Hi Everyone,
I just spent the weekend learning a new massage treatment for reducing and even eliminating pain and sore knotted muscles called Strain/Counterstrain. My teacher, Helen Griggs CMT, director of Healing Spirits Massage School calls it the "Its amazing!" technique because thats often what people say after experiencing this treatment. Sure enough the last client I used this with exclaimed "Its amazing!" at the end of the session when he was able to turn his head easily and with no pain after suffering from a chronically sore, stiff neck for some time.
This technique is based on the principle that pain is decreased by holding the affected area in its position of greatest comfort (usually this means shortening the muscle) while at the same time applying pressure to the sorest point on the muscle. So for instance, if a clients neck is hurting you can turn the client's head toward the side that is hurting while maintaining strong, steady pressure on the sorest point of the muscle. The therapist then holds this position and pressure for at least ninety seconds.
This technique effectively retrains the nervous system from pain and tension to a more relaxed pain free state by stopping the pain reflex arc. When a muscle is chronically sore and tight the muscle sends a message to the spinal cord that it is irritated, in pain etc. and the spinal cord responds by sending a message for the muscle to tighten further. This phenomenon is called a "reflex" because the brain is left out of the process! Strain/counterstrain breaks this negative feedback loop so that the muscle can reset to a more relaxed state.
As both the client and therapist relax into a place of calm stillness while holding the point the therapist can direct healing intention with visualization and positive intent. As the therapist feels the muscle letting go she can direct the client's attention to the shift, thereby increasing the therapeutic effect. This loving focused attention is a very important part of the healing.
I would love to share this with you! Feel free to call or email if you have further questions.
Best Wishes,
Sue Schmidt C.Ht
(720) 890 7453
mindpower1@comcast.net
www.mindpower1. net
Certified Shiatsu Practitioner
Certified Hypnotherapist
Certified Yoga Instructor
Certified Chi Kung Healing Practitioner
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Lucid Dreaming
A Lucid Dream occurs when, in the midst of a dream, the dreamer knows he/she is dreaming. Once we know that we are dreaming we can direct the course of our dreams. What fun! You can fly, travel, explore.... you can do anything you want free of the physical limitations of this reality. You also direct your dreams to heal deep unconscious patterns and fears.
I had a lucid dream experience just the other night after listening to the mp3 Lucid Dreaming available on the website www.mindpower1.net
The Lucid Dreaming Mp3 enhances the ability to lucid dream through the use of brain wave frequencies. The program begins with Alpha brainwave frequencies (light sleep) that ramp down to Theta, and finally to Delta which brings the listener to deep sleep. The Delta frequencies are then periodically interrupted with Theta frequencies which bring the sleeper to a lighter level of sleep without fully awakening. The state of sleep just below conscious awareness is where lucid dreams occur.
In my latest lucid dream I was swimming below the surface of the blue water with the sun shinning through in beautiful colors. I started swimming toward the surface while holding my breath and I just couldn't find the surface. "How deep am I?"I wondered and started to panic. Then, I suddenly remembered or realized that I was dreaming. "This is a dream," I said to myself, "and so I can breathe underwater!" I began taking deep full breaths and continued swimming in the beautiful water. I awoke feeling relaxed and peaceful.
I'd love to hear your experiences of Lucid Dreams you may have had or any interesting dreams.
Sweet Dreams,
Sue Schmidt C.Ht
720 890 7453
I had a lucid dream experience just the other night after listening to the mp3 Lucid Dreaming available on the website www.mindpower1.net
The Lucid Dreaming Mp3 enhances the ability to lucid dream through the use of brain wave frequencies. The program begins with Alpha brainwave frequencies (light sleep) that ramp down to Theta, and finally to Delta which brings the listener to deep sleep. The Delta frequencies are then periodically interrupted with Theta frequencies which bring the sleeper to a lighter level of sleep without fully awakening. The state of sleep just below conscious awareness is where lucid dreams occur.
In my latest lucid dream I was swimming below the surface of the blue water with the sun shinning through in beautiful colors. I started swimming toward the surface while holding my breath and I just couldn't find the surface. "How deep am I?"I wondered and started to panic. Then, I suddenly remembered or realized that I was dreaming. "This is a dream," I said to myself, "and so I can breathe underwater!" I began taking deep full breaths and continued swimming in the beautiful water. I awoke feeling relaxed and peaceful.
I'd love to hear your experiences of Lucid Dreams you may have had or any interesting dreams.
Sweet Dreams,
Sue Schmidt C.Ht
720 890 7453
Monday, March 1, 2010
Transitions: Meditation on Moms Passing
Transitions: Meditation on Moms Passing
After a long experience with Alzheimers, my mom passed away on Jan. 25 of this year. Her quality of life had been very poor-she didn't recognize anyone, was in diapers, couldn't move or talk. So in some ways her passing was expected and even hoped for.
My sister called mid morning ont the 25th and said she was gone. I felt a sudden and very intense physical sensation. I literally had to sit down. I felt immediately that I was in altered state. My desire to meditate was very strong. I didn't want to talk to anyone or tell anyone I just wanted to mediate.
As I meditated I went into a waking dream. The outer world disappeared, altho unlike a dream, I knew where I was and that I was awake. It was just that the inner vision I was seeing was stronger than the external sensory input.
I saw my mom as a little girl and heard children laughing. She was running in a field of tall gold grass. The sun was shinning. Across the field was a group of people waving to her and calling her. Their faces were grayed out and I could just make out shapes. I know one of the shapes was a woman and for some reason I had the feeling it was her mother, my grandmother.
My mom as a little girl was laughing, excited and running with all her might. It was a joyful excited feeling. I felt as if life was starting over for her, that everything was possible for her once again. There was a great feeling of freedom and expansion. I "saw" a limitless blue sky and heard children laughing. The sense of freedom and joy was intense.
The vision only lasted a few minutes or maybe less and then was gone. My body felt diffuse and expanded and I remained in an altered states for a few days. The next time I sat to meditate I tried to connect with her and felt nothing at all. It was if she were just completely gone. When I went home to Los Angeles and went in her room I had the same experience-that there was just nothing left of her.
The Buddhists talk about death being the "Great Liberator" I have never really known what that meant, but now have an inkling of what that might mean.
I would love to hear any stories/experiences you may have of people passing.
Best,
Sue
After a long experience with Alzheimers, my mom passed away on Jan. 25 of this year. Her quality of life had been very poor-she didn't recognize anyone, was in diapers, couldn't move or talk. So in some ways her passing was expected and even hoped for.
My sister called mid morning ont the 25th and said she was gone. I felt a sudden and very intense physical sensation. I literally had to sit down. I felt immediately that I was in altered state. My desire to meditate was very strong. I didn't want to talk to anyone or tell anyone I just wanted to mediate.
As I meditated I went into a waking dream. The outer world disappeared, altho unlike a dream, I knew where I was and that I was awake. It was just that the inner vision I was seeing was stronger than the external sensory input.
I saw my mom as a little girl and heard children laughing. She was running in a field of tall gold grass. The sun was shinning. Across the field was a group of people waving to her and calling her. Their faces were grayed out and I could just make out shapes. I know one of the shapes was a woman and for some reason I had the feeling it was her mother, my grandmother.
My mom as a little girl was laughing, excited and running with all her might. It was a joyful excited feeling. I felt as if life was starting over for her, that everything was possible for her once again. There was a great feeling of freedom and expansion. I "saw" a limitless blue sky and heard children laughing. The sense of freedom and joy was intense.
The vision only lasted a few minutes or maybe less and then was gone. My body felt diffuse and expanded and I remained in an altered states for a few days. The next time I sat to meditate I tried to connect with her and felt nothing at all. It was if she were just completely gone. When I went home to Los Angeles and went in her room I had the same experience-that there was just nothing left of her.
The Buddhists talk about death being the "Great Liberator" I have never really known what that meant, but now have an inkling of what that might mean.
I would love to hear any stories/experiences you may have of people passing.
Best,
Sue
Thursday, December 31, 2009
PTSD: What came first? Chicken or the Egg?
Recently, a former student sent me an article on PTSD. You can read the article in its entirety on this blog. The article states that soldiers with PTSD having different biochemistry than those soldiers who did not suffer from PTSD. Specifically, soldiers experiencing PTSD have lower levels of neurosteroids.
This brings us to age old questions of what comes first......brain chemical imbalance or PTSD? Chicken or the egg?
We are constantly interacting with out environment and our biochemistry. In fact every thought we think, anything we eat, or any experience we have changes our bio chemistry to some degree. It makes sense to me that combat would change bio chemistry.
It also makes sense that some of these soldiers with lower levels of neurosteroids could have been that way before entering combat and this brain chemical imbalance made them more vulnerable to stress and therefore PTSD. After all, not all soldiers experience PTSD and that may not be dependent upon external events.
Unfortunately, we can't know the answer to this question because the soldier's brain chemistry levels are only measured AFTER they have PTSD. So did the combat cause the brain chemical imbalance or did the brain chemical imbalance make them more vulnerable to PTSD? It would be interesting to measure the brain chemistry of a group of soldiers before, during and after combat. And note who experienced PTSD and who did not.
I also wonder if every soldier with lowered neurosteroids has the subjective experience of PTSD? I would bet money they do not. In my private practice, I have seen people with very grave physical issues easily identified on x rays and MRI who are experiencing little or no pain. I also see clients who experience alot of pain and who look fine on an MRI or x ray.
Many doctors would say those with a clean xray and lots of pain are just a "head cases." But then, are those people who have easily identified physical issues but little or no pain"head cases" too? And if so, what in the world are they doing in their heads? Could those with little or no pain somehow come to terms or found meaning in their physical issues? I don't know but I think we can learn alot from studying those who don't get sick and stay well and happy in adverse circumstances.
The article concludes that reservists experience more PTSD then "full time soldiers" and that "military discipline" is a factor in not getting PTSD. I would argue that this isn't valid statement because those who would choose to be full time soldiers rather than in the reserves would probably have a more robust nervous system naturally and are more comfortable with the experiences being in the military and probably more committed to it.
I think one of the greatest things that protects our nervous system and psyches is finding meaning in our experience. No matter how terrible an experience is, if we find meaning in it, we can withstand it. The meaning that really satisfies us comes from within. Hypnotherapy can help us find meaning in any and all of our experiences that is not spoon fed to us by society and ideological doctrine of any kind. Additionally, it is my opinion that hypnotherapy can lower overall physiological arousal levels operating below conscious awareness and in this way balance brain chemistry. As we heal we break the cycle of trauma and help others around to balance and find peace as well.
Would love to hear more info. about PTSD antidotal as well as objective.
Best,
Sue Schmidt C.Ht
This brings us to age old questions of what comes first......brain chemical imbalance or PTSD? Chicken or the egg?
We are constantly interacting with out environment and our biochemistry. In fact every thought we think, anything we eat, or any experience we have changes our bio chemistry to some degree. It makes sense to me that combat would change bio chemistry.
It also makes sense that some of these soldiers with lower levels of neurosteroids could have been that way before entering combat and this brain chemical imbalance made them more vulnerable to stress and therefore PTSD. After all, not all soldiers experience PTSD and that may not be dependent upon external events.
Unfortunately, we can't know the answer to this question because the soldier's brain chemistry levels are only measured AFTER they have PTSD. So did the combat cause the brain chemical imbalance or did the brain chemical imbalance make them more vulnerable to PTSD? It would be interesting to measure the brain chemistry of a group of soldiers before, during and after combat. And note who experienced PTSD and who did not.
I also wonder if every soldier with lowered neurosteroids has the subjective experience of PTSD? I would bet money they do not. In my private practice, I have seen people with very grave physical issues easily identified on x rays and MRI who are experiencing little or no pain. I also see clients who experience alot of pain and who look fine on an MRI or x ray.
Many doctors would say those with a clean xray and lots of pain are just a "head cases." But then, are those people who have easily identified physical issues but little or no pain"head cases" too? And if so, what in the world are they doing in their heads? Could those with little or no pain somehow come to terms or found meaning in their physical issues? I don't know but I think we can learn alot from studying those who don't get sick and stay well and happy in adverse circumstances.
The article concludes that reservists experience more PTSD then "full time soldiers" and that "military discipline" is a factor in not getting PTSD. I would argue that this isn't valid statement because those who would choose to be full time soldiers rather than in the reserves would probably have a more robust nervous system naturally and are more comfortable with the experiences being in the military and probably more committed to it.
I think one of the greatest things that protects our nervous system and psyches is finding meaning in our experience. No matter how terrible an experience is, if we find meaning in it, we can withstand it. The meaning that really satisfies us comes from within. Hypnotherapy can help us find meaning in any and all of our experiences that is not spoon fed to us by society and ideological doctrine of any kind. Additionally, it is my opinion that hypnotherapy can lower overall physiological arousal levels operating below conscious awareness and in this way balance brain chemistry. As we heal we break the cycle of trauma and help others around to balance and find peace as well.
Would love to hear more info. about PTSD antidotal as well as objective.
Best,
Sue Schmidt C.Ht
Holiday Message:The High Road
Hi All,
Hope you had a wonderful holiday season. This was the best solstice break I have had for a long time on many levels for both external and internal reasons. I have gone through a big shift in my thinking and energetic being. I have been struggling with taking the high road on a few relationship issues and resisting doing that. And boy! Does that take a lot of energy! Especially when you KNOW what the high road is and know what you need to do to take it.
What I mean by the high road is the action, or no action, that to the best of your knowledge, will be for the highest good of all. You know what the highest road is because when you visualize yourself doing it ,or being it, you feel GOOD. You feel happy, strong, in your body, and just good. You feel like you are vibrating at a higher level. And you are!
If you feel afraid, anxious, insecure or resentful then that is a signal that what you are envisioning is not right for you or anyone. When you take the high road you can let people go, and things go and it just feels good. When you take the high road you want everyone to feel as good as you do and wish everyone well and you feel so rich and full that you are not afraid that anyone will take anything from you. Taking the high road doesn't necessarily mean you'll be successful, rich, never get sick or never have anything bad happen to you. Altho I do believe that being in alignment with Spirit can make our lives easier on many levels. Taking the high road DOES mean you will be living with integrity and purpose and joy.
I think what is difficult is resisting taking the high road. Our ego fights against it . It feels like we are "giving too much." Or not being appreciated. Or that we are not getting what we want. There is tendency to want to fight, to be right. The ego says, "But what about me? What do I get?" The ego stays on the surface of things and makes surface judgements about people and things. The ego is ok and has its purpose and uses. Its very good for some things, just not for everything.
But...once you decide to take the highest road you can , then its easy! Then, Spirit, and the flow of energy all around of us will help us along. Utitmatel,y taking the high road is easier and much more fun!
So whenever you feel misunderstood, or victimized, try to offer back the opposite. When you feel like someone doesn't understand you, try to understand them.
That being said, I don't think we have to run around trying to fix everyone and everything. Basically, we just have to deal with what is in front of us. If you call or email someone to try to repair things and they don't respond or don't respond in a way that allows any opening, then you can just let them go and wish them well! If a situation, just won't change no matter what you do, then offer it up to spirit and walk away! We all have limits. And taking the high road doesn't mean we become anyone's doormat or allow ourselves to be around people who are toxic or not good for us. And as we evolve there are situations and people who just drop away. I's ok to just let people and things just go sometimes.
Everyones high road is different. If you are bushwacking through a deep dark jungle, you probably can't get on the super highway because you can't even envision it. If we try to take a road that is too high, too far away from where we are at any given moment, we will know, because we won't feel good and probably we will just won't be able to pull it off. For example, if there is someone you know that you really dislike, your high road may just to feel neutral, or even dislike them a little less, or just to not think about them at all. Another person's high road might be to love that person unconditionally! We all have to find where our personal high road is and do the best we can to stay on it.
And Spirit is always there, showing us signs and helping us along the way.
Of course, we never get anywhere alone. I want to thank my teachers Damaris Jarbeaux and Bobby Wood for showing me the high road and encouraging me to stay on it. For my husband Woody for being my best friend and showing me what I need to work on. For my girlfriends who listen to me when I am not on the high road. And for my client K. who recently had the courage to take the high road and give her problem up to Spirit and we both got to feel the big shift of energy that brought about! And of course, these are just the people who helped me make this latest shift. We are all being helped by everyone and everything all the time. So I guess I just want to say THANK YOU! to everyone.
So whenever you have a problem ask to be shown what is the high road is, ask for Spirit to help you and watch for signs and guidance. And most importantly, notice how you feel in your body. Notice feeling of lightness, happiness, and strength. This is what lets you know you are on the right road for you!
Thank you to everyone,
Sue
Hope you had a wonderful holiday season. This was the best solstice break I have had for a long time on many levels for both external and internal reasons. I have gone through a big shift in my thinking and energetic being. I have been struggling with taking the high road on a few relationship issues and resisting doing that. And boy! Does that take a lot of energy! Especially when you KNOW what the high road is and know what you need to do to take it.
What I mean by the high road is the action, or no action, that to the best of your knowledge, will be for the highest good of all. You know what the highest road is because when you visualize yourself doing it ,or being it, you feel GOOD. You feel happy, strong, in your body, and just good. You feel like you are vibrating at a higher level. And you are!
If you feel afraid, anxious, insecure or resentful then that is a signal that what you are envisioning is not right for you or anyone. When you take the high road you can let people go, and things go and it just feels good. When you take the high road you want everyone to feel as good as you do and wish everyone well and you feel so rich and full that you are not afraid that anyone will take anything from you. Taking the high road doesn't necessarily mean you'll be successful, rich, never get sick or never have anything bad happen to you. Altho I do believe that being in alignment with Spirit can make our lives easier on many levels. Taking the high road DOES mean you will be living with integrity and purpose and joy.
I think what is difficult is resisting taking the high road. Our ego fights against it . It feels like we are "giving too much." Or not being appreciated. Or that we are not getting what we want. There is tendency to want to fight, to be right. The ego says, "But what about me? What do I get?" The ego stays on the surface of things and makes surface judgements about people and things. The ego is ok and has its purpose and uses. Its very good for some things, just not for everything.
But...once you decide to take the highest road you can , then its easy! Then, Spirit, and the flow of energy all around of us will help us along. Utitmatel,y taking the high road is easier and much more fun!
So whenever you feel misunderstood, or victimized, try to offer back the opposite. When you feel like someone doesn't understand you, try to understand them.
That being said, I don't think we have to run around trying to fix everyone and everything. Basically, we just have to deal with what is in front of us. If you call or email someone to try to repair things and they don't respond or don't respond in a way that allows any opening, then you can just let them go and wish them well! If a situation, just won't change no matter what you do, then offer it up to spirit and walk away! We all have limits. And taking the high road doesn't mean we become anyone's doormat or allow ourselves to be around people who are toxic or not good for us. And as we evolve there are situations and people who just drop away. I's ok to just let people and things just go sometimes.
Everyones high road is different. If you are bushwacking through a deep dark jungle, you probably can't get on the super highway because you can't even envision it. If we try to take a road that is too high, too far away from where we are at any given moment, we will know, because we won't feel good and probably we will just won't be able to pull it off. For example, if there is someone you know that you really dislike, your high road may just to feel neutral, or even dislike them a little less, or just to not think about them at all. Another person's high road might be to love that person unconditionally! We all have to find where our personal high road is and do the best we can to stay on it.
And Spirit is always there, showing us signs and helping us along the way.
Of course, we never get anywhere alone. I want to thank my teachers Damaris Jarbeaux and Bobby Wood for showing me the high road and encouraging me to stay on it. For my husband Woody for being my best friend and showing me what I need to work on. For my girlfriends who listen to me when I am not on the high road. And for my client K. who recently had the courage to take the high road and give her problem up to Spirit and we both got to feel the big shift of energy that brought about! And of course, these are just the people who helped me make this latest shift. We are all being helped by everyone and everything all the time. So I guess I just want to say THANK YOU! to everyone.
So whenever you have a problem ask to be shown what is the high road is, ask for Spirit to help you and watch for signs and guidance. And most importantly, notice how you feel in your body. Notice feeling of lightness, happiness, and strength. This is what lets you know you are on the right road for you!
Thank you to everyone,
Sue
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