Categories
Yoga

The Facial Web is connected most directly with the nervous system.  It also impacts the Deep Visceral Body (where things are stored), the Emotional Body, and the Pain Modulation Pathways.  Secondarily, it impacts the other bodies (immune system, mental body, etc.)

– Bo Forbes, Psy.D., E-RYT500

Learning something new everyday… More note-taking at a workshop given by Bo Forbes, knowledge-based “erudite” instructor spoken highly by Judith – no wonder she’s won Judith’s endorsement:

  • The Facial Web is sentient and intelligent.
  •  It connects every cell in the body.
  •  Connective tissue includes the blood and blood cells (really?)
  • It has 10 times more never endings than muscle and so is connected to the nervous system. (…)
  • Perhaps more important than muscle. (perhaps…)
  • Neuro-fascial re-integration is now going to be more important form of body-work than neuro-muscular integration. (!?)
  • Fascial resilience influences emotional resilience. (yes)
  • Most injuries occur when connective tissue is stretched faster than it can respond. The less it is hydrated, the less elastic response it has. (let’s be mindful in our movement…intention – focus – imagination:)

 

 

 

Categories
Yoga

The Psoas…”Epitome of the Core”

It’s all in the PSOAS, the center of gravity; source of energy.

Do we need to open it? Strengthen it?  Stretch it & lengthen it?

Ah… I did not see that:  “build a relationship with it with intention.”  I get it now; that’s it.

It’s it:)

One of my teachers I certified with does not allow video into her workshops but she is well published enough so by reading her books – you can self-teach to a certain point through repeated practice… and at workshops, Judith is very open about updating her material. As an expert, she knows anatomy but is also open to evolving and sharing her latest discoveries and findings …  Her guest teacher, Roger Cole, PhD gave scientific and medical evidence to what we knew already by embodied practice … And perhaps because of my latest exposure to TRE, I also found this to be very illuminating.   This yogi sheds this “ah- haah” light on how our internal organs and muscles are inter-related through fascia encasing and the connective tissues – My intention would be to assist with the release of chronic tension build up over the years… to feel light and free:) like a child again – with tender, mindful self-care.

muscle tightness = muscle weakness

Drawing also from Bo Forbes studies, “anti-aging” would then mean keeping your connective tissues and joints, supple and flexible to retain (or increase) your range of motions  … yoga therapeutics to retain ” buoyancy”.  “Buoyancy”…the bounce…

Feeling the tight muscles? Feeling the knots in your gut?  Feeling the neck and the shoulder areas hardening and freezing?  Feeling the tendons, bones and joints as creaky and brittle? Yoga is the answer to youthfulness.  Set an intention. Imagine; even pretend.  Let you inner child shine through again.

 

 

Categories
Beautiful People Healthy Activities

Tension Release Exercises (TRE)

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Thanks to a beautiful soul of a friend, checked out TRE taught by Nkem Ndefo, certified TRE trainer from LA. Having had another yoga friend talk about a yoga instructor who incorporates this technique into her yoga teaching, I found this workshop to be very interesting. I have a tendency to compare all forms of exercise to yoga and so here I was analyzing each exercise vis-a-vis yoga… yet again – prisoner of my own habits lol…

All the exercise presented,  were in my mind, essentially series of extracted yogic poses; and the breathing technique was, to me,  very familiar as one of many pranayama techniques available in yoga traditions.  I am always amazed by the wisdom passed down from our fore-bearers…here presented as modern medicine breakthrough. For those needing modern medicine evidence based theory to be convinced, this is developed by a doctor with yes, MD behind his name – so … there’s that validation if not for your own experience in this experiment.

I can see how TRE appeals to many for it’s very Western presentation.  The very practically minded is easily sold on the idea as this method gets the job done fast for PTDS and to lesser degree any level of stress/tension.

1.  again, it’s practical and efficient;

2. appears to be an Effective fix;

3.  Easy and simple;  anyone can do it.

4.  Medical not spiritual; not Eastern and foreign or exotic.

5.  No stories nor tales; just gets the job done without the personal narrative or profound transformation – none required.

There’s no poetry, mystery/mysticism or alchemy … no emotions nor artistry… Rather, just like going to the hospital for a procedure, as a medical self-care exercise, it appears to be effective do at home or any place (BR at workplace was mentioned) technique.  To me, if there’s relief to the suffering, it’s all good. That’s what matters – to put an end to suffering and misery of any kind. Brings back the joy in life.

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Releasing the jaw?  Yes, that’s Lion’s pose:)  None of the emotional, mindful or spiritual stuff or the abstracts to distract you if you want just very no-non-sense way of releasing tension.  We are lucky but some just can’t afford the more gradual healing process… Very straight forward, efficient, simple and accessible.  While the verdict is still out, most important to many, you get the relief you need in a jiffy like a car getting a tuneup.  It’s all about the body and our nervous system… Very Western and perfect for someone looking for a relatively simple and efficient self-care method. Nkem is knowledgeable and a lovely teacher – her background as a RN and Midwife gives her the great range of experience to bring this technique to so many people in need. I was thrilled to get to experience the tremors that I had been so curious about … human body is truly something to marvel at!  To some who have been repressing so much tension and holds that’s gotten into tight knots, the release is uncontrollable – and because of it, some break into giggles and laughs… and let me tell you, nothing is more of a release than laughter:)  Anything pent up will release with laughter… so that’s why I try to find comedy in any situation.

Personally, I cannot do TRE alone for there’s so much joy to be had from yoga practice  – I just love wisdom that’s been passed down from the ancient times and I love the beauty of it…and I am especially in love with its poetry ( just the naming of the poses is a poetry in motion –  “from child’s pose into a puppy pose then into down dog, up dog, Chaturanga Dandasana into cobra… I mean it’s like a fun game – a rhythm of incarnations – okay, I admit sometimes it’s not quite poetic when I lack strength and fall in my face 🙁 To me, incorporated into a yoga practice, TRE would be the perfect prescription for addressing stubborn tension and stress in our bodies while allowing our mind to come to that still-point through yoga’s meditative practice.  With a little artistry and creativity, TRE’s “science” based method, interwoven into the “art” and “spiritual” aspect of yoga.. that would be the melding of the best of two worlds.  Kind of like carefully folding the foamy meringue (another technique)  into creamy nectar-like batter base (yoga:)  to make the best “angel” cake! “Bundt” to feel so light:)

I respect any form of healing modalities that give people relief – to cite some examples: Reiki; Accupuncture; Hypnotherapy; Harmonic Resonance Therapy; Accupressure; Hoʻoponopono; Somatic; Ayurvedic medicine … & the list goes on  …We have so many tools available to us but yoga… to me is all encompassing and powerful especially combined with any of the alternatives (& did you notice?  Thanks to Mari-sensei, Aromatherapy is my love:)

We can liberate ourselves from the struggles and suffering – in body, mind and spirit.  I embrace all those in the healing profession.  Thank you for a very educational workshop Nkem!  Highly recommended:)

Should you be in LA and interested in TRE from a qualified teacher, contact

Nkem Ndefo, RN, CNM

Level 2 TRE Practioner

nkem@trelosangles.com