Taking Hits

Our first class was "Taking Hits." This class was based on Newton's Third Law which states that "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." This law is at work everyday for our bodies. Walking is a great example of this. When the foot the hits the ground placing one's body weight onto the ground the ground is now thrusting the body weight back towards it. To attenuate this force the body goes through "pronation" or the act of rolling onto the big toe. This turns the lower leg then the upper leg then the pelvis. All of this force attenuation comes with a cost, work. When the joints bend they become unlocked and muscles exert a force to not allow the body to fall to the ground.

When we take emotional hits, the question is raised "what do we do to attenuate the force of the emotional hit?" One could argue that the person or event that gives the emotional hit is also getting hit but we will ignore this as we have very little control over another person or event. I make the case that we can emotionally "pronate" or coil in order to attenuate the force of the hit.

If we do not somehow coil or absorb this emotional hit we can become damaged or hurt. It is a normal reaction to be hurt when a blow is dealt but as the emotion lingers what do we do with it. Everyone seems to have their own answer. I certainly do not have one for everyone.

I would like to issue a challenge or little "homework" if you will to those of the class or that may have missed. Make two lists. One that lists the emotional hits you have taken and how you dealt with those blows and the second list of how you could have let the blow roll off or been attenuated more effectively.

As I said before, pronation comes at cost. The cost of work of the muscles. Realize that emotional pronation takes emotional work. It's up to you to decide how much and what it will be. Good luck and see you next time!

Beginnings

This class started last year at the request of Trish Treece and her counseling partner Beth. They wanted to help clients further overcome adversity through addressing the reality that trauma effects our brains and nervous systems chemically and functionally. This produces adverse neurologoical effects that relate to depression, anxiety, PTSD, low self- esteem, pain syndromes, sleep disturbances, low energy, and negative thought patterns. And a stronger connection can be forged between our bodies, minds, and hearts, that tends to get disconnected in trauma. Therapy that incoporates emotional resiliency, the plasticity of the brain (its ability to regenerate), and encourages faith based compassion - is a potent recipe for healing. I saw the value in the this as I work with my patient's physical ailments and know the importance of a mental connection. After doing the first class we discovered the power this can have on people's lives.

Therapy with clients who have experienced trauma do significantly better when this element of addressing neurobiology is included due to the sensory nature of trauma. Physical therapy that targets this can be an essential component. The mind greatly influences the body and the body greatly influences the mind. Patterns of strengthening mentally, emotionally, and physically can work together synergistically. We don't fully understand the connection but this is the fun and the challenge. We hope to not only help each participant get exercise, invigorate their minds and spirit but also make connections with others and see the value in the connection between others as we are all in this together. Come join us on these days!

This site will be a reference for upcoming classes and a history of prior ones. Feel free to look back for your own reference or if you missed a class, to see if you can still learn anything from it.