Sonia Story

The Blue Star Gazette

	Movement That Heals Freedom from ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, addiction, depression and more… By Sonia Story • An 18 year old woman used movement to dissolve a heroine addiction . She is now completely off drugs and attending University. Integrative Movement tools are so effective they are now being offered in the largest addiction and mental health clinic in the world in Toronto Canada. • After doing two integrative movement sessions, a 7 year old boy with the ADHD condition told his mother: “I used to think I couldn’t do things. Now I think I can.” Imagine what profound effects this change will generate over the course of this young boy’s life. Did you know that the quality and amount of movement you experience as a child enormously affects your ability to function well later in life? As we explore movement that heals we learn the critical importance of childhood reflexes. What are childhood reflexes? Why are they important for both adults and children? The childhood reflexes are automatic, instinctual movements that insure a child develops properly during all the stages from womb to toddlerhood. Among their many “jobs” the reflex movements literally grow the brain and nervous system. The nervous system learns by doing and the childhood reflexes provide the repetitive, automatic movements a baby needs to fully develop and coordinate the brain, nervous system and the body. In this way the childhood reflex movements create the foundational building blocks of the nervous system upon which all other brain and neural development depends. Imagine a block tower. If the foundation is unsteady, the upper layers of blocks are wobbly and prone to breakdowns. The same is true of the nervous system. It develops in stages like the block tower. If the childhood reflexes are not properly developed the brain and nervous system have a shaky foundation leading to challenges in all further development. Ideally the childhood reflexes emerge in the womb and infancy, are stimulated in the process of development, and are integrated by the end of the toddler stage. An integrated reflex is one that has merged into a more sophisticated movement pattern. The original reflexive movement remains dormant for the rest of our lives, unless there is trauma later in life, causing reactivation of the reflexes. In other words, with proper development childhood reflexes fade away after they’ve completed their “job”. At this point the reflexes are fully integrated. Unfortunately its very common that childhood reflexes do not complete their ideal progression and remain active or un-integrated. It is estimated that over 80% of adults and children in our culture have un-integrated childhood reflexes resulting in some level of imbalance in the nervous system. Unintegrated childhood reflexes are a major contributing factor in ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, addiction, depression, anxiety, stress related health challenges, impulsive behavior problems and effortful, inefficient work habits. Why? Because having active reflexes automatically “ties” movements, behavior, thoughts and emotions to the brainstem or survival area of the brain. Constant brainstem activation means there is more survival stress and less ability to form our behavior from the prefrontal lobes, the area of thinking, rationality, and creativity. In other words, we often react instead of choose. Or we can get stuck in habitual stress patterns that affect our health and well-being. What Causes Unintegrated Reflexes? Here is a list of the most common reasons why un-integrated reflexes occurs: 1. Stress of the mother during pregnancy. 2. Not enough of the right kinds of movement in infancy and early childhood. Lack of movement is often exacerbated by babies spending too much time on their backs, in plastic carriers, play pens, walkers, swings, car seats and watching TV or computer. 3. Stress, Illness, Trauma, Injury. 4. Exposure to pesticides and other toxins. 5. Cesarean birth, traumatic birth and/or complications with vaccination. 6. Dietary imbalances or Food sensitivities. The Good News The good news is, through integrative movement we can, at any age, rebuild the foundation of the nervous system for strong and steady functioning. Once the reflexes are balanced and integrated, the nervous system matures gracefully and we can meet life’s challenges with greater resilience and enjoyment. Many learning disabilities, behavior problems and life challenges are overcome once the childhood reflexes are integrated. Integrative Movement: Key to Rapid and Deep Transformation Through the use of simple integrative techniques we develop the following abilities: to think and communicate clearly, learn easily, positively manage our emotions, create loving harmonious relationships, and keep our bodies stress free and healthy. Integrative movement is a door to learning and a door to the subconscious. Because of this, integrative movement is an ideal way to make our goals into reality. Not only that, the healing effects of integrative movement can be applied to ANY life challenge. For more information about Integrative Movement contact Sonia Story Phone: 360-638-0848 • soniastory@comcast.net Giving Our Babies the Best Start. Here are the best ways parents can help babies get what they require to integrate the childhood reflexes and build a healthy brain and nervous system. • Do a drug-free natural birth if possible • Give plentiful love, nurturing and touch • Do as much nursing/breast milk as possible • Offer plenty of time on the belly for doing floor play • Allow for unrestricted movement and play • Encourage crawling and rough and tumble joyous play • Provide environment free of stress or toxins • Parents will be most effective and able to meet their children with love and acceptance if their own reflexes are integrated first. Learn to balance, integrate and create a harmonious home life with Integrative Movement! What to Avoid • Don’t allow a TV/computer/electronic game habit to develop • Keep all cell phones and cordless phones away from baby’s room • Stay away from vaccinations altogether or at least wait until your child is over 2 years old before vaccinations are given • Do not restrict baby’s movement with carriers, play pens, walkers, etc. • Do not “help” baby sit up or walk. Babies need to develop on their own the entire range of movement sequences for proper brain functioning. • Do not encourage walking until there has been plenty of crawling Movement is a direct and potent way to bring about change in mind, heart and body. Integrative movement is our greatest ally in the process of healing and transformation. The Blue Star Gazette Your guide to an naturally inspired, magical lifestyle Brought to you by a community of those involved in the healing arts. Please contact the authors and sponsors of the Blue Star Gazette on-line (www.the bluestargazette.net) and tell them you saw their work here! Don't miss an issue! Subscribe and receive each edition for only $21. Just send your editor an email and we'll get it set jai@earthdancepress.com. Feel free to call me at the office at 360-379-blue(2583).

Movement That Heals
Freedom from ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, addiction, depression and more…
By Sonia Story
• An 18 year old woman used movement to dissolve a heroine addiction . She is now completely off drugs and attending University. Integrative Movement tools are so effective they are now being offered in the largest addiction and mental health clinic in the world in Toronto Canada.
• After doing two integrative movement sessions, a 7 year old boy with the ADHD condition told his mother: “I used to think I couldn’t do things. Now I think I can.” Imagine what profound effects this change will generate over the course of this young boy’s life.

Did you know that the quality and amount of movement you experience as a child enormously affects your ability to function well later in life? As we explore movement that heals we learn the critical importance of childhood reflexes. What are childhood reflexes? Why are they important for both adults and children?

The childhood reflexes are automatic, instinctual movements that insure a child develops properly during all the stages from womb to toddlerhood. Among their many “jobs” the reflex movements literally grow the brain and nervous system. The nervous system learns by doing and the childhood reflexes provide the repetitive, automatic movements a baby needs to fully develop and coordinate the brain, nervous system and the body.
In this way the childhood reflex movements create the foundational building blocks of the nervous system upon which all other brain and neural development depends. Imagine a block tower. If the foundation is unsteady, the upper layers of blocks are wobbly and prone to breakdowns. The same is true of the nervous system. It develops in stages like the block tower. If the childhood reflexes are not properly developed the brain and nervous system have a shaky foundation leading to challenges in all further development.
Ideally the childhood reflexes emerge in the womb and infancy, are stimulated in the process of development, and are integrated by the end of the toddler stage. An integrated reflex is one that has merged into a more sophisticated movement pattern. The original reflexive movement remains dormant for the rest of our lives, unless there is trauma later in life, causing reactivation of the reflexes. In other words, with proper development childhood reflexes fade away after they’ve completed their “job”. At this point the reflexes are fully integrated.

Unfortunately its very common that childhood reflexes do not complete their ideal progression and remain active or un-integrated. It is estimated that over 80% of adults and children in our culture have un-integrated childhood reflexes resulting in some level of imbalance in the nervous system. Unintegrated childhood reflexes are a major contributing factor in ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, addiction, depression, anxiety, stress related health challenges, impulsive behavior problems and effortful, inefficient work habits. Why? Because having active reflexes automatically “ties” movements, behavior, thoughts and emotions to the brainstem or survival area of the brain. Constant brainstem activation means there is more survival stress and less ability to form our behavior from the prefrontal lobes, the area of thinking, rationality, and creativity. In other words, we often react instead of choose. Or we can get stuck in habitual stress patterns that affect our health and well-being.

What Causes Unintegrated Reflexes?

Here is a list of the most common reasons why un-integrated reflexes occurs:
1. Stress of the mother during pregnancy.
2. Not enough of the right kinds of movement in infancy and early childhood. Lack of movement is often exacerbated by babies spending too much time on their backs, in plastic carriers, play pens, walkers, swings, car seats and watching TV or computer.
3. Stress, Illness, Trauma, Injury.
4. Exposure to pesticides and other toxins.
5. Cesarean birth, traumatic birth and/or complications with vaccination.
6. Dietary imbalances or Food sensitivities.

The Good News

The good news is, through integrative movement we can, at any age, rebuild the foundation of the nervous system for strong and steady functioning. Once the reflexes are balanced and integrated, the nervous system matures gracefully and we can meet life’s challenges with greater resilience and enjoyment. Many learning disabilities, behavior problems and life challenges are overcome once the childhood reflexes are integrated.

Integrative Movement: Key to Rapid and Deep Transformation

Through the use of simple integrative techniques we develop the following abilities: to think and communicate clearly, learn easily, positively manage our emotions, create loving harmonious relationships, and keep our bodies stress free and healthy. Integrative movement is a door to learning and a door to the subconscious. Because of this, integrative movement is an ideal way to make our goals into reality. Not only that, the healing effects of integrative movement can be applied to ANY life challenge.

For more information about Integrative Movement contact Sonia Story
Phone: 360-638-0848 • soniastory@comcast.net

Giving Our
Babies the
Best Start.

Here are the best ways parents can help babies get what they require to integrate the childhood reflexes and build a healthy brain and nervous system.
• Do a drug-free natural birth if possible
• Give plentiful love, nurturing and touch
• Do as much nursing/breast milk as possible
• Offer plenty of time on the belly for doing floor play
• Allow for unrestricted movement and play
• Encourage crawling and rough and tumble joyous play
• Provide environment free of stress or toxins
• Parents will be most effective and able to meet their children with love and acceptance if their own reflexes are integrated first. Learn to balance, integrate and create a harmonious home life with Integrative Movement!

What to Avoid
• Don’t allow a TV/computer/electronic game habit to develop
• Keep all cell phones and cordless phones away from baby’s room
• Stay away from vaccinations altogether or at least wait until your child is over 2 years old before vaccinations are given
• Do not restrict baby’s movement with carriers, play pens, walkers, etc.
• Do not “help” baby sit up or walk. Babies need to develop on their own the entire range of movement sequences for proper brain functioning.
• Do not encourage walking until there has been plenty of crawling

Movement is a direct and potent way to bring about change in mind, heart and body. Integrative movement is our greatest ally in the process of healing and transformation.

The Blue Star Gazette

Your guide to an naturally
inspired, magical lifestyle

Brought to you by a community of those involved in the healing arts. Please contact the authors and sponsors of the Blue Star Gazette on-line (www.the bluestargazette.net) and tell them you saw their work here! Don't miss an issue! Subscribe and receive each edition for only $21. Just send your editor an email and we'll get it set jai@earthdancepress.com. Feel free to call me at the office at 360-379-blue(2583).