Holistic Health Experts Give Local Lecture

On Wednesday, June 2nd, three different healthcare practitioners, all members of the organization Health and Wellness Professionals Network or HWPN (www.hwpn.org), met at the Bank of American Building on Elm Street to discuss holistic ways to heal pain.

Susan Lieberman, Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu Practitioner, David Stretanski, Certified Chi Walking/Running and Theresa Pettersen-Chu, Certified Rubenfeld Synergist, shared ways on helping understand and heal everyday or chronic aches and pains.

The meeting began with the group sharing their names and their professions.  Attendees ranged from a health and wellness product distributor to a Life Coach. Risa Olinsky (http://www.risaolinsky.com), founder of HWPN and a Licensed Certified Wellness Coach, introduced the panelists. 

Lieberman, who revealed she had worked as an R.N. for years, began by talking about stress and the mind and body connection. "It starts with an emotion,' said Lieberman. "Sometimes that emotion gets stuck.  You may not feel comfortable feeling that emotion at that time. The 'stuck' emotion can manifest into physical pain, such as a stiff neck or a headache."  She also acknowledged that while this may sound a bit "out there", she pointed out that hospitals, such as Overlook, are now welcoming Jin Shin Jyutsu Practitioners.

Everyone seemed surprised when we were asked to stand up and hold hands. Lieberman had bought a special guest, a doll she had purchased on ebay called The Rosie Doll. When you held Rosie's hand, she sang the children's song "Ring Around the Rosie."  As we all held hands, the doll began to sing the song.  The moment someone let go of their neighbor's hand, the doll stopped singing. "She knows that the energy stopped flowing," said Lieberman, who later pointed out that the doll had heat and energy sensors on her hand.

Lieberman explained that the intention of Jin Shin Jyutsu (http://www.jsjinc.net) is to harmonize the body and release tension through gentle hand movements along the body's energy pathways. During a session, the client lays fully clothed on a massage table.  Lieberman uses her hands to lightly touch the person's energy locks. "This is very experiential," admitted Lieberman, who has been practicing the modality since 2003.

David Stretanski (http://www.eChiFitness.com) spoke about T'ai Chi's approach to motion. "T'ai Chi is all about alignment and balance. Think of a garden hose.  If there is a kink in the hose, the water will not flow."  He demonstrated the analogy by having the attendees slump down in their chairs.  "How do you feel?  Do you feel bright and alert or tired?"  He then invited the guests to sit up straight. Everyone agreed they felt much better.  He also shared tips on ways to use gravity, a natural force, to ones advantage, such as hitting a golf ball with the entire body, especially the core.

Stretanski, who discovered ChiRunning 4 ½ years ago, admitted he has run over 50 miles at one time without injury. He quit his day job in order to live his passion. "Once I discovered this method, I wanted to share it with everyone."

Pettersen-Chu (http://comehometoyourself.com/index.htm) explained that the Rubenfeld Synergy Method (http://www.rubenfeldsynergy.com) is a way to listen to ones body and use the information to heal oneself. "Our bodies record our life's experiences in our cells, our muscles and our memories. Stress, whether it be emotional, physical or mental, shows up as aches and pains."  According to Pettersen-Chu, if we are carrying or shouldering a lot of responsibilities, one may begin to feel weighed down and begin to experience backaches or shoulder pain. 

One way that the Rubenfeld Synergy Method differs from other therapies is that the practitioner uses gentle hand touch combined with talk. The client will lay fully clothed on a massage table.  Pettersen-Chu will begin by gently touching the client and asking them what they feel.  She guided the attendees in an exercise to demonstrate what may happen in a session. Everyone was asked to close their eyes and think of a place in their body where they hold stress or feel pain.  She suggested placing their hands on that area.  "Instead of being judgmental, be curious.  Ask yourself what does this pain feel like.  Does it have a color?  Is it hard or soft?  What is it trying to tell me?" 

Pettersen-Chu reminded the attendees that during this process, emotions might come up.  "People may start to cry," she said.

After the exercise, Pettersen-Chu invited the guests to share what they experienced.  One person shared they felt pain in their upper back and felt they needed to trust more.  "I need to trust and allow business opportunities to unfold instead of trying to figure out what will happen next," he shared.

At the close of the meeting, all the attendees said they felt much more relaxed.  Olinksy reminded the group that HWPN takes a break for the summer.  "Meetings will resume in September!"