Bio

This bio is a work in a progress and not yet well edited, but, I think, useful.

The Cougar

The cougar expresses my work at several levels:

First, it is a very relaxed pussy cat who is resting easily and alertly.
Second, the cougar can represent our basic human/animal nature as we embody into this life. I believe, that to some extent, we are all alienated from that nature and finding it challenging to live this life fully as ourselves, both human and divine. Here, we see the cougar fully embodied with presence on the earth and under the heavens. He he is very present, tension free, and available for whatever may arise
Shamanically, he could be a power animal, a guide or an archetype for our dormant power and grace.

My definitions of embodiment:

Fully and happily inhabiting one's body.
Not psychically disassociated or split from one's body or one's psyche (they are the same). Simply Present.
Accepting one's birth and life as the unique vulnerable, powerful, and amazing individual you are. This includes recognizing interdependence and accepting one's "proper place", with "response ability", in one's family, group, society, humankind, all living beings, the physical universe, and the spiritual universe.
Open to experiencing the sensations in one's body as sensations and not fusing them with thoughts or emotions.
Allowing the body to be effortlessly and naturally supported in gravity with minimal unnecessary tension.
The parts of one's body, arms, legs, head, neck, trunk, etc. are well individuated, not stuck to neighboring parts, including the layers not being stuck.
And then, all one's parts are well integrated and function well in motion as a whole

Or primary relationship is with our body. As we have met the challenges of this relationship with successes and many partial successes we have developed inefficient and self perpetuating tension patterns that are reflected in our myofascial system. Some of these are emotionally charged, some are the result of trauma, and many are just poor habits. They all contribute to some degree to not fully embodying.

So, as I do this work, my biography is not just about my degrees, training, and experience. For me to work well with someone I feel that in addition to technical skill it is necessary to bring to the session a significant degree of presence and attunement.

I have been a practicing Buddhist for over 30 years with a consistent daily practice. I have studied with American and Asian teachers. Most importantly, to me, I have put in a lot of cushion time, i.e. I have done numerous long, silent and focused meditation retreats.

For the past five years I have been journeying shamanically in the Amazon tradition with a teacher from Peru. I have been a lay student of psychology for 40 years. I have received many hours of body work of many techniques.

My professional background includes:

1973 - BA Psychology, U.C. Davis
1984 - Doctor of Chiropractic, Life College of Chiropractic West
1984 to present - Many hours of post graduate course work in spinal and extremity assessment and treatment
2005 to present - multiple Myofascial Release trainings with John Barnes
2007- 2008 - Undergoing training as a Structural Integration (Rolfing) practitioner.

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This bio is a work in a progress and not yet well edited, but, I think, useful.

The Cougar