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Keep Moving with the Egoscue Method
By Gerry Furth
The athletic trainers at the Egoscue Centers happily call out "Keep Moving" so much it became their motto.
"Moving" means every way possible from regular physical exercise to keeping the phone out of reach from your work desk. In my case it also means riding my bike (easy) and getting off without falling down (not so easy).
Only a few years ago my day centered around 12-mile runs or bike rides. In between I produced and was on-camera talent for a TV cooking tour, all by myself, and in high heels. Suddenly one day I couldn't lift my right arm over my head and walking ten feet exhausted me. My right leg could suddenly buckle, and I would go down on my knees. Talk about being humbled!
Dozens of doctor visits, MRI's, x-rays; EMG's, Cat-Scans, and blood tests turned up the diagnosis: "you are fine." Then one day after my stepdaughter watched me stand and estimate the idea of maneuvering an eight-inch-high curb before crossing the street, she introduced me to Egoscue affiliate, Ron Ronquillo. He bet me he could have me walking around the block in minutes. I was skeptical but ready.
By simply holding my hands up in front of my chest (picture a dog begging), I did! What a stunning introduction to the Egoscue method. It's Pete Egoscue's common sense Postural Therapy approach to retrain muscles and realign posture. Pete mai-ntains that "the human body is meant to be in motion; but as our lifestyles become sedentary and we engage in repetitious motion, the musculoskeletal system goes out of alignment and out of whack. And the body's wonderful muscle memory helps keep it there- in pain or weakness."
A Vietnam vet, the anatomical physiologist designed The Egoscue Method to help rediscover, restore and return his own shattered body to a painless, natural state without surgery, or manipulation. Pete's advice is to "keep moving," but "moving right." In my case, running, biking and wearing high heels without realigning were the culprits!
During my first visit to the Del Mar clinic, an energetic, fit therapist evaluated my alignment by watching me walk, and by taking a photograph that was then analyzed with a plumb line "drawn" through my body. The goal is to have shoulders, hips, knees and ankles all pointing straight ahead. From the side your head stacks right on top, rather to one side or the other.
He designed a half hour "menu" of simple signature exercises or E-cises that require no equipment except a timer. I performed them everyday for a few weeks before repeating the process. I even took one menu with me to Asia for an eight week TV filming tour, heartily encouraged by the clinic staff.
Within a week I could walk eight blocks, so it was well worth driving a couple of hours to the clinic. There I met clients who had flown in from as far away as Europe. At that time, the only way to experience Egoscue outside of Del Mar was through books, online therapy or traveling clinics. Since then, trained therapists have expanded the options. Brothers, Alex and Chris Kussoff, opened a clinic in Lake Forest and more recently added a freeway- convenient one in West Los Angeles.
Like all of the Egoscue therapists, Alex is a cheerleader to my good health. Since many of the instructors came to Egoscue because of a painful condition," they are also empathic.
Still, Egoscue is as much "do-it-yourself," as possible. Alex explains, "Pete's philosophy is to build confidence in clients so they can become experts about their own body." And, yes, you have to do the E-cises daily to get results, just like you eat or brush your teeth everyday.
Glowing endorsements by independent amateur and superstar athlete patients stack up on an international basis since 1971 without a single negative comment to date. "Never have I experienced such complete relief as I have by following The Egoscue Method," says legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.
Egoscue absolutely "straightened me out," but it can't fix everything. Turned out I was suffering the symptoms of Myosthenia Gravis, subsequently treated with medication and a thymectomy. Yet when I do the E-cises, I can easily walk, bike and work at the computer ten hours without pain. MS patients also report that Egoscue improves movement, coordination and strength. So E-cises can sure fix a lot.
For upcoming local seminars and information, contact alex@egoscue.com. For information on books on Egoscue: www.egoscue.com.