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Somato Respiratory Integration
A note from the founder Dr. Donald Epstein
We as a culture have learned the misconception
that health is not feeling anything in our bodies or lives that we
do not like, we learned to disconnect from the rhythms, pulsations
and vibrations that are within. Most often it takes a traumatic
event, serious illness or marked distress before we stop living our
life the way we want to live it, stop work or stop our plans and
just hold our bodies, breathe with the rhythm within, and pay
attention to the vibration and pulsations, which are our inner
communication. For many people severe pain or disease is the only
way that they will take time from their life to focus all of their
attention on their chest, arm, back, leg, or whatever part of the
body which needs attention. Somato Respiratory Integration is a
system of re-connecting between our brain and body through its
natural wisdom, through various exercises which ask for you to touch
your body, and gently breathe. Each exercise seeks to activate a
different state of consciousness, from helping us to connect to our
suffering through states of sheer ecstasy. It teaches us that we
heal ourselves and gives us physical exercises to be more whole and
shift our bodies, minds and our life. There are 12 such exercises
which are taken from the healing states of thousands of individuals.
The Book the 12 Stages of Healing describes the process of healing
and introduces this practice.
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The 12 Stages
of Healing
By Dr. Donald Epstein, D.C.
1. Suffering - Different from pain, suffering is marked
by a profound awareness that something is wrong. Parts of our being
are disconnected. The awareness of this disconnection is usually
made as we draw more upon our consciousness and energetic resources.
This especially occurs when confronted by a traumatic or chaotic
event or loss. The lesson of this stage is the acceptance that
nothing works at this time, and that you are presently helpless.
2. Polarities and Rhythms
- This stage begins with the search for the magical genie that can
or has been identified as the savior from distress, pain, or crisis.
We project from the alienated, isolated, traumatized, hurt, shamed
or ignored aspects of our being. These parts try to gain power over
our helplessness through external authorities, procedures,
treatments, etc...As we heal, we eventually discover that what we
blamed or projected as being so wrong is not so bad. Or we see that
our genie is not so magical. We begin to become aware of our rhythms
and polarities and discover we are somehow involved in a process,
and are partially responsible for our distress.
3. Stuck in a Perspective
- This stage of healing involves the recognition that our distress
is associated with the fact that we have been stuck in a
perspective. Our concepts and/or our physiology have been fixated.
We do not yet know why we’ve been stuck, or what to do about it. We
just need to be with the simple revelation that we’ve been stuck.
4. Reclaiming Our Power -
This stage of healing is one in which we realize that the “script”
determined by the above three stages is no longer desirable or no
longer works. Initially, we are angry that we had lost our power,
and are determined not to let it happen again. As we progress
through this stage, we choose to no longer dishonor ourselves,
because we deserve more.
5. Merging with the Illusion
- This stage is associated with having a strong enough sense of
self to turn back onto our own alienated ”shadow” or “light” to heal
the illusion and create more wholeness. At this major stage of
healing we can appear on the other side of our illusionary self.
6. Preparation for Resolution
- The alienated, traumatized, denied or redirected consciousness
or energy is moving towards being prepared for discharge and
resolution. We feel the tensions building within ourselves as this
process advances. We find ways to create change and develop the
flexibility to continue the process.
7. Resolution - Discharge of
bio-electric energy is associated with a discharge of mechanical
energy. This may be discharge of the muscular system, such as
movement of the trunk or extremities. Processes such as fever,
coughing, sneezing, or vomiting are common forms of discharge.
Crying screaming and laughing are also discharge phenomena. When the
discharge occurs after the previous six stages, resolution can occur
with the discharge. When a sense of accomplishment, peace and inner
strength accompanies the process, then resolution has been achieved.
8. Emptiness in Connectedness
- After the discharge we are emptied. Rather than a space of
nothingness, we find ourselves in a place of possibilities. We enter
into a state of gratitude, vulnerability, connection with our
external rhythms, and alignment with events around us. We welcome
serendipity as a natural way of life.
9. Light Behind The Form -
From our place of emptiness and gratitude we can truly appreciate
our energetic fullness. We experience that we are more than our
physical body, actually become aware of the flow of the life force,
through us. We more fully experience our connection to others.
10. Ascent - We experience
our union with the creative force of the universe. We transcend all
limits, boundaries, language, judgments, and our existing sense of
self. We gain the wisdom of knowing the oneness of all of creation
during this stage.
11. Descent - We are renewed
beyond our limits and sense of self and enter into the world again.
We know that we are part of all we perceive and responsible for all
that we know. We live without being attached to our situations. We
love and serve.
12. Community - We
experience our involvement with humanity and recognize that
wholeness comes from bringing our individual gifts into community.
This occurs in our internal and external communities. We receive
gifts from within ourselves and from others. We recognize that all
our choices are spiritual ones and affect all beings. Eventually we
recognize that our limits stem from our own lack of wholeness.
Consequently, we seek to re-experience the rhythm of stage one.
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