All my life I haven a physical person: as a youngster I was involved in dance and practiced and taught yoga as an adult. Although I had been born with scoliosis, I was able to overcome this affliction to a great degree by remaining active.

However, my life and health started on a downward spiral when in 1982 I was involved in a motorcycle accident. My pelvis was fractured in three places and my right ankle was also broken. My recovery was long and arduous, involved six months in physical therapy and a gradual progression from walker to cane.

However, the accident exacerbated the scoliosis and also resulted in severe arthritis and osteoporosis in my back. Not only had I shrunk four inches, but I was also in constant pain and fearful of undertaking the most normal of daily activities. Climbing stairs, walking even short distances and regular daily activities filled me with dreads as I was afraid of hurting myself even more. Despite my being extremely careful, I started to experience falls, which even included falling down stairs. My son then insisted that I come and live with him and his family.

This was the lowest point in my life. I spent four weeks in bed because of the excruciating pain and lived with my son and his family for nine months. During this period of inactivity, my muscles atrophied. I had to learn to walk again, which I could do only with the help of  very strong pain killers and core exercises. Even so, I could not stand up straight and my left side remained extremely weak. Needless to say, I was very depressed during this period.

Then in July 2007, through Farmington Valley Physical Therapy and its founder, Boguslawa Badon, I discovered Somatics. I consider this discovery the beginning of my return to health and to an active, normal life. Through Somatics I learned that the four weeks I had spent in bed had resulted in sensory motor amnesia, i.e., I had lost my sensory motor skills. However, with the help of Mrs. Badon, my improvement has been dramatic. My posture is now equalized and I am now able to stand much straighter. The paraspinal muscles on my left side are now much stronger since Somatics has taught me how to use my body correctly. But what is even more remarkable is that, along with the physical improvement, there has been a concomitant mental improvement. I am no longer afraid to do normal, everyday things. I now walk up and down stairs with confidence and can undertake activities, which frightened me before. Somatics has removed for me the fear of daily living and today my outlook toward life is positive and confident. For this, as well as for my physical wellbeing, I will be forever grateful.

DH
October 8, 2007