with JIM BERNS Registered Ortho-Bionomy Advanced Instructor Core Releases for the Neck and Shoulders- Structure Governs Function

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1 ORTHO-BIONOMY BIONOMY with JIM BERNS Registered Ortho-Bionomy Advanced Instructor Core Releases for the Neck and Shoulders- Structure Governs Function September 19, 2014 American Massage Therapy Association 2014 National Convention Denver, CO 1

2 Instructional Outline ORTHO-BIONOMY With Jim Berns Registered Ortho-Bionomy Advanced Instructor Core Releases for the Neck and Shoulders- Structure Governs Function Table of Contents 1. My Background Page 3 2. Principles Procedure Protocol Why Ortho-Bionomy Bionomy? Ortho-Bionomy History Core Releases for the Neck and Shoulders A. Neck B. Shoulders Jim's additional notes What is Ortho-Bionomy? How does d Ortho-Bionomy work? Trademark Guidelines Some Very Powerful P Words Ortho-Bionomy, the Sand Dollar design, and Society of Ortho-Bionomy International are registered trademarks of the Society of Ortho-Bionomy International, Inc. and are used with permission. 2

3 ORTHO-BIONOMY with JIM BERNS, Registered Ortho-Bionomy Advanced Instructor Core Releases for the Neck and Shoulders- Structure Governs Function 1. My Background A. Sociology, Psychology B. Body/ Mind Connection C. Massage Therapy 1. Yearning for more information about how the body works 2. Over 30 years in the massage therapy profession 3. Challenges- Burn Out a. Hurting myself- Injured Hand and Shoulder b. Trying too hard- contracting within c. Frustrated with clients not staying released ed d. My work wasn t matching who I was internally becoming D. When the student is ready 2. Principles and Procedure Protocol: A. INNATE WISDOM- To protect and nurture our body/mind B. Body Protects/Nurtures Through Positions and Postures C. Move Away From Pain- Instinctive reaction D. NO PAIN To Release Pain E. Reaction To Pain- Our body pulls in and contracts, not relaxes 3

4 F. Toward Ease Of Movement/ Opposite Area of Discomfort G. Principle Based Work H. Structure Governs Function I. Layers Of Body- When top layer relaxes, second layer becomes more present J. Less Is More- The less you do, the more they will K. No Investment In Change- Puts pressure on them and you - You don't change anyone. The nervous system has to change. L. Self- Healing (Corrective) Reflexes: 1. Muscle Spindle Stretch Reflex- Reacts by causing the muscle to contract to prevent the possible tearing. (i.e. Rubber band pulls in when stretched out) 2. Golgi Tendon Reflex- Inhibits muscle contraction and promotes lengthening. (i.e. Rubber ball pushes out when squeezed firmly in) 3. Proprioceptors- Sensory receptors giving a feedback system about relative position and rates of movement. Through positioning and compression it resets the neuro-muscular reflexes to a normal level. Time and space awareness is expanded. 4. Antagonistic Muscle Groups- As one shortens the other lengthens. 5. Emotional Protecting- Guarding/Nurturing M. Phases of Ortho-Bionomy Phase 1- Unconscious movement away from pain towards comfort Phase 2- Conscious movement away from pain towards comfort Phase 3- Positioning away from pain towards comfort Phase 4- Specific positioning, compression, fine tuning, and awareness of the whole person 4

5 Phase 5- Allowing the innate reflexes to move the physical body Phase 6- Allowing the innate energetic reflexes to move away from pain and towards comfort Phase 7- Using a mental energetic pattern to initiate the innate reflexes to find comfort N. Procedure Protocol: 1. Acknowledge- What is the Starting place/ Sensitive Area 2. Explore and Exaggerate Position- Go Slow and always towards comfort and softening, exaggerate protecting position, - Find General Position or Place of comfort, - Fine tune position 3. Affirm- Gentle holding/ Compression- Usually towards point of sensitivity 4. Be Present/ Relax seconds approximately or until you feel a response 5. Lift Away Slowly- Opposite direction of compression 6. Integrate- Easy movement around sensitive area 7. Recheck- About the same? Any different? Can try 2X times 3. Why Ortho-Bionomy? Ortho-Bionomy can be excellent working with: 1. Accidents or Injuries These positions and movements create a release for a specific accident or injury 2. Painless Releases Those who feel that pain is not the way to release their contractions 3. Fast (10-30 seconds) Releases 5

6 When client or practitioner doesn t have time or wants a more immediate release 4. Muscular Skeletal Structure Oriented Structure governs function 5. Clothes On With Clients A large percentage of people don t feel comfortable having their clothes off with a stranger. 6. Practiced Anywhere Ortho-Bionomy can be done on any table, chair, floor, wheelchair, standing, beach, car, etc. 7. Empowering the Client Ortho-Bionomy is a client friendly interaction, with the client leading their own process and releases 8. Working with and Respectful of Emotional Armoring These gentle and protecting positions do not force the client to open up faster than they are ready for 9. Body Mind Connection These positions and movements: a. Create a safe space in the body to re-experience the original position of the trauma, without trauma. b. Allow the body to feel protected thus allowing the client to feel safe to let go. 10. Hard-to-release areas Difficult areas to reach and palpate, respond well to these positions and movements 11. Clients who don t want or can t handle deep work a. Those in severe pain b. Older and frail clients c. Children d. Abuse or Trauma clients e. Sensitive Body clients 6

7 12. When your clients have tried other therapies and it hasn t worked for them When they have tried stretching, deep tissue, and massage, and their body didn t respond to those therapies. 4. Ortho-Bionomy History: A. Founder- Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls D.O. Combined Martial Arts and Osteopathy B. Dr. Lawrence Jones- "Spontaneous Release Through Positioning" 5. Core Releases for the Neck and Shoulders- Structure Governs Function A. Neck 1. Mid-Neck (C3-C6) Combine extension/flexion, rotation and lateral bend toward point of tension, fine tune, compress and rebound (lift), return to midline, integrate and recheck 2. Upper Neck (C1-C2) Rotate first, then slide away from tension keeping head in straight line, fine tune, compress, rebound, return, integrate and recheck (Optional move- Slide head laterally away from tension keeping head in straight line, rotate towards point and extend, fine tune, compress, rebound, return to midline, integrate and recheck) 3. Lower Neck (C6-C7-T1) Rotate head away, slide towards tension, de-rotate, fine tune, compress, rebound, return, integrate and recheck B. Shoulder 1. From side position, sit or stand behind them. Their arm is usually placed in a neutral position with their hand resting upon their hip. Your arm blocks their hand from falling to the side. 2. Take hold of their shoulder with both of your hands, and using a range of motion movement in a clock-wise direction; take their shoulder around the clock. Feel for their preferred position, or the opposite direction of pain or discomfort. 7

8 3. On the clock, take their shoulder into the opposite direction of discomfort or preferred direction of ease. (Ex.- 12 o clock discomfort gets moved to 6 o clock, etc.) 4. Hold in preferred direction with gentle compression medially into the body. 5. Fine tune position to further soften position. 6. Hold for seconds or until the body responds out. 7. Slowly lift away from the direction of compression. 8. Bring shoulder back to neutral position and integrate with small gentle movement. 9. Recheck for preferences. 6. Jim's additional notes: This is information that Jim has observed through the years. Hints For Finding The Position Of Release 1. Position Of Original Trauma Place them in the exact position of the original trauma to release the original trauma. 2. Protecting Position What position would they go into to protect this sensitive point from harm? 3. Sleep Position What position do they try to sleep in, in order to be comfortable and sleep at night. Take care of yourself... Jim Berns Sebastopol, CA objimberns@gmail.com 8

9 Reference Book: Kathy Kain with Jim Berns, Ortho-Bionomy A Practical Manual, (North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA, 1997) For any questions or information on Ortho-Bionomy classes or the Registered Practitioner Training Program, please contact me. 7. What Is Ortho-Bionomy? Ortho-Bionomy is a gentle, non-invasive, osteopathically-based form of body therapy which is highly effective in working with chronic stress, injuries and pains or problems associated with postural and structural imbalances. The practitioner uses gentle movements and positions of the body to facilitate the change of stress and pain patterns. A strong focus is placed on the comfort of the individual, no forceful manipulations are used. The practitioner also suggests home exercises that individuals can do to further facilitate the neuromuscular re-education process begun in the session. Ortho-Bionomy is very effective in helping alleviate both acute and chronic pain and stress patterns by reducing chronic muscle tension, soothing the joints, increasing flexibility, improving circulation, and relaxing the entire body. Ortho-Bionomy was developed by Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls, a British osteopath, who wanted to find a way to work with the body which honored the body's inherent wisdom. From his experience as a Judo instructor and through his training as an osteopath, he found ways of working with the body by exaggerating the body's preferred postures, thereby permitting the body's self-healing process to create greater balance and alignment. He discovered that by working WITH the body and not against it, the body could find balance on its own without having to use force to correct it. Dr. Pauls began teaching this work in the US in 1976, and had taught Ortho-Bionomy extensively throughout Europe. The term "Ortho-Bionomy" comes from "ortho" meaning correct or straight, "bio" meaning life, and "nomy" meaning the laws of or study of. Dr. Pauls defined the term then as "the correct application of the laws of life." He stated "[Ortho-Bionomy] is really about understanding your whole life cycle. Naturally, we focus on the structure because that is the literal skeleton upon which our life is built. When your structure works right, your circulation works better, you feel better, you think better." (Kain and Berns, 1992) 8. How Does Ortho-Bionomy Work? Ortho-Bionomy stimulates the body's self-correcting and self-balancing reflexes by way of the proprioceptive reflexes located in our joints and muscles. The practitioner uses movement and gentle compression to find positions of comfort which allow the body to 9

10 change the stress and pain patterns which are causing the discomfort. Ortho-Bionomy also employs the homeopathic concept that what cannot be cured from within cannot be cured from without. Using gentle positioning and light touch, Ortho- Bionomy stimulates inner awareness to awaken within the individual a sense of natural balance and well-being, both physically and emotionally. The inner wisdom of the body is recognized and affirmed. Self healing occurs as the person s body remembers their natural ability to move away from pain and toward ease. 9. Trademark Guidelines The term Ortho-Bionomy is a registered trademark of the Society of Ortho-Bionomy International Inc. In order to use the term Ortho-Bionomy on your promotional literature (business cards, brochures) as one of the many modalities that you offer, you need to complete a proficiency level of training- the Ortho-Bionomy Associate in Practitioner. Before becoming an Ortho-Bionomy Associate in Practitioner, you may verbally explain to a client that what you are doing with them includes Ortho-Bionomy techniques. To fulfill the requirements to become an Ortho-Bionomy Associate in Practitioner Training, please contact Jim Berns, objimberns@gmail.com or go to the Society of Ortho-Bionomy International Inc. website: ortho-bionomy.org for more information. 10

11 Some Very Powerful Words It doesn t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart s longing. It doesn t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, or the adventure of being alive. It doesn t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life s betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human. It doesn t interest me if the story you re telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusations of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty every day, and if you can source your life from God s presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, Yes! It doesn t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children. It doesn t interest me who you are, how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and to not shrink back. It doesn t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else fails away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moment. By Oriah Mountain dreamer (a Native American Elder) 11

Take a few minutes for yourself and incorporate some Office Yoga into your daily routine. Benefits of Office Yoga Include: Before you begin:

Take a few minutes for yourself and incorporate some Office Yoga into your daily routine. Benefits of Office Yoga Include: Before you begin: OFFICE YOGA Working in an office or at a computer for prolonged periods of time can put strain on the neck, shoulder and back muscles which in turn can lead to tension and stiffness. This tension can cause