By
Stephanie Mines, Ph.D.
Unlike most other neuroscientists I have immersed myself not only in Western neuropsychology and contemporary brain research but also in the older Eastern wisdoms that surprisingly have treasures in this area to contribute. As culture proliferates with technology that inundates our brains, it is both the younger and older generations whose nervous systems are most easily overwhelmed. We see this in the increasing reports of autism, sensory integration dysfunction, Alzheimer's disease, heart attacks and strokes. Out of compassion and awareness the TARA Approach is awakened to this need and searches for how to help. While we in the West think of ourselves as opening the window to the study of the brain, in fact ancient sages and masters of healing in the traditional worlds have resources to offer so I look to that vast compendium of wealth to see how it matches our current dilemmas. Here is a treasure I just extracted: The Kidney Meridian nourishes the Sea of Marrow (the brain), but if the Spleen Meridian is regenerated it will fill the Kidney Meridian while you sleep. When I read this I thought, "Oh now I understand why Mary Iino Burmeister (my masterful Jin Shin teacher) told me to treat my Spleen daily!" Fortunately I have followed her recommendation and treated my Spleen Meridian virtually every day since she said that to me almost thirty years ago. TARA Approach students know how to tonify the Spleen Meridian and anyone who reads my books can also learn this simple treatment. There are multiple approaches to Spleen treatment and they can be used at every stage of life. They can be utilized during the Third Trimester in utero to strengthen the demanding brain development that occurs during this period in the baby's life. They are great for little ones to cultivate their intelligence. If your child has sensory struggles or is not meeting his or her milestones, use the Spleen treatment for that extra boost and you will see a resurgence of capacity. For youth facing the demanding challenges of growing up in this chaotic world, the Spleen is a better resource than Red Bull! As we age, the Spleen treatment keeps us current. It assures that our brains will never linger in the past while the present evolves.
Treatment of the Spleen is easy. You can find a variety of treatments in my
book We Are All in Shock: How Overwhelming Experience Shatters You and What
You Can Do About It, or in the self-care manual Jin Shin TARA Self Care, or
in the Sacred Sites Oracle. All of these are available from our website
(www.Tara-Approach.org) or by calling 1-800-493-6117.
Here are two short-cuts for quick Spleen Meridian treatment:
Simply hold the thumb: Just wrap your other fingers around it and you will
soon take a sigh of relief as this energy system fills up. If you see a child who
is sucking their thumb you know they are asking for this nourishment!
For Yogis: While sitting cross legged in lotus or half lotus, hold the inside of your
ankle (just below the ankle bone) and the base of your tailbone (the coccyx).
Close your eyes and reboot with prana!
There are multiple other ways to regenerate your Spleen Meridian in the TARA
Approach including more extensive treatment when depletion takes on labels
like Chronic Fatigue or other forms of exhaustion. The important thing to
know is that you can refuel not only your overall energy but also your brain
through this repeated application. Change the pattern of using everything up
until it is gone and refuel your brain daily with the TARA Approach.
FEATURING TARA APPROACH STUDENT DORA HAGERMAN
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| Dora Hagerman |
Dora Hagerman is the woman who single-handedly brought the TARA Approach
to Mexico almost fifteen years ago. Our first program in Mexico was on the beach
in a village called San Francisco, near Puerta Vallarta. After that Dora organized
courses in Cuernevaca and Fortin de las Flores, introducing American students
to the scope and beauty of her beloved country. Now Dora is organizing our
upcoming program in Mexico City where she lives. Dora has blended her studies
studies of dance and theater, film making and choreography with the TARA
Approach. She has also added parenting to her resume. Dora is the mother of
the incredible Julieta who, like her mother, is also a lover of the theater arts
and Jin Shin TARA!
After several years of movement studies, including creating performance
pieces in Mexico, Dora (who never lost her practice of Jin Shin TARA and the
TARA Approach) is resuming her focus on the healing arts. Of course she is
being entirely innovative in this resurgence, blending her use of Feldenkrais
Awareness through Movement with the TARA Approach in a cutting edge
program at the studio of her Feldenkrais teacher/practitioner, Rebecca Sitt.
Dora's creativity and authenticity is a blessing to us. Watch this rising star. I
believe she will shine her TARA Approach embodiment for the enlightenment
of many around the world.
