Fall 2018 Newsletter - Embodying Resilience

Fall is almost upon us!

Your Well-Being Newsletter

Paul Ciske, Ph.D.

Address Your Vision, Balance, & Movement before they address you.

Experience how output from the nervous system can change performance (including pain) in the body with targeted inputs to your proprioception, vision, and balance systems. Monday, September 17, 7:15-8:45

Embodying Resilience -
Daylong and Series
(also see box below for combined online and in-person training)

Develop greater capacity to relate to whatever arises, especially when under pressure, from a centered state which accesses “presence, confidence and compassion”.

Saturday, September 22, 9:30-5 followed by optional 3 Mondays of in-depth training from 7-9pm (September 24, October 1 & 8). Participation on the Mondays is optional but the daylong is required for the Mondays. Location: East Bay Meditation Center, Oakland. More information & registration

ASSESSMENT CLASSES

Vision
We will be assessing a number of functions of vision, besides just clarity/acuity, to detect any insufficiencies that could be affecting pain or performance currently, or that could have a detrimental effect down the road. Monday, October 23, 7:15 - 8:30.

Balance/Vestibular system
We will be assessing both the functioning of the vestibular (inner ear/balance) system and discovering your current "Stance Challenge for Balance" with the variables of open or closed eyes, and different head motions. Again the goal is to detect deficiencies before they become a problem. Monday, November 5, 7:15 - 8:30pm

Cranial Nerves
These are the 12 nerves that come off the brain itself versus the spinal column. Since they are so close to the brain they have a major impact on performance and pain. Discover if there are minor issues before they become major ones. Monday, November 26, 7:15-8:30pm.

Cerebellum and other Brain areas
A major part of the cerebellum's job is Accuracy, Balance, and Control of movement. Through simple assessments you will detect if there are imbalances in the functioning of the cerebellum and other parts of the brain between the right and left sides. Monday, December 10, 7:15-8:30pm

CALL 510-832-5725 TO REGISTER & FOR LOCATION
(Assessment classes offered on a donation basis)

Embodying Resilience

Special offer!

Combined Online and In-person Course based on the work of Leadership Embodiment formally known as Conscious Embodiment. The online program is called LEAP (Leadership Embodiment Accelerate Program).

Develop the capacity to access "presence, confidence, and compassion" especially when under pressure or stress.

This newly offered 3 month online training program teaches you how to to apply the essence of the martial art of Aikido and the wisdom of mindfulness to daily life challenges and stressors.

The special introductory BONUS is that I will be including, for the same price as the online course, 3 monthly In-person group training sessions to supplement the online program. My plan is to also make these In-person sessions available virtually if you are not physically able to attend.

The cost of the 3 month online program is $169 and includes the special introductory bonus of 3 small group sessions. I am aiming to start a group in October so contact me as soon as possible to join in on this amazing program. Call 510-832-5725 to register and receive the link for this special offer.

In this Newsletter:

Fall Classes
Quote
Article: Embodying Resilience
BONUS: Centering Practice
Gratitude

Call 510-832-5725 for your Body Tune-up

QUOTE:
“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

EMBODYING RESILIENCE

This article is about Embodying Resilience, which is the title of the class I am teaching with my colleague Anjali Sawhney at the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) on September 22 (see notice under “Classes” in this newsletter). The EBMC class is based on the principles of Aikido, a Japanese martial art, and mindfulness. I realized while contemplating about this upcoming class that embodiment of resilience happens in a number of ways with the work I offer.

On a physical level the resetting of the nervous system and the subsequent changes in muscle function creates more stability and capacity for the joints therefore making them more resilient to the many forces applied to them through life activities.

Increased options for activities, when joints are working well, provide the opportunity for another type of resilience, “metaplasticity”. Neuroplasticity is fairly well known by the general public these days, or at least my clients have been exposed to it. It is the ability of the nervous system to adapt and change depending on the stimulus (i.e., activities) given to the nervous system. Metaplasticity, in simple terms, is being better at being adaptable. It is the plasticity of plasticity. If the nervous system is use to changing it gets better at changing. So the ability to do a greater range of activities cultivates a greater capacity for metaplasticity, which is another form of resilience.

Improvement in performance of the visual, proprioception, and vestibular systems through the neurologic bodywork allows for clearer information input to the brain. With clearer information the brain is better able to predict what is going to happen which decreases threat and in turn allows for a higher output of strength, range of motion, power production, and coordination. This again creates a greater capacity for resilience.

The decrease in stress on the body by improving its mechanical capacity also allows for a greater reservoir to handle other mental, emotional, and physical stresses. This results in yet another way of enhancing resilience.

In the class at EBMC we will explore recognizing our reactive habitual patterns in dealing with pressure and stress through interactive exercises, and then learn to shift our attention with an embodied centering practice that accesses a state of being which I have found has a greater capacity to act with wisdom and compassion. By being able to recognize our patterns and have the capacity to shift to a different state we are able to be more resilient to the stresses and pressures that life throws at us.

Wishing you much resilience in your life so you can continue to radiate your Noble, your Awesome and your Shiny. (This is a reference to one of my teacher’s (Wendy Palmer) Aikido Sensei. He instructed, “I want to see your Noble. I want to see your Awesome. I want to see your Shiny.)

GRATITUDE: I am continually grateful to all of my clients that support my work. I am also grateful for your generosity in paying in accordance to the relative value for healing based on your means which allows me to offer my services to a wide range of people with a diverse array of socio-economic status.
Thank you!

BONUS - Centering Practice

Shifting the attention from a stressor to a state of presence, confidence, and compassion.

Inhale while creating a dignified uplifted posture. Exhale softening down the front of the body and think of something that makes you smile. Inhale the support of the earth up through your bones lengthening upwards. Exhale, expanding your sense of the space around you equally in all directions. Release into gravity settling into the space while staying expanded.