An engaged professional community creates a thriving profession!

AOBTA^® is grateful to the following members for their engagement and commitment to the AOBTA^® Community and the Asian Bodywork Therapy profession!

In February 2021, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Over the next year I got chemotherapy, a  lumpectomy, and radiation and am now clear. I learned so much going through this, I want to tell you my story…

When I got my diagnosis one of the first things I did was contact my wonderful Classical Chinese medicine teacher Jeffrey Yuen and ask if he could recommend someone for me to work with through this process. Jeffrey emailed me right back, which was wonderfully comforting in itself. He did recommend someone (more about that later) and he ended his email with “best wishes for your healing journey”.

This idea of my cancer being a healing journey framed my experience, and I want to share with you, fellow Asian Bodywork Therapists, some of the healing and learning that I received which I think might be of interest to you.

Over the years I studied with Jeffrey, I learned many things but two concepts that I heard him say many times and that deeply impressed me are:

1. Our true nature is connectedness.
2. Life is like a school curriculum. We each choose the life we come into, to learn our own lessons.
   

Through my journey I learned both of these many times, on many levels. One thing that became very clear to me, and that I think you will all appreciate, is the power of touch. When I got my chemotherapy, which lasted about 3 months - every other week for 8 weeks I got infusions of Adriamycin and Cytoxan and then once a week Taxol for 4 weeks - I was very fortunate to be at Mt. Sinai’s Dubin Breast Center, where they have a grant to give foot massages during the chemo infusions! The first chemo session, I was so anxious - how is this going to feel? What will the effects be? They had me sit in a comfortable chair, inserted the needle, and in came a woman who asked me if I’d like a foot massage! I was thrilled!! And as soon as it began I felt my whole body totally relax and I began to smile. 

One of many connections, I asked her if she had gone to Swedish Institute where my husband and I both teach. Yes she had, at a time when I wasn’t teaching, but did she know my husband Tom Banasiak? Yes, she said. “Tom was one of my favorite teachers”!! Just the touch was so wonderful, calming, relaxing, and then the coincidence that she knew Tom was totally amazing.

I told the nurse and her supervisor how I knew this foot massage was helping the chemo be even more powerful, by allowing my body to relax and welcome it. One class I teach is about maintaining rapport with our clients, and I explain how creating a safe and supportive space allows the client’s wei qi to relax, and allows for the work to go much deeper, more easily, and be more effective. I totally experienced that with the connection I felt with the therapist and her lovely foot massage, and even more knowing that she knew Tom!!

Another brief but unforgettable experience of touch happened in the initial radiation session, where they put in “markers” where the radiation therapy will go. After 45 minutes or so of lying there being measured, etc., the  technicians all being friendly and pleasant, as the session was coming to a close,  the supervisor came over to me, SQUEEZED MY HAND, and said, “it’s over, you did great”. Again, just that brief moment of touch connection was so powerful, it was amazing. Changed the whole experience, and made me very happy. (Who would think one would be happy getting prepped for radiation treatments??!!) In fact, the doctors, nurses and staff at Mt. Sinai were all impressively friendly. respectful, and helpful through the whole process and this also made a big difference in my attitude and expectations each time I headed over for another treatment. 

I understand this is the new way for medical care… one more good thing! I know this, and I’m sure we all know this, and this is part of why we do this work… but my cancer journey really gave me an opportunity to receive, and I felt so deeply and clearly the power of touch. So I remind myself, and all of us: never underestimate the power of just putting your hands on your client. Just making contact is so much.

On a slightly different note - after 30+ years of doing this work - I experienced that it really works!!!!! After the first chemo infusion I had made myself a smoothie with lots of fresh greens, which turned out to be too much for my system. I felt a little nauseous and a little like I was going to have diarrhea. (This didn’t happen with the rest of the chemo, so I’m pretty sure it was the smoothie.) I gently held PC 6 and slowly felt the nausea relax, then LI 4 and felt my intestines calm down. I was, again, amazed. It works!!!! What we may learn through our various life experiences!

Jeffrey also said that we grow not through the easy times, but through the difficult times - this is represented in the five element control cycle. This was another opportunity for me to experience and appreciate the work I do in a different and very powerful way.

Jeffrey recommended that I work with Dr. Sheila George, who I highly recommend to anyone going through a similar process. Dr. George is a licensed acupuncturist and also an MD. She trained with Jeffrey who specializes in treating cancer, among other things, and she also trained at Sloan Kettering. Dr. George works with women going through breast cancer treatment, helping with lifestyle, diet and supplements. She was extremely helpful to me. We spoke on the phone a few days before my initial chemotherapy session - such fortunate timing - and and she gave me supplements to start taking immediately, in preparation for the chemo treatments, which hugely mitigated the side effects of the chemo. We have continued to meet in person every few months throughout and beyond the treatments.

I received what seems to be the common chemo treatment these days - Adriamycin and Cytoxan followed by Taxol. I did lose my hair, which was expected, and also I chose not to do the “cold cap”- ice cap on your head for 45 minutes during the chemo, which might have helped lessen the hair loss but seemed like not a good idea at all to me. Other than losing my hair, all through the process everyone kept telling me how good I looked, how bright my eyes were, and how good my energy level was. I never had nausea after that first time with the smoothie, was a little tired but always had enough energy to give a few sessions, even right after the chemo. I did get some neuropathy in my toes, which was also expected, especially from Taxol. She is giving me supplements that are helping it slowly subside.

One of the side effects Dr. George specifically helped me avoid was leaky gut syndrome. She gave me supplements to protect my mouth, gums, and digestive tract, to help my liver work better to detoxify, large intestine to eliminate, for my heart since the Adriamycin can strain the heart, amino acids to help weight loss, and more. Dr. George also recommended avoiding certain foods.

Jeffrey proposed my cancer was probably caused by inflammation. The inflammatory foods she told me to avoid were- sugar, dairy, gluten and soy. Sugar was the hardest for me, and I must confess I eat a few dark chocolate covered almonds every day, but amazingly have hardly missed my favorite cookies or dairy, gluten or soy!

One other thing I learned was that doctors are taught that you can only trust FDA approved prescription medicine. The oncologist told me not to take supplements, because you can’t be sure of the ingredients, so I just didn’t mention to her that I was taking them!

It sometimes seems strange, but I came away from my whole experience feeling incredibly fortunate. So many many wonderful “coincidences”. My cancer was described to me as “early, aggressive, and treatable”. I noticed it one day by “happening” to graze my hand along the lateral right breast (I didn’t have any practice of palpating) and clearly feeling a lump. The surgeon said it had probably been there 1-2 months. And it felt about 1 inch in diameter- yes- early and aggressive.

Our daughter is in medical school and she “happened” to have just completed a rotation in breast cancer shortly before I got my diagnosis (!!!!) so she could tell me, as did the surgeon, that this type of cancer is treatable. “You’ll be ok, Mom”. What amazing timing.

One more connection - my father was head of breast cancer surgery at Sloan Kettering in the days of radical mastectomy- which he actually had part in developing. His protege, Dr. Hiram Cody, who I have known for many years, is chief of the breast service at MSK. When I got my diagnosis I contacted him: might he still be working and, by any chance, did he know Dr. David Anderson - the surgeon I had been referred to at Mt. Sinai? He also emailed right back - yes, he was still practicing and would be happy to work with me, however, he did know Dr. Anderson, and… he is excellent, and… Dr. Cody trained him himself at MSK!!!!!! That was all I needed to know, to feel so amazingly  blessed!!! I will be in good hands. This also happened within days of my diagnosis- one more sign of some powerful connectedness and support- more affirmation of my healing journey.  I told Dr. Cody I would like to keep our friendship as it is, and work with Dr. Anderson, and we agreed I would check in with him through my treatment. He was very helpful with various questions as the treatment progressed- mostly recommending that I didn’t need additional chemo which the oncologist occasionally suggested “ just to be sure”.

I came through this whole adventure feeling that, if it had to happen, I had the best of both worlds - Eastern and Western. I learned how much support is there for me - one who is always the giver. Maybe some of you can relate to this?? I am always giving to my clients, and this situation gave me a chance to receive- a chance to feel all the support that is around me all the time that I have hardly noticed. I had incredible support from my family, from my friends and neighbors, and from my clients. I felt it so powerfully, and it made such a difference. 

My husband Tom, among many other things, cooked organic chicken for me to have for lunch every day with bone broth (so absorbable and mineral rich and highly recommended) along with chopped cilantro and/or parsley (to help the liver work better). My sister sent me inspiring words from Thich Nhat Hanh every morning. One of our neighbors brought me dinner once a week! When I told my clients about my diagnosis, virtually every one responded saying they were sorry, and if ever I needed to cancel, just let them know. This also encouraged me to learn another big lesson - I can take more care of myself! Not only care for others.

Speaking of Asian Bodywork, does this remind you of the Spleen system? Nourishing and nurturing oneself as well as others. I think this may be another big lesson for us bodyworkers/caregivers. It certainly has been for me.

I have worked with a wonderful homeopath, Claudia Ascione, for over 20 years, after she first helped our daughter. Claudia has been a great help through this process with many remedies that have been helpful on many levels - physical, emotional, and spiritual- as well as being a totally supportive presence and great comfort.

I also got wonderful support from my World Yoga Center community. Thanks to Zoom and Covid, I have been taking my yoga classes on Zoom these days. I continued to take class through my treatment, and it was wonderful to be moving in a familiar and powerful way, plus, to be part of the community as we met on Zoom. It was so great to see familiar faces, be greeted by friends I’ve practiced with for years, and feel their support as well. World Yoga also has a Reiki circle, and they included me in their thoughts. More support!!!

Thank you AOBTA for having the 2021 convention while I was going through this whole process. Again, technology made it possible for us all to be together, and to receive the teachings from so many wonderful teachers! One more instance of very good timing for me was watching Suzanne Yates’ talk about Tending the Yin flows, and realizing how the exercises she showed for Chong and Yin Wei were perfect for where I was at that time. I had finished chemotherapy and was waiting for a month to let the chemo take full effect and clear out of my body before getting the lumpectomy. I contacted Suzanne and she emailed back, agreeing that the exercises could help clear out toxins, especially around the breast area, and also help me nurture and ground myself. How great to have something I could do for myself, by myself! She also suggested fasting, by the way, as helpful in clearing out toxins and killing off mitochondria- especially old cancer cells. 

One more wonderful support - more than I can say - was in the middle of New York City - beautiful Mother Nature. Every day I would walk down Riverside Drive to my office, or across Central Park to or from the hospital, and feel so much connection and protection from the trees and the sky, feeling the power and healing of nature. I would think of myself as being sheltered by the trees. Central Park is so huge, I could be walking down one path and look ahead or across to see people far away, looking so tiny among the gigantic old trees. I would often think how powerful Nature is, and how we humans think we’re so smart - little do we know!! To have the possibility of being so close to Nature, to remember and feel how I am part of Nature has been one more deep healing.

An insight I had one day walking down Riverside Drive, which sounds simple but is incredibly powerful - I was looking at the people I was passing and I realized “we are all here together”. That’s it. Can we embrace the miracle and wonder of being alive, and come together right here, right now?  This is part of our true nature of connectedness, which is all too easy to forget.

One more - my daily meditation has changed and deepened and opened and become so much more powerful through this process it’s again - amazing! I had been doing a 10-15 minute meditation every morning for years. After I got my diagnosis I would sit and immediately feel myself surrounded and filled with such light and energy, it was incredible. I would think- what is this?? Angels? Spirit guides? The life force? The kundalini? And then I’d just feel it. And - most wonderful - it has continued, and continues to be just as powerful. Who knows all that is here with us every minute!

I have come through my healing journey with such gratefulness. I have been very very fortunate, and I continue to give thanks and ask that I may keep learning.

Lots of love to you.

Alix Keast, Asian Bodywork Therapist, NYS- LMT

who celebrated milestone membership anniversaries in 2021.

As the national professional association for the Asian Bodywork Therapy profession, AOBTA® is led by members, managed by members, and focused on serving the needs of the members. An engaged professional community creates a thriving profession!

AOBTA^® is grateful to the following members for their engagement and commitment to the AOBTA^® Community and the Asian Bodywork Therapy profession!

Through the Mystery Gate: Discover the Mysteries of Alchemical Healing

by Leta Herman, AOBTA^®-CP, and Jaye McElroy

Northampton, MA, February 22, 2021 — Whether you’re a spiritual seeker or an alternative healer interested in deepening your work, the latest book from authors Leta Herman and Jaye McElroy — Through the Mystery Gate — takes you on a unique journey behind the veil of life’s mystery, into the ancient process of Alchemical healing and transformation. This transformational step-by-step book shows you powerful ways to remove the obstacles blocking your happiness, to embrace the magic of all that is, and start to fly in your life.

Alchemy is mastery of your own life. It’s not easy to achieve, but anyone can achieve it.

We’ve all experienced what it feels like to be a rudderless boat at sea, being tossed this way and that, trying to get more good stuff in life while desperately avoiding all the bad stuff. Without clear guidance on how to cultivate authenticity and self-awareness, we can end up being blown here and there at random by the winds of change.

In this new book, Through the Mystery Gate: A Daoist Alchemy Self-Cultivation Journey, Alchemical Healer Leta Herman and Alchemical Life Strategist Jaye McElroy will help readers experience Modern Day Alchemy, following the footsteps of the legendary Daoist Alchemists of old, such as Ge Hong and Sun SiMiao. Their goals were to become “realized” or authentic human beings, even immortal -- living without suffering, loving unconditionally, and achieving their fullest human potential in a state of true enlightenment.

This book emerged from the work of Leta and Jaye, founders of the Alchemy Healing Center and co-hosts of the Inspired Action Podcast. who have been facilitating Alchemical transformations for over 20 years.

Based on the oral teachings of Master Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th generation Daoist priest, the Nine Stages of Alchemy as outlined here, are steps of self-cultivation and development necessary to achieve freedom and live life in a state of flow, or Wu Wei . When you’re in Wu Wei , every action is inspired and spontaneous, driven by a deep connection with universal energy, so that your life becomes an instrument of the Divine.

Alchemy is not just a little bit of transformation at a time! Instead it’s about radical transformation — the kind that alters the basic fundamental properties of an object, like base metal being turned into gold. You become something
profoundly new. Transmutation might even be a better word.

Through the Mystery Gate takes you beyond enigmatic Chinese Medicine concepts and dives into what it means to become a Modern Alchemist, and why you might want to be one. You’ll find step-by-step explanations, exercises, and meditations to take you through every turn on the path to personal transformation.

The Alchemy path is about living more authentically, having a clearer direction in life, overcoming creative blocks, and achieving happiness. If you're struggling or suffering or you simply want to find the wind to lift your wings off the runway of life, this is the book for you!

About the Authors
Leta Herman , AOBTA^®-CP, LMT and Jaye McElroy are co-hosts of the popular Inspired Action Podcast , as well as the co-authors of The Energy of Love , Connecting Your Circle , and The BIG “Little” Gua Sha Book . They also founded the Alchemy Healing Center, a Chinese Medicine clinic dedicated to helping clients achieve optimal health, and find their true potential through Alchemical transformation. In 2020 they also launched the online Alchemy Learning Center (AlchemyLearningCenter.com), which offers online classes and live events related to The Five Elements, The Nine Palaces, and Alchemy.

A long-time student of Master Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th generation Daoist priest and Chinese Medicine master, Leta is also a graduate of Eliot Cowan’s Plant Spirit Medicine studies program, and has studied intensively with well-known teachers and former students of Five Element Acupuncture professor J.R. Worsley.

Jaye McElroy is an Alchemical Life Strategist , which combines her extensive background in business, writing, and creative arts with Alchemy, the Five Elements, and the Nine Palaces of the Heart, to help people manifest their true potential in life.

New book by Thomas Schieffer, AOBTA-CP, teaches shiatsu for both practitioners and lay people.

BOZEMAN, Mont. – When John Doe came to Thomas Schieffer for his first shiatsu treatment, he had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, paranoia and anger management for 50 years. A 72-year-old Vietnam veteran, John was wracked by anxiety. He slept poorly. Acupuncture didn’t work, and neither did anti-anxiety meds. But 15 minutes into the shiatsu treatment, John fell asleep. That night, he had his first good night’s rest in decades. After a year of treatment, his anxiety and anger decreased, he was happier, and he was better able to manage day-to-day life.

Shiatsu, a Japanese bodywork technique that translates to “finger pressure,” is based on the tenets of traditional Chinese medicine. A Shiatsu practitioner uses his or her own body to stretch and hold a patient’s muscles and joints rhythmically. It can ease tension, stress and pain.

Schieffer has used shiatsu to treat more than 50 war veterans, seeing profound relief of physical and psychological trauma in 40. He’s also used it to help first responders and people who’ve experienced sexual trauma and street violence. His new book, “Bodywork & PTSD – Simple and Effective Shiatsu Techniques,” empowers others to do the same. “We’re used to stress, and we forget where we really are or what relaxed really is,” Schieffer said. “Shiatsu can set a new baseline for that, allowing your system to reset and relax. And if your system relaxes, it heals.”

The 75-page book includes a brief history and overview of Shiatsu, a handful of case studies, a glossary of terms, and 40-plus pages of color photographs and illustrations. Using descriptive terms like “Old Dog” and “Cat Shiatsu” that come from the method’s Japanese roots, he summarizes basic techniques for beginners and adds specific meridian points for advanced practitioners. He also explains how to create a safe emotional environment for patients.

Schieffer’s own path to shiatsu was deeply personal. A former Blackhawk helicopter mechanic who worked overseas during the Iraq war, he suffered from depression and post-traumatic stress after working in the Middle East, where he witnessed violence, abuse and human trafficking. Back home in the States, he tried acupuncture, qi gong, herbs and meditation. He spent five years living in Hindu ashrams, meditating, and took a pilgrimage to India. Each of these things helped, but it was Shiatsu—both receiving the treatment, and apprenticing under a master, Shunji Morimoto—that truly helped him find peace. “I made it my life’s goal to help people in similar situations,” Schieffer said. Through “Bodywork & PTSD,” he aims to make the healing practice accessible to many, regardless of economic
status.

Although research has shown that touch therapy in general, and shiatsu specifically, can help relieve psychological distress, none of the studies are specific to PTSD. Schieffer aims to change that, and is working on two year-long studies, one with a university and another with the Bozeman Veteran’s Court, both aimed at demonstrating shiatsu’s effects on PTSD. “Shiatsu is designed to help the body’s innate ability to heal, recover and thrive from the stresses of life,” Schieffer writes in the book. “It is especially effective in treating deep-rooted trauma that is held in the body. Shiatsu is simple, but has profound and lasting results.” Schieffer also recently released a one-hour video teaching the basic methods of the book, “How to treat PTSD through Shiatsu.”. He is also giving talks on natural medicine and stress management to military, first responders and is now expanding to the general public.

Learn more about his practice or to reach him at thomas-schieffer.com.

Purchase the book.