Welcome to Wellness One Day Intensive:Restoring Balance

Back by popular demand, we are having our second annual NET retreat May 17th! Make sure to RSVP now.

I originally got the inspiration for this event while in Myrtle Beach for a seminar. I was running on the beach, thinking of how grateful I was to be able to come to a place free of judgement, be surrounded by like-minded, health-conscious individuals, and get my head cleared and centered through lots of NET. Over the years, the practitioners that I have attended these seminars with have become some of my dearest friends. We share our struggles, our triumphs, and, at seminars, our exercise and trips to health food stores.  I thought, "How great would it be if I could recreate this experience for my patients!?"  And then, it hit me: I had to make it happen!  So here we are.

TA DA!!!

Saturday, May 17th, from 8am-5:00pm, we have planned the "Welcome to Wellness One Day Intensive."

This day is designed to help you get centered, focused, and figure out not only WHAT you want from life, but how to GET it!  We're going to set goals and then release the unconscious blocks standing in the way, all in a non-judgemental, loving environment. You may even find a new friend!  I've hand-picked some of my favorite Holistic practitioners to make this day possible.  Every aspect of true health will be represented. You'll have the chance to express yourself, form relationships, exercise your body and mind, and eat nutritious, whole foods in a restful environment. If you're looking for a way to press the reset button, or even a way to take yourself to the next level, this is your opportunity. Attendance is limited to 10 participants, so this is sure to be an intimate group and a wonderful experience.

Welcome to Wellness One Day Intensive Schedule

8am Welcome Meditation

8:30-9:30 Yoga with Allison Rich of Full Circle Yoga

9:30-10 Breakfast Smoothie Demo (Breakfast included!)

10-10:30 Focus Meditation: "What do you WANT?"

10:30-12 Discussion/Goal Setting, Private NET with Dr. Redmond and Dr. Gregory

12-12:30 Invigorating Lunch

12:30-1 Mindfulness Walking Meditation/ Free time

1-4:30pm Vision Board Workshop: Making Yours Dreams Reality, Chair Massage with Tammie Starnes, Private NET with Dr. Redmond and Dr. Gregory

4:30-5 Closing Meditation 

Due to the intense nature of this retreat, all participants MUST be under consistent care of a Chiropractor or Acupuncturist for at least one month prior to the event.

To sign up, call 908.300.8800 for more information.

If you are unable to attend but would still like to experience the benefits of a focused NET session, we are now offering 15 minute, half hour, and 1 hour NET Intensives at the Somerville office .  I've been doing these for years at Hoboken Chiropractic and Wellness with great results.  Please call 908.300.8800 for scheduling and rates.

Are you down and out? Or launching into greatness?

As I wind down from a wonderful day of  seeing a select group of magnificent people leave layers of pain behind them, I have to share this brief  "Aha!" moment I had.

At the end of the day, Kitty Ghen, our guest NET practitioner, and I sat down to clear some NECs before she got on the road.  My NEC that surfaced was one relating to a very dark moment I had in chiropractic school.

As one who rarely cried in front of ANYONE, I found myself crying to my parents on the phone.  Sobbing, actually.

"That's it. I'm dropping out. I just can't do this anymore! I don't have what it takes! I just want to die!"  And though these may sound like the words of a bratty, melodramatic teenager, I meant them with every cell of my being.

I was in my second trimester of Chiro school and the stress was getting to me. Despite being an honor student with a science major in college, I was doubting my intelligence, horribly depressed, and overburdened by the stress of finals and the 28 credit course load. Between 8 straight hours of Neuroanatomy, Neurology, Cadaveric Anatomy, Microbiology, Histology, etc. every day, my commitments to student government, my work study position, and the long, dark, bitter cold winter of the Finger Lakes Region of New York, I just couldn't pull myself out of my funk.  As I released that NEC today, though, I was laughing through my tears.

I realized that it was that moment when I decided to seek help. It was that moment that brought me into Mark Fohs office. Mark was the only counselor to be certified in NET at the time.  The Walkers allowed him to learn the chiropractic technique only because he was working at a Chiropractic College. He was then the first counselor to get certified in NET.  That certification paved the way for thousands of counselors, acupuncturists, health coaches, ministers and more, but most significant for me is that it allowed me to not only deal with the stress of school in a revolutionary and amazingly efficient way, but changed the course of my career.

Because of that moment, I am who I am today.

The end of the quote above is, "So keep aiming, and focus."

Often our plan is not THE plan.  But we must keep aiming and stay focused. And listen to that still, small voice within.  The plan will always find you.

Is Neuroemotional Technique a permanent fix?

I am often asked if the results of NET are permanent. The answer is yes, but it needs some explanation.

The Neuroemotional Complex(NEC) (that which is cleared in the Neuroemotional Technique (NET) process) is like a homing device.  It sends out a signal, attracting into your life situations and people that will push you towards re-experiencing previous traumas (repetition compulsion) paving the way for reconciliation of the unresolved traumas in your life. In this way, you unconsciously create scenarios that allow you to play out the same drama over and over in different settings. When we clear the NEC, we eliminate the signal that calls these things into our lives.  We can still consciously choose to engage, but we now have enabled our free will again, thus allowing the situation to resolve peacefully, often with epiphanies that previously eluded us. Sometimes we are aware of these patterns and confounded at their chronic repetition, but other times, it takes a seasoned NET practitioner (or psychoanalyst, therapist, etc) to bring them to our attention.  However, whether we are aware of them or not, it does not alter the power they have over our lives, nor the amazing miracles that occur when they are released.  I have seen patients miraculously manifest cures, resolve quandaries, and make their wildest dreams come true within minutes with the resolution of an NEC... but that doesn't change the fact that sometimes, action needs to be part of the equation. (And sometimes, the NET process was the only action left to take.)

One thing is certain, NET creates permanent, positive change.  What you choose to do with it is up to you.

How to boost your self-esteem! (aka Getting Out of a Funk:101)

Not too long ago, I had fallen into a funk and I decided I needed to take action to pull myself out of it. My self-esteem was suffering.

Don't we all have moments like that?  Sometimes, we feel like we're on top of the world, and the next year/week/day/minute, we feel like sitting in a corner, sucking our thumb, and singing this song:

So I thought I'd compile a list of the things I did to pull myself out of it.  Maybe it will be helpul for you, too!

STEP 1: BE A CRYBABY

I mean it!  You're hurt.  Let it out.  Give yourself permission to feel.  Give that inner child what it wants!  Grab your tissues, your blankie, find a quiet place to be alone, and embrace that pity party!  Then ask yourself why you feel this way.  Keep asking why until you get to what we NET practitioners call the "Lowest Common Denominator."  What is the core of the issue?  If circumstances are not what you would like them to be, ask yourself why it bothers you?  Does it make you feel like a failure?  Does it remind you of something you regret?  Something you want but don't have? Does it make you feel unloved?  What is the story you tell yourself that makes this a bad thing? What does it say about you that's so bad? Keep asking why it bothers you until you find the one thing underlying it all... the one thing that seems like the absolute worst thing about the whole situation... then save that for step 2. This is also a great time to journal about your hurts, whine to a trusted friend (who you've already warned that this is a venting session!!), and blubber like the baby you really want to be.

STEP 2: PUT YOUR BIG GIRL/BOY PANTS ON 

And that requires a big scoop of courage!  Let's face it: Facing inner demons can be scary.  But there's nothing scarier than getting to the end of your life never realizing how fabulous you were or never accomplishing your greatness because you were too scared to look at yourself honestly.  Go within.  Take a look at that piece of yourself that seems so detestable.  Make a list of all the things that make you imperfect.  Embrace it! Then don't stop until you hit step 3.

  

STEP 3: (REALITY) CHECK, PLEASE!

Now it's time to make a list of those things that you love about yourself too.  And start with how brave you were to make that first list... because that's pretty darn impressive. If you need some help, phone a friend or mentor and listen objectively.  You can also tell them what you think is so horrible and get a reality check.  If it's true, you know what you have to work on and start figuring out how to make a change.  But more likely, you're probably harder on yourself than anyone else.  Stop beating yourself up for being imperfect like 100% of your fellow human beings in this world. 

STEP 4: TREAT YOURSELF!

Think of something that brings joy to your heart... And DO IT!  I went dancing, I indulged in some retail therapy, I went for a spa treatment, I took myself out to dinner...  Do things that make you feel like it's a celebration and celebrate YOU!  Make yourself feel special because you are!  I even dressed up for my self-date!  You set the example for how others should treat you, so show the world what you deserve by doing it for yourself!  Listen to music that makes you happy or go for a nice  leisurely walk... if you're like me (and most of the world), slowing down and enjoying your surroundings in our busy, hectic schedules is luxury itself.  In all of these special moments you give yourself, take time, slow down, relish the experience, and celebrate being alive and having the opportunity to enjoy this time with yourself. Do these things with mindfulness. Note every sensation: the taste, feel, smell, and sounds that go with each moment. 

STEP 5: CONNECT WITH YOUR HIGHER POWER 

/VISIT WITH MOTHER NATURE

Take a walk in the woods, on the beach, or even a park nearby...  notice the stars, clouds, leaves, birds...  Pay attention to the scents in the air, the feel of the wind or sun on your face...  Breathe it all in with every cell of your being... and notice what a beautiful world you are an integral part of...  Go to church, pray, meditate... do what you need to do to feel connected to something greater than yourself.  Notice your heart beating, your blood flowing, your aliveness...  This is an exercise in mindfulness.  If you are looking for more information on this topic, try this course and tell Dr. Handlin I sent you.  (She's a fabulous teacher who's compassion and patience knows no bounds.) 

STEP 6: VOLUNTEER 

You can read about my most recent experience here , but the possibilities are endless.  Most importantly, find an opportunity that interests you where you can be hands on and get involved.  Go beyond yourself.  Stretch to the edges of your comfort zone.  See if you can interact with the people you're helping. Soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, and the recent efforts in Staten Island and the Jersey Shore are some suggestions to get you started.  This is such a unique experience for everyone, but it's rare that I find someone who doesn't benefit from this.  A quick online search can also help find a variety of opportunities. 

STEP 7: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Make a gratitude list.  I say this all the time.  Gratitude is a such a healing state to be in.  And don't tell me you have nothing to be grateful for: When a quadriplegic who can't even swallow and lost their entire family in the accident that took their mobility can find things to be grateful for, anyone can.  Even if it's just the face that you woke up today. Or are breathing. Or aren't that quadriplegic.

STEP 8: TAKE ACTION!
The Universe rewards the action step!  So do it!  You've looked at what you don't like about yourself and your life... what are you going to do to change it?  Commit today to make a difference, keep working at it a little every day, and eventually, you'll get there.  There is no true failure but a failure to try.

What are you going to do differently tomorrow?

The Best Thanksgiving Ever (Part 1)

When we dissect the word Thanksgiving, we end up with Thanks and Giving, and in my humble opinion, the ideal Thanksgiving would include both...

And this is where I find myself today... Giving of myself and feeling overwhelmingly thankful.

Today, I drove to Staten Island and volunteered in an attempt to make a rather bleak Thanksgiving for many just a tad bit better.  But the story really began a week ago... or even three weeks ago.

When Sandy hit, like many of us in the area, I had no access to TV... but I was watching news updates on Facebook, listening to reports on the radio, and things seemed bleak.  As I ventured out the morning after the storm to assess the damage at the office (after all, in such a stressful situation, I knew many people would need to get their nervous systems tuned up and I wanted to make sure I'd have a place to do so!) I was in awe.  Huge trees had toppled everywhere across roads, homes, telephone wires... This was so much bigger than I had imagined...  Tears streamed down my face as the I drove, overwhelmed by the circumstances the NY/NJ area had found itself in, and as one who feels better when she's DOING something versus sitting on the sidelines, I ached to be of service somehow. I immediately put my offer out the the Universe... I posted on News Station sites offering help, I called the Emergency hotline in my town offering my services to emergency personnel, I started collecting non-perishables, I called the State Volunteer hotline... And yet I kept finding dead ends or limited response. Sure, when I got in touch with someone, they were grateful for my offer, but no one seemed to want to utilize the help I was offering.

I decided I needed to take a different approach.  I prayed.

And what I determined was that I would be most useful using the gift I'm best at: Treating my patients, who were all living in the same overwhelmingly emotional soup that I was.  After all, I am armed with one of the best tools for addressing stress known to the modern world!

So that's what I did.

But still, it ate away at me... thinking of these people that were cold, homeless, and had lost so much so suddenly on a holiday that's supposed to be about celebrating bounty, prosperity and stuffing ourselves silly.  I was planning my "Annual Thanksgiving for those with nowhere to go" and wishing I could somehow invite all those who've been affected so drastically by the storm...

And then, an interesting turn of events occurred... All but one person canceled their Thanksgiving plans with me...  I was wondering how this would all pan out... That's a lot of cooking for just two people...  I was supposed to go grocery shopping that day... But I went to church, and they mentioned SandyThanksgiving.com.  They were looking for volunteers to help serve food and clean. 

How serendipitous!

I signed up immediately.

As the week went on, I got so many tempting offers from family and friends to join them at their meals... but I am not one to ignore such "coincidences"

And I'm so glad I listened. (Click here to read Part 2)

Savoring the human experience.

As an NET practitioner, I do my best to remain neutral on what I like to call "Spiritual Reality." This is the term I use to describe one's religious or spiritual beliefs.  What one believes tends to be such a personal topic that in the role of practitioner, I have chosen to see none of them as wrong or right.  Who am I to say what the true story is?

However, one commonly accepted spiritual attitude is that we have chosen the path we walk in this life in order to have the human experience.  And for the sake of this post, I am going to assume this is true (despite the MASSIVE assumption I make to go there) so I hope you bear with me.

This particular reality is based on the premise that as souls, energy, heavenly beings, or whatever form we are in before we enter this world, we lower our vibration to enter the physical world in order to have the HUMAN experience.  In this reality, these energies, being non-physical, would be unable to feel the drama of the human experience because they are above drama in general.  They don't feel human emotion.  Some have said that this is one of the many reasons Jesus and other Great Teachers came to earth... to have the human experience.  One of my mentors, Dr. Scott Walker (creator of NET), often reminds his students to "savor" the human drama.  It is running from this drama that truly causes pain.  Like a pair of Chinese finger cuffs, the more we fight against them, the tighter they keep us bound.

Instead of fighting these feelings, I invite you to EMBRACE them.  Treat them as one hungering for a human experience would... like a giant serving of the most delicious treat you could ever imagine.  When we embrace and savor these experiences, it's amazing how quickly they pass... I guess time flies when you're having fun?

Regardless, learning to embrace these challenging times will only make the good times that much sweeter.  This is the premise that NET is based on... truly FEELING what we're going through and relishing the experience...  When we run from the pain, we will never find a true resolution.  It is only by going through it that we can find the other side.

Have you ever run from your pain?  What happened?  Share it in the comments below...

Video Blog: What makes me different from other Chiropractors?

Courageous Congruence...

In the past six months or so, I have become reacquainted with the idea of owning my own behavior in a whole new way.  This new approach requires me to courageously step forward and behave in a way I feel is congruent with who I am on a whole new level.  Let me elaborate:

There have been a number misunderstandings in the past six months (probably longer for some) between friends and family... conflicts that seemed at an impasse despite my explanations and apologies... and yet, I still continued to find myself in situations where I still had to interact with and see these people.  For one who likes everyone to get along and be happy (like most of us, I suspect), this added a lot of stress to these social gatherings.

I've heard it said many times that others' opinions of someone can shape that person's behavior.  We begin to behave in the manner that is expected. Things become so convoluted that no one can see each other for the true, bright souls that they are because they get so blinded by their own Neuroemotional Complexes (NEC's).  But the miracle that lies within this scenario is extracted and put on display when one person (or more) chooses to rise above this and end the illusion.  This can happen in many ways, but in my personal experience as of late, I have taken on the challenge to really think of how I would behave if I did NOT assume this person or people have a negative opinion of me. What if everything were warm and loving and everything I wanted it to be? How would I behave then?

This was (and is) scary for me.  It puts me in a position to get rejected, humiliated, and/or hurt.  Repeatedly.  But in these situations, the only thing I can control is me. And with a deeper understanding of that concept than ever before, I decided that I was going to be the person I wanted to be, regardless of others' behavior or assumptions.  I chose to hold my head high, and love them the way I would otherwise, and make the conscious decision not to take their rejection personally.  After all, if I could learn to love them (not to be confused with allowing them to treat me poorly) ... well... isn't that what truly loving others is all about?  Letting them be miserable if they want to be miserable?  Accepting how they choose to react to a situation? Respecting their decisions? Letting them be who they want to be? 

Finally, I realized that they didn't have to behave to my expectations and standards for me to love them.  And through loving them fully, I could be at peace with the decisions that they made, even if they were out of anger and designed to be vengeful or manipulative... even if they were decisions I wouldn't make myself.  When their behavior could turn hurtful to me, I chose to love them from a distance. 

And you know what happened? 

A miracle.

With no fuel added to the fire, the conflict resolved itself!

The emotions that were fueling the conflict burned themselves out, and we were able to move on.

I think of the ways these situations could've played out differently. What if I had desperately tried to fix what couldn't be fixed?  What if I had gotten angry with them? What if I had let it lure me into a depression?  But I didn't.  I didn't have to fix it. I didn't have to play into it. I just had to be me, express the goodness within, and trust in my higher power that it would untangle itself. And it did! 

I challenge you to try this experiment for yourself and let me know how it turns out... you might be pleasantly surprised what happens when you release your expectations and trust everything will work out for the best...

Continuing to stumble blindly while secretly trusting that I am being conscientiously lead...

Dr. Redmond

Swimming for the first time without fear? Priceless.

I'm always so excited to share my patient's successes and this is no different.

I met Michelle at a triathlon where she was volunteering and I was competing.  Somehow, we got onto the topic of her fear of the water.  I was amazed that with such a severe phobia, she was even capable of being a triathlete, which really says a lot for her strength of will and determination.  She didn't even learn to swim until three years prior.  Now in her early 50's, this incredible woman had completed multiple triathlons but still had to fight back the panic every time she got in the water.  I told her about NET and how it had helped me complete my first Olympic tri, and she took my number and said she would check it out.

A week later, she went to compete in her first Olympic tri, and sadly, couldn't finish. She had a panic attack in the water.  How scary is that?!  Shortly thereafter, I saw her at my office.  I examined her, and believed I could help (she seemed like a GREAT candidate for NET!), so we got to work.  We had one week before her next tri, and honestly, I didn't know if she'd be ready... one week isn't much time and we found a lot that needed to be addressed.  With her first adjustment we cleared her Allergy point, which we found out of balance due to accumulated emotional stress.  This was simply to set the stage for the work we needed to do, and start to bring some semblance of balance to her nervous system.

You won't believe what happened next.

On her next appointment, after only one session, she came in and reported that she had done an open water swim in the ocean that morning, and she was fine!!  Even I didn't expect results that fast!  It truly is a testament to her strong constitution!  I can't wait to see what happens when her nervous system is actually functioning at it's MAX!

GREAT JOB, MICHELLE! I'm so proud of you!!

Cyclist Gets Great Results with Chiropractic Care!

Troy*, came to me as a relatively healthy guy in his early 50's.  As an avid cyclist and smartphone enthusiast, his only complaint was the annoying numbness and tingling he was experiencing in his arms and hands, at seemingly random moments, but especially after cycling or when using his phone.  After a thorough examination, we determined that Troy's body, as a result of accumulated stress, was not adapting and healing properly and his body had built up scar tissue around his nerves traveling from his neck to his hands.

Since Troy's case was not severe and other health issues and degeneration were not present, we started him on a conservative schedule of once visit per week.  We adjusted his wrists and elbows and did Active Release Technique (ART) on his forearms, and the numbness in his hands and wrists cleared up quickly.  But the sensation in his arms was persistent.  After about 4 visits, we had seen 100% improvement in his hands, but only 40% in his arms, so I decided it was time to dig deep.  The small muscles in his neck were pinching down on the nerves going to his arms.  After some more ART, we hit 70% improvement, and though Troy was happy, I knew we could do better.  We found some accumulated toxicity keeping his body from healing, so I prescribed a homeopathic remedy to help bring his body back into balance.  Finally, we released some accumulated emotional stress with Neuroemotional Technique (NET) and a little more ART, and Troy hit 100% improvement!!  Another success story for the books! :)

*Name changed.

Screw enough. Be priceless.

I had an especially profound session of NET with a patient yesterday.  We've worked together for quite some time now, working through whatever issues bubble to the surface on this wild journey called life.  This particular patient has been going through a very big transition lately... she quit her full-time job to focus on her business.  She felt that quitting her job would give her the time she desperately needed to focus on her career goals, her health, and her overall happiness.

But a funny thing happened.

She seemed to have even LESS time than before!

She was still overwhelmed, lacking the time for exercise, lacking the motivation to eat well, never able to get 100% organized.

This is really a lesson for all of us... That we have time for what we MAKE time for... but I digress...

I noticed a pattern in her life, and she was up for a journey down the rabbit hole.

We started picking apart the story she was telling herself... that there wasn't enough money, enough time, enough of ANYthing...

We tested the concept of her being ok with having too much, not enough, and even just being ok as she was... None of which she was congruent with.

But then, as we spoke, and I continued to probe, we realized that this endless, infinite pursuit of "enough" was about something more.  I asked her, "Why do you need more? Why aren't YOU enough?" and we both stopped.

We had hit the mother load; the core issue that was driving all her pain and suffering.

How many of us are driven on endless journeys just like this one because underlying it all, we are just trying to measure up?  How many of us never feel like we are enough?  How many of us can't be happy with what we have because we always tell ourselves we could do more, be more, have more?

What kind of world would we create if we all felt like we were enough? And how much better would THAT world be if we all realized we were PRICELESS?

(PS I'm happy to say that we did clear this issue for her, and she felt a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders. I can't wait to see the shift manifest in her life!)

Your child is not broken...

I'm bracing myself because I'm sure I'll offend some folks with this one, but it needs to be said.

Your child is not broken.

There is nothing wrong with them. 

Sadly, the people who need to read this probably won't or won't think I'm talking about them, but it breaks my heart every time a parent contacts me telling me that their young child needs professional help because they challenge them as parents.

THAT'S WHAT CHILDREN DO!

And some will definitely be better at it than others.  But to teach a child that there is something wrong with them because of this only destroys their self-esteem.


It's a child's job to test the boundaries, and a parent's job to lovingly set them. 

Believe me... I am by no means saying being a parent is easy.  Being a parent is the hardest job that exists, and it often goes unappreciated.  Setting boundaries in a loving way is nearly impossible at times.  But to blame your child for your own inadequacies is (dare I say it?) abusive. 

You consciously chose to bring them into this world. And with that choice, you elected to be their guardian... to protect their developing mind from undue stress, to nurture their self-esteem, and to teach them how to deal with the world and thrive.  If you are choosing to consider yourself a victim of their behavior, what are you teaching them? That they are broken? They they are victims of their environment? 

I am happy to help children overcome those things that challenge them, but more importantly, if you feel there is something wrong with your child, it's time to look in a mirror. 

How are you guilty of the behaviors you accuse them of?  How can you adjust your parenting techniques to make things run smoother in the household?  Children will often resist structure and discipline, but if you stand firm (and fair!!), they will thrive.  Perhaps we need to utilize some NET to help you let go of your fears, resentments, and other emotions that are preventing you from being the parent you want to be. 

Here's the cold, hard truth... if your children are not who you want them to be, it's not their fault; it's yours. And if this made you angry, or brought out some other emotion for you, I encourage you to let me have it in the comment section below. 

"Parents give us something to rise above..."

I often feel the need to remind my patients when we are releasing past hurts and patterns with Neuroemotional Technique that no parent is perfect.  Even "bad" parents are doing the best they can for themselves and their children.  They may be caught in their own illusions that convince them they are incapable of doing things differently, but they are still doing their best.  Don Miguel Ruiz, one of my favorite authors states,

"Your best is going to change from moment to moment. 

It will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick."

It's important to remember that no parent, or human being, for that matter, is perfect. And those imperfections effect us as we grow and learn and emulate those imperfect humans that raised us.  The important thing to remember is that we have a choice whether we are going to use that as an excuse to stay stuck in our childhood programming and ride along the path we feel has been created for ourselves, or to rise above our parents' humanity and be a better person for what they have taught us.

I challenge you to think of your parents' inevitable mistakes as something to rise above instead of fall victim to... after all, how boring would life be if everything was perfect?

I did it!

Wow.  It's so surreal. I don't even know if I can formulate my thoughts enough to share the experience. But so many of you have been so supportive that I feel as though I'd be cheating you if I didn't share.

I completed my Olympic Distance Triathlon yesterday.  For those of you who don't know, that was a 1500 meter lake swim, 25.5 mile bike ride, and a 6.2 mile run on a 96 degree day.

This is one of those things that ten years ago, I thought only crazy people did. Crazy, athletic people.  Even two years ago, you couldn't have convinced me that I'd do this some day soon.  I was never athletic. And I wasn't that crazy.  I remember when friends in school signed up for a sprint triathlon and invited me to join.  I laughed.  They were obviously delusional if they thought I could EVER do something like that.

But now, I've done it. And I've done more!  And there were a lot of people who helped make that happen.  What amazes me most is that it felt... dare I say... easy?  Just another day. Another workout.  And completely pain-free.  And I'm sitting here dumbfounded wondering how that can be... What did I do to make this such an enjoyable experience?

First of all, I made sure I got adjusted. Running a race without tuning up my nervous system is like riding a bike with flat tires.  You can do it, but it's not going to be fun. 

Second, I got a massage a week before to work out all the kinks that might keep my muscles from functioning properly.  Three weeks before, I also got my troublesome IT band worked on with SASTM, a Graston-like technique that hurts more than you can imagine but was amazingly effective.

I also used Neuroemotional Technique to address the anxieties that I had about the event as well as the emotional components of some of the injuries I developed during training.

But I think the biggest help was hypnosis and visualization!  I was hypnotized the Thursday before the race by Corene Noack, practiced self-hypnosis (a form of meditation) every day from then until the race, and then was hypnotized by her again on race day, and I have never had a smoother, more focused race, or a stronger finish. I sprinted over the finish line and felt like I could keep going. I was so impressed!  I suggest everyone give it a shot!  So thank you to Corene, and all those other fabulous practitioners, friends, and family who made this such an enjoyable event for me. I see more Olympic tris in my future!

Neuroemotional Technique for Postpartum Depression

I'm so excited to share this success story, as it is one of the worst cases of Postpartum Depression I've ever seen in my office.  This particular mom has four children, and experienced PD with ALL of them.  She was anxious, depressed, and couldn't connect with her babies.  What a heart-breaking and anticlimactic experience for any mom. 
I started working with her when she was about 5 months pregnant with number four.  She was very nervous about getting depressed and anxious again.  She was also concerned about her other three children and whether she could provide what they needed while caring for her newborn.  I saw her about 5 times before her new baby boy arrived... and what do you know!  It's about a month after her delivery and she feels great!  Sure, there's still the fatigue and stress that comes with a new baby, but she's not incapacitated or disconnected, and taking everything in stride.  Congrats, mom!  You're an example of what is possible for so many others who suffer in silence!

Chiropractic and your love life????

Usually, these two things would have nothing to do with each other... until now. Since Neuroemotional Technique addresses subluxations (short circuits) in the emotional response, as a chiropractor certified in the technique, I often work with therapists to release emotional blocks, and even occasionally, one of my regulars will come in with something bugging them and we'll check it out.... which is exactly what happened last week. A patient of mine came in complaining of a complicated love life... I asked her if she wanted to check it out with NET. Being well-aware of the benefits of NET, she was thrilled that I asked and immediately and enthusiastically agreed. We cleared a couple of big issues using personal declarations about her love life and men in general just by finding the emotionally charged statements and addressing that charge.

My favorite moment, however, was the next morning, when I got a phone call from said patient who was so excited about a huge breakthrough she had! She realized what a great catch she was and realized that she deserved better treatment than what she had been getting from the new man in her life. Not only that, but she didn't get upset about it, or get mad at him... she just calmly and kindly explained the situation to him. He appreciated her honesty and she got some clarity. No harm, no foul. Bellisimo!!

Do you keep getting in your own way?

A patient of mine was talking about her theater group a couple weeks ago, and when I expressed interest, she encouraged me to audition. I dismissed the idea, stating that I'd have to do a lot of N.E.T. before I'd voluntarily get up on a stage for an audition. (For those of you who are wondering what N.E.T. is, it's Neuroemotional Technique, a technique I'm certified in, and utilize quite frequently with my patients. You can find out more about it at www.netmindbody.com)

A few days later, she was back in for her next appointment, and she brought it up again. "Remember when you mentioned you'd need a lot of NET before you'd get back on stage again?" I wasn't quite sure where she was going with this. "Were you serious? Can it really help you with your audition?" Ah. Now I understood. And I proceeded to question her about her audition anxiety and the circumstances in which is pops up. And, yes, NET can help with those sorts of things. Some might ask, "What does a chiropractor know about anxiety? Isn't that a therapist's job?" The truth is, yes, and no. Yes, therapy is great for learning to deal with anxiety, depression, and a whole host of traumas that can happen in daily life. It's great for teaching, and coaching, and support. What NET targets is the biochemistry in the brain that has been programmed to react a certain way. Every time we find ourselves in a situation resembling (even slightly) a previous trauma, we find ourselves reacting the same way, whether it be a phobia, or simply dating the same guy (with a different face) over and over and over again. I can't even say how many times I have come across a Neuroemotional component to a problem and after clearing it, a patient has said, "Wow! I've been doing that forever!!" Everything from weight issues and emotional eating, to allergies and chronic pain/illnesses, it's amazing how often neurochemistry plays a part. If you feel that emotional blocks are getting in your way, please set up an appointment to speak with me. You'll thank yourself later. As far as my patient with audition anxiety, I'll keep you posted. These things always turn out well...