Help yourself

The Voice’s choices for being well in 2015

​DEEPmovement Sunday open gym
$5, Sundays, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
DEEPmovement Studio, 1314 E. 3rd St.
918-313-0000, deepmovement.com

Anyone who’s had their mobility compromised even a little knows how unsettling and helpless it can feel. I recently injured my knee while rock climbing after months of inactivity. It didn’t feel catastrophic, but it left me limping and in enough pain to agitate me some days. My body seemed to be suggesting I pay more attention. When I asked DEEPmovement instructor Zac King for direction, he invited me to Sunday open gym and suggested some easy ways to help myself in the interim. I won’t go into everything they do at DEEP—let’s just leave it at “rad”—but at open gym, I had the full attention of trainers Aaron Baulch and Carmen Paul for two hours (regretfully, writing this review shrinks the likelihood of that ever happening again). DEEP approaches body integrity and mindfulness from the roots; I realized later that Aaron was studying my movement patterns from the moment I removed my shoes (unstable feet, weak ankles). He listened and responded to everything I said—the odd feeling in my knee; the way I modify my seat for meditation; that age-old question of tucking versus tilting—and he and Carmen showed me a handful of simple, fun exercises to keep me moving and help me heal. I’m out of space, otherwise I’d keep gushing. Try this; it’s a screamin’ deal. 

Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique (B.E.S.T.)
$65 per hour-long session
Ivy Norris, Ivy’s Holistic Health
812-698-1155, Facebook.com/IvysHolisticHealth

​As I frequently do, I recently shared holistic health practitioner Ivy Norris’ contact info with a friend on Facebook. I hadn’t talked to Ivy in weeks, but the instant I clicked “send,” I received a text from her saying I was on her mind. That was weird—and completely unsurprising. Ivy sparkles. She’s tuned in, and you know it the moment you meet her. I’ve received two extremely impactful B.E.S.T. treatments—Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique—from Ivy and will continue to put her on my calendar. The technique is both subtle and powerful, but it’s also a bit difficult to grasp until you’ve tried it. Basically, she works with your body to identify emotional patterns and systemic imbalances that interfere with your health and wellness. Then, she identifies ways you can counteract the disruptions and transition into healing patterns. Ivy incorporates light acupressure, muscle testing, breath work and visualization into the treatment, but describing it in this way is simply inadequate. Try B.E.S.T.—or any of Ivy’s services—if you want to tap into your natural capacity to heal and take deeper responsibility for your happiness and wellbeing.

Breath
Donation only, Fridays from noon to 1 p.m.
Tom Tobias, Subtle Breath Yoga, 3315 E. 33rd St. (Jasinski Dance Studio)
918-808-4184, subtlebreathyoga.com

When I start to tell someone what I do Fridays at noon, it goes something like this: “It’s called pranayama. We sit and breathe different ways for an hour, and it’s freakin’ awesome—!“ That’s received with varying degrees of confusion, so let’s clear the air here. First, I emphatically recommend any of Tom Tobias’ classes—his Meditation Instruction weekday mornings is a great place to start. And then there’s “Breath.” If it sounds brutal to “get to” sit with yourself for an hour, this class is for you. In a sitting practice, you’re literally training yourself not to run off—physically, mentally and spiritually. On top of this most basic but profound aspect, “Breath” is a place to see where you’re holding (your breath, or other stuff) and experiment with loosening your grip a little. Through a series of different breathing techniques, you watch as your breath and posture become increasingly effortless, graceful and subtle. I’ve always known that the powerful effects of pranayama stretch far beyond the hour. But I didn’t realize that it makes my eyeballs smile right out of my skull until last week, when I was photographed with Tom during a shoot for this issue’s installment of Day Drinking. All of Tom’s classes are donation only—enough said.