Submitted by Sue Kruszewski, Certified Yoga Therapist and Yoga Teacher
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| One client's feet were almost disassociated from his body, with no movement or sensation | Now able to move and bend toes and ankles |
| Another client was experiencing pain | Knots have disappeared |
I have used reflex assessment and integration [from the Brain and Sensory Foundations program] with some of my 1:1 clients. When they do the work, changes happened very fast. I can think of 2 clients I worked with particularly on the foot reflexes -- their stability, balance and confidence changed along with their gait.
For one, within a few minutes of stimulating then integrating his foot reflexes it helped him make more of a connection of his feet belonging to his body.
"It seemed like his feet were almost disassociated from his body due to a condition 20 years back for which he received chemo and radiation, which damaged nerves or connections in his feet. He watched as his toes were able to bend again! I was so shocked too at how quickly he got movement and sensation back."
He continues to work on the foot reflexes himself at home, and now I have noticed that he even is beginning to have better movement in the the ankles too…it’s working its way up! It was astounding. He was very shocked. I was thrilled for him.
In my yoga classes, I have incorporated rhythmic movements in every class. Comments after doing the rocking/rhythmic movements include:
"I feel so relaxed",
"I could go to sleep",
"I feel more alive and awake in a good calm way"
And what is most interesting is that even the people who attend my classes whom I have not seen for 1:1 yoga therapy that includes reflex integration, even those people are seeing shifts in their body. The yoga therapy movements have remained the same.
"The only different factor in my group classes since June are the rhythmic movements. I know in my being that this is the piece that is changing these people."
In one lady, her knots have disappeared completely (she is SO HAPPY -- she’s had those knots for several years!), or function becomes better, or pain decreases … it is contributing and enhancing the therapeutic yoga work that I do and it’s truly obvious and amazing.
[Edited for length and clarity; emphasis added]
Sue Kruszewski,
Certified Yoga Therapist and Yoga Teacher
Elements in Motion
Yoga & Movement Therapy
elementsinmotion.ca