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Orlanu Therapies - The Myofascial Release Center of Milwaukee
Articles Archive
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A Comprehensive Approach to Biomedical Treatment for Autistic Spectrum Disorders By Norman Schwartz, M.D. "A poor doctor treats disease.
Autistic is a bio-neurological developmental
disability that generally appears before the age of three. Children
with the disorder have qualitative impairments of social skills and
interactions and communication difficulties, including either a delay
in or complete lack of language development. Furthermore, many people
with autism engage in restrictive patterns of behavior including rigid
adherence to routines and/or repetitive motor mannerisms such as hand
flapping. In addition to classical autism there are also a wide range
of behaviors and dysfunctions that are included in the autistic spectrum
disorders (ASD) such as pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), Aspergers
syndrome, and some would include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD). These are also dramatically increasing in occurrence. Currently as a society we are also seeing increases of multiple diseases and syndromes: Type II Diabetes, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, chronic fatigue, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel disease, auto-immune diseases and macular degeneration to give some examples. Is there a correlation between the factors implicated in ASD and the increasing chronic ill health and unwellness we are experiencing? I think so. Recent evidence indicates that autism is a disorder of the nervous system and the immune system, affecting multiple metabolic pathways. The focus of the biomedical approach reflects the increasing understanding that children with ASD represent a wide spectrum of developmental, perceptual, language, behavior and attention problems. They have patterns of clinical laboratory abnormalities such as: processing of sensory and expressive information; abnormal neurotransmitter functions, imbalanced level of normal neurotransmitters, abnormal neurotransmitters; altered immune system sensitivity and processing of immune stimuli, increased auto-immune problems, a shift in the balance of the cellular and antibody immune response, decreased resistance to infections; gastrointestinal system abnormalities with mal-digestion, alterations in normal intestinal flora, increased intestinal permeability; biochemical abnormalities in sulfur amino acids, impaired detoxification, increased sensitivities to toxins, problems in folic acid and B12 metabolism, and increased vitamin and nutritional needs. These clinical abnormalities that
display themselves as developmental, perceptual, language, behavior
and attention problems are signs of a disordered metabolism that provoke
a deficit or confusion in communications at the cellular level. This
disruption of cellular information processing can be caused by a combination
of false cellular messengers, dietary opiates, and viral invaders, such
as the measles virus, possibly related to the measles vaccination. These
abnormal signals can disrupt the cells ability to perceive and respond
to both internal and external messages resulting in the clinical condition
we call ASD. Only a few decades ago autism was considered hopeless. Now, there is increasing evidence of the benefit of biomedical, educational and behavioral approaches benefiting a large segment of the autistic spectrum population. Sponsored by the Autism Research Institute (www.AutismResearchInstitute.com) an integrative approach has evolved over the past nine years. A collaborative group of world wide experts from many disciplines has taken a proactive role to share information and develop biological interventions. They have developed consensus protocols- Defeat Autism Now!(DAN!), that assiduously assesses and integrates multiple treatment modalities. These comprehensive inter-disciplinary approaches, working on many levels have been incorporated by thousand of physicians and parents. These are safe and effective treatments that show improved outcomes, sometimes with remarkable results. Numerous documented cases exist where children have lost their autistic label from integrative therapies. Still, autism is an enigma wrapped in mystery and surrounded by riddles. A host of abnormalities have been described with a myriad of physical, emotional, social and developmental consequences. Perhaps autism can teach us about the nature of health by revealing at a deeper level the importance of subtle, significant control system dysfunctions. ASD mysteries challenge us to think deeply about the causes of this life disrupting condition. Perhaps we as a world culture will wake up and appreciate the interdependence of environment and health. Identifying and understanding the causes will help bring constructive approaches and improve the quality of care over a wide range of health concerns. As parents and practitioners, we have a choice- we can wait for a new public policy that will describe the best options, based on a diagnostic label. Alternatively we can formulate specific interventions for an individual child based on: sound scientific principles, the positive outcomes of biomedical treatments, application of evolving research, and the experience of practitioners. As clinicians and parents we have to ask: What is the next best step for this child; and Have we done everything possible for this child? We know that autism is not a single disease and so we are not attempting to find a cure for autism. Our approach is not diseased centered but patient centered. Our concern is helping each child and their families develop a comprehensive and effective treatment program. Wheels of Growth & Renewal By: Michele Rozansky, PT Small wheel turn by the fire and
rod According to ancient Hebrew texts, every seven years the earth is allowed to rest, to rejuvenate, and to literally re-birth. Since no active agricultural work is allowed, during that seventh year, only the naturally occurring foods can be taken for consumption. It is interesting that Orlanu Therapies is just beginning our seventh year. While we have definitely covered a lot of ground, Orlanu Therapies is experiencing a rebirth of her own! Orlanu translates as “Our Light” in English. I chose the name feeling it literally defines Orlanu’s work, as well as our staff. Orlanu’s purpose has always been to create a safe space for re-kindling, and in some cases, discovering our inner lights (our- selves), by working with a multitude of physical challenges. Many neurological and pain challenges will often mask our aliveness with coping mechanisms. Orlanu is the center of a wheel. We are a group of health care practitioners offering many conventional and complementary therapies for your health care. We are also an evolving life, connecting with all of you while moving through a wondrous time of growth and rejuvenation. We continue with our innate purpose and stretch with new colors and logo design, new staff, new programs and new community connections. We have evolved into much more than a place to receive therapies; we have truly become a healing center. In honoring the fact that we’re continually renewing ourselves, we are now calling ourselves Orlanu Therapies, A Healing Center. Please join us August 27th from 6pm to 7pm as we celebrate our transformation into becoming “Orlanu Therapies, A Healing Center.” We invite you to bring friends and family members to meet our staff and find out about our new class offerings. Call the office on or before August 25th to let us know how many people you’ll be bringing. As always, we look forward to seeing you and value our friendships. This August we began a new tradition with “Music For Your Soul”, an Orlanu family music gathering to in-joy each other as well as ourselves, as we put aside our struggles. We celebrated our aliveness with pure fun! I hope you all can come to future gatherings as we plan to have the gatherings every other month. We continue to find your support and unconditional trust in our work deeply moving. Orlanu exists because of you. Please call our office and visit our website at www.orlanutherapies.com for upcoming events as well as information regarding our community. With Love, Michele Yoga for Women in all Phases of Life By: Anna Rychner, RN, CYI Today there are many medical options for treating "women's" health issues. There are also many self-help tools available to assist in staying vibrant and alive even during times of great hormonal shifts such as pregnancy, postpartum, premenstrual, and the peri and postmenopausal phases of our lives. Yoga is an ancient science of self-development, originating in the Himalayas around 3000BC. The basic physical practices of Hatha Yoga can benefit people of all ages and abilities. Women in all stages of life may find specific practices that are very helpful. Ayurvedic and homeopathic physicians believe that lifestyle factors that disrupt the body's natural rhythm and create hormonal imbalances strongly influence a woman's symptoms. Stress, bad eating habits, traveling, overwork, difficulties in relationships and lack of exercise all contribute to PMS and menopausal problems. Yoga asanas (postures or poses), breathing and deep relaxation provide great comfort and relief from many of these symptoms by restoring balance and harmony to all body systems. Simple relaxation postures such as the corpse pose (shavasana), the crocodile (makarasana), and the child's pose (balasana) are particularly helpful in relieving anxiety and nervous irritability. The crocodile is helpful for women who experience severe cramping or are unable to relax lying on their backs. It allows the mind to focus inward with fewer distractions as the head faces downward, like a crocodile concealed underwater. The child's pose is a compact fetal-like posture that relaxes the body completely. It focuses the breath on the organ systems in the abdomen and the pelvis, which helps massage and tone them. The gentle inversion of head, neck and torso relaxes the back muscles, thus easing low back pain, a common premenstrual complaint. Asanas to increase circulation and tone the endocrine system are very helpful for hot flashes and night sweats, the most common complaints of the menopausal transition. These would include the wide-angle pose, half plow, and forward bending poses either standing or seated such as downward dog or child's pose. Paced rhythmic breathing during all asanas will help the body adapt to the circulatory and hormonal shifts taking place. Rhythmic breathing will also provide a calming effect and relieves some of the anxiety accompanying the symptoms. The best way to learn yoga is under the guidance of a seasoned yoga practitioner. The postures range from simple to challenging, and proper technique is essential. A beginning yoga class such as the ones offered at Orlanu is a great place to start. Weekly on-going classes are valuable for strengthening and deepening postures, and to practice meditative skills in a supportive, structured setting. Many of us sail through our life cycles barely noticing changes in our physical and mental states. But those of us whose bodies send up red flags with each hormonal shift are given a special opportunity to renew ourselves each month. This is the perfect time to turn to a yoga practice. A Hopeful Future By: Holly Haebig, OTR, CMT This is the true account of one woman’s healing
journey. This article is written in honor of the countless number of
people that Orlanu therapists work with on a daily basis who continue
to explore what healing means to them…may we journey onward, knowing
that we are unique in our needs, and that we are never alone. For many years Sheila met with the most highly recommended pain management doctors and back surgeons for her severe low back and leg pain. She learned to manage the pain with specific exercises and medication. Even with the prescribed treatment, Sheila soon developed severe foot pain. Only a year ago, she remembers being nearly intolerant of anything touching her feet. Extra wide shoes were her only option in footwear. Bending forward to don her shoes was painful and laborious. Exercise and movement increased the pain, and her ankles were severely swollen at day’s end. Her symptoms interfered with all of her daily activities. The lack of function to sit on the floor and read to her granddaughter greatly saddened her. She slept on the hard floor in agony even with maximum amounts of pain medications. The bed was “too soft” resulting in severe shortening of her muscles and more pain. Sheila tried many forms of rehabilitation such as physical therapy (traction and exercises), podiatry (orthotics), and acupuncture. After about 5 months she did wear different shoes and walk with less pain, but her unhappiness grew. She decided to seek counseling to help address the feelings related to her pain and how it was affecting her life. Sheila coincidentally began seeing a psychotherapist who was familiar with the holistic approach at Orlanu Therapies. The therapist, herself, personally experienced treatment at the clinic. She recommended that Sheila seek further “hands-on” therapy at Orlanu. As a “last hope” Sheila called the clinic the next day and began seeing Michele twice a week. One of the most significant findings during her first visit was how a slight tip forward of her head sent “electric shocks” to the back of her legs and feet. Initially her pain did not change, but Sheila felt a significant increase in her energy level after only one week in therapy. Over the weeks, her pain symptoms fluctuated – from better to worse – worse to better. It was explained to Sheila that as a person’s system changes, the body must adapt to different ways of being which can be uncomfortable until the body adopts the new and better position. Progress was slow but aspects of her life were changing which kept her going…then she reached a plateau. After spending a weekend sick with the flu, Sheila felt weak and ready to express her “true feelings” during a co-treatment with Michele and myself. She had had enough! Her foot pain had grown worse requiring extra medication for the first time in weeks. We reminded her of the healing process and why her pain might be increasing. This treatment session with four hands, helped her to “turn the corner”. She recalls a strange fondness for the “wishbone” technique when both legs were being stretched in different directions as she held onto the table and breathed deeply. Myofascial release, a technique following the patient’s body to release deep restrictions, was a primary therapy used with Sheila during this initial phase of treatment. With these new insights, Sheila courageously tried new ways to move, breathe, and eat! As she made small, consistent changes to her lifestyle, her symptoms slowly improved and her faith in the healing process grew stronger. Eventually the therapy included Raindrop treatments with essential oils, yoga, energy balancing and very specific suggestions on juicing and cleansing. Sheila’s insight and honesty is what moved me the most to want to share her story with all of you. During this interview, she takes long pauses to reflect and share on how the pain had become a dimension of how she functioned in the world. As she continues to explore the emotional components of this awareness, she is slowly rediscovering what a life without pain can look and feel like. She shares how it helps to surround herself with other women who take care of themselves. “My life changed when I walked through the door of Orlanu… I have many useful tools that I can now use…I’m a lot happier and am taking care of myself.” Looking at Sheila, one wouldn’t know she still lives with pain. She can now bend to tie her shoes and easily read to her granddaughter on the floor. Sheila does continue to experience some pain, especially foot pain, and she does take pain medications at a much lower dose. Sheila is learning to incorporate “her tools” on a daily basis instead of waiting until the pain is severe – simple things like taking stretch/breathing/awareness breaks during her work day. She knows what she needs in order to feel better such as getting up from her desk often to move and stretch. She appreciates the support of her family as they encourage her to do the things that she feels will connect her to her inner-most being (beyond wife and mother) such as yoga. She states that this is “time for me”. Along with her individual yoga practice, she participates in a weekly yoga class and individual therapy sessions both at Orlanu. Sheila will continue her “hands-on” bodywork and update her juicing, cleansing, and nutritional program designed by Susan. With enthusiasm Sheila exclaims that she is ready to have some fun and do somersaults with her granddaughter! We smile and laugh, as I remind her to make sure she does a proper warm up first. Blessings to you Sheila as you continue your healing journey. Healthy Foods By: Susan Bliffert, OTR A barrage of food information comes at us each day in some form of advertising, i.e. the radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and the internet. We may also seek consul from self-care and health books, friends, or health care practitioners. Most often, the information that we receive is common sense – the sense that we seem to have lost through the high productivity and technology that also brings us convenience. It is essential that we educate ourselves about our bodies. Ultimately, we are the ones to decide what we consume and how we approach the food we eat. Here are some guidelines that I like to follow. It can take a lot of the mystery out of the process. Healthy food is not plastic, refined, puffed up, stabilized, or chemically altered for appearance, preservation, or shelf life. It is not overcooked or undercooked. Healthy food is not bleached and sprayed as in cereals and grains; it is not green picked fruits, meat with diethylstilbestrol, eggs from chickens fed with drugs and hormones, nor milk in cartons treated with formaldehyde and dioxin (agent orange). Healthy food is just plain, good food. Know your food – know where it comes from and how it is grown. Is the earth it is grown in organically replenished each year to provide quality nutrients? Can you feel “life” in the food that you eat? Is it electromagnetically charged? Do you know which foods combine well with others? Lastly, the atmosphere surrounding the preparation of food affects the food and all who eat it. Take a moment to stop and bless your food. Be grateful. Eat regular, nutritious small meals. Stop everything else that you are doing and chew, breathe, and notice the life-sustaining activity of eating. Movement is Life By: Michele Rozansky, PT The Pilates method of body conditioning is a unique combination of stretching and strengthening exercises, created by Joseph H. Pilates. This fitness approach is designed specifically to guide our body’s return to its innate well-being. Western fitness attempts this by challenging our bodies with outside loading stresses (i.e., resistive weight machines and free weights) often developing bulky, stiff, taut, and painful tissues. The Pilates approach accesses already existing inner strength creating long, supple and mobile tissues. Pilates exercises are designed: 1) to cleanse our lungs by providing an internal shower to virtually every cell in our bodies, 2) to massage our abdominal organs, and 3) to strengthen the "powerhouse"– our low back, abdominal, pelvis and hip muscles. Our human structural design demands spine flexibility and a strong supportive corset of abdominal strength to support upright activities. The Pilates method is specific and cumulative in addressing these health requirements. The exercise sequence literally reorganizes the pelvis and leg muscles to enhance abdominal strength and coordination. Simultaneous deep breathing stimulates our brain to be present and in communication with our body. Our minds and bodies align providing “uniform development” which is necessary for good health. I am happy to see how popular community Pilates floor mat classes are becoming. However, their growing size can sometimes interfere with the necessary individual attention that a student may need. It can be very easy to learn and to practice an exercise incorrectly resulting in an injury. I have designed a class specifically to prepare you for a beginning Pilates floor mat class. Join me and learn the fundamentals of the five basic exercises which become the groundwork for advanced exercises. The series will begin in January (please check our class listings). This class is geared toward learning the pure Pilates principles, so working on the floor is required. Hope to see you in class! You are in the Driver's Seat! By: Michele Rozansky, PT Why do some people heal while others don’t?
Why do some people recover beautifully following a surgery, while others
may develop multiple unexpected challenges? Our minds are constantly using conscious and unconscious tricks to make sense out of our world, in order to maintain health. Our bodies do the same. If presented with an unhealthy challenge (i.e., sitting at a desk for several hours without a change in position or holding a phone between our shoulder and head), our body will wisely attempt to first avoid this, but may have to accommodate if the stress persists. Accommodating may be trying to change the posture and/or the breathing pattern, and increase the muscle tension. (By the way, these are some initial body signals that something isn’t right). As the stress continues, our body will go into the next phase of coping: muscles will begin to work at an excessive level of intensity (sometimes forgetting how to relax and recharge later in the day). As muscles acclimate to this mode, connective tissue comes to secure the area that is working overtime. As connective tissue builds, the soft tissue thickens and actually stiffens more constricting blood vessels, nerves and muscle fibers, creating aching and soreness. (This is another signal from the body that something isn’t working right). Again, we can continue to ignore this - until the pain becomes too great to tolerate, which usually means that we can no longer do a particular activity. By this time, muscles have become quite tight, and as they move with this stiffness, they will actually pull unevenly on the bone that they attach to. (Did you know that the bones and spinal discs do not move by themselves?) Alignment of the bones and muscles will dictate how we ultimately move, and this is primarily what physical and occupational therapists address. Over time, if bones in a particular joint continue to move while sitting out of their “home position”, degenerative changes may develop, so theoretically, we can avoid osteoarthritis and the serious effects of severe arthritis, if we tune-in to how we use our bodies. During the past few months, I have seen an influx of older people who have undergone multiple orthopedic surgeries and who live with debilitating pain. I am constantly amazed at their strength. Their lives and the lives of their families have had to change as a result of their constant pain. I have many hunches about why the pain exists…… I understand that these surgeries are a last resort and that by the time a patient undergoes a spine, hip, or knee procedure, the body has already experienced severe pain for some time. I surmise that the body has been strongly adapting and that many of the bones and muscles have been working in very stressed and abnormal positions for function. The patient then undergoes the surgical procedure in their unbalanced alignment. I respect and support the surgical intention for "fixing" the bone dysfunction, but I question the overall functional prognosis for the patient if part of the original cause of the problem was not addressed. Since muscles and bone structures weren’t able to relax prior to surgery, the additional trauma from invasive procedures and additional medications can compound the surgical stress response resulting in increased swelling, stiffness, and more pain. I wonder if the surgery could have been delayed to a later time in life, or even avoided, if prior therapy addressing structural imbalances had been offered. I also wonder if people would recover from surgery more easily with this therapy. Conventional rehabilitation may only involve aggressive strengthening programs which often worsen the symptoms by "strengthening" the stiffness and not the actual muscle. True muscle strength requires flexibility. Hands-on therapy techniques can restore soft tissue mobility allowing easier muscle retraining and strengthening. I urge you to ask questions and to learn how our magnificent bodies work. Many wonderful integrative therapies can enhance surgical intervention. Trust your intuition as you work with your health providers - you are in the driver’s seat! |
Is
Anybody Listening?
By: Susan Bliffert, OTR, CMT As I was scurrying to meet this newsletter’s
deadline for a feature article, I decided to look back at what we already
covered. Topics such as myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, chronic
pain, aromatherapy, and many others were included. But what struck me
was the very first article dated winter of 1999, "Is Anybody Listening"?
Our true healing begins within – listening to our inner voice.
Following is a reprint of the article...just as a reminder. Try looking within. Your body is talking. Here’s an example of how this works. Take an instance when you feel anything but total peace and confidence in a conversation. Scan your body from head to toe. Is there an area that feels out of whack? Does it feel tight, empty, or heavy? This is your body talking to you. Part of the healing process is to simply acknowledge the feeling. If you continue to listen you may hear that this area needs comfort, or you may need to speak up and express your feelings. Your body wants to know that you will be its ally by listening, respecting, and honoring its signals. It’s not too difficult if you start by practicing with simple things throughout the day. As with any new skill, it takes diligence and repetition. Remember how often you fell off the two-wheeler before the ride became second nature? Whenever you honor the soul’s response, your intuitive powers will build upon themselves and become more prominent. Formal guidance may be the way to begin. I have used daily meditation in my practice for years. The quiet time set aside each day helps me stay on track. Nothing in the outer world can give me the peace that I get for nothing by sitting quietly and listening. There are many options for support on your journey. Just ask your intuition if the ones you are choosing are right for this moment and place. Be flexible and know that as you grow and change, so too will the avenues for meeting your present state of being. Be a conscious participant in all that you do and enjoy the process of listening to you. Staying Healthy in Summer By: Susan Bliffert, OTR, CMT Summer is the embodiment of growth and maturation. Flowers and fruits abound all around us. The energy of the sun bursts forth the inner strength and power of each seed, each bud, each blossom. For us, this time of year marks the high point of movement – outdoor exercise, hikes, swimming, and sports. The energy and power of the summer sun and the fruits that it brings give us the strength to be more physically active. In Chinese medicine, the organs that are primarily associated with the heat of summer are the heart and the small intestine. To take full advantage of the healing properties of this time of year means to take extra care of these two regulatory systems. The heart needs “heart healthy” foods, exercise for good circulation, and expression of emotions, especially joy and sadness. Foods for health during this hot summer season ideally include those that are cooling and light. This includes a diet primarily of raw fruits and vegetables (preferably organically grown), a few raw nuts and seeds, grains, and fewer dairy products and meats. Be careful to avoid salt, fatty foods, high cholesterol foods (i.e. fatty meats and shellfish), sugar, refined or processed foods, chemical additives, and caffeine products. Fortunately, the markets are filled with every colored fruit and vegetable for variety. Challenge your creativity with preparing new salad recipes this summer (see page 5). Exercise opportunities are limitless in the warm summer months. No matter what your preference, you should be able to find some kind of activity to get your heart pumping. Good examples are hiking, walking in nature, bicycling, swimming, tennis, canoeing, and yes...even yard-work. Expression of emotion simply means to feel and to breathe deeply. Be honest and truthful with yourself and your family and friends. Be kind and loving in all of your interactions beginning with yourself. Enjoy being human and forgive the imperfections. Explore the possibility of love in all circumstances. The small intestine works to “digest” and “assimilate” all that we take in – i.e. the foods we ingest and the emotions that we experience. Good digestion of foods can be as simple as not combining too many different kinds of foods. Examples would be to eat your fruits alone – mornings are preferable. Vegetables are best eaten from lunch through dinner. Masticate (chew) your foods thoroughly, eat slowly, and eat when you are not agitated or feeling stressed. Proper digestion demands that we give our bodies time to break down our foods in a relaxed atmosphere. Either eat alone (in nature would be nice), or enjoy and be comfortable with your eating companions. Be good to yourself this summer; enjoy the sun, the water, nature, and all kinds of summer activities and exercise. Some Curves You're Better Off Without By: Michele Rozansky, PT Scoliosis, meaning curvature of the spine, has always been an interesting phenomenon for me as a physical therapist....mainly because the conventional and acceptable mode of treatment demonstrates many limitations. At Orlanu Therapies, we have found quite different and wonderful results using various manual therapies. The two types of scoliosis which afflict 5-6% of the population are congenital and idiopathic. The congenital scoliosis presents with a spinal column twisting and bending to a side, while the individual vertebrae develop boney twists as they grow. Their bone structure has been altered. The cause of the second type, idiopathic, is unknown and usually begins sometime around puberty with the spine beginning to turn and bend sideways. However the vertebrae (spinal bones) are not abnormal in structure. Conventional medical and physical therapies based on proven studies determine that curves which deviate approximately 30% from the measured norm warrant the use of a brace with complementary instruction of strengthening exercises. Children begin wearing the brace while the bones are skeletally immature and will continue to wear this until bone maturity is reached (usually age 14-15 for girls and 16-17 for boys). The hope is to stop the progression of the curvature and to avoid future surgery which would be needed to actually “hold” the spine in place, sacrificing future mobility. However, conventional treatment stops there and holds out no hope for improving or reducing the curvature once present. Controlling the curve progression is essential since our ribs connect directly to the spine and will follow the twist. But once the curve is established, the ribs begin to follow carrying all the associated soft tissue and organ structures within and around them, and eventually, in very severe cases, many of our body’s structures and systems become compromised, such as the heart and lungs. On a mechanical level, as the spine and ribcage twist, our pelvis and neck structures will begin to accommodate and move out of their “home” positions also. This will automatically present with a future shorter leg which will inevitably cause orthopedic problems for the spine and lower extremities. Shoulder, neck and head problems may occur also as is evident in the following two cases (names and other personal info have been changed). Rose is a 50 year old woman who received physical therapy and wore a brace during her teenage years. As an adult, she raised a family and then later returned to full-time nursing. Several months ago, she came for help to address low back and hip pain which had slowly developed over time. At the time of the evaluation, a moderate curvature of the upper and lower back was present along with a leg length discrepancy. The brace had stopped the progression of the curve, but nothing had been done to attempt to improve it. She wore orthotics to help with poor foot alignment, but didn’t wear a shoe lift. Orlanu therapists saw Rose twice a week for 8 weeks, and then continued for another 4 sessions over a 2 month period focusing on manual therapy to relax her tight muscles, and a variety of exercise and stretching approaches to discover what her body “needed” to use. As Rose practiced her home program, her pain symptoms began to disappear and she began to demonstrate significant postural changes with improved flexibility and strength. Karen is a 13 year old girl whose parents began to notice postural changes at age 11. Her doctor watched the slow progression of the spine curving for 2 years, and then prescribed a brace at the appropriate bone age time with exercise instruction. She will be wearing this brace for approximately 2 years, hoping to halt the scoliosis progression. During Karen’s evaluation at Orlanu Therapies, her scoliosis, pelvic and shoulder girdle imbalances were clearly evident. Rather than limiting her therapy to a home exercise program, I asked if I could do some gentle manual therapy so that the muscles would have more mobility and underlying power to do the exercises more easily, as well as sit more comfortably in her brace, and she agreed. I also knew that given the dynamic nature of our bodies that it would be easier to not only mobilize and relax the stiffer muscles, but also assist the muscles back into their more comfortable positions. At the end of the session, the pelvis was balanced and the twisting component of the spine was minimized with a significant decrease in the lateral bend. Karen’s doctor and parents agreed to allow me to provide monthly sessions of the manual therapy and update the exercise program. Obviously we not only can stop Karen’s curvature progression, but can actually improve it. Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy, soft tissue massage and essential oils are utilized to mobilize muscle and connective tissue in order to “guide” them back to their “home” positions. Bones do not move by themselves. Soft tissue structures, attached to bone, will actually pull on bone when tight or overly strong (sometimes due to an imbalance of muscle strength between the muscles on the sides of the spine). Very specific spinal stabilization exercises are then given to strengthen the muscles. Many curvatures can be minimized, and may even be improved regardless of the individual’s age or length of time since being diagnosed. We at Orlanu Therapies are beginning to see more and more people seek out these alternatives. It is exciting to be a part of this new mindset which combines conventional medicine with Myofascial Release and Craniosacral Therapy, thereby offering excellent open-ended possibilities to restore you to complete health. Aromatherapy By: Susan Bliffert, OTR, CMT "The sense of smell is the oldest phylogenetic system in our bodies...the olfactory system."
The sense of smell is the oldest phylogenetic system in our bodies - the olfactory system. It protects us from harmful or unhygienic conditions and alerts us to contaminated or spoiled foods, pollutants, and other toxins in the environment. Smell helps us to identify and classify the thousands of elements in the world around us. It not only relates to the way we interpret our surroundings - smell may also stimulate our memories and emotions. Physically, the odor of smoke may make us sneeze, but cognitively it may also trigger a memory. For example, we may have been frightened by a house fire, and the smell of smoke may continue to trigger sympathetic nervous system reactions such as sweating or an increase in heart rate. More pleasantly, the aroma of freshly baked cookies may make our mouths water, but at the same time we may remember Grandma’s warmth and nurturing that took place in her aromatic kitchen. As stated, essential oils are the essence of the plant - its heart and soul. Plants are harvested in full bloom and put through a special distillation process. Through evaporation and distillation the absolute essence of the plant is extracted in a liquid form, and the natural properties are obtained at their highest level of purity and potency. This enables the plant’s life force to live on in potent form. You can even feel and see the energy that comes from these pure, potent, unadulterated natural sources. This sense is the plant’s vital life force, released. Everything has an electrical frequency. Frequency is defined as a measurable rate of electrical energy that is constant between any two points. Essential oils contain a frequency that is several times greater than the frequency of herbs and food. Measuring in hertz, food has a frequency from 0-15Hz, dry herbs from 11-15Hz, and fresh herbs from 20-27Hz. Essential oils start at 52Hz and go as high as 320Hz, which is the frequency of rose oil. A healthy body, from head to foot, typically has a frequency ranging from 62 to 78Hz, while disease begins at 58Hz. According to Dr. Royal R. Rife, every disease has a frequency, however, a substance with a higher frequency will destroy a disease of lower frequency. Clinical research shows that essential oils have the highest frequency of any substance known to man, creating an environment in which disease, bacteria, virus, fungus, etc., cannot live. (From: Young Living Essential Oil) Aromatherapy products, only those made from the purest essences of flowers and herbs, are helpful in retraining the senses. The synthetic products do not carry nature’s organic molecular structure, nor the therapeutic benefits of natural aromas. Unfortunately today, our world is filled with toxic and synthetic materials and fragrances. This exposure makes it increasingly difficult to interpret correctly one aroma from another – we are becoming increasingly desensitized in our abilities to smell. Pure unadulterated essential oils will facilitate cleansing the body and mind of impure substances. The chemical structure of essential oils can penetrate the cell membrane and transport oxygen and nutrients into the cell. They nourish and replenish the muscle tissue and joints via the blood stream which in turn go deep into all the organs and tissues. Experiment with rubbing a clove of garlic onto the bottoms of your feet. The oil from the garlic will then be absorbed into the bloodstream and the odor will soon appear on your breath within 20 minutes! Uses and applications of essential oils are endless as they can be used in a diffuser, a vaporizer, humidifier, evaporated in hot water, or applied "neet" (directly to the skin). Diffusing oils releases oxygenating molecules giving anti-viral, anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties, as well as negative ions, which kill bacteria. Bathing with oils can enhance relaxation of the mind and/or soothe muscles and joints. Drop 10-15 drops of essential oil into a carrier massage oil for the whole body, or disinfect and freshen your dishwater or your laundry by adding a couple drops of lemon oil. Aromatherapy is a beautiful and natural form of healing that has been little understood. I use an oil everyday to enhance my well-being. At the first sign of distress such as congestion, stuffiness, or aches and pains, I will search my oil case for the aroma that will have a direct effect on my symptoms. I am never disappointed. Begin to experiment yourself to see what effects different aromas may have on you! By: Michele Rozansky, PT I recently returned from Wolf Creek, Montana, where I co-facilitated a women’s retreat. The intention for this getaway was to increase one’s level of inner peace by shedding layers of life’s distractions, and to uncover our Selves. As our bus approached the Blacktail Ranch, I began noticing the ebb and flow of my surroundings. The gentle winds guided fields of tall grasses and wildflowers into a wave dance. Wild horses and deer peeked from high brush and quickly hid again. When we arrived at our lodge and stepped from the bus, I became acutely aware of the calming sounds—the hum of grasshoppers, the chirp of crickets, and the thrum of hummingbirds. I felt the warm sun hug my skin, and I slowly began to melt as the harmonious rhythms of life lulled me. As I tuned into Mother Nature, my body quieted, surrendering many of the tensions I carried. Soon, a woman I’ll call “Sarah”, caught my attention. As she collected her luggage, I noticed the wary eyes, the pursed lips, the rigid jaw, and the tenseness that she held in her body. She was smiling, actually beaming, talking incessantly—“working” at enjoying herself in this new place, unable to see what surrounded her. Many people can easily and consciously “let go” of their body’s conflicts, while most people today require guidance and practice. I was sure that Sarah was here to find ways to “let go”. During the week, we utilized many modes of “tuning into” ourselves with ceremony such as meditation, yoga, journaling, song, play, sweatlodge, and breathwork (specifically, “Rebirthing”). We slowly removed “stuff” from our Selves that we had brought to Montana—the “stuff” that masks who we really are, interfering with being open to others and to our Selves. The tools shared with the women at the retreat are practiced daily with my patients at Orlanu. Many of my patients have chronic pain, which I equate with cumulative pain. When the body experiences the pain of an injury (emotional, physical, or both) it may learn new ways of moving and breathing to compensate. Eventually, this compensation requires the body to further change with multiple substitution patterns of moving. This may not only tighten muscles, but may also constrict our organ systems. Living in this state of misalignment requires enormous amounts of energy, resulting in fatigue. Gradually a heightened exhaustion with severe tension and pain can interfere with one’s ability to calm. The body “forgets” how to relax. In fact, the body will hurt more when trying to relax, and this living on “overdrive” can continue for months or sometimes years. Rebirthing is a breathwork technique that accesses and then guides the physical body to use a healthier breathing pattern. The body literally releases areas of holding while practicing connected breathing. Since one often reports feeling new and alive again, this tool is called Rebirthing. As a physical therapist, I had alleged exercise and stretching to be the priorities to successful rehabilitation. However, I now know that if one breathes little and holds excess tension, then potential flexibility, strength and ultimate healing is limited—even with the most diligently practiced home program. As tension eases in the body, it becomes easier to work with injured muscles and joints; it becomes easier to nourish soft tissues with fresh supplies of oxygen and to cleanse them of toxins. As healthier breathing resumes, all of our physiological systems function with ease. The body’s internal rhythms begin to return, allowing us to “tune in” to our Selves. In Montana, the staff methodically introduced ways to continue clearing away the debris. Rebirthing had profound effects with Sarah, whom I learned has been living with constant headaches and neck pain. She is a full-time mother with three small children, and she literally “gave herself away” in caring for them. Initially, Sarah found it very difficult to breathe fully, since her pain increased with each attempt. As she began trusting the staff as well as her body, she slowly allowed her body to decide how to breathe. Her muscles ached and cried as they opened and softened. Sarah’s shoulders relaxed, her lips settled, and her jawline lightened. Calmness came with a gentle smile. Sarah began releasing the clutter that her body no longer needed. She began to sense her body’s inner rhythms tasting inner peace and wellness. She became quieter with herself and with others. The headaches and neck pain began to change, occurring only for brief and intermittent periods. Sarah began appreciating that her body needed to feel alive, understanding that this would allow her to stay within herself and yet be present in her relationships. Rebirthing is a simple and powerful technique. It does not require a trip to Montana to be successful, but it is necessary to create a time and place to practice. Breathwork can be practiced for short or long periods, individually or in groups, facilitated by a therapist or integrated into a healing touch therapy session. One is never too young or too old to gain benefits from this ancient technique. By: J. Ragani Buegel, L.Ac. Who hasn’t experienced feelings of stiffness, pain, or stress in the back, shoulders, or neck? And what about those achy tension feelings that are difficult to chase away? If you’re like most people on this planet, you have had the experience of mild or even moderate neck and/or shoulder tension as a result of stress. Oriental Medicine states that this condition results from stagnation, or lack of free flow, within the muscles due to overuse, tension, strain, or injury (such as whiplash). Circulation to the muscles is thereby impeded and pain, stiffness, and spasms can arise. Fortunately, Oriental Medicine also brings to us a marvelous technique called Gua Sha, which can be used to remove the stagnation lying in the muscles and to restore free flow to the area. What is Gua Sha? This technique involves the process of dragging a device over the muscles (a pleasant sensation for most people) to bring this stagnation – known as Sha—to the surface. One of the easiest devices to use for Gua Sha is a spoon. Yes, a Chinese soup spoon. When this Sha then surfaces from the muscle to the level of the skin, you will be able to visibly see it (and it feels a bit pebbly too, like sand). Because the skin is a wonderful excretory organ (remember anatomy?), it then eliminates this Sha on its own. Drinking plenty of water is recommended to help with this process. The interesting thing about Gua Sha: if there is no “Sha” in the muscles, there is nothing visible on the skin after it is performed. But if Sha is present, you will visibly see results. So why not come and find out if Sha is preventing your body from functioning at an optimal level? A bit of advice: if you are reading about Gua Sha for the first time, do not try this on your own at home. Come in and learn the proper techniques (as well as contraindications, etc.) in our workshop. Here, you will learn how/why Gua Sha works, and you’ll get to experience it first hand. Bring a friend or spouse and you can work on each other in the workshop. Then feel free to use it for your family and friends. If you are a professional body therapist, you may also find this technique to be useful for your clients. Either way, you won’t want to miss the next opportunity to put your soup spoon to good use. Cleansing the Body, Mind and Spirit By: Susan Bliffert, OTR, CMT I have worked in health care over the past 20
years as an Occupational Therapist, Massage Therapist, and "healer". A general observation that I have made over the years is that many health challenges seem to be intertwined with life’s daily stresses, tension in relationships, and worries about jobs or money. So what is the missing link? And what is it that everyone wants more of when they come to our door? It is energy, both physical and mental. Energy comes from the life force within us of "chi" or "prana". This depends upon sunlight, clean air, pure water, good food, and sleep. To keep the life force flowing freely throughout the body we need exercise, cleansing naturally with nature, and ways to clear emotions. The answer is really quite simple but not always easy to implement. Paying attention to what we feel within ourselves is vital to health. The understanding of who we are, and what we are feeling and doing in our lives, and then living and acting with this clarity of awareness will help us get well, as well as keep us well. This consists of finding ways of cleansing the body, the mind, and the spirit. For example, one might begin cleansing the body with a gentle colon cleanse using proper foods and herbs to eliminate what no longer serves us. The process of physically cleansing will also help to cleanse old emotional patterns. As we may have been stuck in our bodies, we also may have been stuck in thought patterns. Energetically, different organs in the body relate to different emotions such as anger can over-stress the liver, fear can over work the kidneys, and excessive sadness can put undo pressure on the heart. Food both creates your body and serves as your fuel. Daily movement is important to loosen muscles and joints, as is regular exercise to stimulate deep breathing, circulation, and sweating. Core movement and self-awareness therapies such as yoga, tai chi, and pilates, deepen one’s ability to listen to that part of us that has the answers for us. Bodywork, such as cranio-sacral therapy, myofascial release, massage, aromatherapy, energy work, chiropractic, and acupuncture can all enhance and facilitate the body’s corrections to bring health. Hands-on therapies also help one become more aware of what one’s needs are both inside and out. Harmony between your inner direction and outward action will bring you happiness. Let your needs surface, and you will become aware of your real goals, immediate and long-range. You will then be able to create new plans for your health and life and give birth to your new self. The extraordinary increase in chronic disease leads us to become more aware of the imbalances in our everyday habits that stress our systems and lead to many symptoms and illnesses. Imbalances such as dietary abuse; environmental and food pollutants; inadequate exercise, causing waste buildup; and chronic mental and emotional stresses, affect our daily health. Research has proven connections to these imbalances to chronic disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart/vascular disease, and even cancer. If these imbalances are corrected early, it is possible that these chronic conditions can be prevented. Experience as you watch your own healing. Take a deep belly breath and relax to see what is happening within you and to sense what you still need for your own treatment/healing. Breathing shallowly serves to insulate your mind from feelings or pain; just taking a few deep breaths allows frustrations, tension, and emotions to surface and you feel better for it, more relaxed with clearer body and mind. A continuous process of cleansing, building, and creativity will bring you clarity and strength, so that you can clear out all that is in the way of becoming self-realized, aware of your true nature. This means becoming conscious of who you are, what you are doing here, and doing it – there is nothing else, nowhere else – only here and now. Remember, illness often means that a turning point in your life is at hand. Embrace its message and make the necessary changes to heal yourself. Everyday – breathe for life and become more of who you are today! |
What
is Myofascial Release?
By: Michele Rozansky, PT Traditional rehabilitation therapies treat pain symptoms by addressing muscle, bone, and/or joint problems. Historically, people have repeatedly returned for therapy, having received only temporary pain relief from traditional treatment methods. It has become obvious from the millions of dollars spent annually that there are several missing pieces within the traditional treatment approach. Myofascial Release is one of those pieces. Myofascial Release or MFR (myo refers to muscle and fascia is our connective tissue) addresses the connective tissue system which literally “houses” every physiological system within the body. Fascia holds everything (muscle, bone, blood vessels, our immune and lymphatic systems) together, as fruit sits suspended in jello. It is a 3-dimensional spider web of soft tissue running from head to toe and from superficial (just below skin) to very deep (housing our spinal cord and brain). Fascia is a combination of very dense, thick, strong structures complemented by soft, elastic materials. It primarily functions to protect us, by absorbing shock, and allowing structures to glide and move freely. If the body senses weakness from repetitive stress, postural imbalances, or traumatic injury, it sends signals to mobilize and recruit the strong and dense fascial configuration to strengthen and support the body. As the connective tissue compensates by thickening, the underlying structures such as the blood vessels, nerves, and muscle fibers, are challenged to work harder, eventually leading to pain. MFR is an uniquely gentle form of hands-on stretching that has profound effects upon the body’s tissues. A trained therapist will “read” and “ follow” the body’s inherent healing mechanism allowing the tissues to once again properly align. As the muscles return “home” to their original positions, ease of movement and exercise will be welcome. MFR will assist a person in learning how to adjust and best care for the body as constant stresses of life present themselves. MFR is an important piece of the pain puzzle. The nature of this technique is individual, addressing each unique web. No protocols or recipes for MFR treatment exist, since it requires the therapist to have extensive training and developed intuition. We at Orlanu believe that everyone deserves to re-member their natural ability to heal and that MFR can help guide one to wellness. By: Susan Bliffert, OTR, CMT Strong bones are essential at every stage to maintain
an active quality of life. Weight-bearing exercise, good hormonal balance,
sound nutrition, and genetic factors all contribute to normal healthy
bone tissue. So what are the risk factors that contribute The risk of fracture with low bone mass has become a global problem as the world’s population is living longer. A woman reaches her peak bone mass by the age of 35. The bone density measurement at this age is an indication of how well the bones will age throughout menopause. The good news is that maintaining and supporting your bone health can prevent osteoporosis. The three most important factors in preventing osteoporosis are 1) adequate calcium absorption, 2) hormonal balance, and 3) an effective weight-bearing program. 1) Calcium is vital for brain function, blood clotting, and muscle contraction. So calcium is not just for the bones. As a matter of fact, when calcium levels are not adequately circulating throughout the body, special hormones and glands will respond immediately by withdrawing out of the bones what is needed. Many people think that just getting enough calcium in the body is enough to maintain good bone health. More importantly is the absorption of the calcium. The calcium that is consumed must be easily digested and absorbed by the body or it will be excreted in the urine. It is critical to eliminate the following: high protein, salt, and acid-residue foods. Things to avoid are foods such as cow’s milk, fizzy drinks, processed or canned meats, processed cheeses, and packaged pastries and cakes, antacids, wheat and dairy products. These foods highly interfere with the absorption of calcium. Add canned sardines, salmon, almonds, tofu (processed with calcium salts), and bok choy. Supplement with the following if you are not getting what you need from food and your multiple-vitamin: calcium (1500mg) in the form of microcrystalline hydroxyapatite concentrate or citrate, magnesium (600-750mg), Vitamin D (400-600IU), Vitamin C (500-3000mg), and ipriflavone (600mg). 2) Hormonal balance, in particular estrogen, progesterone, and parathyroid hormones are all necessary for efficient bone production. Ask your doctor about these levels if you have a history or other cause of concern. 3) Weight-bearing and strength in the muscles enough to push against gravity and support the body’s weight are necessary to exert enough force on the bones to increase bone mass. Upper extremity strength is particularly important for women. Yoga and gentle resistive exercise are excellent choices to maintain bone integrity. Treat your bones holistically. Eat a healthy alkalizing diet, take appropriate supplements, and engage in at least a three day a week weight-bearing program of 20 minutes at a time to assure good bone health. Bone, which is a living tissue, can be rebuilt and it is never too late! Another Way to Feel Your Aliveness! By: Michele Rozansky, PT I love to create new ways for my body to feel
good, especially when I have a hectic and long day ahead of me. Usually
by mid-day and late afternoon... So-this technique can be done anywhere and in any position. The easiest way to begin practicing is while standing. Assume a comfortable stance with feet positioned, hip-distance apart. Feel your feet contact the floor (toes to heels), soften knees and hips, pull belly in, pull shoulder blades toward each other and down toward your hips, position head over shoulders. Imagine a long and tall spine. Push into the floor with your feet and reach towards the sky with the top of your head. Lastly, imagine your arms growing longer and longer, and allow them to reach outward. As you breathe into your lower ribs, allow your body to continue reaching and elongating. You may feel your body begin to move and unwind-much like cats do. Continue to breathe and stretch, and become aware of tension in certain places. Now comes the good part… Instead of breathing "into" the tension and waiting for it to subside (which is one beneficial option), allow your body to feel the tension and let the tension grow. Breathe and let your body feel the stiffness until it subsides. Don’t force, or push, or create more tension than the body already has. When the tension releases, continue with your stretch until you notice tension in another spot. Allow 2-3 "releases" before stopping. As you become proficient in reading your body’s signals, you will become adept at this technique while sitting, lying down, and in any position. This technique only takes a minute or two. You’ll feel energized and ready to enjoy more of your day. Yoga...Looking at the New Year! By: Susan Bliffert, OTR, CMT A new dawn of a New Year, the time of year to
contemplate what one has accomplished during the past year as well as
look at what one will strive for in the new year. Yoga has been with us for millenniums proving its efficacy toward health and well-being. The practice of yoga not only brings the mind, body and emotions under control – it helps one find love, truth, and spirit in ourselves as well as in everything that one does. As yoga builds stability and flexibility in our bodies, it integrates this innate strength in our relationships and work – deepening our commitment to persons, situations, and places. This stability helps one become open-hearted, focused and receptive to change. Deepening of the physical postures (asanas) is only one facet of a yoga session – breathing and meditation techniques are also included. Rhythm, balance, calmness are by-products of bringing command to the body – disciplining our every movement and thought. Yoga has been scientifically proven effective for many stress-based illnesses attributed to smoking, obesity, anxiety, and high blood pressure. Chronic ailments like asthma, arthritis, heart disease, and degenerative diseases can all be improved or even cured by yoga. As Orlanu Therapies approaches the New Year we look back at our “beginning” and at how we’ve grown and changed. As we breathe, stretch, and become more flexible in our “bodies” we have exciting news for the future! Our expanded new newsletter look is part of that change. We are renewing our personal commitment to communicate with our supporters and readers quarterly. With this issue look for a health tip, health recipe, product information, upcoming classes, and any new additions to our services. Please take the time to read about the “Minister of Healing Program” being offered at Orlanu Therapies. These weekend intensives are open to anyone interested in expanding their own personal or professional knowledge of hands-on energy healing. As we move forward into the year 2001 we do so in “wholeness” - always striving for truth, love, and peace in all that we do-especially as we stretch! Understanding the Lessons of Chronic Pain By: Susan Bliffert, OTR, CMT "Orlanu’s dedicated
staff—trained to deal holistically with the body, mind and spirit—made
a tremendous difference in my recovery from a severe neck injury." "I am grateful for the healing
hands at Orlanu Therapies. They have been a life-changing blessing to
me. I feel like a whole person now, and know I’ll continue to improve."
Pain is as individual and complex as each of us. But I do believe pain can be an extraordinary teacher, insisting that we don’t neglect any facets of our being. What else has the power to quite literally stop us in our tracks? Sometimes, if the pain is severe enough we have no choice but to stay home from work, say "no" to friends, stop eating or pray to feel better. Initially, we may visit a variety of practitioners or try one remedy after another, hoping that the solution to our malady will be fast, quick and easy—without too much time and trouble on our part. Often, when we take this course of action we end up chasing symptoms, not realizing the causes of our discomfort, and so they continue. I have come to understand that in our innate wisdom we have all the answers, but we fail to listen to our bodies. Granted, sometimes we can benefit from the help of others. Yet by asking ourselves a few basic questions on a daily basis, we can stop pain. Did I eat properly today? Did I exercise and pay attention to my breathing? Did I get enough sleep? Did I drink enough pure, clean water? Did I stand up for my truth assertively? Did I do something nice for someone else today? These are all steps that help us take an active role in our healing. A lot of pain and stress can be prevented if, daily, we contemplate what we are doing to our bodies and what our bodies need. For example, when we feel congested our body may begin to cleanse itself by manifesting as a cold. If we suppress the cleansing with cold medications, the toxins will get stored. Later, we may get the flu when the toxins once again want to clear. If we suppress this with drugs, the body will store these poisons too. The body will continue to try to cleanse, so we may get allergies, a cough or hay fever. If we suppress these, we may develop asthma or another chronic condition. If we are not aware of this process we may not notice the manifestation into fatigue, lassitude or unclear thinking. More coffee may be a stimulant, but what we really need is time to nap to continue the cleansing. This same process occurs on the emotional and spiritual levels as well. It is important to become aware of signs of distress without denying them, blocking them or covering them up. Releasing congestion on these levels will also minimize long term distress. So, if chronic pain has gotten the best of you, think twice about how you are caring for your mind, body and spirit. Cleanse the body of toxins with proper foods, water, breathing, exercise and body work. Nourish the emotions by “letting go” of past traumas, grief and fear. Find peace by getting in touch with your spirit. Acknowledging the needs of your total being may allow the pain to subside or even resolve. Some of the reasons for pain may be greater than what we can see. There are times when it is helpful to reach out to the guiding hands of someone who specializes in tuning into the mind, body and spirit. Choose to feel good, to love and nurture yourself and find many reasons to live. Pain will always be part of the human experience, but there are reasons behind it. Let’s all learn from them. A Look into our Mirror By: Michele Rozansky, PT Why do some people heal from catastrophic traumas, while others do not? Why do some people suffer with severe pain from seemingly “minor” accidents? Why do the same people seem to get hurt repeatedly? Most people who come to Orlanu Therapies are seeking personal answers to these same questions. They have tried numerous modes of treatment – medications, nutritionists, books, physicians, surgery – often with little satisfaction. These individual treatment approaches, by themselves, can often provide quick, but temporary help. During the past several years, I have come to understand several beliefs that commonly impede a patient’s recovery: 1) Inability to have balance in their life –
misunderstanding of how to care for themselves There are also obstacles in our medical community; I continually hear medical providers label these patients with psychosomatic diagnoses, providing very limiting help. A new branch of medicine, called Psychoneuroimmunology, is beginning to understand how our thoughts and beliefs influence our body’s responses to everyday experiences. Consider the body as a mirror, the physical symptoms may be reflections of feelings. This insight offers important information necessary for “complete” healing. I’ll give you an example: If someone believes that taking a “rest” break during the day is a waste of time, and totally unproductive, and chooses to work non-stop, then their body will be constantly stressed and out of balance. Organ systems will lack time to recover, restorative sleep will be shortened and normal rhythms will be interrupted – the body will be on “overload”. Physiological systems will become inefficient and the immune system will be compromised. In this state, the risk of re-injury and illness is much more likely. We all have developed creative ways of “staying away” from uncomfortable feelings and sensations that could be supporting our pain patterns. We, as therapists, can provide a variety of treatment approaches to accompany you into the mirror. If you’re ready to peek, you’ll find an amazing world of self-understanding. Uncovering these hidden clues in your body, allow you to look at them and have the opportunity to change them. Our journey of healing is an amazing trip of personal re-discovery. At Orlanu Therapies, it is our privilege to travel with you. A Balancing Act Craniosacral Treatment Helps our Bodies Adjust By: Susan Bliffert, OTR, CMT The first issue of this newsletter posed the proverbial question, "Is Anybody Listening"? I spoke about the need for each of us to take time to listen to what our wise bodies are saying, especially when we are brought face to face with physical, emotional or spiritual stress. Easy words to write, harder to accomplish. I’m living proof of that. The balancing act has taken its toll on me. Being a wife, mother of three teenagers and business owner is tough enough. Then I add to the mix: cooking only with fresh ingredients (the kind that doesn’t come from a can, box or drive-through window), fund- raising for a variety of causes, juggling my family’s social calendar, managing a household ? you get the picture. Your life is probably just as "full" as mine. A few months ago a small voice inside said: "stop". I didn’t listen. It grew louder: "Stop." I heard it but didn’t heed the call. "STOP, STOP, STOP," it shouted. So I did. I decided to take a break from my routine and go to a week-long program that was intended just for me—not to make me a better mother or therapist, but just to know me better and to enhance my own body’s natural healing process. Attending the Upledger Institute’s Therapist’s Rejuvenation Program in Florida proved to be a deeply transforming time for my body, emotions and spirit. It was through this Institute that I originally received cranio-sacral training (CST), one of the hands-on modalities used daily at Orlanu. My return to the Institute confirmed the belief that CST is one of the most profound methods for assisting the body’s self-correcting mechanisms. Fluid Motion Creates Health These areas are cleansed by fluids, which also transport essential nutrients to every cell in our bodies. Fluid motion creates health. Knowing this makes it easy to understand how and why CST can benefit the body: from boosting the immune system, to resisting disease and alleviating specific medical conditions. Many people suffering from chronic pain in the head, neck or back find relief with CST. CST also addresses stress-related dysfunctions
such as insomnia, fatigue, headaches, poor digestion, anxiety and temporo
mandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). Its calming and rejuvenating influences
can often offset the chronic deterioration we attribute to aging. It is interesting to note that the non-invasive treatment approach and light touch of CST makes it safe for children, infants and newborns facing early traumas. Release of restrictions in this system can prevent future difficulties such as learning disabilities or hyperactivity. The cranio-sacral system is at the "core" of our beings, and CST can act as an assistant in self-correcting, allowing our own body to use its wisdom to take care of itself—if we take time to listen and release. I returned from my intensive week at the Institute feeling lighter, clearer, breathing more deeply and moving with a more assured sense of love and compassion for myself. Self-discovery is an amazing journey, isn’t it?! Become an Exercise "Mutt" By: Michele Rozansky, PT As a physical therapist "exercise" is supposed to be my middle name; however, to be truthful I’ve never really enjoyed it – until recently. During the past several years my training has led me into extensive study of how muscles develop, strengthen and coordinate with each other in order to allow for easy, healthy and efficient motion. I always make it a point to share with my patients the latest thinking in the exercise world. Some people love the regimes, others fizzle out with their exercise routines. Now I know why. Let me start by explaining a little about myself. My back has always been fairly weak. During the past six years, I have had three serious incidences with it giving out, the last of which put me in bed for an entire Memorial Day Weekend. Common sense and experience told me that I needed to strengthen my back through work-outs, but I am not an "athletically gifted" person, and whenever I attempted a particular exercise program I gave it up within weeks, days or even hours. Like many people, I tried a vast array of aerobic and strength training programs – none of them felt right or comfortable. So I compensated by becoming very careful with body mechanics, but as my body has told me through my back-breaking episodes, this wasn’t enough. After my weekend in bed, I began physical therapy twice a week. It was easy to help my muscles return to their "home positions". The difficult task was getting them to stay put. Being aware of body mechanics wasn’t going to prevent me from re-injury, especially with the challenging work that I do. My therapist started teaching me floor and equipment exercises based on the Pilates Method, a body-mind approach using the right muscles for total body conditioning. No other work-out addressed by spinal muscles as aggressively as this did. I was actually strengthening my center, and when I finished a routine, I sat taller and walked taller with ease. My body loved how the exercises felt and I was beginning to find a program that "fit" for me. There was just one drawback. Most of the Pilates work I learned required the machines, so my practice was limited to visiting the therapists’ office. I continued on my own to study other approaches and began experimenting and blending different ideas. This is when it all started to come together for me. In essence, I created an exercise program that was comfortable and made me feel good enough to follow-through with on a consistent basis. Building on Your Core If something in your exercise routine doesn’t feel right, or if you’ve "tried them all" and haven’t been able to stick with a program, now may be a good time to re-evaluate. Perhaps you simply haven’t found your custom "fit". I have become an exercise "mutt" – learning to be proficient at customizing exercise programs for my patients. Just as different people respond better to specific modes of meditation, nutritional work and hands-on therapy, our bodies beg for an exercise program that fits. Exercise doesn’t have to be a tough or painful experience. When designed to meet your specific body needs it can be a fun and amazingly empowering process – giving you a stronger balance for a happier, healthier life.
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Orlanu Therapies, SC
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