The Scale of Stillness Practice

Our first Dharma talk is all about how to access and utilize our ‘Inner Sense’, starting with the external world of experiences and our five senses, our proprioceptive sense, as well as ‘Interoceptive Awareness’ and its role in the stilling process.

 

Outline of presentation

1. Introduction to "Stillness"
   1. Scale of stillness
   2. Dharma talks as both individual offerings, but when taken as a group cumulate into a natural deeper stillness practice
   3. Goal of Dharma talks: To increase personal resilience, compassion, and presence for practitioners, therapists, and teachers through a practical workshop on stillness
2. Goal of this Dharma talk
   1. Outline the neuroscience that informs the theory and practice of stillness and benefits
   2. Distinction between 5 sense, proprioceptive sense, and interoceptive sense
   3. Practical techniques that create stillness memory in the brain and the body
   4. Opportunity to experience a natural state of presence
3. Physiologic benefits of stillness
4. Psychological benefits of stillness
5. What is "dynamic stillness"?
   1. How effective movement originates from dynamic stillness
6. Exploring our five senses - Experiment/Meditation
7. Exploring Proprioception and Interoception
8. Interoceptive awareness meditation -- Begins at the 30 minute mark
9. Closure

by Joel Ronningen. RMT

The following are some ideas for you to explore, practice, and play with that come from my experience using Taoist principles in my practice as a John Barnes MFR therapist. The confluence between these two paths has been exceptionally fruitful, and I hope you will glean benefit from what I have learned from the ensuing integration.

 

"Grounded, not grounded”

   Not being grounded can contribute to poor body mechanics, leading to using too much physical effort and working too hard. When we are grounded, with our weight sinking easily through our body and into the ground, our work becomes easier, lighter, and more able to listen and follow the cues from our clients. 

by Elizabeth Browning, CMT

Section I: Introduction

Do you ever find yourself frustrated after getting good manual therapy results but then finding that clients with complex presentations return with an intense list of symptomology? I know I did. After learning about breathing pattern disorders (BPD), I had a “lightbulb” moment. This was the key I was waiting for in my clinical practice . . .