Somato Respiratory Integration
A note from the founder Dr. Donald Epstein

We as a culture have learned the misconception that health is not feeling anything in our bodies or lives that we do not like, we learned to disconnect from the rhythms, pulsations and vibrations that are within. Most often it takes a traumatic event, serious illness or marked distress before we stop living our life the way we want to live it, stop work or stop our plans and just hold our bodies, breathe with the rhythm within, and pay attention to the vibration and pulsations, which are our inner communication. For many people severe pain or disease is the only way that they will take time from their life to focus all of their attention on their chest, arm, back, leg, or whatever part of the body which needs attention. Somato Respiratory Integration is a system of re-connecting between our brain and body through its natural wisdom, through various exercises which ask for you to touch your body, and gently breathe. Each exercise seeks to activate a different state of consciousness, from helping us to connect to our suffering through states of sheer ecstasy. It teaches us that we heal ourselves and gives us physical exercises to be more whole and shift our bodies, minds and our life. There are 12 such exercises which are taken from the healing states of thousands of individuals. The Book the 12 Stages of Healing describes the process of healing and introduces this practice.

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2. Polarities and Rhythms - This stage begins with the search for the magical genie that can or has been identified as the savior from distress, pain, or crisis. We project from the alienated, isolated, traumatized, hurt, shamed or ignored aspects of our being. These parts try to gain power over our helplessness through external authorities, procedures, treatments, etc...As we heal, we eventually discover that what we blamed or projected as being so wrong is not so bad. Or we see that our genie is not so magical. We begin to become aware of our rhythms and polarities and discover we are somehow involved in a process, and are partially responsible for our distress.

3. Stuck in a Perspective - This stage of healing involves the recognition that our distress is associated with the fact that we have been stuck in a perspective. Our concepts and/or our physiology have been fixated. We do not yet know why we’ve been stuck, or what to do about it. We just need to be with the simple revelation that we’ve been stuck.

4. Reclaiming Our Power - This stage of healing is one in which we realize that the “script” determined by the above three stages is no longer desirable or no longer works. Initially, we are angry that we had lost our power, and are determined not to let it happen again. As we progress through this stage, we choose to no longer dishonor ourselves, because we deserve more.

5. Merging with the Illusion - This stage is associated with having a strong enough sense of self to turn back onto our own alienated ”shadow” or “light” to heal the illusion and create more wholeness. At this major stage of healing we can appear on the other side of our illusionary self.

6. Preparation for Resolution - The alienated, traumatized, denied or redirected consciousness or energy is moving towards being prepared for discharge and resolution. We feel the tensions building within ourselves as this process advances. We find ways to create change and develop the flexibility to continue the process.

7. Resolution - Discharge of bio-electric energy is associated with a discharge of mechanical energy. This may be discharge of the muscular system, such as movement of the trunk or extremities. Processes such as fever, coughing, sneezing, or vomiting are common forms of discharge. Crying screaming and laughing are also discharge phenomena. When the discharge occurs after the previous six stages, resolution can occur with the discharge. When a sense of accomplishment, peace and inner strength accompanies the process, then resolution has been achieved.

8. Emptiness in Connectedness - After the discharge we are emptied. Rather than a space of nothingness, we find ourselves in a place of possibilities. We enter into a state of gratitude, vulnerability, connection with our external rhythms, and alignment with events around us. We welcome serendipity as a natural way of life.

9. Light Behind The Form - From our place of emptiness and gratitude we can truly appreciate our energetic fullness. We experience that we are more than our physical body, actually become aware of the flow of the life force, through us. We more fully experience our connection to others.

10. Ascent - We experience our union with the creative force of the universe. We transcend all limits, boundaries, language, judgments, and our existing sense of self. We gain the wisdom of knowing the oneness of all of creation during this stage.

11. Descent - We are renewed beyond our limits and sense of self and enter into the world again. We know that we are part of all we perceive and responsible for all that we know. We live without being attached to our situations. We love and serve.

12. Community - We experience our involvement with humanity and recognize that wholeness comes from bringing our individual gifts into community. This occurs in our internal and external communities. We receive gifts from within ourselves and from others. We recognize that all our choices are spiritual ones and affect all beings. Eventually we recognize that our limits stem from our own lack of wholeness. Consequently, we seek to re-experience the rhythm of stage one.

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The 12 Stages of Healing
By Dr. Donald Epstein

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(All proceeds are donated to ANC for NSA research)

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Dr. Donald Epstein
Founder of NSA