by Sue Staropoli, M.A.

Featured Healing Modality: Body Talk
Featured Practitioner: Bill Dewey, CBP

Bodytalk: Listening To Our Body's Innate Wisdom: Jane's Story

Most of us marvel at the computer and its ability to hold so many things in memory; to identify and calculate information immediately, to communicate simultaneously with so many different addresses, and to keep track of it all. Yet no computer is as powerful as the human brain—organizing and regulating billions of cells each moment—24 hours a day.

Bill Dewey, B.S.M.E., C.B.P, president of BodyTalk™ Health Research Center, states: "The body is a very complex ecosystem involving a delicate balance between physiological biochemical functions, emotional and mental interactions, environmental influences, hereditary and genetic restrictions, and the need to synchronize all these factors into a cohesive whole."

The BodyTalk System is based on the premise that within each of us there lies an innate knowing of who we are and what makes us tick. Allopathic health care, with its focus on isolated parts of the body/mind equation, provides only a glimpse into the complex interactions of the body/mind. BodyTalk practitioners facilitate communication with the innate wisdom of the body by using neuromuscular biofeedback, thus determining exactly what balancing the body needs in order to harmonize body/mind function. Once the communications system of the body has been reestablished, the body is capable of healing itself at a deep and lasting level.

Jane (not her real name) is a living witness of the power of healing that comes from listening to the innate wisdom of her body through BodyTalk. Jane suffered from Bell’s Palsy (a form of facial paralysis) and other health issues (clinical depression, extreme obesity, post-traumatic stress disorder, very low self-esteem, back trouble) for many years. Jane found no lasting help through traditional therapy and medication (which meant staying on Prozac™ for the rest of her life). She was barely functioning from day to day. Jane explains, "The level of emotional pain and functioning was unbearable. My world had closed up to being not much more than surviving". Upon the recommendation of a friend, Jane turned to BodyTalk.

At her initial assessment, Bill Dewey recognized that Jane was in poor shape in all aspects of her life. His plan was, "to get her energy circuits back in balance, remove the 'roadblocks'to her recovery, and to help her brain do the healing from the inside." Through neuromuscular bio-feedback—Kinesiology, "Jane's innate wisdom led me to touch and hold various places, including organs, endocrines, chakras, acupuncture points, and various musculo-skeletal areas; while tapping on her head and having her breathe deeply. All these treatments are related to ancient Hatha Yoga treatments which allow the body to heal itself from the inside. As a practitioner, I can only act as a catalyst to help her get the changes started."

After her first BodyTalk session, Jane says she felt "relieved and elated at the same time." Initially she went for treatment every two weeks, noticing significant emotional, physical and spiritual improvement throughout the process. Bill continues, "It took quite a few treatments in her case, as there were so many blockages to clear. Yet there was some improvement even after the first few treatments. Jane started to look better, appeared happier, and was eager to continue. She appeared more cheerful each time she visited, although there were times when the anxiety level was temporarily higher as she cleared out deep emotional issues."

As with most holistic forms of healing, Jane was asked to complement BodyTalk treatments with other practices: mild exercise, castor oil packs, changes in diet, receiving massage and continuing her artwork.

Lifestyle changes flow from, and promote, the ongoing healing
process.

Jane's life changed dramatically as she allowed her body/mind to heal from within. As Bill highlights: "One of the advantages of BodyTalk is that the client does not have to relive the old traumas, particularly those of physical and emotional violence. They pass through—and out—in a matter of seconds, often without even a memory or a flashback. This was especially helpful with Jane, as she has undergone a lot of violence in her past." As Jane describes the process: "It is so gentle and beneficial. It is so subtle, so easy and so complete."

What a joy to hear about the improvement in Jane's health and life. "I went from being a frustrated victim of my circumstances, to a pro-active enthusiastic member of the human race." The progress was slow but steady; with changes that were physical (her face is nearly back to normal), emotional (her enthusiasm for life), vocational (she's now completed school and is employed as a massage therapist), spiritual (her contemplations are richer and connection to the universe stronger) and relational (people are now drawn to her).

The journey shared by Jane and Bill is full of healing and joy. As Bill describes; "I'm delighted to have had the privilege of working with Jane and to have helped her to become more than she ever imagined. It's hard to explain this without feeling humbled by the process."

Jane describes the most significant aspect of her healing and growth through this treatment process: "I am able to give back so much to life now. As a massage therapist, I help people relieve their pain. I feel the subtleties of energy now and I can help people relieve their stress. Some people at the salon call me a healer! What a way to give back!"

Many thanks to Jane and Bill for sharing this inspiring and hopeful story. May we all learn from Jane's words of wisdom and experience; "I think everyone could benefit from talking to their bodies."

Reprinted with permission from Nature's Wisdom Magazine.
Volume II/Issue XII (Late Autumn 2004)