Much of the basic fundamental principles of the healing arts are derived from the natural laws, cycles and elements exampled in nature. In nature we are reminded of the flow and spontaneous movement of life. As we wade in the water and experience the fresh air of the trees we breathe deep and notice the soft breeze upon the skin. Our senses are heightened, we are called to the present moment. We notice the details, and embody, we rest into the space between thoughts, we take moments to feel the heart. Nature reminds us to drop distractions and live in the now. Holistic sustaining natural order, the way of creation. 

When we hike for instance, we are calling ourselves to the present when we are hopping along the rocks of a river bed, because with each step, we are asked to be able to center our weight and provide balance to the whole body via the feet, and within each step the surface of the ground is different. We work our agile feet to be able to hop from this stone to that one. Our footwork, the speed of the step and the way the body carries itself determines our ankle stability and the ability to stay standing, to ground with freedom of movement.

Standing on your own two feet. When you walk it’s a perfect moment to presence in your body. Notice the way your feet contact the ground. A steady eye on the ground beneath your feet can help you keep from stubbing your toes, and avoid tripping and falling. Calling your attention to the furthest of your extremities, all the way to your feet, will help you grow new neurological pathways. Grounding is essential for body mechanics, because our foundation effects the rest of the structure. Your body needs stable footing to create a solid foundation. Creating a stable foundation physically establishes alignment in your structure.

We can look at our foundation metaphorically as well. Core beliefs are established during early childhood development, from birth until around age 7. Many times these belief systems can be outdated, and can be running more of us than we understand or can see. The brain gives 95% to the subconscious. So we are operating on these belief systems, and it’s imperative to update old files. Many of these core memories are related to self worth and self esteem.

How we feel about money, relationships, success, failure, aging, body image, learning, self care, capacity, ability etc. It can be hard to take a look, and once we know what’s under the hood we can figure out what is driving us. And if these values are not in alignment with what we really believe, we can update our beliefs. We can choose who we want to be, when we have the tools to access our awareness. Integrating current core values into the foundation of your belief systems helps to create harmony and flow by setting the cornerstones for your mental and emotional health.

Doing the deep work means we have to take the time to show up for ourselves. Many of us who didn’t get the nurturing and caring we needed as children and young adults end up having a stack, a pile of files, memories that have created a narrative, a story line in which we may be continuing. These patterns can be on auto pilot and can after we are conditioned, we may be self administering what may have been traumatic to begin with. These mental and emotional behaviors and patterns can be self destructive or create self sabotage. They may have initially come about as a way of protecting ourselves, and over time we don’t need protection, but the body can still be holding on, remembering the past and some what stuck there. These cycles can be a challenge to break. And the consciousness work of Presence Centered Awareness Therapy allows us to interrupt and break patterns by letting go of so intimately identifying with them. There are tools and I offer these tools in sessions so that we can get comfortable with ourselves, even the parts we’d like to shift. Breathe Deep and take it one step at a time.

Cycles and patterns are held in the visceral body. The senses alone can trigger coping mechanisms. Sensations can lead to mental and behavioral patterns that stem from a trauma, accident, injury or surgery being triggered. Maybe your parents argued, maybe someone touched you when they shouldn’t have, maybe there has been abuse, sexual trauma, grief, and loss.

If you are human most likely you have experienced times that were unpleasant. I hope for your sake that it didn’t happen too often. As children we often romanticize life, or adopt the beliefs of family members, friends, and role models. There are the story books and white picket fences, they call it the American Dream. You are modeled and shown things and you create preferences and there are experiences you don’t prefer and you aversion is created inside of you. You are taught to strive for the best, in order to prove your worth, to be happy, to be successful.

In our society we are taught there is the ideal relationship, the ideal height, weight, size, sexual parts, feet size, intelligence, popularity, feelings, success, house, career, earnings etc. We get ideas about who we are supposed to be from the time we are preverbal. We develop preferences and we want to belong. We want to fit in, we want to stand out, we want to be valued, seen, heard and acknowledged. And there are times when the opposite happens. Abuse is all too common and it can start as early as the womb. We are so sensitive when we are little, we hear and feel sounds, touches, tones, frequencies and vibrations. When we receive less than ideal treatment, this can stifle us. When we are hurt physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually we can develop defense mechanisms, or take on shame, guilt and blame that can stifle our soul’s development. If we have not been taught how to efficiently process, this can lead to a variety of disorders and diagnosis, because the body is a living journal and takes record of each event and how we felt about it.

Children were obviously not at fault and yet most people especially when abused as children blame themselves in some way. This can result in negative self talk, feelings of unworthiness and can develop into behavioral issues. Children develop differently when exposed to any form of abuse. As children and into adulthood, good people blame themselves, why? I have come to an idea that maybe it’s because innocent beings want to take pain away from others by shouldering it themselves. Often times the abusive person in the child’s life is a loved one, a parent or a caregiver. Complex relationships in which there are also loving interactions that can quickly change to abuse create patterns that are worth taking a look at.

If you have suffered from abuse, you are not alone. Childhood trauma can bring about negative self talk and distorted self image. The deeper the pain and trauma, the more it can be locked it away, and when triggered it can hastily be pulled out to play. You may have shame and blame wrapped around the memories, sensations, thoughts and feelings. All of these aspects of yourself have a home and are located inside of the body. These body parts that house these emotions and mental patterns create stress and tension and can be anchoring in that memory. It’s important to attend to these parts of ourselves. Invest in care for these parts that have taken the brunt of it.

Presence Centered Awareness Therapy is a synthesis of consciousness tools that help us to stay centered in the presence moment and ground and base in our awareness. Awareness is the therapy because we let go of the elements that divide us, our subconscious doubts and fears. We center and anchor in the watcher who notices what you’re experiencing. Your sensations, thoughts and feelings. And we center in the space that holds the totality of our experience. In a loving, observational state, where there is no judgement, no identities, no expectations, no trying to prove your worth. You are inherently worthy here, you are doing your best and deserve reverence, compassion and understanding. And sometimes we need to relearn and rewire our beliefs to heal our nervous systems and our body. So we are in more alignment with who we really are. So we can live a freer, more peaceful existence. We can hold a loving compassionate space and with love integrate these parts back into our whole selves. I am able to achieve the results I do because I offer the safe container of Presence Centered Awareness Therapy during MFR sessions.

I offer Myofascial Release, a specialized form of bodywork that works with the muscular fascial system. MFR releases restrictions in the muscular fascial system. These restrictions can hold these patterns of stress, tension, and emotional and mental patterns and beliefs. MFR is conducive to doing this deeper work to treat symptoms at their source. Let’s relieve your chronic pain patterns to get you back to doing the activities that you love. Angela uses her over 20 years of experience as a Myofascial Release Therapist and Injury Specialist to treat her clients right at Sol Bodyworks in Grass Valley.