We are each other's medicine.
 

Stargate participants experience a day of healing and wellness
Irene Messina

As leaders of the recent Stargate Transformational Workshop, Drs. Joan Norton and Nicholas Tivoli found the key to the universe. Their key did not take participants a million light years from home, as in the sci-fi film Stargate. Instead, their key took participants a million light years within—to a personal universe of healing.

Held on January 4 at the Westward Look Resort, the Stargate Transformational Workshop welcomed 65 participants to a one-day health and wellness intensive. Hosted by the staff of Tucson’s at-ease Wellness Center, the workshop consisted of three chiropractic adjustments and wellness classes. Stargate workshops are designed to help participants experience deeper levels of awareness, release and clarity in their lives.

The day started with participants gathered in a circle, ready for personal flights to new levels of healing. Dr. Joan Norton—co-founder of at-ease Wellness—thanked everyone for flying “at-ease Airlines” and said all passengers would receive 2000 frequent flier miles. Chuckles filled the room as the participants listened to “Captain” Norton’s pre-flight instructions. “This is your day. Feel free to do what you need to do,” she said.

Participants were divided into two groups—pink and yellow. First up for the yellow team was a “Power of the Breath” class conducted by Jim Parker, certified professional behavioral analyst. “I am going to coach you on deep breathing. … Visualize breath up from your feet … out from your head. It’s all about being yourself with your breath. The things you have held on to—you can let it go today,” said Parker. Participants practiced the circular breathing technique over an hour with many expressing feelings of release and regained energy.

The energized yellow team members were now ready for their first (of three) chiropractic adjustments. A large room was filled with 20 tables, with Dr. Norton welcoming participants to lie face down. Working with Dr. Norton were Dr. Nicholas Tivoli, co-founder of at-ease Wellness, and Dr. Larry Zaleski of British Columbia. All three doctors practice Network Chiropractic—a system of non-force or low-force spinal adjustments. An adjustment is characterized by light touches on the body that penetrate the meninges—a sheath of tissue surrounding the spinal cord. Emotional, physical and mental traumas can twist and contort the meninges, causing subluxations—an interference pattern in the communication between the Life Force and nervous system. Network chiropractic uses gentle touch contacts to release the tension on the meningeal system , clearing out blockages and stored traumas. The three doctors moved from table to table, adjusting each participant. If you listen to and work with the body’s innate intelligence, Dr. Norton explained, “You can’t do it wrong.”

Norton had high praise for the group process practiced at Stargate. “Every person in here is connected. When others are being adjusted, so are you,” she said. “You have a group energy that builds throughout the day that contributes to the large shifts experienced,” added Beth Schecher, office administrator of at-ease Wellness. The opportunity to join with a group of people committed to personal growth was clearly a benefit of Stargate.

Yet another benefit was the movement class conducted by Lori Huffstutler, movement therapist. Huffstutler practices physio-synthesis, a formulated system to develop inner-muscular support. The purpose is “to bring all joints of the body into a balanced alignment,” she said. Starting at the toes and moving up the body, she instructed the class to gently move each small muscle to “get your body stacked up from the inside.” An hour-long class ended with one participant exclaiming, “that made my body feel wonderful!”

Praise continued at lunch, as doctors and participants dined on a vegetarian buffet. Diners compared healing experiences and discussed the benefits of group Network Chiropractic. “Group work is powerful. It all adds together and makes a huge difference,” said Linda, a regular at-ease client. Norma, a first-time Stargate participant, said Network is “like therapy. … It releases your demons in a safe atmosphere.”
After lunch, a question and answer session commenced. Several participants asked about the methodology behind the doctors’ work. “You tune into a person … to figure out where the subluxation exists. You have to listen to what’s inside [the body]. It’s a matter of embracing the process,” said Dr. Zaleski.

A warm embrace was offered to everyone at the end of the Stargate workshop with participants receiving loving pats and touches during an “angel wash” ceremony. The day ended with Dr. Tivoli leading a spiral of bodies into a group hug, exclaiming, “we are all one.” Gentle music filled the room as smiles beamed from person to person. Joyful good-byes were exchanged, with each participant headed to a continued path of healing—unlocking the gates within.

at-ease Wellness Center is located at 4427 E. Broadway Blvd. Contact the center at 325-4881 or at www.at-easewellness.com. Stargate workshops are held every six months.