My Transformation
by Suellen Bartel Owner And Founder of Revitalize Yourself
Anat Baniel Method Practiioner, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practioner
In 1975 as a 16 year old girl, I was diagnosed with severe psoriatic arthritis. Later in life, my symptoms became worse, and it was evident that Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis were also a part of my disease. For many years, I struggled with pain and severe mobility impairments. I had many joint surgery replacements. I used an electric scooter to get around for any long distance walking and some days to just get around. I tried traditional therapy methods, including physical therapy as well as occupational therapy and many different medications, but I did not find any relief from the chronic pain and other symptoms of my disease. My range of motion was severely limited. My wrists, ankles, right elbow, right knee, toes and fingers had severe joint damage. I could barely move my neck as it fused on it’s own in the cervical spine from c2 to c6.
I tried nearly all of the drugs within the medical model used to treat Rheaumatoid Arthritis. I tried diets and nutritional supplements. I even went to Mexico to try a drug that I thought was holistic. This drug was one of the only ways in which I found some relief to my swelling. I was incredibly discouraged when I found out it was a steroid. But I would not give up. Again, I kept searching for an answer. I knew there had to be something out there that would help me find relief.
After seeing a local Rehabilitation specialist, I was referred to a Physical Therapist, Ray Burns, who was trained in the Anat Baniel Method based on the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais and was a Feldenkrais Practitioner. I began noticing significant improvement after working with Ray after a relatively short time. The first difference I noticed was that I began to have less interrupted sleep and that helped my body to finally be able to get adequate rest.
My pain decreased dramatically and my mobility began to increase. From late 2001 until 2003 I continued my work with Ray and found that little by little my body began to wake up to itself. I was able to use more of myself in my movement. I began to have less pain in my neck, which was severely impaired structurally, and more mobility.
I thought that if a few lessons a month were helping and encouraged by Ray to create new possibilities for myself, I decided to go to San Francisco to the Anat Baniel Method Training. My first motive was my own wellness. I was recovering from a recent knee replacement, and I knew it would be great therapy. I enjoyed my career as a social worker and, and was not thinking of was thinking in terms of becoming a practitioner. I started the training in 2003 and immediately began to see the results. My transformation had begun. I attended Anat Banial’s training every three months for the next 4 years and every segment brought me new possibilities for learning and newfound freedom in my learning and movement. The changes that I experienced were incredible! I grew 3 ½ inches taller, and I was able to stand straight again after 20 years of immobility!
by Suellen Bartel Owner And Founder of Revitalize Yourself
Anat Baniel Method Practiioner, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practioner
In 1975 as a 16 year old girl, I was diagnosed with severe psoriatic arthritis. Later in life, my symptoms became worse, and it was evident that Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis were also a part of my disease. For many years, I struggled with pain and severe mobility impairments. I had many joint surgery replacements. I used an electric scooter to get around for any long distance walking and some days to just get around. I tried traditional therapy methods, including physical therapy as well as occupational therapy and many different medications, but I did not find any relief from the chronic pain and other symptoms of my disease. My range of motion was severely limited. My wrists, ankles, right elbow, right knee, toes and fingers had severe joint damage. I could barely move my neck as it fused on it’s own in the cervical spine from c2 to c6.
I tried nearly all of the drugs within the medical model used to treat Rheaumatoid Arthritis. I tried diets and nutritional supplements. I even went to Mexico to try a drug that I thought was holistic. This drug was one of the only ways in which I found some relief to my swelling. I was incredibly discouraged when I found out it was a steroid. But I would not give up. Again, I kept searching for an answer. I knew there had to be something out there that would help me find relief.
After seeing a local Rehabilitation specialist, I was referred to a Physical Therapist, Ray Burns, who was trained in the Anat Baniel Method based on the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais and was a Feldenkrais Practitioner. I began noticing significant improvement after working with Ray after a relatively short time. The first difference I noticed was that I began to have less interrupted sleep and that helped my body to finally be able to get adequate rest.
My pain decreased dramatically and my mobility began to increase. From late 2001 until 2003 I continued my work with Ray and found that little by little my body began to wake up to itself. I was able to use more of myself in my movement. I began to have less pain in my neck, which was severely impaired structurally, and more mobility.
I thought that if a few lessons a month were helping and encouraged by Ray to create new possibilities for myself, I decided to go to San Francisco to the Anat Baniel Method Training. My first motive was my own wellness. I was recovering from a recent knee replacement, and I knew it would be great therapy. I enjoyed my career as a social worker and, and was not thinking of was thinking in terms of becoming a practitioner. I started the training in 2003 and immediately began to see the results. My transformation had begun. I attended Anat Banial’s training every three months for the next 4 years and every segment brought me new possibilities for learning and newfound freedom in my learning and movement. The changes that I experienced were incredible! I grew 3 ½ inches taller, and I was able to stand straight again after 20 years of immobility!