Choicetimes

The word recovery in recent history has been used a lot.  Nowadays we are hearing it in relation to our nation’s economic situation and the path back to health.  The word recovery means a restoration or return to normal condition.  This begs the question of what is normal?   Perhaps we will address that question down the road a bit. What we do know.  What we have become aware of is that things are not working to our satisfaction. We have become aware of a disturbance.  We can deny it no more.  In some cases the situation seems to spiral and we notice dysfunction.   A desire wells up in us.  This desire is for the present moment to be different from what it is.  The desire for now to be different from what it is is suffering. We suffer whether we are aware of it or not whenever we have any degree of desire for this moment to be anything other than it is.  Of course, with anything, there is a sliding scale as far as the degree to which suffering presents itself.  I guess the poles would be from mildly irritating to excruciatingly unbearable.  I think you get my point.  I started this with the concept of recovery because I have seen a connecting pattern between the Twelve Steps of AA/GA/NA/DA and all the other A’s and Buddhism’s four noble truths.  First the Four Noble truths. Read the rest of this entry »

Ten years ago I started to see some signs that , perhaps, I had stepped on to the healing path I had been searching for since be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes almost 33 years ago. Today, I hold the belief that this whole experience that is my life is, in itself, a journey of healing. But, what needs to be healed? How is it that I got to a state of needing to be healed? When did the injury happen? How did it occur? Was I injured on purpose? Did someone else injure me? Was it an accident? When will I know when I am healed? What will be different? What is healthy and what is not? What’s the payoff? What are the consequences?

One day after completing a 30 day intensive of yoga, meditation, walking, spiritual study, body work and time at the beach I find myself hosting another person for 5 days of the same. She is the older sister of my 30 day client. While my 30 day client was recovering from major cancer surgery, her sister was searching for a way to breakthrough issues of autonomy and purpose. I have known both women for over thirty years as they are friends from “back home.” It was my idea to invite her down for celebration toward the end of her sister’s 30 day experience. When that fell through I extended an invitation for her to come anytime after her sister completed her 30 days on March 4. She booked her flight for March 5. I guess she was excited to get here. I had spoken to her on the phone and via email as to what I was sharing with her sister and she became interested and, with her husband’s blessings, made the trip. Read the rest of this entry »

So here we are well into April.  The Masters Golf tournament just ended which always marks for me the beginning of spring.  Because I grew up in Rochester, NY spring often never got a foot hold until we were deep into April.  Even now it is touch and go up there.  Still a possibility of a snow shower here and there.  What a shame.  After I completed the 30 day intensive I had the opportunity to do a 5 day intensive.  In fact, I had 24 hours to clean the house, pay bills,  wash the sheets, make the guest bed and meditate on how I was going to crunch what I just did in 30 days into 5.  Here is her review…………………

“At most, someone else’s realization can act as an inspiration for others, offering guidelines for them to follow, but ultimately we each must do the work ourselves.” this quote is from The Art Of Living, Vipassana Meditation. As I was getting ready to write this assessment, I picked up this book and was just flipping through it, I am not surprised that this quote leapt out.  Michael’s years of hard work in business training and dealing with his diabetes, has lead him to many realizations.  The different healing paths converge and flow. How fortunate that he is able to share his work and discoveries with others.

   My sister had recently reconnected with Michael during her recovery from major cancer surgery.  She spent 30 days with him.  I was intrigued by the work they were doing together.  Initially, I was going to come to Boca Raton to participate in a celebration marking her 30 day achievement.  When that idea fell through, I was invited to have my own 5 day stay and experience an abbreviated version of the “work”.  Michael had sensed my need, the difficult place I was in and threw out a lifeline.  My personal situation was dealing with a troubled relationship, a year in couples therapy,(with not as much progress as I had hoped).  My “nest” had just emptied.  My physical state was wanting, my diet was lacking and I knew I did not want to continue to take anti-depressants for the rest of my life.

  So… still shaking my head in wonder at how all this came to be (my place in my life, and this next step) I arrive in Florida. Knowing that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and we had 5 days to work with, we didn’t waste a lot of time.  We both wanted to accomplish as much as possible. Michael gave me an overview of what we would be doing with our time together. We caught up and got to work.

  I was given the book on Vipassana meditation to read once at home.  We started the first morning with “beginner” meditation.  It feels restful and awakening at the same time.  This is something I plan on (and do) continue at home.  We start each day with quiet 20 minute meditation. (It feels like 2 minutes). 

  Bikram yoga, 90 minutes of doing 26 postures in a 105 degree room, intimidating? You bet.  Anticipating myself in said room? Frightening.  The feeling of accomplishment afterward? Priceless.  It was and is, without a doubt, the hardest physical thing I’ve ever done by choice.Why do I continue to do practice over a month later? Because it’s the best thing I’ve been shown for body and mind.  Bikram yoga is rejuvenating.  My body is changing (for the better).  My mind is clearer.  When I practice in the morning, I’m fully ready to face the day.  When practiced in the evening, I feel as though my day is complete.  It’s a big part of learning how to take care of myself, how to put myself first, when so much of my life was spent putting others first.

  Boca Raton has one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, time there was spent walking and resting, listening to podcasts by Bill Harris.  His style of teaching is clear and concepts are well explained.  Listening to his lectures on human development, while watching the waves come in, left me happy, hopeful and at peace.

  There were several books I was expected to read during “down time”.  As our time was very full, I did not accomplish all the reading Michael or I had wanted.  I was introduced to the Kabbalah through Becoming Like God by Michael Berg.  I believe, no matter what religion you are familiar with (if any) there is truth to be learned from this study.  I intend to continue to learn.

  In addition to podcast and books, there were DVD’s to watch.  All were informative and entertaining, some required participation that was very helpful.  Helpful with perception of  self, meditation and understanding of others.

  It’s funny, when I first heard about some of the things we would be doing, my initial reaction was ooooh! massage! yea! that’s  for me!  In the end though it was everything.  Everything we did was ooooh! yea! that’s for me!  The body work was amazing.  In addition to traditional massage, I was also given the opportunity to experience cranio sacral therapy and accupunture for the first time.  I’m still looking for practitioners where I live.

  What I’m left with now….foremost, is gratitude.  I’m grateful to Michael for this opportunity, the wonderful meals, the fellowship, and the patient instruction.  I also have these tools that Michael has shared with me.  Aside from knowledge on all these different subjects, Michael possesses the gift of interpreting.  He can explain all these approaches at length.  If you can’t quite grasp something, he can rephrase it for you so you can understand or start to understand.  Michael is a gentle, non reactive, intuitive guide.

  It was no accident that we reconnected at this time in our lives.  Michael is ready to teach, guide, and share and I was ready to listen, learn and try.  I would highly recommend this wellness retreat to anyone, no matter what is currently a roadblock in your life.  If there is a physical, spiritual, emotional or mental need for growth, this is a viable and rewarding path to take.  Even if you only take one single thing home with you, it is well worth the time and the trip.  Can I come back now?

30 Day One on One Intensive

February 4, 2009 – March 4, 2009

Review and Assessment

I recently had the same person who just came for a 6 day visit  come back and engage in a 30 day intensive transformational healing/growth experience with me.    I posted a follow up assessment letter of her 6 day visit in a previous post entitled “A Week to Remember.”   This extended visit occurred less than a month from the end of the initial visit.  The first visit, while intensive, was more of a “taste” of the training process.  It was an opportunity for her to see and experience some of the process but it turned out to be too short a time to get the desired outcomes both of us were looking for.  She wanted to experience more and I wanted to implement some of the things I have been working on.  So, we agreed to have her come down, stay at my house and engage in physical, mental, emotional and spiritual “work.”  She arrived on February 4, 2009 and departed on March 4, 2009.  

The objectives of this Assessment Review are:  1.)  To describe what we did, how we did it and why we did it.  2.)  To present insights into the training objectives, methods, strategies, implementation and results.  3.)  To discuss ideas as to what is next.   I have structured this Review in “chunks” that represent primary component parts of the training process I have been developing, continue to work on and had an opportunity to implement in this 30 day intensive.  They are presented in the order that they were introduced into the process.  

Read the rest of this entry »

Last week I had a dear friend of mine come down to Florida from New York to experience some of the things I have been working on in the area of  transformation and healing.  She had gone through cancer surgery some 4 months ago and we happened to connect by phone last month.  Upon hearing of her challenges in the physical I offered to have her come and visit and experience yoga, meditation, some of the processes I have been working on, acupuncture, cranio sacral work, food strategies and the beach.  She came on a Sunday and left on Friday.  I wrote a review of what we did and  am posting it here.  

It was truly an honor and a privilege to have you at my house this past week.  It was also my pleasure.  I have found that writing is a good avenue for me to communicate my ideas and advance the work.  This letter is an assessment of our week sprinkled with my insights and thoughts of moving  forward.  

For the past few years I have been reaching out to others with the desire to assist them in their health and well being.  I have combined my experience as a trainer and coach in my professional life, my journey in addressing my own health and healing, my study of yoga, meditation, religion, metaphysics, various wellness approaches as well as integrating the work that Nedra does in the form of acupuncture, cranio sacral therapy, light therapy, herbs, supplements, nutrition and vitamin therapy.  I have helped several Type 1 diabetics and others who are “on the path” of experiencing a transformation in their lives.  Prior to you coming down to Florida I was in the process of establishing a foundational framework for the work I wish to do.  Your visit helped me to solidify that foundation and gave me an opportunity to apply it.  In this writing, I wish to outline this foundation and review a few of the component parts that I am plugging into it.  As we discussed, we attempted to stuff ten pounds in a one pound bag in the 6 days we spent together.  My intention here and now is to provide you with a bigger vessel to hold the information and processes we discussed and engaged in.  It will also help me to gain a more crystallized perspective of what I am attempting to impart.  

As you know, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was 14.  It was a major blow at the time.  I was a freshman in high school, captain of my soccer and hockey teams, an excellent student and a seemingly well adjusted kid.  It is an interesting disease.  We talked a little bit about it.  Ultimately, a critical system in the body is destroyed.  The ability of the body to metabolize the food it eats is gone and this system must be re-established manually in order to maintain life.  Prior to 1921 the diagnosis was a death sentence.  Injectable insulin was invented in 1921.  This allowed a Type 1 to stay alive.  We are now at the point where we are able to closely simulate the action of the insulin producing cells in the pancreas resulting in better control of the disease.  I mention my diabetes because, looking back from then to now, I can see how my life has paralleled the task of creating and maintaining a manual system to do what seems automatic.  My career path has been mostly as a creator of systems  and procedures and a developer and facilitator of the corresponding training protocols.  Much of the wisdom I have uncovered in the study of metaphysics, yoga, religion and science has illuminated the underlying structure of how things work and are structured.  I am now at a point in life where I have gained a certain level of mastery over implementing a manual system for metabolizing the food I eat and realizing excellent control of my blood sugar.  This experience and knowing can now be shared with others with the disease and those who are out of balance in any other way.

The foundation I set forth for your visit can be best expressed in a five step process that mirrors what is called the growth process.  The growth process is:

1. Confusion

2. Exploration

3. Incubation

4. Illumination

5. Celebration

I attempted to mirror your 5 day visit around this process.  To elaborate a bit……………… Read the rest of this entry »