The week of September 22-26, I had the blessed opportunity
to attending training directly with the creator and founder of Bones For Life ®,
Ruthy Alon, in San Diego!
Ruthy is the creator of many Movement Intelligence ® practices
including the training I attended entitled: Solutions ®: Self-Care
Strategies for Upgrading ease & pain free functioning at any age (doesn’t that
sound great?!?)
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| The Phoenix girls with Ruthy. Joanne, Ruthy, Elizabeth, and me! I hope I look that wonderful at age 87 |
After I “consciously discontinued steady employment” AKA quit
my day-job April 30th I decided I could finally start pursuing
things I’ve been interested in! One of these being, learning more about and
maybe even eventually teaching Bones for Life! Elizabeth was all along giving me gentle
nudges in this direction, even taking me on as an unspoken mentee (which I
greatly appreciate). She offered level I Bones teacher training and I attended
in August 2017. During that long-weekend intensive, I learned that the creator
and founder, Ruthy Alon was coming to San
Diego in September. Then I heard a little more. She’s
87, lives in Israel, and
said she would not be making any more trips to the US. She changed her mind and would
be coming the following month for Solutions training. I had to make it happen!
A flight was booked, a bed secured with Doug’s cousin and I’d be hitching rides
with anyone who would offer!
Seeing an 87 year old woman look the way she does, with a
wonderful straight spine, confident and gentle posture, getting up and down
from the floor with ease, strength to help others from off the floor.. all this
gave me such encouragement that I don’t have to age poorly! What an
inspiration! During the training, Ruthy taught us multiple processes to help
awaken our body’s innate wisdom, coordinate more efficient movement and move
more in harmony with our body’s underlying nature. Ways to ease pain and feel
freedom in movement. The days were intense with multiple processes being
completed on various areas including feet, knees, shoulders, two days on lumbar
spine, and the neck.
During the time spent on lower back we learned what Ruthy
calls “the magic blanket”. A rolled blanket is placed beneath the spine’s
curves and a wave motion sent through the body in each area, with various other
small movements incorporated. We came to stand and Ruthy asked in her lovely
Israeli accent, “What age were you when you last felt this?” People were giving
answers like “two!” or “sixteen!” and I sheepishly answered “today!” Literally,
my age (39) that very day was the first time my body ever felt that way.. good,
at ease, comfortable in standing, powerful and confident, like I could take on
the world!
Directly after that experience we were given a 15 minute
break and like usual, I had to take a walk (I can’t be cooped up too long
indoors when its so nice outside!). As I walked down the busy street in
Hillcrest, San Diego
I had this overwhelming feeling of joy come upon me and powerful thoughts
entering my mind.. Strong statements including-I BELONG in my body.. I BELONG
HERE.. I DESERVE to be here.. I DESERVE to be on this Earth.
Whoa. Just Whoa. Tears came to my eyes at the overwhelming
joy that this was the first time I had felt this way..
In the next split second a crash of grief came over me when
I recognized the sadness that this was the FIRST time I had ever felt this way
in my entire life. For the first time I could remember on planet Earth, I felt
like I belonged and I deserved to be here.
I went back after awhile and Elizabeth and my other fellow
Phoenician in training inquired on the tears and I explained what had
happened.. they lovingly supported me and put into words what I was feeling. I
was finally feeling my true authentic Self.
And that is why I will keep practicing Bones for Life.