also be showing us exactly where we need to change.

Through Rubenfeld Synergy, you will learn how to listen to your body, your pain, your heartache, your body's story, and importantly, what needs to be heard.

It is a very safe, gentle, supportive approach to become aware of what your body needs to say and what you need to hear.

To experience Rubenfeld Synergy will be a life changing experience - it is very different to move through life listening to your body rather than your head.  Your body is your alia, it will help you to make decisions, it will assist you in becoming more aware of the emotional content that you hold or suppress in your body.  When you release emotional stories, you feel lighter, happier, and know you are in a better place.

Let me know what you think about this - please leave a comment - I would like to know if anyone is reading my blog.

Of course, if you would like to learn more, please visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellensscenter.com/

RUBENFELD SYNERGY METHOD® FACT SHEET

WHAT IS THE RUBENFELD SYNERGY METHOD®?


The Rubenfeld Synergy Method® (RSM) is a unique therapeutic approach that combines the power of gentle touch, talk and compassionate listening to tap inner resources for improving health and wellness, in all aspects of the self: body, mind, emotions and spirit.

Throughout life, stress, memories and emotions are stored in our body. These ‘holdings’ show up as tensions, aches and pains and can cause us to feel chronically tired, emotionally drained and disconnected. Chronic stress and tension can manifest as dis-ease when we repeatedly ignore our body’s way of communicating to us.

RSM helps us to learn to listen to our bodies, and become aware of habitual patterns and tensions and translate their messages, empowering us to make concrete improvements in our daily lives and relationships.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN A RUBENFELD SYNERGY® SESSION?

Clients are fully clothed and may lie on a cushioned table or sit in a chair. The Synergist, as a caring facilitator, creates a safe and accepting environment and skillfully weaves together a combination of touch and talk to heighten the client’s awareness in the body. Clients are invited to notice physical sensations and express any feelings and thoughts that may emerge. The Synergist supports and intuitively deepens the client’s experience with touch, talk, movement and/or imagery. They safely explore habitual holding patterns, repressed emotions and distorted perceptions of self and others.

Sessions are generally 45-60 minutes in length. Boundaries are always respected and sessions are strictly confidential. The amount and frequency of the sessions depends on the individual’s needs. Unlike many other therapeutic modalities, in RSM, the client is an equal and active participant in their own healing process.

WHAT DOES THE RUBENFELD SYNERGY METHOD® DO?

The result of this gentle interactive process is an accessing of hidden psycho-physical “blocks” that can lead to the release of stress and tension and an empowered sense of emotional and physical wellbeing. With new awareness, comes the possibility of changing limiting behaviors. RSM uses the body as a doorway to the self. In the process of listening to their bodies, clients often have the experience of ‘coming home to themselves’.

Some of the reported benefits of the Rubenfeld Synergy Method® include recovery from physical and emotional trauma, pain management, increased ease of movement, improved body image and greater self-esteem.

For more information, visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/

The principles and theoretical foundations of Rubenfeld Synergy Method (RSM)

The principles and theoretical foundations of Rubenfeld Synergy Method (RSM)


1.  Each individual is unique:
Rubenfeld Synergists approach clients and their sessions with this principle of honoring their uniqueness.

2.  The body, mind, emotions and spirit are dynamically interrelated:
Each time a change is introduced at one level, it has a ripple effect throughout the entire system.

3.  Awareness is the first key to change:
By bringing the unconscious into awareness, clients have the opportunity to explore alternate choices and to develop possibilities for emotional, physical and psychophysical change.

4.  Change occurs in the present moment:
Clients may experience memories of the past and fantasize about the future, but change itself can occur only in the present.

5.  The ultimate responsibility for change rests with the client:
Rubenfeld Synergists can support clients to recognize dysfunctional behavior and guide them to try new ones. They cannot force clients to change.

6.  Clients have the natural capacity for self-healing and self-regulation:
Innate healing ability already exists in clients, waiting to be actualized. Rubenfeld Synergists do not "cure" or "correct" but rather facilitate clients' healing.

7.  The body's energy field and life force exist and can be sensed:
Rubenfeld Synergists use gentle touch to sense energy, its pulions and movement. When tight holding patterns in the body/mind are released, there is a marked change in the energetic quality.

8.  Touch is a viable system of communication:
Rubenfeld Synergists develop "listening hands" to dialogue with clients, thus opening new gateways to their unconscious mind.

9.  The body is a metaphor:
Clients' postural positions and movements may represent emotional issues in their lives.

10.  The body tells the truth:
Often what clients communicate verbally is not congruent with their body's story. Rubenfeld Synergists guide their clients to listen to their body's message.

11.  The body is the sanctuary of the soul:
Rubenfeld Synergy sessions may progress toward a spiritual dimension when clients deal with their "soul" issues—questioning their life values in relationships, families, communities and the world.

12.  Pleasure needs to be supported to balance pain:
Rubenfeld Synergists help clients contact their strengths and joy so that they can experience pleasure to balance pain.

13.  Humor can lighten and heal:
Appropriate humor, not sarcasm, interrupts habitual, painful patterns. Laughing invites deeper breathing, releases tense muscles and can heal pain.

14.  Reflecting clients' verbal expressions validates their experience:
When clients hear what they have said, they often use this opportunity to reflect on their initial statements and take them to a deeper level.

15.  Confusion facilitates change:
Confusion ususally interrupts habit patterns, creating a window of opportunity in which the client can experiment with new and non-habitual behavior.

16.  Altered states of consciousness can enhance healing:
Altered states are pathways to the unconscious mind. They facilitate heightened awareness and enable clients to access physical and emotional memories that still inhabit their bodies

17.  Integration is necessary for lasting results:
Many physical problems change when their associated emotional material is processed. Unless clients integrate their new insights and behaviors into their daily lives, they may revert back to their previous problems.

18.  Self-care is the first step to client care:
Rubenfeld Synergists are trained to take care of themselves from burnout by maintaining personal boundaries, paying attention to their physical environments and listening to their bodies, minds and emotions.

Learn how to use yourself - your whole being as an instrumetn for inquiry and intervention through Rubenfeld Synergy.

For more information visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/

Your Body is Your Clay Home - Rubenfeld Synergy

Reading from ANAM CARA by John O’Donohue


“Your body is your clay home; your body is the only home that you have in this universe. It is in and through your body that your soul becomes visible and real for you. Your body is the home of your soul on earth”…..the body is a sacred threshold and it deserves to be respected, minded and understood in its spiritual nature – ‘Your body knows you very intimately – it is aware of your whole spirit…. Far sooner than your mind knows… (Your body knows). The inner voices of the body want to speak to us, to inform us of the truths beneath the fixed surface of our external lives.

Invite yourself to go inside, close your eyes, and notice what body part do you rely on?


Just notice – no judging

What was the experience like for you?

This is about you listening to yourself……how gentle you can be to yourself…..what is it like to be gentle…..

Your body holds your life story - what was your experience as you closed your eyes and what did you notice - where were you drawn to?  All of this is example of how we would work together to hear what your body wants to say. 

Through the work of Rubenfeld Synergy, your body will reveal a treatment plan as we witness this exciting work together.  Sometimes a metaphor surfaces that relates to what is happening in your life.  For example, you did a body scan and noticed and were drawn to your stomach area.  Your stomach area felt tense and experienced pressure.  A metaphor could be "what can you not stomach in your life"?  We would stay with this sensation of feeling tense and pressure in your stomach and follow the thread. 

After a session, you come away with an experience of listening to your body and coming back home. 

If you are curious, love adventure and exploring,  call me.

Visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/ for more information.

Why the Rubenfeld Synergy Method® is Not Massage

Why the Rubenfeld Synergy Method® is Not Massage


The Rubenfeld Synergy Method® (RSM) is not a form of massage therapy. It differs from massage in goals, philosophy, and techniques or method.

Different Goals. The overall goal of Rubenfeld Synergy is psychophysical re-education. RSM assists clients in exploring problems they are experiencing in any area of their functioning, in developing greater awareness on all levels, and in making more satisfactory choices in their way of being. The goals of massage are much more narrow: to enhance the functioning of joints and muscles, to improve circulation and muscle tone, and to relieve mental and physical fatigue.

Different Philosophy. Rubenfeld Synergists see the individual as a whole being with mind, body, emotions, and spirit interrelated and interactive, capable of self-healing, self-regulations, growth, and change. The responsibility for growth and change rests with the client. In contrast, the massage client is completely passive, with the massage therapist responsible for producing results and the focus is on changes in the physical body.

Different Techniques. Rubenfeld Synergy uses gentle, non-intrusive touch with fully clothed clients. Rubenfeld Synergists “listen” with their hands and use intentional touch, movement and talk throughout the session. They frequently use metaphor, imaging, and humor in verbal interactions. As a client identifies an area of concern in his/her life, the Synergist suggests and “experiment” in that moment that is designed to provide an opportunity to re-experience some personal issue or event from a new perspective. This can lead to a new behavior sequence or a new view of an earlier experience.

In specific contrast to massage, the Rubenfeld Synergy client is always fully clothed. RSM uses none of the tools of massage, not hot or cold packs, nor oils or hydrotherapy or aromatherapy, nor any of the techniques such as stroking or kneading or tapping. RSM does not even use its light touch for therapeutic purposes, but only to heighten the client’s awareness. RSM never uses deep tissue manipulation.

In summary, both the purpose and the technique of Rubenfeld Synergy differ so greatly from those of massage, that RSM can not, in any way, be considered a form of massage nor should it come under the regulations that govern massage.

For more information, visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/.

Body Mind Therapy

BODY-MIND THERAPY

By Jeanne Reock

“What are you experiencing in your body right now?” “Where in your body do you feel the sadness?” “When else have you felt that sadness?” “If the pain in your back had a voice, what would it be saying?”

Modern science is now confirming what traditional cultures have known for eons: we are whole beings. Our feelings, our beliefs and attitudes, our physical well-being and our spiritual life are all one piece; what happens in one part, affects each of the others.

The father of the movement to recognize that body and mind are one was unquestionably Wilhelm Reich, an Austrian psychoanalyst and student of Freud. One of Reich's primary contributions was the concept of "armoring". Reich believed that we all experience emotional and physical trauma to varying degrees and that, as infants and young children, we "armor" ourselves by constricting our musculature in order to deal with the pain and to protect ourselves.

For instance, the child who is constantly told not to touch things in the house may become the adult who walks and moves in a fearful, hesitant way. These are the physical manifestations of his constriction. On an emotional level, he is likely to be fearful of reaching out and trying new things; he feels unwanted and unwelcome. He sees the world as a dangerous place where it’s easy to get into trouble; he wants to figure out the rules so he can do it right and be safe.

These constrictions remain throughout our lives and become so much a part of who we are that we lack even the awareness of them. They exist on several planes-physical, emotional and mental (in our beliefs and attitudes)—and limit our ability to live life to its fullest. They often distort our perceptions, our relationships and our bodies in painful and dysfunctional ways.

Reich applied very deep pressure to certain parts of the body and worked with the emotions, images, memories and sounds that were released. Through invasive touch, Reich was able to break through the armor and reach the underlying, unconscious beliefs, memories and feelings that had been locked into the muscles and the fascia (surrounding tissue) at the time of the trauma.

What the child takes in as trauma might not fit our normal definition of the word. Trauma includes subtle messages from significant others, even such commonplace ones as “Don’t cry,” “Don’t be noisy,” “Smile” or “Be nice." Whenever children are told not to feel or express what they are, in fact, feeling, they must exert an effort to suppress their feelings and the urge to express them. Failure to do so can jeopardize survival since children are dependent on the good will of their significant others.

Since feelings are literally felt in the body, they can be deadened by contracting the muscles surrounding the area. When this is done again and again or a major event causes a severe contraction, the muscles and the surrounding fascia remain contracted, frozen in place, even when the individual is as relaxed as he/she knows how to be. And so we have adults who are out of touch with their feelings and their bodies and who operate unconsciously out of belief systems they adopted long ago and that may no longer work for them.

Reich’s work inspired many to explore further and develop their own ways of helping people free themselves from their armoring so that their life force or energy can flow freely through their whole being. Some continued the focus on deep body work, adding new techniques for breaking down the armoring and helping the true self emerge. The use of sound, movement and breathing techniques were developed even further by others such as the Neo-Reichians, Core Energetics, Bio-Energetics, Rolfing, and Hellerwork.

Beginning in the 1950s, other forms of work developed that are premised on the body-mind connection, but are distinguished by their gentleness. These include the Rubenfeld Synergy Method, the Hakomi Method, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, the Rosen Method, and the Focusing Technique. Gestalt Therapy, with its emphasis on what is happening in the whole being and in the moment, was part of this body-oriented flow in the ‘60s and ’70s.

Ilana Rubenfeld, the founder of the Rubenfeld Synergy Method, describes her work as “melting” the armor rather than breaking it down. Believing that we learn more through pleasure than through pain, she uses gentle, non-invasive touch as a way of communicating a caring and supportive presence. Rubenfeld’s “listening hands” also serve as a valuable source of information about what is happening with the client on the deepest levels; her hands are an important two-way form of communication. In the safety of that touch and with the use of visualization and light humor, Rubenfeld encourages the client to go deeply into the hidden places.

Although a Certified Rubenfeld Synergist starts with what the client is experiencing physically at the moment or what is happening in his/her life, the session often moves to the early years when the feelings and beliefs that undergird present experience came into being. The use of touch helps the client experience rather than just talk about feelings, facilitates the release of old holding patterns in both body and psyche. Trusting the inner wisdom of the client is basic to the work.

Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, developed by Michael Lee, takes a somewhat different approach, fusing Yoga postures with elements of contemporary body/mind psychology to identify and release physical and emotional tensions. By combining a sequence of Yoga postures supported by the practitioner, with breathing techniques, visualization, meditation and dialogue, the process enables the client to recognize and dissolve habitual holding patterns.

Other body-centered therapies such as Focusing and Hakomi use special techniques to direct clients’ attention to their feelings, bodily sensations, breathing, muscular tensions, voice and movements. The Focusing technique, created by Eugene Gendlin, does not include touch and can be incorporated into traditional talk therapy with relative ease. In the Hakomi Method, as taught by Ron Kurtz, the therapist uses supportive touch at times to facilitate the client’s inward journey to awareness and release. First the Hakomi therapist creates a relationship that allows the client to feel safe and to establish an attitude of mindfulness, a special way of looking at himself and how he organizes experience. In the state of mindfulness, experiences are then evoked and processed to help the client understand and change. For instance, working with a client who has chronic shoulder pain, the therapist, after learning that the man carries a lot of responsibility in his life, has two assistants in the group take over the job of supporting the man’s shoulders, letting his muscles relax, so that he can experience what it is like not to shoulder so much responsibility. Then he might recognize that he has a choice, both in his body and in his life.

Empowering people to make conscious choices is what body- mind therapy is all about. This process is facilitated by recognizing that the choices we made long ago are locked into our bodies as well as our psyches and that change is most effective when it involves all levels of being- physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

For more information, visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/.

Roots and Wings of Rubenfeld Synergy

Roots and Wings of Rubenfeld Synergy


We are all children of the earth riding the wind. This became a reality the moment we stood upright. From this position, through our hips and our feet our bodies take root on the ground. We are not planted. We are step creatures, always moving and contemplating the next step. Sometimes we give ourselves the next step, sometimes we are taken. The hips are always swaying to keep in time with the turning of the earth. When the hips lose their ability to sway or to be swayed, life feels dead. We don’t feel the ground. From the hips down to our feet, the body reaches to the earth looking for its support. The connection to the earth allows the upper body to fly.

In this upright position, we fly. We fly as humans fly. This means we can align our spines to reach, resonate, and recoil. In this body flight will not happen without roots and roots will not happen without flight. They need each other. This flight we speak of today as we already said is human flight. We are lifted into the atmosphere by the alignment and natural curvature of our spines. It is not the flight or fight or flight which is really running away in body terms. It is the flight of lifting off into our length, which houses our longings and sense of a soaring spirit. It is as if the spine and shoulders are instruments of light, soaring and turning in the airwaves. The four curves in our spine make us aerodynamic and allow us to lift up even with great burden on us. Our shoulders are like the wings that allow us to float freely in the air, our head and neck the navigational gear that orients us in time and space.

At some point in each of our lives, we are thrown an unexpected curve that lands in our spine and disrupts our flying. In these moments the spine is dealing with an unnatural curve. One put there by the world. Usually the unexpected curve is one of pain, trauma, guilt, or shame. We could make a list of all the unexpected curves we have experienced. The unexpected curves of trauma take us out of roots. We become up in the air with no ability to fly. We are then moved by weather patterns whatever way the wind blows. This is also known as being dominated by our feelings. We do things or don’t do things just because we feel like it.

The unexpected curve was the learning curve for Ilana Rubenfeld, responsible for the founding of this work. The pain in her back took away Ilana’s flight into the musical sky. When her back hurt she lost her wings. Her brilliant discovery was that in order to have wings again, she had to know, experience and express the thoughts, emotions, and spirit along in the body of her crashing. Her story is the underpinning of all we do in RSM. WE reinvigorate movement. The body is looking for movement, for the restoration of movement. Ilana wanted her movement back. Movement is most important to the body. The mind is interested in meaning. When we put the mind and body together we have meaningful movement. For most of us an unexpected curve tends to cut us in half leaving our feet with no flight and flight with no feet. In human flight, this is called crashing to the ground whether it is collapse or falling over.

In RSM, we help a person to get their feet back under their heart. When our feet are back solidly under our hearts we become givers instead of seekers. The natural rhythm and ability of the body to give and receive is restored. This is what is important about having our roots and wings. It allows us to reach and receive simultaneously. It brings touch and talk together, tapping the root of our work and our existence --- THE BODY!

The body is the root of our work. The roots are different than the underpinnings. The underpinnings of RSM are Alexander, Feldenkrais, Rubenfeld touch, and Rubenfeld talk. The foundation of our life, the place where we are found is in the body. When we dialogue with the body we tap the roots of our existence. It is the place we root from, searching for nutrients and cheering ourselves on.

The body reveals a treatment plan. It tells us how a person needs to be treated and what would feel like a treat. The body tells us when the heart is in the stomach, and that is needs to be put back in the chest. The body tells us what it is like to walk around without a neck. The body tells us what it is like to walk around without a turning radius. The body tells us about our ability to reach or recoil. The body tells us about a spinal cord that has lost its harmony. It tells us the tale of its life by how it moves its tailbone. The body is the root our work. We constantly tap it trust it touch it and treat it.

We give a person their neck back. We rewire the nervous system. We help a person to lengthen to lighten. We put the heart back into chests and we invite the feet to come under it is support it. We help the body to regain its spine to line up the foraman in each vertebra so that the spinal cord can once again become a spinal cord full of harmony and harmonious resonance. We help the body to regain its natural ability to turn, turn up turn down turn in turn out turn over. Having our turning radius helps us when we don’t know where we are going. We can turn around to make sure we know where we’re coming from. We help the body to move in the direction it needs to move forwards backwards side to side up or down.

Ultimately, what we help a body to do is return to its natural state of giving. This allows the spirit to soar. In its natural state of giving two things happen. The body doesn’t make mistakes, because it is not in a taking mode. It doesn’t mis-take one thing for another. It may have misgivings. The other thing is, it reconnects us with the natural state of receiving. Receiving is the natural true complement to giving. Taking is the false compliments to giving as in give-and-take. Give-and-take is usually dominated by taking. We are a culture of takers. You can hear it in our everyday language. We take time to take a shower, take a seat, take a moment, and take a breath. Let’s do an experiment. Take a breath and notice what happens in your body. Now give yourself a breath and notice what happens in your body. When the body returns to giving and receiving, we hear in the body’s language the roots for flight and flying from a human place. We no longer fly off the handle.

This article was written by Master Synergist Joe Weldon with permission to publish

For more information, visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/

Who Is That Pain In Your Neck? Listening to Your Body’s Messages - RUBENFELD SYNERGY METHOD®

RUBENFELD SYNERGY METHOD®


Who Is That Pain In Your Neck?

Listening to Your Body’s Messages
 
Who can forget the old song, “I gotta wash that man right outta my hair”? Well, believe it or not, sometimes a painful break-up, a job lay-off, even an old memory from childhood can leave messy traces of emotional residue in or on the body; and it takes a little more than shampoo to get rid of it! Today’s fast paced society might rely on catchy quick-fix slogans like, “Get over yourself!”, “No pain, no gain!”, or “He’s just not that into you!” But often uncomfortable experiences (especially those involving grief, sadness, confusion, betrayal, abandonment, unworthiness or anger) get swept under the rug, only to resurface disguised as physical “dis-ease”. Even the most successful, confident, well-adjusted people encounter life experiences that leave them with unresolved feelings which sometimes masquerade as conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, seasonal affective disorder, insomnia, even tennis elbow!


Understanding this hidden link between what happens in the mind and what shows up in the body is the beauty behind a groundbreaking therapeutic healing technique called the Rubenfeld Synergy Method®. Developed by Ilana Rubenfeld in 1977, Rubenfeld Synergy is one of the most effective solutions for addressing stress, trauma, anxiety, tension and discomfort. It is a proven method that incorporates light touch with guided dialogue in a way that allows the body the freedom to uncover the sources of physical stress and discomfort. The results include accessing and releasing hidden physical/emotional tension stored in the body and restoring and maintaining health and wellbeing.

When Kay* discovered the Rubenfeld Synergy Method®, her goal was just to address the feeling of neck and back strain that was causing her sleepless nights. Her grandmother had been arthritic, and experienced achy muscles, but Kay had a “gut feeling” that this was more than just a sign of getting older. Kay had some prior experiences with massage, Reiki, and other forms of bodywork, but was pleasantly surprised by what she discovered with Rubenfeld Synergy. Kay says, “I tried everything to deal with this problem. Then I found out after a few Rubenfeld Synergy sessions that I didn’t need any more rubs, herbs, pills or potions to get rid of my aches. I just needed help hearing what was inside me. I was looking for what was physically wrong with me. But who knew that the heated arguments I had been having with an old boyfriend had literally become ‘a pain in my neck’! On the outside, I seemed fine, but on the inside I honestly did feel like I was ‘stabbed in the back’. Understanding this connection made all the difference in the world. It helped me let go of the pain.”

Like so many people who experience the Rubenfeld Synergy Method®, Kay was able to feel safe and secure enough to uncover what was beneath the surface of her discomfort. Founder Ilana Rubenfeld explains in her book The Listening Hand, “Emotions and feelings are embedded both in our body and in our brain, and to reach them, we need touch — nonverbal communication — and talk. Through touch you can understand the body's message, and through talk you can understand the brain's, even if the message is "hiding" in the unconscious... I strongly believe that everything — mind and body, thoughts, emotions and feelings, bloodstream and brain, soul and spirit — must be in a state of synergy if we ourselves are to become whole.”

*Client’s name was changed to protect confidentiality

For more information visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/.

Its Hip to be True - Tapping into the Wisdom of Your Body

From chronic sinus conditions, to migraines, to tendonitis...sometimes the most common aches and pains are the body’s way of saying that there’s more going on inside than meets the eye. The Rubenfeld Synergy Method® is a powerful, effective bodymind therapy that addresses a multitude of issues with a unique approach that can uncover the source of the client’s discomfort. The combined used of gentle touch and talk is the hallmark of the Rubenfeld Synergy Method® and can access hidden “blocks” of emotional stress, trauma, anxiety, tension and uneasiness in the body. Using light touch and expertly directed dialogue, a Rubenfeld Synergist can assist clients in getting to the core of their discomfort. The results can be empowering experiences of release, relaxation and restoration of emotional and physical harmony and wellbeing.


Karla*, a 40-something single, professional happened upon Rubenfeld Synergy after trying various self-help methods to manage an unexpected onset of lower body aches, moodiness and lethargy. As a believer in holistic health, she was uninterested in pharmaceutical pain relief options; but knew that she needed more than a simple massage, a vacation or a day off from work. So at a friend’s urging, she decided to try the Rubenfeld Synergy Method®. Immediately, Karla felt at ease with the Synergist’s gentle manner, cozy office and comfortable treatment table. But little did she know that she was in for a far greater experience than simply an hour of R&R.

“After I was comfortable”, recalls Karla, “the Synergist gently placed her hand under my right hip, which made it feel higher than my left. Then she asked me what I felt.” Much to Karla’s own surprise, she simply let out a little laugh. Then, when asked about her laughter, Karla replied, “This may sound crazy, but with my hips in this position, it feels like the right side of my body has a real attitude.” The Synergist encouraged Karla to keep sharing honestly about her observations. So Karla went on to describe another unexpected sensation. She explained that the Synergist’s hand near her left knee made her think of the Virgin Mary kneeling to pray. “I don’t know why”, shared Karla, “but it feels very serious and religious on the left side of my body. But my right side feels sassy, like it just wants to shimmy and sway like a dancer.” As the Synergist encouraged these two sides of her body to continue “speaking the truth”, Karla was pleasantly surprised by her own discovery. By the end of the session, Karla exclaimed, “Wow! I think I get it! One part of me wants to be sexy and free-spirited and another side of me feels concerned about my religious beliefs and responsibilities! It’s like the two sides of me are at odds with each other.”

Karla had recently begun a new spiritual course of study; and it occurred to her that she was worried about how her new path would impact her ability to have a good time. When these thoughts arose, Karla usually chose not to acknowledge them, fearing that they might be signs of weakness in her faith. But the Rubenfeld Synergy Method® helped her realize that, not only was it OK to be honest with herself, it was necessary for her health. She felt relieved to discover what was actually at the “heart” of her aches. Over time, Karla was able to relax and experience a stronger sense of “knowing herself”. With subsequent sessions, she gained more ease with being truthful about her desires. Discovering her truth allowed Karla to have better balance in her life without feeling guilty!

While all results are unique to the individual’s experience, the Rubenfeld Synergy Method® explores each client’s internal wisdom and unites the natural connection between their body and mind. The result is gently guided awareness that leads to an active and empowered role in their healing. Without drugs or invasive procedures, the Rubenfeld Synergy Method® offers a safe, holistic complementary approach to physical and emotional health and wellbeing.

*Client’s name was changed to protect confidentiality

Listen to Your Body and Reduce Stress

Listen to Your Body and Reduce Stress with The Seven Steps of the Rubenfeld Synergy Method®

Throughout life, stress, memories, and suppressed emotions are stored in our bodies. Sometimes these ‘holdings’ can show up as aches, pains and tensions causing us to feel chronically tired, emotionally drained and physically disconnected. These aches and pains are one of the ways our bodies communicate to us. When we ignore these ‘messages’, stress can become chronic and may eventually manifest as disease.

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method helps us to listen to the body using a combination of touch and talk. Through listening we become aware of habitual patterns and tensions. We can then make new choices, transform old patterns, relieve stress and bring tangible improvements to our daily lives.

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method is gentle and powerful and can lead to experiences of deep wellbeing, emotional connection and self-discovery.

Listed below are steps that Rubenfeld Synergists® may use when guiding clients to listen to their bodies. This is a process grounded in deep respect, openness and understanding. We encourage you to take this approach as you listen to your body.

The Seven Steps:

1. Be Curious-The word ‘curious’ comes from the same root word as ‘cure’ meaning to care for and pay attention to. Being genuinely curious instead of judgmental (e.g., “What’s wrong with me?”) promotes a caring relationship with your body and your being. As you listen to your body with care and curiosity (e.g., “What are you trying to tell me?”) you open the door to not only knowing your physical self, but also your emotional, mental and spiritual self.

2. Notice-The body has a language of its own. Often we ignore our body and only begin to listen when we feel tension, aches and pains. This is the body’s way of getting our attention. The body experiences and expresses numerous sensations both painful and pleasurable. It is important to notice both.

Close your eyes internally scan your body and notice where you are drawn to. What place is calling out for your attention in this moment? Is it your heart, shoulder, back, big toe, etc.? Each of these places has a message for you.

3. Touch-Gently make contact with the place in your body that is calling to you. Touch focuses your attention and heightens your awareness. If you cannot reach the place that is calling to you, imagine placing you hand there.

4. Describe-Using your senses describe what you are experiencing. Does this place feel heavy, tight, hard, soft, warm, compressed, etc.? Expand on the sensation by using metaphor. Example: “The heaviness across my chest feels like a steel plate pressing down on me.” Or “The warmth in my hip feels like a ray of sunshine radiating down my leg.”

5. Give Your Body a ‘Voice’-Imagine that this place could speak. What message does it have for you? Let this place speak in the “I”. Using the example of the hip given in Step #4, the hip might say, “I want to shine.”

6. Allow-Allow any feelings to emerge. E-motion is energy in motion, like a river it needs to flow. Use your breath to support the flow. When you continually suppress an emotion it can show up as aches, pain and tension in the body. For example, someone suppressing tears may experience a ‘lump’ in the throat. Another person may clench the jaw to suppress anger. If your emotions feel too intense, you may need to consider working with a Synergist, therapist or counselor.

7. Honor Your Experience with Love and Respect-The body speaks the truth, it does not lie. We can easily disregard, discount and/or diminish our experience. Appreciate your body for the wisdom it has given you. Be gentle and kind to yourself.

To find out more about the Rubenfeld Synergy Method visit http://www.bodywhisperer1.com/ or http://www.vastwellnesscenter.com/