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WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU COME TO AN AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT® CLASS? Move from Muscle Pain to Flexibility with ATM Lessons
and relaxed as possible. Plan to wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing that will not restrict your movement. Learning and awareness are optimal when a person is not stressed, uncomfortable, or in pain. (continued inside)
ATM ® , also called Feldenkrais, (or the Feldenkrais Method) is a group lesson in a casual, relaxed setting. It can be done lying or sitting on the floor, sitting on a chair, or standing. The overall goal is to make sure the student is as comfortable
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The Chronicle Getting You Back on Track
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU COME TO AN AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT® CLASS? Move from Muscle Pain to Flexibility with ATM Lessons
Verbal instructions are given directing movement sequences and focusing awareness on particular areas of the body, or how to improve posture. Lessons are not demonstrated, but rather described, allowing the student’s brain and body a chance to “learn” the movement from conception. The lessons start out with simple movements based on infant development, such as: lifting the head, reaching with the hand, rolling over, or crawling. Then, as the student progresses, the lessons become more involved, exploring optional movements to use with daily functions or more complex combinations.Therearenorightorwrongways todoamovement,onlyyour way. During a lesson you “explore” the different options and combination of movements your brain and body come up with, improving your flexibility and range of motion. ATM has two basic rules: First, move only in your comfort zone. Not what you think the instructor wants you to do, not what the person next to you is doing. Your body interprets the instructions as your brain figures them out. The idea is to work smarter, not harder. The lessons take you beyond your normal limits by finding new combinations of ways to move. Second, carry out the instructions only as long as you are aware of what you are doing. If themindbegins towander, if themovement becomesmechanical, stop, rest and then resume. Awareness is key to learning, “if you know what you are doing, you can do what you want”, was a favorite saying of Moshe Feldenkrais, the founder of The Method. There are hundreds of ATM lessons that each address unique functionalmovements,demonstratinghow thewholebodyneeds to participate as a unit. Each lesson is structured to include thinking, sensing, awareness, movement, and imagination. ATM lessons can often produce surprising and pleasing results. Making a seemingly impossibleactioneasy,Feldenkrais lessonsallowus toquestion ourassumed limitations.Thoughour rangeofmotionmaybemechanically limited,thereareno limitstothequalityofmovement.These lessonsre-ignite earlychildhood impulsestomove,explore,and learn,andcanbeactuallyfun!
TheFeldenkraisMethodworkswitheachpersonfrompediatricstogeriatrics and everyone in between. This process is for people of any ability or level of mobility, helping them explore how they move, increasing flexibility, promoting relaxation, decreasing tension, and improving dynamic posture with overall positive effects on well-being and increased vitality. If you are experiencing pain and stiffness with movement, or you would just like to walk more efficiently, ATM may be for you.
Inside This Newsletter
• Staff Spotlight • Patient Success Spotlight • 9 Thing That Stifle Your Stride
Think you might like to try one? Call Synergy Healthcare in Spokane Valley at 509-413-1630 to find out our current schedule of ATM lessons.
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9 THINGS THAT STIFLE YOUR STRIDE
Problems with walking increase as we age and are a leading cause of falls and disability in older adults. At least 20% of adults over 65 have problems with walking. This increases to 50% in adults 85 years old and older. Most of these problems with walking are associated with other underlying issues. Problems with walking are not a direct consequence of getting older. Rather, they are the effects of other conditions that become more common and severe with age. Common risk factors for severe problems with walking include advanced age (older than 85) and multiple chronic disease conditions, such as heart disease, arthritis, dementia, stroke, hip fracture, or cancer. Common conditions that contribute to walking problems include the following: 1. Back pain 2. Joint pain and arthritis 3. Diseases of the muscles or bones 4. Poor fitness 5. Problems after orthopedic surgery or stroke 6. Low blood pressure and heart disease 7. Parkinson’s disease 8. Vision or balance problems 9. Fear of falling
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Staff Spotlight
NoraGraebnergrewuponthewestsideofthestate, fell in love with a Marine, got married, and moved far,faraway.Shehas livedallover theUS including: Alabama, Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, California, Texas, Maryland, and Tennessee, plus a year long adventure in Okinawa. She studied to be a Physical Therapist Assistant, graduatingfromSTCCatMemphis in2007.Preview occupations include:architecturaldrafting,hospice volunteering, mothering & domestic bliss. Most recently she finished training as a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and looks forward to furthering her manual therapy skills in strain counterstrain,totalmotionreleaseandcraniosacral therapy. “I like the integrated approach Synergy offers people. It is important that the patient take an Nora Graebner, PTA, GCFP
active role in their health and well-being, working with the therapist rather than just coming into the office to get ‘fixed’. Wellness involves the whole self: mind, body and spirit.” Nora and her husband have recently moved to Spokane for Steve’s retirement. She is looking forward to doingmore outside activities including: snow shoeing, cross country skiing, crewing/ rowing, fly fishing, shooting, hiking, and playing with her boxers. Nora is certified as a lymphedema therapist (CLT) after attending the Academy of Lymphatic Studies (AOLS) in Edmonton, AB. She was trained in complete decongestive therapy (CDT), which includes manual lymph drainage (MLD), compression bandaging, and the management of lymphedema.
CDA (208) 666-0611
VALLEY (509) 413-1630
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Patient Success Spotlight
“I met Nora while working with Shauna at Synergy after suffering a stroke 2 years prior, which affected the left side of my body. My main goal was to learn to walk. I had been in therapy for 2 years and couldn’t stand unassisted. Shauna said, “Nora can teach you to stand and walk.” I took her up on that offer. A therapist (Amy Pemberton) started working with me and Nora. One day before Christmas, Nora came to my home for P.T. While I was sitting in the wheelchair she said, “You need to get out of that wheelchair and walk.” I said, “you know I can’t walk.” She said, “yes you can!” I did stand up and started walking, and have been taking baby steps ever since then. By Christmas 2017, I could stand alone and hug my family as they came through the door. That was one of the most exciting days since my stroke. Nora pushes me in a gentle and caring way, but hard. Although, without her I would be sitting in the wheelchair forever. I’m so happy for what Nora has done for me. Now I can go up and down stairs with assistance. I owe my new independence to Nora. I can now walk pretty much anywhere I want to go. I have been waiting for years and it finally happened. Nora, you’re the best.” - Pam C. (May 2018) “I can now walk pretty much anywhere I want to go. I have been waiting for years and it finally happened.”
Patient’s care: Feldenkrais, CranioSacral Therapy, Integrated Listening System
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All About Kids The Newsletter About Taking Care of the Ones That Matter Most
HELPING YOUR CHILDREN NAVIGATE FRIENDSHIPS Notice Any Challenges in Your Child’s Social Life?
As adults, it’s easy to recognize the importance of hanging out with friends. Friends boost our self-esteem, enrich our experiences, and provide moral support when life gets tough. From the standpoint of developmental milestones, making friends is equally as important (if not more so) than earning an A in school. Yet for many kids, learning how to make -- and maintain -- friendships is a skill that takes constant refining. For some children, fitting in is a struggle. Cornerstones of childhood interaction, such as taking turns or engaging in pretend play, eludes them. This can be especially true for children who have special needs. For those who face developmental, physical, or emotional challenges, social skills may not come naturally. Though parents and teachers can’t make friends for children, there are ways to help kids develop and build social skills -- both in and out of school. If you know a child who has a difficult time making friends or winds up getting rejected by their peers, here are some useful tips to help. Act As an Emotion Coach Though everyone experiences negative emotions and selfish impulses, keeping these in check is important to making friends. Research shows that when parents and teachers speak to children about emotions in a empathetic, problem-solving manner, kids form better emotional self- control. This, in turn, leads to stronger socialization abilities on the playground, during playdates, and in the classroom. On the contrary, children whose are often punished for strong emotions (“Just go to your room to cool off”) or have their emotions trivialized (“You’re being ridiculous”) tend to struggle with self-control. This, in turn, leads to greater difficulty making and sustaining friendships.
Keep Playdates and Hang Time Short When children of any age are just getting to know one another, it’s best to limit their together time to one or two hours during a playdate and far shorter times in the classroom. Although there’s a risk that the time together has to end when things are getting fun, it is far better to cut activities short than have them linger too long. Much longer than that and there’s a high risk of arguing, which will just leave everyone reluctant to try again.
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SPECIALIZING IN : Sensory Integration/Processing • Listening Therapies • Gross Motor & Coordination Skills Development • Play Skills • Fine Motor/ Visual Motor Skill Development • Oral Motor/Oral Sensory Development • Speech/Articulation Development • Expressive-Receptive Language Therapy • Literacy & Cognitive Development • Social Language Skills
All About Kids The Newsletter About Taking Care of the Ones That Matter Most
PRESENTING POSITIVE FRIENDSHIPS TO YOUR CHILDREN Notice Any Challenges in Your Child’s Social Life?
Practice Kindness Encourage children to engage in small acts of kindness. This may be hugging a friend who is sad or lending a pencil to a classmate who lacks one. Kindness tends to beget kindness, which is a great way to start a friendship. That said, PsychologyToday issues some warnings about being overly or inappropriately kind. When children try to buy friends through giving gifts or money, it is often not reciprocated. Instead, the receiver may lose respect for the giver if it keeps happening, as this behavior reeks of desperation rather than kindness. For this reason, it’s important for teachers to keep an eye on how friendships are being made and for parents to be aware if money or valuable toys go missing. It’s also worth noting that kindness is defined by its impact, not its intent. Some children go overboard by being excessively affectionate or insisting that a peer only hang out with them. Neither of these are apt to go over well, and instead act as a deterrent to friendships.
Build Hang Time Around an Activity The surest way to playdate failure is having bored kids. To avoid this, plan the hang time around a fun activity, such as splashing in the wading pool, making individual pizzas, or playing a board game. Bear in mind that mainstream kids will likely enjoy all of the activities that children with special needs enjoy, so this can be a win-win all the way around. In the classroom, try to ensure that all kids have a role in group work and that there isn’t too much time just spent sitting without work. As a child navigates the world of friendships and disappointments, expect the occasional heartache (for both of you). Also, recognize that children have different ways of engaging, including parallel play. Realize that a child may be an introvert as well, which means that friendships are important, but so is down time.
synergyidaho.com 6270N. GovernmentWay DaltonGardens, ID83815 (208) 666-0611
SPECIALIZING IN : Sensory Integration/Processing • Listening Therapies • Gross Motor & Coordination Skills Development • Play Skills • Fine Motor/ Visual Motor Skill Development • Oral Motor/Oral Sensory Development • Speech/Articulation Development • Expressive-Receptive Language Therapy • Literacy & Cognitive Development • Social Language Skills
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