The Power of Physical Structure: Form and Function, With Kais Faddah
The Power of Physical Structure: Form and Function, With Kais Faddah
Specialized Kinesiolo-
gy Magazine
Structure as a Holographic
Approach to Wellness
Flexibility Affcets
Structure
Editor/Publisher/Writer
Proudly brought to you by
Adamand
Form Lehman:
Function and flawed KinesioGeeks:
contributing dictator: Alexis
Costello
inside the holo- Alexis Costello (Editor/
with Kais Faddah Publisher / Flawed Dicta-
gram Contributors:
tor)
page 6 Alison Kingston
Brian Jensen
Anne Haraga
Michelle Greenwell
Elizabeth Elia
Natasha Polomski
Kais Faddah
Reenie Rose
page 6 Robert Frost
Ludovcco Felatto
Sylvia Marina
Michelle Greenwell
Cover image is a stock
photo
Al Berry’s
Body Management Opinions expressed by
contributors and advertis-
ers are their own.
page 16
Contents:
p. 4 Letter from the Editor P. 27 Seniors Find Balance Through
p.5 Your turn: letters, questions and Yoga
social media p. 31 Flexibility Affects Structure
p. 6 Form and Function P. 34 Classifieds
P. 11 Structure as a Holographic Ap- p. 35 Because Health should be Fun!
proach to Wellness
p. 17 Physical Structure in Kinesiology
P. 20 Al Berry’s Body Management
Muscle testing and Specialized Kinesiology sound like they are all about physical work, but as most of us know,
our work can be exceedingly mental, exhaustingly energetic, and sometimes has very little physical component.
But there is something to be said for getting back into the more physical side of it. And especially now when so
much of our work is happening online, it can be wonderful to be reminded about the power of structural work,
getting into alignment and working with a variety of muscle response tests.
I know for myself, the more work I do online with teaching via Zoom and facilitating distance sessions, the more
I seem to need to ground and center my body. I am writing this from a quick oceanside staycation where morn-
ing swims in the warm Pacific and a deep-tissue massage are helping me release some pent-up stress.
This issue focuses on the more physical aspects of this field that we love; from speaking with a muscle-testing
chiropractor, to a yoga instructor, to thoughts about the importance of structure and tensegrity and what that
really means. Hopefully in these pages you find inspiration to work with new muscles and concepts and more
thoughts about keeping the connection working while we are apart.
Thanks for reading, we’re all in this together!
Binita Sama-Zakaria: whats app messages, whats app calls, zoom, email,
messenger
Sylvia Marina: directly by phone especially older people, emails and private
appointments on messenger, facetime, what's app or skype.
Masterclass's, workshops and meet-ups on Zoom. Added free meditations on my
website.
And here with you Alexis on Social Media.
Kelly Richardson: I’ve done remote sessions utilizing Zoom or FaceTime. I’m also
going to be upping our presence on Social Media and doing more videos.
Kasia Rachfall: I do distance sessions for the most part. Some of my regular local
clients have come to my home office. I also do a daily FB live for 4 or 5 min in the
morning to stay connected with my audience and talk about the energy of the day.
Our muscle testing community is more important than ever! Our skills
are needed in the world. Let’s support each other.
By Alexis Costello
T
he kind of muscle testing that we do in Specialized and Applied Kinesiology would never have existed
if not for the work of a few dedicated chiropractors interested in looking for more holistic ways to
work with the body. In this light, it made sense to speak with a chiropractor about our theme of physi-
cal structure. Introducing Kais Faddah, born in Finland, trained as an American chiropractor, and who
now lives in Costa Rica. Interview on YouTube
A: Tell us a little bit about your background and your experience with muscle testing?
K: If we go back to the beginning, I was a baseball player and I eventually injured my shoulder pitching. There
was a lot of medication and anti-inflammatories, a couple of shots here and there; and everytime I returned
to the field it was only a couple of weeks before the same sort of thing started happening again and I got
frustrated. I walked into the medical library at my university and began to study shoulders. And I started to
deviate from what the doctors were doing and began to strengthen myself in different ways and began look-
ing at the relationship with the cervical spine and I realized I was really fascinated by this. At that time, my
major was in physical education and exercise physiology; I added a second major in biology and the pre-med
program. One day there was a career day at the school and there was one local chiropractic college that
came out. I had never heard the term before, but I went to the table, picked up the book and something just
resonated. I told my dad I was going to go to chiropractic school, he said, “OK, but what is that?” And I said,
“I don’t know but it just feels right!” I finished the look at it from that perspective, the most im-
programs in physical education and biology, got the portant thing is the analysis, not the ‘doing’. So I
doctorate in chiropractic – and that’s when the edu- went through a 100 hour course in Applied Kinesi-
cation really began. ology to help me figure out what’s going on with
the body. The basic heart of chiropractic is that
I started in my private practice and families would there is an intelligence and wisdom to this body.
come in with questions; moms asking what they can Our job is to release interference in the body’s
do about these allergies, bedwetting, etc. and that communication system, whether that’s in the
opened up a whole new paradigm. How does the nervous system or the fascia, etc. If we remove
body work and what can we do to get better func- that then the body knows what to do.
tion? When everything is working the way it’s sup-
posed to, then we have health – that’s how we were A: This is so complimentary to what I do in my
created. work. The body is electrical and if we remove
the resistance in the circuit then suddenly the
In chiropractic college we learn how to manipulate.
power is there to do whatever it needs to do.
The key to me was: are we analyzing the body to
figure out what it needs, or are we just forcing K: In the earlier part of my career I did a lot of
something to change? Chiropractic is a kind of art muscle testing to figure out: what segment do I
form – there’s a philosophy behind it – when you have to adjust? What organ is not working at its
best? In chiropractic college the analysis isn’t
Kais working on me in the yard—photo by Aidan Costello
taught – it’s about how to do.
But soon more and more people were coming area – I’m asking a question and getting an
into my office and I was a solo practitioner… answer. The brain communicates to the body
My practice grew, and you know, usually the via the nervous system so there is a
mother comes in first and she sees some relationship between thought and the
changes and then she wants to get the kids in physical. Through this I was able to enter a
and then finally the husband. Suddenly I’m different level of service.
seeing 80-100 people a day. It’s really This was just outside of Seattle and I worked
challenging to take care of that many people – I there for 18 years Then at the top of my
had to keep expanding my space and then I career I heard this inner voice which said, ‘you
would have four adjusting tables in a room and need to leave,’ and I moved to Costa Rica!
I would go from table to table; making a check,
doing an adjustment, letting them breath, A: The purpose of this article is to focus
moving to the next… I needed to go faster, and back on the structural foundation of the
one day I just thought, ‘I need to check that body and why it’s important. Why have you
atlas.’ And as soon as I thought it, I could see chosen to focus more on structure even
the change in the body. That was the first ‘aha!’ though you have some training in the more
moment of my professional life. Then I started energetic aspects of healing as well?
to play around with it. I would think something
K: I have to think, what’s the best thing that I
and then do the muscle test and correlate it. I
can do for people? You can make a lot of
moved from a more physical muscle testing to
adjustments energetically and sometimes
a more energetic one. I know (when I do this)
people won’t even know you’re making them.
I’m talking to the physical matter of a specific
Most of the people who come to see me want
thoughts and movement – then you move into neurotoxins crossing into the brain which can
maintenance, or as I refer to call it – proactive alter brain chemistry… Over time, if you don’t
health care. In those cases, I’m looking for any release that and get it cleaned out, the body is
interference before any symptoms show up. So for going to experience some kind of disease
some people this is a lifestyle choice and some will process. We correct nutritional deficiencies and
use it as a treatment for a specific condition. clear out toxicities.
A: Ideally, once your body finds a state of A: Are there any resources that you would
alignment and balance it goes there more easily. suggest for people wanting to find out more?
K: Exactly. If you’re going to eat fast food and not K: There are various organizations in the
be active, you’re going to require a lot more work – States, the National Chiropractic Association
not just chiropractic, whatever the treatment of for example – if you go into their website
choice is. you’re going to find a lot of references and
reading material. Chiropractic is one of the
A: What we take into our body nutritionally and
professions that was targeted by the American
chemically affects the structure, but what you
Medical Association, and from 1930-60s, many
just said there is not intuitive for a lot of people –
that eating fast food can create a physical chiropractors were arrested and put into jail for
misalignment. How do you explain that to practicing medicine without a license. It wasn’t
people? until 1972 when the Supreme Court slapped the
AMA’s hand and said, ‘Don’t do that anymore,’
K: Food is chemistry. that it stopped. Unfortunately, the infiltration
A: Building blocks? of the medical model has started in
chiropractic colleges. Even when I went to
K: Building blocks. Let’s say you’re putting toxins school there are only two major differences in
into your body. How does your body react to training between doctors and chiropractors: at
toxicity? It goes into a protective protocol to keep the end, the medical students study minor
things away from the organs, we’ll see raised blood surgery and pharmacology and chiropractors
sugars, blood pressure might be higher and learn about adjustments and nutrition.
heartrate might be higher, there might be some Unfortunately, a lot of chiropractors coming
out of school now are using it to treat
conditions, instead of looking to remove stress
and create balance. Doing a search online will
bring up a lot of different stuff, go to the
associations and you’ll find better information
there.
Structure as a Holographic
Approach to Wellness
By Michelle Greenwell
T
o look at how structure affects our world around us and
our world within us, we need to look at several models
of being. First, the Theory of Tensegrity developed by
Richard Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller. Although
developed from an architectural point of view, it applies to all that
we do in movement with the body, and how the systems with flow
support each other. When one part of the body moves with whole
body movement, every other part is influenced. If we do isolated
movement, we create an activation and a deactivation in some
parts of the body, but not all, and this can create blocks in flow or
interruptions in flow. In Freestyle and/or Somatic Dance or Tai Chi
there is a dynamic in the movement that links from toe to
fingertip and all the points in between. But this only speaks to
structure and who we are is so much more than this isolated idea
of structure.
Let us look at the Triangle of Health that is Chapter 8). Hugo Tobar recognizes this by
proposed in Touch for Health and has been identifying the auric field, the chakras, the matrix,
expanded with different levels, aspects, and the elements and the meridians within his
details. I prefer to look at the triangle as a Triangle of Health. We experience this imbalance
Tensegrity model of ebb and flow that is the as a symptom like pain, heat, emotional upset,
result of complete multidimensional living. If and more. As soon as there is an imbalance in the
each part of the tensegrity model is a sliding
system, there is a structural indication that will
experience as illustrated in Hugo Tobar’s
appear. It may be as simple as not sitting up
example, then the influence of one aspect of the
straight, the head leaning forward, the lower back
triangle can be understood on its influences on
other aspects as well as those influences back – locking and aching, a foot turning out when
dynamic interactions on multidimensional levels, walking and more. The cues are so subtle that we
coherence of frequency. may not even be aware that they have begun, nor
that they stay. It is over time, when no balance
As we know from the research in leading up to the has been brought to the system for the challenge
development of Therapeutic Touch by Dora Kunz that presents itself, that a symptom becomes a
and Dr. Delores Krieger, an imbalance in the problem. Bad posture is an easy indication.
biofield that goes without influence to the innate Drooping neck, hip pain, frozen shoulder,
healing potential by an activation in the biofield decreased strength, inflammation, sitting posture
(negative entropy), can continue to create an etc., (Sheldon Deal, AK Shortcuts).
imbalance within the physical structure of the
body, (Richard Gerber, Vibrational Medicine, Our approach to balance on a multidimensional
level is very important because when the tension
is removed from wherever it is in the system, the Connected to this community is the breath.
symptom will resolve, or shift, and posture will “Respiration creates movement in all 136 joints
change. This is all with no effort when balancing and in the whole tissue,” (Kuchera, 2005, 2007,
procedures are used from bioenergetic wellness https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17986675). In
disciplines like Brain Gym™, Touch for Health™, Tai Chi the depth of the breath that is achieved
and Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex with the whole body movement allows for the
Integration (MNRI™), that integrate movement body to begin to create and store Qi within the
patterns with their balancing protocols. joints and eventually the bone by creating a
dynamic force with the expansion and contraction
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ action that is created with the breath and with the
commons/2/23/DNA_tensegrity_triangle.jpg movements, (“The Internal Structure of Tai Chi,”
Mantak Chia and Juan Li). However, this is all still
If we look a little closer at the triangle and its within structure and a look at other aspects of the
multidimensional aspect, you can see the sides of triangle are significant here.
the triangle are coils – DNA strands that are
Structure is a visual and experiential way of
spiraled into a very specific and tight knit shape.
knowing if we are aware and we are observing.
You can see how these triangles are connected to Breath creates a release of resistance, and if there
other triangles and how they create a living matrix is a mental desire to change, then change
or the Flower of Life. When we consider how becomes possible. The emotional instigation
holographic living influences this picture, you can changes the tension on one side of the triangle
see that by balancing all aspects of a triangle, it and allows for a frequency shift towards more
can affect all the other triangles too. And, if you coherence. This is where the goal being identified
consider the effects of tensegrity on the triangle, for a balance or a move towards a new objective is
one pull to create imbalance can affect what critical for setting the intention in the right
carries through the system. In terms of structure direction for action and involvement on all levels.
in the body, this becomes clear by how the body Together the aspects of the triangle begin to work
creates an imbalance in the posture to indicate together to achieve the common goal, or the
the challenge in flow. objective of a balancing session.
This brings us back to the original concepts Climbing the scale to the level of love means that
created by Richard Buckminster Fuller and his transformation can occur with acceptance and
Tensegrity model (1975). But this time there are forgiveness. This shift on the triangle can support
more aspects to the triangle than the originally the structure and the posture to begin to create a
identified structural interactions on a triangle. balance that we can see in our physical bodies.
Carlos Castaneda follows this with:
If we consult David Hawkins “Scale of
“The Shaman no longer looks for meaning in life
Consciousness” from Power and Force,
but brings meaning to every situation. The shaman
Buckminster Fuller brings his model around to
stops looking for truth and instead brings truth to
include the aspects of the Triangle of Health
every encounter. You don’t look for the right
identified by Hugo Tobar in his illustration and
partner, you become the right partner. And then the
reveals the truth within the chart. That is, when
right partner finds you. It’s a very active practice
we trust what we are doing is for our higher good
focused on healing.”
and in the direction of our purpose, we can set
our intentions to flow towards a directed
The importance of flow is key to the willingness of
outcome.
the innate healing potential to be activated, but
also for the willingness to change to become
reality.
KinesioGeek Magazine, www.gemskinesiology.com
14
The Power of Physical Structure Issue 16, Summer 2020
When we “give” a massage there is an invested realizations are awareness within the
effort on the part of the masseuse to create structure of nuances of shape and tension.
change in the body being massaged, while the The somatic movement creates flow in a way
recipient is an inactive participant in the that relates to the body but is distinct from
process. But, if one is to “offer” a massage to the mind and its desire to see change. This
the tissue and hold back the desire to make the experience is identified as part of the somatic
nervous system or a somatic reflex. Yoga
changes, but allows the body to realize where
poses and meditation can create this
the change needs to take place and the pace
stimulus for the system. Tai Chi and dance
that is required to create the change, the
create it through sustained movement
experience is one of flow, rather than demand patterns that evolve and change with
for action. The body becomes an active expansion and contraction of tissue in a
participant in the exchange for coherence and relaxed and flowing state. As indicated by
balance. Tobar’s Triangle of Health, the Auric field
flows to the Chakras and the Figure Eight
This is similar to creating a balance in the Patterns, there is a flow into emotions from
Triangle of Health with movement. Somatic the chakras and this brings awareness to the
Elements which interact with the meridians Although not quoted here, this article was influenced
and create a relay switch of information to the by the research also found on Yumpu.com “The
structure. The harmony and balance is a dance Meaning of Tensegrity: Principles for Osteopathic
of movement that is witnessed through Medicine,” by Carsten Fluger 2008. Quotes for Fuller
structure to visually realize the coherence of and Castaneda come from Google searches, and
the body and its overall status as a healthy experience with movement created many of the
individual both inside and outside. other realizations through years of teaching dance
and Tai Chi that are expressed throughout the
To experience this article in real movement, article.
you can find the video for Day 89 on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Michelle Greenwell is a doctoral student at Akamai University
currently coordinating her research in Integrative Health. Using
UCEPG1vTQ71ZSEuM2GgmgaDw, under the
movement to heal the body, she is intrigued by the incredible
Playlist for the Online Tai Chi sessions. By power of intention, movement, breathe and flow created
setting the intention to balance the Triangle of through passionate living. You can find her articles and videos
Health in all aspects through movement, the on Youtube, www.dancedebut.com, and her numerous
body has a different response than just doing Facebook pages to share and inspire BioEnergetic Wellness with
others. You can check out her latest publication and workshop
the Tai Chi movements for the sake of moving.
with Natascha Polomski: “Raising BioEnergetic Awareness” on
You can try one of the prerecorded videos in Facebook and in the shop at www.dancedebut.com.
the Tai Chi Wellness and the Seated Form
Series and see how the body feels working
structurally through the movements, and then
try the movements and intentions found on
Day 89.
Physical Structure in
Kinesiology / Knowlative
By Ludivicco Felatto
I
t is amazing to see, working with clients, the physical effects of metaphors or the incredible physical re-
sult we can obtain with the perfect supplement. Nonetheless we must acknowledge, for a variety of rea-
sons, the fundamental importance of our “structure”. Bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia
can deeply affect also non-structural aspects of health.
I am an orthopaedic and trauma surgeon. Until 2016, for many years, the “structure” of the body was my
main daily interest. I can literally say that I touched bones and muscles of my clients. When I started explor-
ing some alternatives, first the energetic system of meridians and acupoints and then Kinesiology with even
more “subtle” way of influencing the body, I was immediately fascinated with these “easy” ways to influence
the body.
I call
them “easy” because, despite their complex physiology, the applications are usually immediate and
very fast to learn… much easier, for example, than remembering the origin, insertion and movement of the
4 layers of muscles that you find in the anterior region of human forearm (By the way, if you do not remem-
ber them, you can see them here: https://www.appknowlative.com/app/#/uok-detail/2435).
In Knowlative, we decided to implement the Another useful use of “minor” muscles is, for
“structure” right after the “vocabulary” for example, if you are working on a specific
these reasons… and also because anatomy is meridian (https://www.appknowlative.com/
always hard to memorize. We uploaded all app/#/uok-detail/2585) or on a specific tendon-
muscles of the body, every bone and every joint muscular-meridian (https://
so that, now you can browse every joint and see www.appknowlative.com/app/#/uok-
all muscles that cross it divided by direction of detail/2518), you can find all associated muscles
movement (see the Joint Atlas for more info: and test them… and then balance using your
https://www.appknowlative.com/app/#/uok- usual protocol.
detail/3200).
We are muscle testers, let’s test all muscles.
By Brian Haraga
F
rom a cowboy to the art of helping the body to help itself. I grew up in southern Alberta, Canada, on
a farm. Our life was simple and hard at the same time. At a very young age, my father decided to
build an arena on the farm, so my sister, my brother, and I could train rodeoing every day after
school/work. We spent many years sharing evenings practicing team roping, calf roping, steer
wrestling and barrel racing, and more, and on weekends we went to rodeos around Canada sharing family
time on the road and meeting our extended rodeo family on the weekends, and I loved every single moment.
Fortunately, I began using muscle monitoring and acupressure touch and massage for horses and other
animals with my dad and brother at a young age. I have to confess that I was very skeptical at the beginning
with the use of muscle testing, but through practice and the results of animals helped the proof was in the
pudding. However, everything changed by age 16, when an auto accident left me partially paralyzed and
severely debilitated on many different levels and left me with no hope by my doctor. I remember when he
said "Brian, there is nothing more that we can do, we are removing your traction pin tomorrow, you're free to
go home." and I said, "What am I supposed to do now?" That sad day, I was then taken home, and months
went by, mostly sitting and half lying in my father's chair feeling depressed.
I have a deep respect and admiration for my doctors, Spiro Lenis helped him put his stomach
parents because of their open mindset, and the back in place. At that moment, his chest pain
value of never quitting kept them looking for disappeared. That is why Al Berry put together
other alternative methods. We went to many Body Management to help others to help
places, but it was Al Berry's Body Management themselves as he did to himself.
and vision that enabled me to recover and get
back to rodeoing and my life. I remember my
third visit with Al; I could feel my legs again. It What did I learn?
was one of the happier moments of my life.
As I set before, I started learning with muscle
Because of my experience and recuperation, I monitoring and some adjustments for horses
have dedicated my life to helping the body heal and animals. After the accident, I asked Al Berry
itself. to teach me about Berry's Body Management. It
is a practical and foundational system developed
by Al and Maxine designed so anyone can learn
Al Berry taught me how to work with people, with no previous experience or expand the skills
including Touch For Health, and after, I that one has already acquired with other
collaborated with Al on how to work with horses modalities. It mainly focuses on structural
and animals, I retook Touch For Health with John wellbeing, finding the root cause, and the many
Thie, and then John Maguire certified me as a ways of dealing with them.
Touch for Health Instructor. That happened
more than 30 years ago.
The wellbeing of our body is the result of what
we put in it and the waste that you get out of it,
There have been many similarities that bring Al the emotions we create, how we think, how we
Berry and me together. Al Berry was too severely react to our environment, our belief systems,
ill, and after many tribulations with different and more.
Body Management techniques help the body to go back to a state of wellness and vitality, which
works like a domino effect helping others (physical, mental, emotional, biochemical, spiritual, and
nutritional) levels. Stress on the body can put a strain on the mind and vice-versa.
Balancing the body, and having the structure in proper alignment in conjunction with the right
nutrition, cleansing the organs, exercise, and rest is where the road to where wellness begins. If the
organs are in the correct position, the waste is eliminated efficiently; therefore, nutrition can be
assimilated easier. It is the organs that may control the nerves, which may control the muscles and
help keep the body's structure in place.
Berry's Body Management uses several painless and straightforward techniques that can help restore
the uninterrupted flow of electrical current in the body, the electromagnetic field, and the meridians,
which are activated and balanced: as well as releasing and defusing mental and emotional stress. Body
Management can help with digestive disturbances, cranium release, female and male reproductive
organs, four central power switches, extremities (shoulders, elbows, foot, ankles, hands, wrist, hips,
knees), nervous system, respiratory system, circulatory system, endocrine system, vascular system,
viscera, lymphatic system, the skeletal structure of the body, hip displacement, ileocecal valve, lower
back strengthening, prolapsed colon, neck, spine, joints,
nutrition for the body, and more; as well as a method with lights to realign the cranial bones for
support. In my busy practice, I have encountered that the majority of client's emotions are released
while working directly on the structural wellbeing. Stress in the body can put stress in mind and vice-
versa.
A great way to understand the balancing techniques you will be using working with the body is
These steps are just the beginning of helping the 6) Remove your hands.
body to move to it balance state. If you take this
knowledge and apply it to people and thereby
gain experience, you will be helping some of the 7) Feel the muscles again to see if they are
many who need help. more relaxed. If not, apply your hands
longer.
A. Back Relaxation
B. Expanding Your Electromagnetic Field To Retain Your Power towards unwanted or negative
influences
Example:
Caroline just felt drained after listening to her uncle James complain for 20 minutes about his wife for
what happened to him at a time in
his life. Yes! Caroline gave up her energy, getting trapped while showing compassion in her uncle's story
as it unfolded and captivated her attention, which seems to drain and weaken her inside after just
listening to her uncle speak.
The technique:
Hook thumbs together, cross fingers over each other (It does not matter which fingers are placed over
each other), place hands over the naval (energy center for pain, power, and victimization).
Your energy field expands so that when people complain consciously (knowingly) or subconsciously (un-
knowingly) about people, places, things, times, and events. Your energy field will expand so that when
people comment to you about either being a victim or tyrant in the situation. It will run off of you like
water off a duck back. Thereby not draining your life force. This allows Caroline's uncle to express his
concerns (and getting it out) to reduce stress without depleting Carolines' life force reserves and make
Caroline more objective (less emotional) and less judgmental towards her uncle's comment
s and see through the emotions to be able to see an equal and opposite emotion put back into her story
with a more favorable outcome.
Technique:
7. Recheck crown meridian wheel points and
previous muscles that were unlocked. All should
1. Set a goal using muscle monitoring. be locked/test strong.
E
very Thursday morning for the past 8
years I have taught yoga classes at a “It is such a peaceful, calming
senior center just outside of Boston,
Massachusetts. I offer one class where
practice that I feel good at
students practice on the yoga mat, and the other least for the rest of the day.”
class takes place seated on a chair. The people
who practice in the chair usually do so because it
is harder for them to get up or down from the
floor. It always surprises me that the chair
practice offers just as much to the students as the mitigate pain or gain strength. This referral is
mat practice does. The response of students at sometimes important to get someone onto
the end of each practice is the same; they seem the mat. Aging shifted this student's
both rejuvenated and relaxed. As one student perspective on giving yoga a chance; “I've
proclaimed: “yoga may be the only activity in my always been a vigorous, physical exerciser
life that can calm me down and energize me at and totally ignored yoga. Now that I'm a bit
the same time.” older, I realize the benefits of yoga -
physically and mentally. I wasn't aware of
Teaching these classes feeds my soul. The 20-30 the strength needed and acquired by yoga. I
regular students who attend the classes feel like really enjoy the stretching and balancing
family to me. There is an excitement in just being involved. It is such a peaceful, calming
together, and feels like a high point of the week. practice that I feel good at least for the rest
One of the greatest gifts of my own yoga of the day.”
practice has been in feeling like a part of a Sometimes students tell me that they have
greater community; that sense of connection seen results after only taking a few classes;
seems even more important in this group of older I’ve heard reports of breathing
adults- seniors often face difficulties due to social improvements, blood pressure regulation,
isolation. Practicing as a group brings motivation and pain relief. It seems hard to believe that
this simple practice could offer so much! But
and support to “show up” each week, and we
studies have recognized yoga for its abilities
always check in with news and updates before to reduce anxiety, depression, and
each class begins. inflammation in the body. It has been shown
to be effective in increasing levels of GABA
The classes are a combination of asana (physical in the brain- the neurotransmitter that calms
postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), and regulates the central nervous system.
and meditation. I often include physical practices Reference link
from kinesiology such as meridian tracing,
auriculars, switch-ons, and neurolymphatic In addition to mental benefits, yoga practice
massage. At the end of class I give each student brings renewed vitality to the physical body.
reiki while they rest in savasana (corpse pose- or The aches and pains that accumulate over
yoga “sleep”). I try to make the classes time can lead to a reduction in physical
challenging while also keeping them gentle and activity for older adults. This reduction in
accessible.
movement can cause the body to stiffen,
People are often referred to the practice by their lose bone mass, and weaken muscles.
doctors or physical therapists as a way to
The word yoga literally means to “yoke.” When brain’s need to react, panic, or move out of the
something is yoked together; separate parts are pose. In this way, we start to link our autonomic
brought together to be united as one. The main nervous systems response to our conscious
focus of the physical practice is to unite the minds' awareness of the present moment. Once
breath with the movement of the body. we have practiced a few times, we can take this
new skill off the mat and into the world. We
Through practice, one learns to understand how
start to link our awareness of our breath to
the breath reflects the state of balance stress response in other parts of our life.
happening at any given moment between the
mind and body. The sensory “fluctuations'' of The benefit of yoga practice off of the mat can
the mind and body are seen as distractions and be seen in this students experience: “I was in
yoga is designed to calm these in order to the hospital and had had an emergency
achieve unification with the spirit. appendectomy. I was back in a room, and my
legs were encased with coverings that inflated,
When the posture or “asana” is linked with the alternately putting on pressure and relaxing.
breath, deeper meaning is assigned to the They were extremely uncomfortable, to the
movement. It becomes mindful. Once the mind point of being painful when compressed. I
can hold awareness of how the breath responds asked if they could be removed, but was told
to a challenge, such as a difficult pose, it can that they were necessary to guarantee
start to regulate its response to stress. If you circulation. I decided then to apply my yogic
find yourself stuck holding your body in a new teachings. I concentrated (hard) on my
position, a purposeful breath can clear away the breathing, syncing it, and thinking of the
inflation as massage. It worked! It actually got In my experience I have seen how all roads
to the point where I was enjoying the lead to the same destination. Whether yoga,
‘massage,’ and then I fell asleep. When I specialized kinesiology, or almost any other
awoke the coverings were gone, and I missed healing practice, transformation happens
them.” when people deepen their connection to
themselves. When somebody is able to find
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many seniors
their center, they can be aware of those times
have been isolated at home. Not knowing when they are “off” and bring themselves
when we will be able to practice together back to center much more easily. This power
again, I have been putting the classes up on can bring confidence, better health, and help
YouTube for them to do at home. One stu- people make healthier decisions that lead to
dent shared some great feedback at how it better lives. Yoga is just one path, and it offers
so many benefits beyond just physical
has been helping: “Yoga has sustained me
strength and flexibility.
during this worrisome time. I feel I’ve benefit-
ed both physically and mentally from yoga Even though the classes that I offer are taught
practice. It has also given me something I can with seniors in mind, they offer benefit to
have control of! I now have a routine, again, people at every age. You can find my classes
here: https://www.youtube.com/user/
even if it’s only once every other day. My
LizAzalea please share widely and let me
body feels stronger. I’m much more aware of know what your experience is like!
my breathing. Balance and flexibility are im-
proving, too. Yoga calms me down. I feel a Liz Elia is a healing practitioner based in Boston,
Massachusetts. Her practice includes Specialized
sense of accomplishment when I’m finished.
Kinesiology modalities (Crossinology Brain
And if it happens that I don’t do anything else
Integration, SIPS- Stress Indicator Point System,
that I should be doing that day at least I’ve
Touch for Health, and LEAP) and guided shamanic
done my yoga!” healing. All of her services are available remotely
and she loves to work with other practitioners! She
teaches yoga, Reiki, and Touch for Health. Find out
more and contact through her website:
wholemindedhealth.com
O
ur goal is helping people release pain feeling very flexible. We ask the person /
and tension in their bodies while audience to bend forward while slightly flexing
improving their ability to do the things their knees to protect their backs. Notice how far
they love. One of the ways we they can reach and where they feel tension and
accomplish this is by training Muscle Tuner® how easy it is to do, or not! Then roll up carefully
Specialists and Energy Boost Self-Care Specialists to straighten up. How easy was that?
who help their clients make positive structural
changes rapidly. Both groups utilize the Circuit Next, we ask them to lean from side to side and
Breaker Reset technique for themselves and others. observe any tightness and whether the fingertips
This is a 3-5 minute activity and when of their hands reach the same level along the
demonstrated, it always causes a sensation for the outside of their leg or whether the fingertips on
people who experience it. We encourage anyone one side are higher. Is there tension in the neck
who learns it to share this technique with others. muscles?
This is how we proceed when doing a Be careful in all measurements. In case someone
demonstration. First, we ask for a measurement of has a neck or back issue, you may want to modify
This allows it to be draped over a shoulder and positioned between the spine and a wall and keeps it
from rolling away. Once the ball is positioned in the desired spot, knees can be flexed and
straightened while the ball rolls against the spine gently.
Never cause pain. Keep rolling up and down over a small zone for several seconds then reposition
the ball. Keep going until the entire spine has been activated.
Remember to re-measure flexibility and comfort level when the Circuit Breaker Reset is complete.
Flexibility will be improved, often significantly. General wellbeing will be improved because organs
and glands communicate via nerves arriving at and exiting from specific spinal segments. When the
segments are not jammed together, communication improves between the nervous system, organs
and glands.
Remember to return the favour when performing this amazing technique with a friend so they can
experience the benefits of this reset also.
For more information about our programs relating to self-care, as well as working professionally as a
Muscle Tuner® Specialist or Energy Boost Self-Care Specialist please visit our website at
Classifieds:
Classifieds
Class listings online for each National Association, Con-
ferences, Products and More
USA: http://touchforhealth.us/classes/classes-by-state/ Note: It has been difficult to list Muscle Testing events
and classes this year as schedules are uncertain and
USA: http://energyk.org/training-events/ many events are cancelled or changed last minute due
to changing regulations. As you can see, I have removed
conference listings from this page for the time being. I
apologize if any of the information about events / clas-
Gut Brain Axis Collaborative Workshop ses / services that you have found here in this issue is
incorrect.—Alexis
Online, November 13-15