Healing Journeys: The Power of Rubenfeld Synergy [Paperback ed.] 0966426134, 9780966426137

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healing

journeys The Power of Rubenfeld Synergy

40 personal stories of successes achieved through this mind-body approach to health and well-being

edited by Vicki Mechner Foreword by liana Rubenfeld

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Copley Square

kealifi^ journey*.

Ttie< Power o^KubmfeiciSyHjer^y

EDITED BY

VLckl Mechter

OmnlQu^t Frets CHAPPAQUA, NEW YORK

OmniQuest

Published by

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©

Press

1998 by OmniQuest inc

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Publisher's Cataloging-in-Publication

Healing journeys

:

the

(Provided by Quality Books, Inc.)

power of Rubenfeld Synergy

[foreword by liana Rubenfeld].

—

/ edited

by Vicki Mechner

;

1st ed.

cm.

p.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preassigned

LCCN:

98-67158

ISBN: 0-96642-613-4 1.

3.

Touch

RC489.M53M43 10

paper)

—Case —Therapeutic

Mind and body

works.

(alk.

therapies

use.

1998

studies. 4.

2.

—Popular

Psychotherapy

Healing.

615.89

I.

Mechner, Vicki.

QBI98-66790

987654321

Printed in the United States of America. First printing.

Rubenfeld Synergy Method Synergist and

CRS

is

—and Certified Rubenfeld —owned by liana Rubenfeld.

a registered servicemark

are servicemarks

Method, Kripalu, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and

Feldenkrais

marks and servicemarks used

Throughout

this

in this

book are the property of their

all

other trade-

respective owners.

book, asterisks are used to indicate individuals whose names and

identifying characteristics have been changed to preserve their privacy.

"Checking

It

Out," pp. 31-41, was adapted from Bodywork by

Copyright

©

1995 by William

By

permission of William

"Choosing Holistic

a Partner," pp.

Living Magazine,

Morrow

Morrow

Thomas

Claire.

& Company, Inc.

8c Company, Inc.

81-83, was adapted by permission of the author and 14, 2:27.

Copyright

© Holistic Living Magazine.

deJicatioKy

To

my parents, and Mary

Oscar

who

taught

Weitzberg,

me by

their example:

Dad, that I have something

to learn

from every person I meet, and

Mom,

that I can accomplish anything

if 1 set

my mind to

it.

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2014

https://archive.org/details/healingjourneysOOvick

Contwts

FOREWORD iLwAs Ruhmfelcl

xiii

INTRODUCTION Vickl Mecfuter

xvii

CONFIDENTIALITY AND CAVEATS

xxi

First impressions of Kubwfelcl Syturjy

SYNOPSES

l

2

THE FIRST TOUCH

EAST MEETS WEST: THE NINJA-RUBENFELD CONNECTION Qrey KouwJUki

9

A LEAP OF FAITH Si4sZAMM& QUtch-SosU

21

GOING OUT ON A LIMB TO LIGHTEN UP

uw

CHECKING Tkontas

IT

OUT 31

Claire^

Becoming aMmres ofoUL patterns SYNOPSES

44

LISTENING FOR METAPHORS Mary Jok& Hooper 47

DREAM BODY-MAPPING QishU Robert

53

REMEMBERING EDDIE Marlta, Bukofy

57

THE DEPTHS OF BELIEFS SowjOs COKtoti

63

CLUES FROM WITHIN Luidas Stofjel

67

EMBODIED MEMORIES Betty EstkelU

73

ANCHORS AWEIGH Roses M. AnArz&jeMKlci CHOOSING A PARTNER ReHAtes Noimlc

81

SAM'S STORY

Lutdcu

TkomAS

85

77

contents

TALES

ix

MY LEFT LEG TOLD ME

Joy Qatet

93

LEARNING THE CONSCIOUS GOOD-BYE Margaret A Healy 99

Fronv uuiyht to integrations SYNOPSES I

CAN TAKE

107

108 IT!

JeAMM£y Keoclc

109

LETTING GO OF GRIEF QaiL Benton 115 SELF-INTEGRATION, PIECE BY PIECE VuwwJtmjlas 121

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF PAIN-FEAR-PAIN Pe^jy Kostyskyiis LIFE

131

AFTER DEATH

Patricicu ElieMs

How w& Learns to do SYNOPSES

135

RubenfelcL Sytwjy

148

THE FIRST TIME I LAN A TOUCHED ME Mikes SckUsuujer

151

147

ktalutg journeys

MY BODY SUITS ME FINE Barbara MoKetvzie


small,

my top hand forward

few times, repeating this until my arm

slid

repeated the same forward and backward

my

Then

top knee.

—zigzagging by

sliding

it

got more compli-

my top arm forward

and

my

top knee backward at the same time. After doing this on

one

side

I

difference

I

stood up and walked around, feeling a profound

between the two

sides

of my body.

wasn't curious about the concept behind the exercise, but simply

thought of

And

it

it

as

another

did loosen them;

way of I

was

stretching

so impressed

my

spastic muscles.

by the

results that I

signed up for a weekend workshop the next time Dana came to

Canada.

At

the workshop, after

Dana had mtroduced us

to the philos-

ophy and theory of Rubenfeld Synergy, she instructed us

to

simple exercise by ourselves: 1.

Clasp our hands together with our fingers interlaced.

2.

Notice which thumb

3.

Take

a

is

on

top.

mental picture of how

this feels.

do

a

— exercises

Release our hands and clasp

4.

other

thumb on

top.

I

clasped

my

hands in

A mere

as easy as I

way

I

me

anxiety. I realized that

my

body.

I

sought to make elicited the feelings

was confused by

break to share

me

that

I

this

had gotten the

Exercises.

feelings,

my

was not going

to

To my

I

saw that the very changes I

was struggling

I

to reduce.

dilemma and approached liana

my experience with

During the weekend,

Mind

it

thought to stop having headaches simply by mak-

ing certain changes in

and

nonhabitual

my chest. I was taken aback. of my fingers in relation to each

change in the position

other was causing

told

this

twinge of anxiety spread across

felt a

I

again, this time with the

have to wait for her next instruction, which was to notice,

I didn't

because as soon as

be

them

185

at the

She smiled knowingly and

her.

picture.

was introduced

relief these did

not bring up torrents of

but only an increased awareness of my body, patterns of holding tension.

I

Body-

to four complete

my posture,

experienced significant

changes from these sequences of small, subtle movements changes that years of traditional stretches had not produced. purchased a

set

tapes to use at

of Rubenfeld Synergy

home and

BodyMind

I

Exercise audio-

decided to apply for the next Rubenfeld

Synergy training program with liana.

Ho[tiny that learning more about the body-mind connection would speed

my

healing,

I

began

times, feelings of grief or terror

to

do the

exercises at

would well up

in

my

home. At gut,

needed to slow down in order to allow them to emerge

When I

pushed myself beyond

a headache.

Learning to

my limit, I my body

I

I

gently.

would quickly develop

listen to

and honor the mechanisms

and

had developed

helped

me

to accept

for self-protection. I

gradually generalized this learning to other defense mechanisms

Uarn to do Ruhm^eid Synerjy

koururt;

186

my

of mine. For example, instead of berating myself for tionistic

perfec-

much of myself and others, I tendency had helped me survive my

tendency to demand too

how that

began to appreciate childhood.

even stopped shaming myself for "being stuck" in

I

habits I hadn't been able to change. I

have had some remarkable flashes of insight while doing

bodymind sequences

—suddenly becoming aware of

a new insight One such insight was that never listened to me never even heard

into an issue, a behavior, a relationship.

although a certain person

me!

—

I

was

ferently.

still

—

talking to

him and expecting him

Another was recognizing that

I

them.

BodyMind

No wonder I

Exercises are

felt

now

live

everyone resentful.

part of

my

daily self-care rou-

along with sitting meditation. Sometimes

tion

and do

I

am

that

my upper back muscles

Doing any of these

new

insight into

The

it.

speedy release of tension so that

I

feel like

soon

are tightening or

become aware of something I'm

develop some

skip the medita-

I also use specific exercises as

in emotional turmoil.

invariably

I

To me they

several of the exercises instead.

become aware

dif-

overwhelmed and

tine,

moving meditations.

behave

often play "Savior," feel-

ing responsible for the whole world and trying to else's lives for

to

as I

when

exercises I almost

fearful about,

and

insight usually results in a

can move quickly to the next

constructive step in resolving the problem facing me.

During the weeks of Exercise each morning.

own

internal

training,

By doing

did a different

these

I

coming home

at last, leaving

I

also

my body, which me

feeling rich

BodyMind Exercises has empowered me own growing and healing.

BodyMind

learned to listen to

rhythm and not push myself.

awareness of energy moving in it

we

heightened

feels like

and

full.

my my

my spir-

Using the

to take control of

my

Qot To Be, TrajwHrC OK/

Vvt,

Valerie,

Toward tke< eMxL

Baiw

of my Rubenfeld Synergy Training,

1

a piece of work with liana that has greatly influenced the

have lived ence as

I

my life

ever since.

remember

tape of the session I

for a

am

it,

I

with a

made

I

did

way

I

want

to tell

little

help from watching a video-

you about that experi-

at the time.

not a procrastinator by nature, but

had put off asking

I

demonstration session with liana out of shyness and fear of

being the center of attention. Eventually curiosity overcame reluctance,

and

I

found myself one afternoon talking quite comfortably

with liana in front of the group and the camera. liana put 1

me

at ease

by reassuring

me

that

I

would not have

A demonstration session in front of the training group, so called because although

demonstration,

it

to

it is

a

involves a piece of deep therapeutic work.

187

kowwe, learn to do Rubmfelcl Synerjy

188

go any place that frightened me.

open lar

what would come up

to see

agenda for

it.

Almost

soon

as

as I lay

I

remember being

in the session. I

back on the table

thought, "This feels like an operating room!"

I

curious and

had no particu-

was jolted by the

I

didn't say anything,

but kept trying to follow what liana was saying and doing.

became

me and

above

lights

me

increasingly distracted.

where

I

Something about the bright video

the circle of faces

uneasy. liana noticed that

was attempting

to

I

all

around

my attention was

make

it

go,

me was making

not

my left hip,

at

and she asked

me what was

going on.

Suddenly noticing that attached to an

I.V.

my arm

memories of the operating room

my breasts I

was outstretched

tube, I told her that

I

as if

it

were

had been triggered

to

in which, six years before,

both

had

fully

had been removed.

was surprised by

this reaction because,

by now,

I

recovered from the double mastectomy, emotionally as well as

The ensuing

physically. topics:

my

conversation with liana covered

my other arm more by my own fears

not wanting

stricted in life

how brave

events; even

and others

I

restricted;

my

many

feeling re-

than by other people or

had or had not been, facing that surgery

since. liana credited

me

with more courage than

I

thought was warranted. After a while liana asked to say to I

if there

was anything

wanted

my body.

answered, "You've been through a

aloud.

else I

As

I

lot, too!"

continued looking to see what

else I

and laughed

wanted

to say to

my body,

emotions flowed through me. Tears came

edged,

appreciate you." I felt strong as I said, "I'm taking better

"I

as I

acknowl-

care of you."

Then

liana asked if

something

I

my body wanted

should do or not do.

anything

else

from me,

fv&got to

My sadness say out loud,

and

built

"My body

it

be, tratrtlui' OK/

took some time for

wants to hear that

know it doesn't." "Where does your body want "Right here,"

For a while

me

to be able to

looks

right

all

I

to hear that?" liana continued.

answered, touching

I

it

189

my sternum, "at my chest."

hands rested on mine, which were crossed

liana's

my heart. I felt her lift them gently and then I felt them drop onto my chest, one hand on each breast. I laughed again, thinkover

ing,

"Only liana would do

Although

I

that!"

heard the group's gasps and laughter,

aware of being watched

as liana continued,

I

was not

"What do you want to

say to your breasts?"

"They're not

you know,"

real,

I

answered, speaking to liana

my breasts. liana asked me to say that again, which I did. Then, assuming the role of my breasts, liana asked in a cartoonlike voice, "What and not

to

do you mean, we're not

real?"

"They're better than nothing, but they're not "They're comfortable. That's more important!" earlier implants,

my

real breasts, off in a jar

somewhere, were

after so

many

years of having been part of me.

feelings of gratitude

grew

as I recalled

missing

dren,

and

my

discussed

which had been downright uncomfortable, and

the possibility that

me

We

said.

real," I

as I realized that in

some

My

having nursed four chil-

sense,

my

breasts

had

sacri-

ficed themselves so that I could live. I

told liana about a

was given

to

me

sure that taking

recovery:

in the hospital right after its

my life.

When

So,

I

my initial

surgery. I'm

opening words to heart helped speed

"You have had

thought of it. That's with

Canadian Cancer Society pamphlet that

a life-saving operation." That's

how

I'd

had to think of it

hadn't dealt with

liana asked

me what

in order to get

my grief over

I'd like to

my

how I had on

the loss.

say to

my

"old pal"

— hour UK tecum, to do RubmfzLd Syiterjy

190

of was the song "So Long,

breasts, all I could think

Good To Know Ya!" I

laughed and everyone joined

the chorus to the end,

"And

liana asked

This time

breasts.

To

see if this

moved

shook

I

was

from

easily

which

I

life

and

as liana

and

woman and

caring.

The

it

group

ritual, a

as a

my new breasts,

saying,

of my

this part

my eyes

and

sat up, liana

became

"We

life,"

to

me me

had

a wonderful celebration

circle.

whole.

I felt as if I

Greeting each

man

both to the individ-

were participating in

and lightness lasted

Then

it

was time I

at the

to

for the rest of that

go home and continue to inte-

had learned

in that session.

most obvious one, that not grieving

the

time of the surgery

—or afterward—had

would not heal on

its

own.

I

left

had

a lot of "griefwork" around other issues, such as the deaths,

in quick succession, of several close relatives

marriage.

It

and

loose,

Everyone looked pretty good to

a lingering emotional pain that

at the

and

celebration of the feminine.

my life what

my breasts

soft

head

will be quite a journey."

session

One major lesson was

done

onto

in turn, I felt a strong connection

training week.

for

neck was

My

other.

says, 'That's right.'"

opened

feelings of ease

grate into

my

that's all."

neck by pressing gen-

head and then the

walked slowly around the

to the

an ancient

My

I

at the group.

I

my

my

else to say to

"No,

said,

ahead of us. Welcome to

responded, "And

friendly

ual

my

my hands

A while later, after look around

and

liana checked

so,

side to side;

liana then placed

or

my head

commented, "Your body

have a whole

had anything

I

in singing

got to be travelin' on."

I've

again if

one side of

tly against

liana

me

me

Been

It's

I

hadn't thought to

time did not suggest

took

and the end of

my

mourn my breasts and my counselor

it.

—

me longer to grasp a more profound lesson I changed my old pattern of dusting over

better off if

things, pretending they're not there or will

go away

that I'd be

unpleasant if I

ignore

fve

was about

I

was besieged by

once, after taking only

my doctor

—

hallucinations.

to die.

Fortunately help was on the horizon, in the form of two seem-

Over the

ingly different but remarkably parallel paths to the light.

next several years, a three-thousand-year-old Eastern spiritual tradition

and

a

contemporary Western therapy helped

me

stand that in order to break through fear and reach love,

have to reinhabit are. I

my

body, temple of the spirit

we

all

under-

I

would

essentially

was very fortunate that both Kripalu Yoga and Rubenfeld

Synergy offer

practical,

/^Wy-based tools to help

hundreds of students and

clients

—

me

our bodies' innate, sensate wisdom, and experience

The

first

tually rich

leg of

my

—and

later,

get out of our minds, tap into

odyssey took

me

love.

to Kripalu Yoga, a spiri-

mix of traditional Hatha and Bhakti Yogas

(the paths

of right action and devotion, respectively), designed for Americans by a charismatic teacher. For the next fifteen years Kripalu the Center,

—offered

guru, and staff as well as the yoga itself

its

me what amounted to ate living.

a master's degree in conscious, compassion-

At Kripalu and

at

home

alone on the floor,

I

learned to

use yoga postures, breathing, meditation, and devotional techniques to relax deep into

Spurred by re-created

my

my

my being

and

to trust

what

need for emotional healing,

I felt. I

gradually

personal yoga practice as a kind of psychotherapy-

to

tk& Uaht

285

1

in-motion. Instead of following a standard sequence of asanas? I'd lie

on the

my

throat or the ache in ever

was most

As

I lay

alive in

or that.

my pain.

attend to

When

I'd

notice physical urges to

chose to follow them,

I

exploratory

movements

Synergy Method

made

regularly be

drawn

I later

—

I'd

move

often be

fully feel I

I'd

—

and

sensed

emo-

make

small,

a hallmark of

discovered, of the Rubenfeld

In order to release

as well).

a lot of noise

and

my awareness

to heighten

sometimes coughing until I'd

me more

a physical discomfort,

the Kripalu approach (and, as

could, I

let

pay extra attention whenever

I'd

around

my

what-

shoulder. I'd wait, I'd see, I'd feel

guided naturally into positions that

tion lurking

knot in

in to the

me.

waiting and feeling,

way

in this

and tune

floor, relax, breathe,

all

the tension

I

sighing, grunting, laughing, crying,

almost choked.

I

into

some awkward-looking variation of

the shoulder stand pose. Taking long, deep breaths and trying not

my body with my

to control

mind,

I'd

find myself softening into

same uncomfortable physical sensations that

the

I

usually sought

to avoid. I'd continue gently holding the posture as long as I

could.

When

would begin

was

I

With energy nerves, I

lucky,

my

locked shoulders and tight chest

to let go.

streaming from

would sometimes shake

my

sore,

tight muscles

and

uncontrollably. Especially in the

shoulder stand, which compresses and then releases the chest and throat, I often

where

ended up wailing

are you?" I

to love me."

remembered the voice.

By

would

cry.

like a forlorn child.

"Why don't you love me?

Although surprised by these outbursts it's

1

I

was

Sanskrit

word

for

need you at first, I

yoga postures.

throat,

able finally to give deep, old

This was in the days before yoga therapies had been developed.

The

I

—and the

the chest that houses the heart

stimulating both,

feelings their voice.

2

"Mommy,

ice,

w& are.

drawing upon, everything

286

My mother did her best but, since her mother was as cold as Mom knew next to nothing about the unconditional love for

which

I

had longed

as a child.

Thanks

to

my

practice, though, the adult I

had become was

and space for

As

"Little Suzie."

her pain,

feel

I

allowed the child

I

would find myself moaning,

stalled. I

what

felt like

my efforts I

however,

had begun

my practice

to experience

shame. Like an itch

to get to the

several long-term

than

a

And so I did, at least for a few precious my arms wrapped around myself.

By tk& Lflsbb eighties, had

making time I

once was to

—then

were spent. "I'm sorry you're hurting. You're

with

finally

experienced compassion for myself

I

now. "Poor Suzie,"

you."

customized yoga

I

after

good

my

girl

tears

I

minutes, as

and

love

I'd rest

of yoga-as-therapy

some frightening bouts of

couldn't quite reach,

it

eluded

bottom of it through yoga

alone. Because

seemed ready

to delve deeper

yoga students

could take them in

class,

also

my teaching,

too,

was

less satisfy-

ing than before.

My town.

I

frustration

peaked the summer liana Rubenfeld came to

attended her weeklong workshop and watched as one

demonstration client after another tackled tough emotions in

much

the

way

week was out far-off, frigid

I'd

I'd

been wanting

committed

my

students to do. Before the

to a long, costly training

program

Although I'm not now practicing Rubenfeld Synergy, sider the time

up

I

con-

and money well spent. The training experience,

coupled with required private sessions back home, helped

my

in

Toronto.

emotional clearing work where

Immediately the shame self reexperiencing

my

myself with people

I

I'd

been sensing

I'd left

intensified. I

found my-

—of daring

deepest childhood fear

saw

me pick

off with yoga.

to be

as powerful.

In Toronto, for one intense

week

at a time, I

was faced with

a

tk& liakt

to

charismatic and authoritative master teacher

287

who reminded me

of

my lovely but demanding mother. "Why cant you be just like me, dear?" was the message Little Suzie had gathered from Mom. Now Big Suzie, who was still ashamed of not being enough like her mother,

she was getting this message again

felt

teacher and, by extension, her

As

their student I

perately as I felt totally

staff.

found myself seeking their approval

had once sought Mother's

—

At

love.

as des-

the same time,

—incapable of measuring up. In

if irrationally

psychic re-creation of my family scenario

masks, in order to conform and "get approval

—from the

was

I felt it

I

was

when

I

on

did get

through to

intimidated, vulnerable, and at times so

I

ashamed that

almost quit.

felt

this

so busy putting

right," that

for these false selves. Little got

the "real me." I

it

I

Somehow, though,

I

stuck

it

out.

Thanks

to the depth of the

Rubenfeld work and the sheer length of the training, the pain of keeping myself

down

finally got harder to bear

having an unlovable self show up and be judged

Toward

different.

mining

all

the end, exhausted from both

as in the

aftermath of Lucys death,

Both times the pain was so great that I

knew how

I

two

disciplines have

the

I believe,

mind and

its

I

it

was

my willing-

me

out of

it.

to give myself.

more

and,

and

needed more encourage-

Although Rubenfeld Synergy works with itly

fell

my shell.

ness to be in extreme emotional turmoil that got

ment than

unacceptably

as

mask making and

that shame, forty-some years of defenses

began to emerge from

Much

than the fear of

feelings

more

explic-

effectively than does classical yoga, the

much

in

common: Both

invite us to set aside

conditioned thoughts, and to pay attention to the

body. For, unlike the mind, the

body

doesn't

lie.

Both systems pro-

mote

trust in

relax,

breathe with awareness, and explore sensations with gentle

our physical inclinations by having us

lie

down,

w& are.

drawing upo^ evtrytkutj

288

movements. What's more, both approaches recognize that the

body can be tion;

a

gateway to transcendence: in yoga through medita-

in Rubenfeld Synergy through a trance-like

state

of deep,

intuitive relaxation.

Most

we

perhaps, both systems understand that before

critically,

we must

can transcend,

And in order to let feelings go, we must first let them

and psychic.

come and be point,

descend, to clear pain both physical

felt fully in

my practice) and

emotions will

release

being. Second, that the fear, anger, grief,

teachings (and, up to a

of Kripalu Yoga taught

First, that troubling feel, express,

The

the body.

us and fester until

live in

them, or until

moment we

and shame

me two related lessons:

we

we

integrate them into our

succeed in letting go of our

—by whatever means—the

kinder,

gentler states of joy, peace, compassion, and love are right there, available to nourish us.

To way

illustrate

how

well the troubled body can serve as a gate-

to repressed feelings, and,

sionate (or so-called "higher")

Synergy session with a

Diane

is

a strong,

client

by clearing them, self, I'd like

I'll call

down-to-earth

Diane.*

woman I

This position, with back to the Earth,

first

is

knew as my

lies

and

more space

guts, while letting the mind

belly-up.

much like the

yoga relaxation pose, savasana ("the corpse").

ens the senses and creates

compas-

Rubenfeld

to recall a

yoga student. She climbs onto the table and

sic

to the

It

clas-

sharp-

for the heart, lungs,

settle into the

body.

I

begin by lightly touching Diane's head and then move to her

feet, reassuring

her wordlessly, "I'm here with you on

your terms; you are safe in

my hands." I

notice at once that

her ankles feel rigid, suggesting that her legs and hips

might be

As

I

tight.

walk slowly back

to the

head of the

table, I

hear

tk& liqfat

to

Diane's strangely uneven breath

my

from both yoga and force"

is

somehow

tly roll it

from

my hands

So

awry.

Though Diane

am

I

cup

I

way

it

in

my hands

and gen-

at the neck, too,

she usually does not.

who

a person

is

"life

careful to approach her

Diane holds on

side to side. in a

know

indication, I

Rubenfeld training, that her

head in slow motion before

resisting

—an

289

volunteers

responds well to the slightest prompting. So

"What's going on here?" while using

I

she

little,

ask simply,

my hands to exchange

informative energy with her right leg and hip.

She answers that

now

chronic and

appointment.

a long-standing hip pain has

much

hurts so

As

on

to a possible

physical one.

With

subtly encourage (to

window

tell

Diane

When Diane is

we it

we

are

I

on her hip

say in yoga). feels?" I ask, as I

and move

says

my

movement

to keep her attention

me how

cradle her right leg

palpable. I sense that

is

in

into a psychic pain behind the

words, touch, and gentle

"hold the posture," as

"Can you

she nearly canceled our

and hold her leg

I carefully lift

arms, the tension in the hip

become

it

how much

slowly in

all

hurts and

it

of having to deal with this "damned hip,"

continue to

directions.

how tired I

she

suggest that

she tune in further and direct her relaxed, receptive awareness into the sore hip.

her leg like a baby,

me

—and,

tightly she

I

I

I feel

suspect, her

is still

ask

I

continue holding and rocking

her

—

all

let

the

go

a

little,

which makes

more conscious of how

holding on.

Diane remains traught.

As

quiet,

if there's

even

as she begins to

look dis-

anything she wants to "say" to her

hip or that her hip might want to say to her. tation she blurts out, "It's not fair."

Without

Then, more upset

hesistill,

drawing

290

do anything

"I didn't

to deserve this!"

my

gently lower her leg and place

I

the sore hip to support blast

of warm

anger,

invite

I

air.

it.

Sensing a reservoir of fear and possibly

Diane

Diane takes

to repeat

is

what she just

to this idea at once. "It's not fair!" she bel-

face starts to contort,

way and

never

wrought

up.

"I don't

As her

outrage escalates, her

and she wriggles her hands and body

that as if to escape

see. I've

said for as long

words wherever they

willing to go.

lows. "I don't deserve this!"

this

hands underneath

a torrent of energy, like a

I feel

as she wants. I suggest she follow her

lead her that she

w& are.

ujzons eutry thing

known

from some demon

this self-contained

woman

I can't

to be so

deserve this!" she wails again, like a distraught

child. I urge her to stay

with

it.

I

know

that "holding the

verbal and emotional posture," in this Rubenfeld Synergy

counterpart to the physical holding in yoga,

Diane

allow

to unearth any emotional hurt beneath her pain.

Finally

I

sense a shift, as if Diane's scattered energy has

found a focus. "Where are you right now?"

Without

hesitation

Diane begins

she walked every day from six.

She

she

is

tells

me,

as if it

home

I ask.

to describe the street

to school

were happening

when

she was

as she speaks, that

walking by herself one morning, when a strange car

pulls over to the curb.

the

may

window

The

driver stops his car

for directions.

As

As Diane

her.

After a

out

calls

she approaches the

opens the door and exposes himself to

he slams the door and speeds

and

car,

he

moment

off.

describes this experience from start to finish,

she seems to be not so

much

retelling

expressions shift dramatically from

and her hands twist and clench

as,

it

as reliving

moment

to

it.

Her

moment

she later told me, they

parallel paths to tk& light

when

used to do

291

And

she'd get upset as a kid.

she has

turned over onto her side, drawing her legs up into the fetal position as if to protect herself.

Knowing Diane

what we

that

resist

to really let the experience in

priate point, to look

persists,

and even,

I

encourage

at the

with her mind's eye right

appro-

at the

man's

exposed member. She does, and this time, instead of clam-

ming up and shutting down and

in shame, she

what she thinks of him.

starts to tell the "jerk" just

Through tumultuous

becomes furious

tears she boldly expresses the fear

—

and outrage the six-year- old could not been bottled up for thirty years

as

feelings that have

shame.

When

she

is

spent from crying and ranting, Diane sinks easily into a soft clarity

and calm. Quietly she speaks words of comfort

and forgiveness to her rocking herself.

At

"little girl"

while gently patting and

the end of the

session,

Diane

is

exhausted but radiant. Later she wrote to

In

my many

me

about her experience of the session.

attempts over the years to face

and release

painful incident, this was the first time Ifully felt again

that the

I had done understood

little

nothing.

and

girl I had been

was totally

I was not wrong or

fault.

Now,

I finally

stupid.

instead of assuming

was

in no

had

way my

I should have done some-

thing to avoid the man, as I always had, I clear that to

innocent.

believed that this terrible experience I

held myself accountable for over the years

like

At last 1 saw

a six-year-old, confused, ashamed and angry

and knew

that

was

absolutely

handle the situation any differently was

way

beyond the experience of the beloved and petted baby of the family I was at six.

My little girl had never known anything

but goodfrom grown

men and could only have expected that.

drawutxj u^oiiy eAwytkinq wt< are.

292

About her hip pain Diane wrote, "When comfortable.

drove

I

home with

I

got off the table,

I

was

pain and have been more

little

hopeful of a complete recovery ever since."

Although Diane's healing was unusually dramatic, sistently delighted

awaken even

by the power of Rubenfeld Synergy

who

clients

I

was con-

to heal

and

lacked Diane's spiritual preparation

through yoga. For example, three different

women

with no such

training inadvertently tapped into the universal energy or "life

Chinese

force" that yogis refer to as prana, the

West

the

as cbi,

and we in

as "spirit."

Shortly after lying

down and

closing her eyes, each

found a part of her body beginning to move on

became absorbed called this fairly

in her particular "meditation in

common phenomenon

to "give voice" to the upstart

important that

it

had

arm or

woman

own. As she

its

motion"

at Kripalu),

(as

we

each was able

foot and learn something

to "tell" her about a troublesome, unresolved

problem with another person. These

ended

sessions, like Diane's,

with the clients feeling understanding and compassion, for themselves, at least. I

am

always inspired by such

rience, in

which the human

moments of "transcendent" expe-

spirit is

made

tangible, audible proof they offer that

we

manifest.

I relish

the

mortals are more than

our aging bodies, madcap minds, and bewildering emotions.

/ feld

Wakeful/

that,

Synergy Method,

I

face with our marvelous

and

thanks to Kripalu Yoga and the Ruben-

human

to express the love that

touched that

it

—

is

ironically

—on

chances to come face to

capacity to transcend, to trust,

our essence.

was through losing

find that essence in myself,

began

many

have had

Most of

all,

I

am

my best friend that I began to my heart-opening journey

and that

Valentine's Day, the day that

Lucy

died.

Vreams; Patkumy

My Other Healing

to

Pattl Allen

t urns always*

dreamer, but not in the sense of having

unrealistic or unattainable

dreamer, one

who dreamed

dom. Most of

my dream

the light of day.

Once

me, shadowing

my

say,

"Look

lenged

at

daydreams. No,

me!

I

me enough

frequently and

I

was

a nocturnal

remembered

sel-

images would quickly evaporate in

in a while, though,

one would stay with

my every move, as if to am important." When finally a dream chalday and tracking

to

down, thinking about

remember it

as if it

it,

I

surrendered and wrote

were a riddle to unravel or

a

it

puz-

zle to solve.

Nine months before Program,

I

wrote in

I

began the Rubenfeld Synergy Training

my journal:

293

draMKK^ ufWK/ evtrytnmj

294

art

Tve denied so much of myself over the years that I doubt that

Yd

allow myself to recognize whatever might present

path

[as the

thing.

may I

went

..

I

lead to another.

bed

to

after writing that

the time,

had kept

my

I felt

me

personally. In the

and had

that dreams were safe to explore. All

to

other

my life

deep below the surface. Exploring

remain detached and not have to take them

way

that a

dream involves other people, and

found exploring one

novel. In time self. I

came

became the

I

to see each

standing of my

And dream

so

I

in

me

as a

began

trail

of

my

inner

fragment of my unconscious, a

a fuller, multidimensional under-

my

training in

had barely begun

we were

December 1991 to

till.

As

in this fertile

part of the three-year

minimum of twenty

required to have a

Rubenfeld Synergy sessions per

beyond the

hot on the

mystery

Self.

soil that I

training,

as safe as discussing a

tracker,

dream

fragment that might give

year.

intellectual interpretation

These

private

sessions took

me

of my dreams and added to

awareness the physical and emotional dimensions that had

been lacking. After finishing I

Two

be.

non-reality or other-worldliness while retaining a storylike

quality, I

my

a flying dream.

wondered who they might

I

feelings buried

dreams allowed

its

One thing

shake myself up... do something new.

people flew with me.

At

itself

So I think Til try this Rubenfeld

to follow].

had

this

/ have just given a

birth to a baby boy.

woman I know who

"show.

my first training week in New York,

dream:

"

looks

Before I can give

move and communicate newborn. I

call her

I am

the surrogate for

pregnant but

that's only

for

the baby to her, the baby starts to in

ways that are

husband over

to

incredible

for a

show him, but he cant

dreajms,

see

This baby ster.

I am

is

in

me what

that

295

doesnt mean

awe and repelled at the same I

had

We

this

it isn't so

dream,

time.

my Rubenfeld

Synergist asked

dream had the most energy

then explored what

and round with

full

it>

becoming an amazing genius and a freak mon-

part of the

interested me.

be

or acknowledge

it

In a session after

else!

kealtiig

anything out of the ordinary. I tell him that just because

he doesnt see

to

my other ^atkcmy to

What was it like in my body? The

life

—

like to

me

someone

away and where did

my

dream was

this

most

or

be pregnant,

a life that belonged to

to give that life

key to

was

it

for

I feel

awareness that

I

my belly, as one might imagine, but in my heart. It felt as if a chunk of my heart were being taken out and given away, piece by piece, bit by bit, and all with my help! With this new insight, originating in my body, my energy shifted and my shoulders began to relax into the table. We continued to explore my body's reactions to seeing the pregnancy not in

felt this

baby move and

ways that newborns don't normally

talk in

discovered that feeling

echoed in

The

table than the right.

right foot feet

moved

want

to

immobilization stuck!"

repelled at the

my feet! My right foot pointed in one

foot in the other.

two

awed and

was left

move

in

or, as I

as I

two

metaphor

for

my

sometimes

call

my

experienced

life

felt,

different

my left

in contact with the

And when

own

your

it,

"the fine art of staying

feet as feeling stuck, I

saw

my

and, with this

new

awareness,

to integrate the information into

how I

direction,

different directions, the results are

immediate reaction was to move them. as a

more

heavier,

same time was

foot recoiled from that baby; the

forward, toward the baby.

—

As soon

left

My

talk. I

my

in the present, about the

feet's

my

stuckness I

began

whole being. Focusing on

images in the dream was very

from just thinking about them.

Through

my

Synergist's use

of touch and her focus on

my

awareness of

my

body,

my

feelings slowly

the dreamwork. Paradoxically tried to

ings

my dreams

and myself.

and keep them

frightening than

I

me

might not happen

me

Or

since

done dreamwork,

is,

rather than

a tree,

on what might or

"I

when

my

my journal. I

many

times that

the emotional winds

I

my

had

I

have

my body."

training, I recorded over

returned to and reviewed this it

my

became

—the "union" of my unconscious

These dreams provided

whom

with

clients,

wasn't alone.

During the three-year period of

my solid-

my roots reaching deep into

with

upright, even

words of one of

one hundred dreams in

Union" address

to be less

my body was engaged in the

in the future. In a session I could feel

blew.

written record so

my feel-

grounded. Being grounded meant focusing

I felt like

the earth, keeping in the

They turned out

at arm's length.

on the "here and now," on what

and strength.

could no longer ignore

had feared because

I

process and kept

selves.

began to emerge from

my feelings, which I had for so long

keep out of my awareness, proved to be the key to under-

standing

ity

w& ar&

draMHJUj ufwfo eiwy thing

296

"State of the

and conscious

me with insights and awareness that

my conscious, waking self either had no knowledge of or viewed in a different way. The journal allowed me to recognize patterns of dreams with symbols, images, and themes that I

would have missed had

dream symbols during

this

I

in

common,

not written them down.

fires,

mud and

water, dark

my

men

childhood),

giving chase,

and wild animals and

storms in the distance, speeding

cars,

of all kinds. These dreams were

my signposts

I

Common

time of change and self-discovery in-

cluded babies and births, California (the place of earthquakes and

patterns

insects

and barometers.

dreamed:

We

are back at our old house in California.

garage, at

what I think

license plate.

is

my

Then, looking

car,

closer,

and I realize I

I

look in the

that

realize that isn't

isn't

my

my car,

"

dreams,

my other pathway to

either! Suddenly, there

an earthquake.

is

and the shaking goes on for a definite sense

of "That wasnt

feeling I could survive any

so

It

When

while.

healuuj

297

quite strong

is

over 1 have a

it is

bad—I survived!" I awake

"shake-up.

9

In session:

My mind still remains part of the process, I understand that

the only process.

my

in

is

childhood,

(living) isn't

and

my own.

(my

the car

I feel

its

life)

Tm

that

not

dream

driving

This much I would have understood

my

without Rubenfeld Synergy. Adding the equation,

now

only

the setting of this

body awareness

to

the earthquake inside of me, as energy

streams through me, giving

me a

visceral sense

of surviving

any shake-up of my psyche.

When I

think back to that

initial

journal entry where

I

wrote

shake myself up," the saying "Be careful what you wish

comes

to

"I'll .

for.

.

mind!

my training to become a Synergist, I was ambivalent taking my turn as a client in one of liana's demos. Feeling

During about

vulnerable, I hesitated. "Should I? Shouldn't I?" I decided to leave it

up

to

my

unconscious: If

would get on the what stood out which

I

The

table.

for

was rushing next day

I

I

had

a

dream

Sure enough,

I

and

I

am broken

my body

remembered,

I

had one. In

this

dream

the image of a broken red candle,

to clean

up before company

arrived.

volunteered. In the session, liana invited

in

I

me was

"become" the candle and describe myself

and, as

that

many pieces." The

began to shake,

I

me

to

as the candle. "I'm red

session took off from there

could feel the accuracy of

my

dream image. I

by

recently watched the videotape of that session

and was struck

made during the group

discussion that

several points that liana

w& are.

draMHKj ufWK/ evwytkituj

298

followed the session, points that

work

I

believe to be important to our

Rubenfeld Synergists, whether or not

as

we

are

working

with dreams. She enjoined us to place no judgments on the form

Some

or quality of our clients' process of catharsis.

and emotions with buckets of

feelings

single tear or even none.

The

people release

may shed

tears; others

single tear I

had shed

a

my session

in

wasn't any less powerful, she said, than were other people's buckets

of tears.

my

liana also said that surface as if "not

example of a

would

call

session

much was

client

might have appeared on the

happening," but actually

doing work on a very deep

an altered

She

state.

it

was an

what some

level in

also pointed out that to hurry

process along in any way, in order to

make

it

my

appear that some-

my individual pace and needs as a client. Being rushed was the very situation my unconscious had presented to me in my dream, and therefore, thing was happening, would have been to disregard

had wanted fact

to

what she

common situation for me. As Synergist liana support me in finding my own pace, and that is in

was

quite possibly,

a

facilitated in the session. I

ence of doing the session in

end of the discussion,

I

my own time

named

was allowed the experiand

my own way. At the

the session Til Light

My

Candle

When Tm Ready. After

my certification as

a

Rubenfeld Synergist,

study and learn about dreams. Academically

dreams

I

could get

my

I

I

continued to

read any

hands on, while personally

I

ing.

The more dramatic images and symbols became

and

less frightening.

book on

kept dreamless

dramatic

new symbols and images conme up in new ways! That's what dreams do. They "Wake up and pay attention!" As my dreams continued In their place

tinued to shake tell

us to

to evolve, I

began to find treasures buried in the

dirt,

grandmother's trinkets (another dream image) became

When

I

needed help with

a decision, I slept

on

it.

and

my

my jewels.

my other pathway to

dreoMu,

I

healing

299

dreamed: There

is

a performer, a combination ofJoan Rivers

Garland,

who

is

rehearsing onstagefor an upcoming show in

an open amphitheater that feels stage

ored.

I am

like Vegas.

with her and treated as an honored

The

me

star asks

confused

and

to

there on-

visitor.

I dont

why I am hondo something like sing or dance and

understand, in the dream,

Tm

andJudy

why I am

there or

what

embarrassed, not sure

she

wants or

a crow fly by. I tell her that's a good omen. It seems that being able to read the omen gets me off

that I can do

the hook in

it.

I

see

some way

[There

is]

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

I explain

[to her] that it

is

something about the song

"Am

I supposed

a song expressing hope.

If I'm not yet completely ready to reintegrate

willing to be I

a

my "star" part, I am

on the stage and "read the omens." Toward that end,

began teaching others

lectures

to sing it?

how to work with

their

dreams and doing

on self-understanding through dreamwork. Because

Rubenfeld Synergist, helping

requires

my looking

internal

roadmap

Oh, and

inside myself

dream

that flying

who

am

look inside themselves

My dreams continue to be my

for this process.

Rubenfeld Synergist?

remember,

my clients

I

I

can

I

now

had

after deciding to

imagine, though

who

the two others were

become

a

don't actually

I

On

flew with me.

a

metaphorical level they are dreams on one side and the Rubenfeld

Synergy Method on the other. But on

a physical reality level,

the "I can read the omens" level, the two

Rubenfeld Synergy teachers,

who

supported

growth and dream exploration during the various elements of a

dream

who

flew with

me

in

my training.

all fall

I

me

my love

are

on

my

personal it

into place. In this

when

dream

the Rubenfeld Synergy

Method and dreamwork have been my

pathways to healing and

it

has

all

fallen into place.

My

DyKAMiio Duo:

RUBENFELD SYNERGY AND ART THERAPY Margaret Cajzpv Lang

It

is 1991*

I

am

sitting at the charting

Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, updating

my

desk

at St.

patients' charts

notes about our most recent therapy sessions. For

have

felt

traditional psychotherapy,

thing even beyond the creative arts therapy that I

chart

Institute,

with

some time

I

that these patients in the hospital's eating disorder pro-

gram need something beyond

As

Luke's

I

some-

do with them.

I

think of Elaine Rapp, one of my teachers at Pratt

where

I

studied art therapy. Elaine had studied with

Alexander Lowen, a student of Wilhelm Reich, both of

whom

were pioneers in working with the body to release old emotional

wounds and allow healing that Elaine did with us. I

asked her

how

I

I

to occur. I

remember

was so impressed with

could learn to do

it.

it

the

bodywork

at the

time that

She responded that when

301

draMnnq

302

the time was right

As

would find

recall Elaine's

I

teacher?" tally

I

At

that

wzrytkiitg wt< are.

ujzotts

answer

moment

a teacher. silently ask,

I

"Where

are you,

who is walking by accidenchart I am working on. I pick up

a secretary

drops a flyer right onto the

workshop being given

the flyer and read about a

in Scottsdale,

Arizona, by liana Rubenfeld, the founder of the Rubenfeld

Synergy Method. to the art fill

my charting

I finish

out the registration form.

am

at the

volunteer.

I

this

patients. I

sign

up

my

know

I

I

twenty-five. She

was

Ro Herb lading.

in,

was

that she

had been

months

we meet

am

most

my

my own healing and that of

Rubenfeld Synergy Training

life. It is

a small part of this

wish to share here,

latefor

a story

of

when

she

my

in 1986,

ourfirst appointment. She (

the programs no exercise" rule her,

Lisa

and bulimic since she was sixteen,

in the hospital after

after this,

in

a suicide attempt. I also knew

shopliftingfor several years, yet

In 1992 Lisa re-appears,

time

I

a skeleton on wheels with a mischievous grin on

pluckiness, her tenacity.

eral

my

will help

it

After a nurse retrieved

herface, defiant. Anorexic she

know

I

client.

had jumped ship and broken

skated

decision without a

know!

I

1first met Lisa* in the hospitals art room

by going

I

know! This moment begins an

for the

on the adventure of

adventure and journey that

was

me

demonstrating the work with a

and journey into

my patients, as well. I

work with one

is

powerful work.

and wounded

start

have made

I

energy flow through me.

incredible adventure

and

with

have a sense of knowing!

workshop. liana

I feel

going to learn difficult

flyer

room. While the patients are creating their artwork,

second thought. I

and take the

We did art therapy

I liked her

togetherfor sev-

and she healed parts of herself still

a skeleton

and again

suicidal.

my studio-office. Her psychotherapist

This

has heard

— 303

of

my work— combining

art

therapy with Rubenfeld Synergy

and has suggested that Lisa try it. Each of our sessions follows the

same

pattern: a

Rubenfeld Synergy session with Lisa on the

table,

followed by Lisa's drawing a picture. In Lisa's

first session, as I

touch her

I

notice that her

body

is

extremely tight, both to the eye and to the touch. She flinches

when

I

touch her foot.

I

decide to introduce touch gradually over

the next few sessions, to start by touching only her head and shoulders. After the Rubenfeld Synergy session

makes

a drawing.

The

on the

table, Lisa

drawing, a huge black cloud, communicates

the scope of her depression.

To my

trained art therapist's eye,

up and

there are also indications of anxiety and a wish to cover

hide her pelvic area.

work

In her second session Lisa chooses to I

cradle her head with one

hand and put

my

lying

on her

side.

other hand on her

back and shoulder. She describes three parts of herself: four-yearold Sara,

who

is

scared and helpless as she

brothers; six-year-old

"himself" and

steals;

deal with Sara and

Tomboy, who

is

picked on by her

tough, can take care of

is

and Amelia, the helpless adult

who

Tomboy. The drawing she makes

tries to

this

time

depicts the three aspects of herself that she described. In the

drawing none of the figures has a body below the waist. as

I

see this

another indication of her depression and anger.

In session three Lisa says she her side, curled up, and

She

says she

steals.

afraid

of my touch. She

talk. I stay close

lies

on

but do not touch her.

wants nurturing but does not deserve

it

because she

Lisa describes a cycle of wanting nurturing, being denied

nurturing, self by

we

is

becoming angry and

stealing,

and then punishing her-

denying herself food and companionship.

Lisa brings a drawing to her fourth session. It depicts adults fighting and a scared child cowering in the corner. are disturbing.

She

curls

up on the

table

These images

and describes her

feelings

drcuvuig upOKs uwytktiig

304

of despair and pain. She talks about

how

art

her brothers called her

ugly and teased her relentlessly. She feels helpless.

mission

I

place one

soften a

ing she makes afterwards, that loss

hand and hold

take her

I

some tension and

release

her per-

hand gently on her back, the other on her

head. She reaches out to me.

body

With

bit.

She

says,

it.

I feel

her

of the draw-

depicts the death of her soul, the

it

of her power.

In the

fifth session

Lisa

on the

lies

baby, afraid of touch, afraid of

toward me.

I

them

take

me

and

table

says she

me

on too hard

up. I say I will

her

tell

too hard.

if it is

take her hands. She holds on. She scarcely breathes.

hand

She

lightly over her heart.

body energy communicates

sitting

me

to

sion around the chest, lungs,

says

and

She holds on

to

has gotten in touch with a

my

little

my hand

a feeling

heart.

on her chest emerges. She

desperate.

a big

harder and then

afraid she will grab

is

is

She reaches her hands up

She grabs

in mine.

releases her grasp, saying she

and frighten me, use

life.

I rest

I

my

weighs a ton. Her

of heaviness and ten-

The

story of her brothers

can't breathe or speak.

She

is

hands. After a while she says she part of her heart that can feel.

She

draws a picture of her heart and the part of it she has reclaimed. I

believe this

is

the beginning of a breakthrough for Lisa.

In the next several sessions Lisa becomes more aware of feelings in her body, especially feelings of holding

and anus. Her hips

are loose; her anus holds

session she notices anger

and

releases

she senses blackness. She allows

me

tells

me

that she

is

and

to touch

Her body

me

not to leave her.

relaxes

and then

again and asks to be held.

controls. In

afraid that

I

I say, "I

am

I

hold her,

release

from time

will leave her.

"cost too

to

She

much."

not going anywhere."

stiffens again into a rod.

As

one

and work with her

my hands

remembers her mother complaining that Lisa Lisa asks

in her shoulders

some of it. After the

shoulders. In another session she clutches

time and

on

I feel

She

relaxes

her body soften and

'HAMiicciuO

release

its

She

tension.

says the black cloud

305

her drawings shows the cloud becoming

more

At one trip,

me

hand

work with her as I

do

a

work

"head

feet

together, before I

and then her head. She reaches

roll,"

placing

my palm I

her breathe more deeply and roll

comfort her; she tension.

She

me

down by

her head.

my hand

see

I

and she to

releases

some more

move her own head and

asks to bor-

stuffed bears while I'm away.

holding her

hand and place

movement seems

calmer and her body

feels

roll

away

her head by herself. This

says that she can

row one of my

relax. I take

my

for

on her forehead and

take her

under mine on her forehead. Together, we

continues to

go away on a

might die on the plane. She asks

I

gently rolling her head from side to side. it

Lisa uses

earlier drawings.

point during our

Lisa expresses concern that

to

less dense.

of

and they have more space and

colors in these drawings,

movement than

One

breaking up.

is

Her drawing shows

her ankles, grounding her and keeping

her from drifting off the Earth into the black cloud of depression.

As time goes on

Lisa becomes frightened again.

depict her shattered in

many

pieces.

Once, she asks

her with a blanket and hold her hand. shoulders, she asks

me

Her drawings

As

me

to cover

stroke her back

I

to sing her a song. Sensing her fear,

I

and sing

the lullaby "Lavender Blue, Dilly Dilly." Later, her drawing shows

me

sweeping her up, with the fragments of herself beginning to

take form.

In subsequent sessions Lisa begins to feel something other

than depression allows

me

shoulders.

and

to

more

energy, a

work with her

Her body

is

and hips

feet

relaxed

positive energy.

in her head, saying,

as well as

She now

her head and

most of the time, becoming

rigid only occasionally. Lisa says she

one yelling in

—an

"Get

which Lisa describes herself

it

is

in touch

stiff

with some-

out, just tell." In a session

as a shattered vase, she

shattered vase that has a base, a foundation

draws a

on which Lisa can

w& are.

drcumw/j ujpon euerythutj

306

now build. She

says that our

work together

her vase back together and that "this

As we continue working

and "Tom-

playful periods "Sara"

boy" do a drawing together of fruit says, laughing.

powerful work."

is

together, Lisa gradually develops a

During one of these

playfulness.

helping her to glue

is

—

"the fruits of my labor," Lisa

She smells the scented markers and laughs

again.

Lisa comes in after this fruit-drawing session and suggests that

each write a story about our work together.

We do

we

so.

My Story Once upon

a time there

was

a family

where

a small child

was

trau-

matized by the father and brothers. The parents fought, the brothers fought.

The mother used

after her first

husband, a raging alcoholic,

band, an abuser, died.

The mother was

left

— and having been abused herself—

girl,

whom

satisfied.

she experienced as wanting too

She

When

said

"grow up" and "quit

the mother

went

call

when

that she

much and

was empty at the little

never being

sniffling."

to work, the brothers wrestled with

her and teased and molested the acted tough

by supporting

She became angry

to give the child.

nurturance

and her second hus-

so drained

the family

and had nothing

own

the child for her

little girl.

She fought back and

they called her "baby" and "brat." She tried to

her mother for help, but they prevented her. She raged and

was hurt more. So she retreated afraid to

move, to make

and was

shattered.

to the corner,

a sound, or

where she was

even to breathe. She

However, inside her was

lost

hope

a strength, a light, a

heart that she experienced from time to time. She reached toward the light and the heart with

toward

her.

her strength and tried to pull them

Something pulled against

She kept on reaching and her strong

all

legs.

pulling.

her,

but she did not give up.

She sensed her good mind and

In her torso, though, she

felt

an emptiness.

A

'KAmic duo

307

voice called out to her, "Tell."

With begins to

gentle touch, awareness, experimentation, and love, she tell

me

her story and to put together her shattered

to integrate her shattered parts. I

She reaches

We

remain present and patient.

self,

out. I take her hand.

play together. She learns to

touch, nurture and hold herself.

LUcti Story This has been an emotional journey that has oftentimes been unpleasant; a process of unlocking various doors that emit only

glimpses of light, often in cryptic form. revealed

is

When

the information

me

overwhelming, the defensive parts of

slam the

doors shut, out of fear. The Rubenfeld Synergy, art therapy, dream-

work, and analysis of transference issues have deciphered the messages.

up

Yet this

if there

is

a painstaking process that

easily give

were not a companion/witness/guide/safety net to

accompany one along the Because

one would

path.

my body has so much protective armor, I was not even

aware of the

many emotions

Rubenfeld Synergy

buried beneath the skin until the

facilitated their release. Cappi's gentle

evoked sadness and longing for the nurturing lacking in hood, along with terror that she might hurt

me

with that same

physical contact. However, because she did not touch

comfort

level at various stages

develop trust that provided

of the process,

me

I

touch

my child-

was

beyond

my

able to slowly

the safety in which to experience

the terror, express the anger, and accept the comforting she offered.

The Rubenfeld Synergy evoked images

to access previously via hypnosis alone. Also,

the various aspects within

now

me

to dialogue

it

that

I

was unable

gave permission to

with each other so they

understand each other better and, therefore, eventually,

be able to interact more harmoniously.

may

w& art

draMnMXj upon, eAwytkuuj

308

The

which included symbols from dreams, served

art therapy,

to bypass

my

mation that

I

intellectualization.

The symbols

gave Cappi infor-

could not put into words because, once again,

I

was

not even aware of the information regarding early trauma that was stored within

me

at a preverbal level.

visual evidence of aspects

away

as easily as I did

of

my

processes encompass allowed

Cappi without

fear of

that

life

with straight

Finally, the permissiveness

In addition, the artwork was I

could not rationalize

"talk" therapy.

and genuine concern that both

me

to express

my

feelings

judgment, abandonment, or

This provided a corrective parenting experience. stand those were transference feelings

my

family of origin.

The journey

for support

and

now

under-

could not safely express in

continues as the enigma of the

past slowly unfolds in treatment with

hand

I

I

toward

retaliation.

clarification as

someone who

will hold

we move toward

my

the light of

healing.

LISA

AND

I

wrote these

stories three years ago.

the mother of a six-month-old baby. She

is

Today Lisa

is

doing well in her cho-

sen field and in a relationship that promises to be a healthy one.

She

still

struggles with her eating disorder but seems to have the

upper hand. I

art

therapy

—with

—

my "dynamic duo" Rubenfeld Synergy and my clients. These two therapies have come

continue to use

together as partners in a dance, weaving their threads together to

produce healing, growth, positive changes, and grateful

the soul.

artistry.

and appreciative of this work, which touches and

I

am

reveals

Tk&

Theatres of Self Bernard Coyn&

Bernard often draws on in the theater

his forty years experience

when he presents Rubenfeld Synergy

at large conferences. Here he expresses poetically his

—Ed.

personal experience of these presentations.

I say, "Who would What

will

happen?

I

like to experience

never

know

as I stand here in front

conference, this large group of people, like I

am

in

wonder of "the now" and

Greece on the

in the

and the people

to ancient campfires festival

Rubenfeld Synergy?" of

this

a priest-shaman of old.

wonder

that connects

who came from

all

me

over

of Dionysus to see the gods act out their

stories.

This

is

an experience of the

ergy in the crowd.

The woman

Who will be

in the third

first

time.

There

the chosen one?

row has the

energy.

begins to walk the firewalk of faith, from the the center. She sents

all

of

us.

is

the one

The

who makes

is

a

wave of en-

Hands

I invite

dart up.

her and she

community

circle to

this act sacred; she repre-

heroines journey has begun. Everything

is

309

drawing upon evwydutuj wt< are,

310

heightened. There

is

a rich silence.

where the divine

theatre,

theatre of

Time

stands

still.

in the person can be seen.

This

is

This

is

true

the

self.

As she comes closer I really see her. We are in the same space. The heroine is center stage. We meet in the now; I am truly present with her.

I

hear her voice

—the

the energy behind the words.

tone, the feeling, the quality,

see her physical self

I

—how she

moves, her gestures, her tiny micromovements. Almost always in the beginning there at

is

something about the person that jumps out

me, out of the background into the foreground.

opens the treasure chest of mystery, the secret person.

The

heroine table.

lies

down on

My ego

her back on the soft surface of the

must get out of the way

present for her story. Silently

meet

in a

new way

slowly toward her head. physical contact.

oh

When

her energy long before

touch her head,

play. I

it is

on

touched with such care

follow the energy in her body with

move with

totally

am

I

in

no ordinary touch.

a delicate blossom. I

Men and women alike often tell me, with tears in

their eyes, that to be I

may be

come through me.

so gentle, like a butterfly landing

cradle her head.

may be

I

bring the palms of my hands very

as I

I feel

I

so that

say a prayer that I

I

available to the healing energy that will

It is

the core of the

A key that reveals the divine spirit, the daemon within.

massage

We

self,

key that

It is a

the changes in her energy.

is

rare in their lives.

my listening hands. They The drama

begins

—high

follow the heroine's process like a Greek chorus: repeating,

reflecting, offering possibilities for change.

The

experience of the

heroine becomes the experience of the group, the healing

munity surrounding the which, nourishing the a series

"altar."

Her

com-

story can be like a soft rain,

soul, nourishes the group, too.

Or

it

can be

of fast-moving thunderstorms with lightning and imme-

diate thunder that strike close to

home. The waves of energy

out from the table and engulf the group.

And

roll

then the compas-

tk& theatres ofst sion

311

and healing energy of the group return to the

table to sup-

port the next wave.

The community

is

a healing circle.

This

is

not entertainment.

Her

story

is

our

tric.

This

is

the whole world as a stage, the divine

its

forms, as

I

story.

She sings the song of herself, the body elec-

at the absurdities is

in

all

support with touch and with words the freeing of

the genie held in this personal bottle.

the heroine

comedy

We laugh, with the heroine,

we

of existence, and

cry with her sadnesses.

As

freed of her torments, a catharsis sweeps through

the community.

We feel lighter, freed of some of our own feelings,

touched by the universal themes that have been revealed.

When her story is finished, the heroine gets up from the table. radiates her

own

personal energy.

ous to everyone

who

sees her.

She

Her

Her transformation

I feel ecstatic, full

obvi-

universal themes have touched

many. As she returns to the community, she plauded.

is

is

appreciated and ap-

of energy, grateful to have supported

the re-creation of wholeness in the heroine. Is this

body, and

magic? No. This resurrection of the

mind does not happen only

spirit,

emotions,

at conferences. I

have often

experienced this transformation as an audience of one in vate practice. It

may be

my pri-

repeated hundreds of times a day wher-

ever Rubenfeld Synergists

meet

clients.

We

have

all

learned this

"healing theatre" through Rubenfeld Synergy Training Programs. It takes time,

the world

is

but anyone

who

a candidate to

truly

become

wants to do healing work in

a

Rubenfeld Synergist.

—

t with/ to

thank those

My fellow

who made

this

book

Synergists Suzanne Forman, Jeanne Reock, Linda

Thomas, and Alreta Turner, without whose I

possible, especially:

early

encouragement

would not have undertaken Healing Journeys and without whose

continued support

I

liana Rubenfeld,

might not have persevered.

my teacher, who warned me

patiently answered countless historical questions, to people

with interesting Synergy

The seventy-two submitted proposals,

The

pitfalls,

and referred

stories, essays,

and eagerly participated

who

me

tell.

Synergists and former Synergy clients

contributing authors

or patiently tolerated

stories to

of many

who

poems, and works of art. trusted

me

with their

stories

in seemingly endless rounds of revision

them

—

in order to

communicate the power

313

keating journeys

314

and

subtleties of the

The

Rubenfeld Synergy Method.

scores of Synergists

and

trainees

expressions of appreciation cheered

Readers

who had no

didn't:

Lisa Berger,

on.

experience of Rubenfeld Synergy before

reading drafts of these stories,

what

me

whose enthusiasm and

who

pointed out what worked and

Leo Braudy, Ronnie Bramesco, Johanna

Cooper, Lillian Cozzarelli, Daniel Dearyan, John C. Driscoll,

Leann Fecho, Gary Floam, Judy Floam, Fries,

Gino

Giglio, Vicki Gleicher, Edie

Stella Forster,

Laura

Hartmann, Svend Hart-

mann, David Helman, David Janeway, Laurilyn D. Jones, Janine Jordan,

Dana

Keeler, Barbara Kovach, Peter Lillie,

David A.

Mechner, Emily Mechner, Francis Mechner, Jordan Mechner, Ashlev Miller, Margaret Miller, Kristin Onofrio, Linda Partida,

Herb Revnolds, Use Rosenberg, Norma Rosenberg, Bruce Rosenbloom, Harris

Schiller,

Laura

Schiller,

Sara Smith, Joe Sucher,

Suzanne Svkes, Abe Weitzberg, Marv Weitzberg, Oscar C. Weitzberg.

Readers with direct experience of Rubenfeld Synergy, whose sensitive

comments and suggestions

led to further refinements:

Ellen Blaney, Millison Farr Brace, Katherine Cates, Erin Colligan,

Shirlev

Norwood, Linda Osmer, Claudine

Parsons-Fein, Margaret A. Healy, Irv Katz, Ronni B. Sucher,

Billie

Thompson, Barb Weitzberg,

Paris,

Jane

Silett,

Erica

Jeffrey

K.

Zeig;

Master Synergists Elaine Burns Chapline, Millie Grenough, Florence Korzinski, Peggy

Linda Thomas

—

Shaw

for

Rosato, Joe Weldon, Noel Wight.

coaching

me on

the ethical aspects of

publishing stories by or about former clients. Kenneth G. Page for the subtide.

Laura Jorstad,

Ed

Klagsbrun, Cindy LaBreacht,

—

Sharon Lee Ryder, and Karyn Slutsky technical skills

and

for their artistic

their guidance in navigating the

world of book publishing.

—

and

complex

About tk& Authors

CaroL Smith- Ate maintained

is

a Certified

Rubenfeld Synergist

who

North Carolina,

a private practice in Asheville,

has

since

1995. She completed the three-year Rubenfeld Synergy Post-

graduate Training in 1997. Carol has also trained in Rogerian and

Jungian therapy, Gestalt practice, and dreamwork.

As

a volunteer,

she gives in-service trainings for hospice staff about the use of touch.

Her hobbies

and pursuing her

Patti Allen arts,

education,

include writing, music,

hiking,

interest in holistic health.

has a rich and varied background in the healing

management and

Rubenreld Synergist, Patti runs ada,

modern dance,

public speaking. Certified as a

a private practice in

and serves on the teaching

Toronto, Can-

staff of the Rubenfeld Synergy

315

316

Method Training Program 1994-1997) and facilitates

—

its

twelfth training,

(New York

City

fifteenth (Toronto 1998-2002). Patti also

its

dreamgroups, in which participants are assisted in

understanding themselves through their dreams, both with and

without the use of touch. Patti

and

colleague

friend,

Pathways to Healing,

"flying

is

cofounder, along with teacher,

partner" Marjorie

Paleshi,

of

Inc.

KO^AK^Z£jeCi/skI/ has finally found her professional niche! Since completing the Rubenfeld Synergy

gram she has been developing her

Method Training Pro-

private practice of Rubenfeld

Synergy in Manhattan, where she especially enjoys working with clients

who

have difficulty finding their true vocation. Rose

is

also

developing her cabaret act in Manhattan and will begin performing

it

in the fall of 1999.

Valeria

Baitts

is

a registered nurse in

London, Ontario (Can-

where she has maintained her independent

ada),

"Wellness Services," for over ten years. She feld

certified in

counts

among

her clients

many persons

mental and emotional aspects of holistic health fairs in

cancer

two recurrences,

Valerie

London

dealing with the physical,

this disease. Valerie

London

Ruben-

A

Synergy, Reflexology, and Therapeutic Touch.

survivor for over fourteen years despite

two

is

practice,

cosponsors

annually and has brought to

speakers such as liana Rubenfeld and Drs. Bernie Siegel

and Deepak Chopra,

who

have strongly influenced her

own

per-

sonal healing journey.

has been practicing Rubenfeld Synergy in Tucson, Arizona, since her 1991 certification.

tion include: recovery

Her

areas of specializa-

from physical and emotional trauma; the

building of wellness and self-esteem; and transforming grief, conflict, pain,

and

stress into joyful living.

loss,

Gail has been a mental

about tk& (lutkon health practitioner for twenty-five years. She rating Rubenfeld Synergy into her their families. Gail is

is

317

is

currently incorpo-

work with hospice

a longtime student

patients

and

and teacher of yoga and

an avid swimmer. She has two daughters, aged sixteen and

eleven.

MarttOy BUkoj^ and soul

at

began her quest

age thirty-six,

when

for integrating body,

mind,

her esophagus "shut down." After

medical science relieved her acute symptoms, Marita began

blocks.

As

a

mental, and spiritual

contributing emotional,

exploring the

massage practitioner, she already knew the healing

Now as

power of touch.

a

Rubenfeld Synergist practicing in Sno-

homish, Washington, Marita finds that "our bodies are windows through which

we

learn to see

become building blocks

and accept

in our healing."

ourselves.

Our wounds

Maritas experience

as a

teacher and as mother of five serves her well in facilitating others'

healing journeys.

Tkowtas in finance

Claire^ was enjoying the

when,

in his late thirties,

fruits

of a successful career

he began a search for deeper

values. After exploring various metaphysical traditions

ety of

bodywork and body-mind

therapies,

he

left

and

a vari-

the financial

world to build a professional practice in bodywork and to research

and write Bodywork, a guide ods.

He

to sixteen

major body-mind meth-

continues to explore his interest in the

mind-body

practices through teaching, writing,

full

spectrum of

and

facilitating

personal transformation.

SOfijA/ COfitoti has been interested in philosophy, psychology, religion,

came

and the

passions,

spirit since

and

Sonja's life goals

her early teens. Those interests be-

at fifty-nine the passion remains.

and strong belief in the

spirit

Because of

of community, she

dedicates one-third of her practice in Asheville,

North Carolina,

318

bono work with

to pro

breast cancer patients. Describing her

work Sonja has

said, "I

Synergy Method

as

experience

my

practice in Rubenfeld

something between a ministry, applied phi-

losophy, and chiropractic for the soul. professional endeavor that

I

cannot imagine another

would bring forth

so

much of an

understanding of life."

BWfttwd/ CoyiWis a member of the gists.

He

liana Rubenfeld and gives internationally.

He

—of Sunnyside, near

Ann

Council of Master Syner-

Workshop Group Leadership Training with

teaches the

is

workshop presentations nationally and

—with

the cofounder

his wife

Ann

Dorothy

a learning center in the Irish Hills of

Michigan

Arbor. There he has his private practice in Rubenfeld

Synergy and teaches "Your Creative Process."

Patricia Ellen, practices Nyack,

New York. In

Rubenfeld Synergy in Scarsdale and

addition she draws on her background as an

Interfaith minister, hypnotherapist, breathworker,

and even

certified public accountant. Patricia believes that times

tion

and

loss present individuals

and

While

spiritual,

"womb

of

new ways of

integrating the pragmatic with the psychological

she gently empowers her clients to create the

relationships, health, says,

of transi-

with a unique opportunity to

transform the "tomb of loss" into the being."

as a

"God danced

and financial well-being they

the day you were born;

now

desire.

lives,

She

find your special

dance. L'Chayim."

began her hands-on healing work a nurse.

By

1977,

when

in 1945, as

she began her training in the Rubenfeld

Synergy Method, Betty's focus had changed from traditional medicine to esoteric healing. Since 1979 she has maintained her

home and

private practice,

"Body Enlightenment,"

in

San Fran-

about tk& authors cisco.

The

319

—with Betty

year 1984 was transformational

s

divorce,

near-death, cancer, and spontaneous healing. Betty has taught at the Gestalt Institute in

Germany

now

every year since 1985. She

travels extensively to teach the professional training

program she

has developed.

Lvduv Foerster is an independent videomaker living in New York City. When she's not traveling the world for corporate clients, Lydia teaches video production at New York University Of all

and produces her own documentaries. lensed,

none have been

a table at

as intense or

the stories she has

dramatic as the

tales told

on

115 Waverly Place in Greenwich Village. After a year of

shooting Rubenfeld Synergy sessions, Lydia volunteered for a "hip release." She promptly found her

has been seeing once a

week

StMZAJiM£/ POVIMAM/ is ticing in

own

Synergist,

whom

she

ever since.

a Certified

Rubenfeld Synergist prac-

Northampton, Massachusetts. She

is

licensed as a

mas-

sage therapist and also brings to her Rubenfeld Synergy practice years of study in yoga, Craniosacral Therapy, Gestalt Therapy,

and Body-Mind Centering. Suzanne

lives

with her husband,

Steve Forman, also a Certified Rubenfeld Synergist, and their daughter. She iation of

is

on the board of directors of the National Assoc-

Rubenfeld Synergists and

is

the founder of a holistic

group practice in Northampton. is

sciousness.

a writer, artist,

She has

and

eclectic adventurer in

lived in other countries,

con-

been married several

times, raised three daughters, been a Tarot reader, astrologer

palmist, ranch caretaker, assistant

and

assistant director

most grounded and

manager of a health food

and

store,

of an esoteric correspondence school. Her practical

work was accomplished on the

kaaluuj journeys

320

bodywork table a

Manhattan

at Lalitha Devi's

Rubenfeld Synergy

month

client twice a

office,

where she was

for almost three years.

gives Rubenfeld Synergy

much of

the credit for her growth and transformation. Says Suzanne,

"Previously a fearful and depressed

unworthiness, pist, wife,

I

a

deep sense of

have blossomed into a vibrant, energetic thera-

and grandmother. This

ated a safe place for exploring as the

widow with

—and

shadow

know

to

gentle, nonintrusive process cre-

all

that

me of me is

facets all

of

—the

light as well

lovable." Recently

remarried after twenty-one years of widowhood, Suzanne has relocated to Greenfield, Massachusetts, to be near her children

and grandchildren and to continue her practice of Rubenfeld Synergy.

Erica, QoocUtoftey from

human

sexuality

New York University. On the faculty of the American Acad-

emy of Clinical cal

received her doctorate in

Sexologists

Education, she

is

and

a Professor of

also licensed as a

Health and Physi-

mental health counselor,

marriage counselor, and massage therapist and

is

certified as a

Rubenfeld Synergist, Registered Polarity Practitioner, Oriental

Bodywork Goodstone

Therapist, and Sex Counselor and Therapist. Dr. divides her time

private practice, cial

focus

which

is

on sexual and

between teaching, writing, and her

basically

Rubenfeld Synergy with a spe-

relationship issues. ives

Pennsylvania farm. She

Method and people.

As

is

certified in

and writes on

a central

both the Rubenfeld Synergy

Kripalu Yoga, and has shared yoga with thousands of

Kripalu's longtime

Mid- Atlantic Regional

Leader, Sue

supported group leaders in helping others grow through yoga and, in 1994, received Kripalu's Global Service

leadership and service.

Award

for

exemplary

A former Philadelphia Inquirer columnist,

about tk& authors Sue writes

How

articles

and

To Be Powerfully

working on

is

321

a book, Relax, Trusty Love:

Human and Like It,

at Least Sometimes.

She and her husband, Trond, have two grown children.

MUU& Qrmouyh was in Training and

Her

is

a

member of

liana's

the Council of Master Synergists.

working with varied cultures

five years' experience

America and Europe piqued her tween body, mind and in teaching,

of Sing

It!

is

second Rubenfeld Synergy

spirit.

in Latin

interest in the connections be-

Millie has a Master of Arts degree

a licensed clinical social worker,

and

is

the author

Learn English Through Song (McGraw-Hill).

A pro-

fessional singer, she has a special interest in helping people find their

and

body-voice connection and in teaching

self-care to business

MtWCjAf&t came

A

HeAly

to train in the

stress

management

groups and individuals. is

method

a Certified Rubenfeld Synergist after learning,

who

from her experience

with modern dance and choreography, the importance of listening to the body.

She has eighteen years' experience working with

and young children, and

is

continually

awed by

infants

their vitality

and

freedom of movement. Margaret hopes to practice Rubenfeld Synergy with children, helping them restore their innate love of their bodies

by increasing

their awareness

that have led to their unnatural

and

Margaret practices in Morristown, is

titioner ity,

on

of the external messages

restrictive

holding patterns.

New Jersey, and New York City.

an educator and health care prac-

a journey of exploration.

Dedicated to serving human-

she has been seeking a higher truth in the field of health care.

Trained

as

Queens,

New

practice

and teaches human biology

New

a research nurse-biologist, she lives

and works

in

York, where she maintains a Rubenfeld Synergy

York. She

is

for the City University

of

currently researching and developing for her

wurneys

322

college a curriculum in holistic health care.

she

is

As

a

workshop leader

dedicated to introducing the Rubenfeld Synergy

Method

to

her students and the people in her community.

MaryJan& Hooper practices at the Wellness Center in Fort Worth, Texas, venting

illness.

Mary Jane

family therapy from Texas

has a master's degree in marriage and

Woman's

several integrative approaches to ples,

and

promoting health and pre-

a center dedicated to

University and has trained in

working with

individuals, cou-

By encouraging her Rubenfeld Synergy clients wisdom of the body, Mary Jane finds that they are

families.

to explore the

often able to free their perceptions, rewrite their

nurture forgotten strengths.

Mary Jane

enjoys

life stories,

life

and

with her hus-

band, Win, and their two cats and chihuahua puppy.

Mary

Hopkins,

age forty -two,

and professional musician

and

ductor, voice teacher, composer, sights gained

a classically trained singer

New

living in

in a range of musical genres

is

styles,

and

England. She performs

and works

arranger.

as a choral

Mary

con-

uses the in-

through Rubenfeld Synergy along with extensive

formal training in music to enrich particularly enjoys

all

her musical endeavors. She

who

working with students

overcome obstacles to

their singing

interests include gardening, herbalism,

s

are striving to

and performing. Mary's other

desire to support

and

living thankfully.

and guide others

in reach-

ing their potential laid the foundation for her doctoral research exploring the integrative experience of Rubenfeld Synergy. clinician she nurtures others' healing atively blending her

feld Synergy,

knowledge and

and growth through

skills in

onance Center,

a healing

a

cre-

psychology, Ruben-

and Polarity Therapy. Diane has worked with

groups, and couples for twenty years.

As

adults,

A cocreator of the Life Res-

and educational center

in the metropol-

about tkes authors

323

itan Detroit area, she teaches skills in the therapeutic use

and

self to health care professionals

is

of the

available for presentations

and consultations. PerfCjy

KOStySvWHs

She brings

Bay, Ontario. rience,

many

a lifetime

practices

I

mom, and grade, when she

years as an active hockey/ballet/scouting

of volunteer work starting in eighth first

Alateen group. Says Peggy, "Every-

did before Rubenfeld Synergy was out of my need to cor-

rect feelings

my past. Now I do everything out share with my clients is the happi-

of inadequacy from

of love of life. ness

work thirty years of nursing expe-

to this

organized Thunder Bays thing

Rubenfeld Synergy in Thunder

What I want

and joy that

to

are waiting for us all."

KOWtiJUkL lived and

trained in Japan with Dr.

Hatsumi, the current Grandmaster of the Ninja, and

is

Masaaki

one of the

world s seniormost instructors of Ninjutsu. In addition to

his

ninth-degree black belt in Ninjutsu, which he teaches throughout the country,

Greg holds rank

maintains his school

in several other martial arts.

(New England

Ninjutsu) and his Rubenfeld

Synergy practice in Wallingford, Connecticut.

A

doorsman and camper, Greg has trained with

Tom Brown

primitive living

skills

Native American

MOTjOret

He

and nature awareness and

is

serious outin

interested in

spirituality.

CaffiH/ LaM