favorite modalities

referring to the long list of healing/energy/growth modalities listed in the previous post, i thought i'd list those that have made the most difference in my life.

some have become part of my lifestyle: yoga, meditation, acupuncture, journaling, food awareness, and dreamwork.

others have been tremendously helpful given situations peculiar to my life: waking the tiger for PTSD and NUCCA for scoliosis.

two are just fascinating--i have read books and learned a lot, and i would love to plunge into the depths--probably will when the stars are aligned right: Enneagram and LifePrints.

and then there's NLP. i've completed practitioner training and will soon start my master practitioner training. NLP has a huge body of work and is very practical. that makes it worthy of study.

not that there's anything wrong with the modalities i didn't mention here... these are just those i have resonated with the most. i feel grateful for all the experience.

experience

Today I was making a list of the various modalities I have at least some experience with for health, energy, awareness, personal growth, relating, and changework. I was shocked at how long it was!

I have either worked with trained practitioners, received training myself, attended classes/workshops/practice groups, read books or watched videos, or taught these modalities.

I'm going to start with the body-based and energy modalities. I excluded Pilates, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, etc--practices that are for fitness and recreation only. This list is about healing, increasing awareness, improving energy. These practices can also affect mental/emotional state profoundly, since everything is connected:
massage (Swedish, Shiatsu, Thai)
traditional chiropractic
NUCCA chiropractic
cranio-sacral therapy
rolfing
acupuncture
osteopathy
zero balancing
Feldenkrais--one on one, Awareness Through Movement classes
Alexander Technique
physiosynthesis
yoga--mostly Iyengar, also at least one class in Sivananda, Integral, Anusara, Vinyasa Flow, Kundalini
breathwork
chakra work
Z-health
EFT
hands-on healing
Brain Gym

These are primarily dance-related:
5 rhythms
trance dance
contact improv

These involve food and nutrition and absorption:
candida clearing
diet--food sensitivities, pH, doshas
organ cleansing--colon, liver, gallbladder
fasting

These modalities are more about shifting state and changing patterns:
NLP (waaaayyy too much to list under this umbrella)
hypnosis/trancework
shamanic practices (journeying, Ha prayer, energy cleansing, yana chaqui, pico pico breathing, and more)
12 states of attention
nightwalking/peripheral walking
holographic repatterning
meditation
japalm/mantra
deeksha

These are therapeutic types of experiences:
therapy for PTSD/Waking the Tiger
re-evaluation counseling/co-counseling

These are systems for understanding types of people:
Enneagram
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Life Prints fingerprint analysis

And these are miscellaneous:
InterPlay
Tarot
astrology
journaling
dreamwork
hanging upside down
using a spine aligner
toning

There are probably more that I can't think of now.

I have spent a great deal of time and money obtaining most of these experiences. They have all been of benefit and a joy to experience. Some have become life practices. Some have been specific for a given situation. Some are occasional treats.

I'd like to put this life experience to good use. If you have a question about any of these or want a referral in Austin (a few in Dallas), please feel free to contact me.

quickly find your enneagram type part 2

okay, i'm assuming you read part 1 and picked two statements--one from the ABC group and one from the XYZ group--that best represent you. not how you'd like to be, but how you are.

if you haven't done that, go to part 1 and do it. you should have a combination of letters like AX or BZ.

here's the key:
AX=7 the enthusiast
AY=8 the challenger
AZ=3 the achiever
BX=9 the peacemaker
BY=4 the individualist
BZ=5 the investigator
CX=2 the helper
CY=6 the loyalist
CZ=1 the reformer

this is the simplest way of determining your type that i know of. it's not infallible. we humans often tend to see what we want to see and have blind spots. if you're not sure, ask those who spend the most time with you for help.

if you get into this, there are a whole slew of books and workshops you can partake of.

remember, enneagram types are set by early childhood. it seems to be the common human destiny that we are born free and open, and early on, something happens--who knows why, perhaps it's genetic--and we get fixated and develop in a particular way, seeing ourselves and the world through a major filter.

enneagram work is about discovering our filters and transcending them. it can be painful at times and also very, very liberating.

there are also wings, directions you go in stress and in health, levels of development, and instincts, which make the enneagram an infinitely fascinating and complex tool for self-discovery and personal growth.

warm wishes on your journey!

quickly find your enneagram type part 1

I'm taking this straight from the book The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. If you want to know more, read the book! Click the title of this post to find it on Amazon.com.

The enneagram can give you a bigger picture of your life and hone in on issues pertaining to your type. If you're serious about reaching your highest potential, learning your enneagram type and working on awareness of your issues and cultivating your gifts can be extremely rewarding.

Okay. There are two sets of statements below. Pick one from the ABC group and one from the XYZ group that best represent you. You don't have to agree 100% with a statement. Just pick one from each group that you agree with most.

A. I have ended to be fairly independent and assertive; I've felt that life works best when you meet it head-on. I set my own goals, get involved, and want to make things happen. I don't like sitting around--I want to achieve something big and have an impact. I don't necessarily seek confrontations, but I don't let people push me around, either. Most of the time I know what I want, and I go for it. I tend to work hard and to play hard.

B. I have tended to be quiet and am used to being on my own. I usually don't draw much attention to myself socially, and it's generally unusual for me to assert myself all that forcefully. I don't feel comfortable taking the lead or being as competitive as others. Many would probably say that I'm something of a dreamer--a lot of my excitement goes on in my imagination. I can be quite content without feeing I have to be active all the time.

C. I have tended to be extremely responsible and dedicated. I feel terrible if I don't keep my commitments and do what's expected of me. I want people to know that I'm there for them and that I'll do what I believe is best for them. I've often made great personal sacrifices for the sake of others, whether they know it or not. I often don't take adequate care of myself--I do the work that needs to be done and relax (and do what I really want) if there's time left.

X. I am a person who usually maintains a positive outlook and feels that things will work out for the best. I can usually find something to be enthusiastic about and different ways to occupy myself. I like being around people and helping others to be happy--I enjoy sharing my own well-being with them. I don't always feel great, but I try not to to show it to anyone! However, staying positive has sometimes meant that I've put off dealing with my own problems for too long.

Y. I am a person who has strong feelings about things--most people can tell when I'm unhappy about something. I can be guarded with people, but I'm more sensitive than I let on. I want to know where I stand with others and who and what I can count on--it's pretty clear to most people where they stand with me. When I'm upset about something, I want others to respond and to get as worked up as I am. I know the rules, but I don't want people telling me what to do. I want to decide for myself.

Z. I tend to be self-controlled and logical--I am uncomfortable dealing with feelings. I am efficient--even perfectionistic--and prefer working on my own. When there are problems or personal conflicts, I try not to bring my feelings into the situation. Some say I'm too cool and detached, but I don't want my emotional reactions to distract me from what's really important to me. I usually don't show my reactions when others "get to me."