by Lori Leitzel Rice, LMT, CST-D 

      My feet don’t bend in the morning. They burn as they hit the floor. I can’t do stairs first thing. I’m groggy, the night’s sleep was less than satisfying. Lying on my right side caused my hand to throb and the rest of my arm to go numb. If I turn over, my neck spasms.

     Something hurts every day, to varying degrees. I refer to it affectionately as “The Roving Pain Gnome” (TRPG). TRPG might decide to chew on a knee, or both, or a hip, neck, the lining of my lungs, an elbow, the second knuckle of my right pinkie. Pain comes in all colors and flavors, sharp, dull, stabbing, burning or stinging. Treatment options offer a smorgasbord of experimentation: Elavil, Plaquenil, Prednisone, NSAIDs, opioids, Lyrica, muscle relaxants, Cannabis, whisky, far-infrared heat, meditation, massage, chiropractic, CranioSacral Therapy, acupuncture, yoga, swimming, herbal remedies, supplements, fasting, dietary changes, homeopathy, psychotherapy and rest.

 

by Tami Goldstein, WLMT, CST   

 

      Autism spectrum disorder is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. Its presentation includes restricted repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities. These issues cause significant impairment in social, occupational, and other areas of functioning.

     My daughter, Heather was diagnosed around age 13 with autism. She was given a bleak prognosis that included a recommendation to institutionalize her. No traditional pharmaceutical supports were working and Heather’s neurosurgeon was recommending brain surgery to “poke around her brain,” but he advised it was highly unlikely there was anything they could do to control the 40 seizures a day. I poured my heart out to Heather’s occupational therapist who was trained in and recommended Upledger - CranioSacral Therapy.

 

Accessing the deeper Levels of the Breath

The third Dharma talk focuses on the ancient idea of Pranayama practice, its use and application in modern day life, and how it can take us much deeper into the subtleties of our breath. Additionally, we want to experience how pranic breathing acts on our body and the mind and prepares us for mindfulness and meditation practice.