ERICKA ALLISON has been in the alternative
healing world for over 30 years. She has migrated away from the field of
psychology towards more spiritual approaches to healing.
Her interest has
always been to work with cause rather than effect and this has opened many
interesting doors leading her to study at communities such as Findhorn in
Scotland, Emissaries of Divine Light and Esalen in USA.
The world of
breathing beckoned her in Hawaii many years ago and she is a qualified rebirther
and also a Breathwork facilitator.
She has been both a
scholar and a teacher in many countries, including Israel, UK, USA, Australia,
and has had the priviledge of working with great mentors such as Louise Hay,
Torkem Saraydarian, Dr. Brugh Joy, Rupert Sheldrake, Hal Stone,
Werner Erhardt, Leonard Orr , Anthony Robbins etc. For the last three years she
has been studying psychophonetics with Israeli mentor and teacher Yehuda Tagar
and has successfully passed from student to therapist in this exciting modality
based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner.
Fourteen years ago at the age
of 44 she gave birth to her son Jethro at home in her bath, underwater, and
since then has supported pregnant women in natural and water
birthing.
The job of "midwife" aptly describes how she views her career
at present - not just in the context of actual child birth but also in the
context of facilitating a new birth in the consciousness of each individual with
whom she works.
She passionately advocates a sustainable world that works
for everyone and is dedicated to making a difference by teaching therapies which
promote conscious awareness grounded in physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual aliveness.
Ericka Allison e-mail: ericka@icon.co.za
Tel: 021 712 7734
Rebirthing
Rebirthing is a safe and gentle
breathing process which enables the participant to move through self-defeating
patterns
relating to self, to others, to the past, to the present , in order
to open up to living with more joy, more love and more creativity.
The
effect of regular Rebirthing is to empower the participant to become their own
authority and to understand that thoughts create reality. Releasing old negative
thoughts and limiting holding patterns in a safe space allows for profound
relaxation, insight and healing.
Rebirthing
the art of relaxing while staying dangerously
awake
When we were very young we learned to hold our
breath. It was a great way to protect ourselves from feeling all those
tumultuous feelings – fear, abandonment, sadness, anger . . . if we tensed up,
and didn’t breathe too much, the feelings would subside. It was a good survival
strategy. Trouble is, the feelings didn’t go away, they just got stuck in our
bodies (a good body-worker will find them), and also we got so used to holding
our breath we forgot how to breathe freely again.
Rebirthing is a very
simple breathing technique that reminds you, breath by breath, how to relax and
breathe freely again and allow the feelings to be there, and how to go behind
the feelings to the thoughts that have run your life since
birth.
Rebirthing can be experienced either in individual sessions or in
a group setting. You will be guided to understand the breathing technique, and
also begin to explore the way in which your life experience is run by the way in
which you think about it. “As you think, so you are”.
Most of us have
accepted these days that we are not victims, but when some aspect of our lives
is just not working it can be difficult to feel aligned with our mastery.
It
is helpful to challenge our dearly held beliefs and points of view and the link
is our breathing. I can “think positive” as much as I like, but if I’m stuck and
holding my breath, I will limit the potential for lasting
change.
Free your breath: free
yourself: experience your magnificence ! !
Testimonial
from Jeremy Burnham.
The
reason that I am writing this on Ericka's behalf is so that you may know that
she is REALLY GOOD. As a counselor, teacher, breathing instructor and
facilitator she has developed skills and confidence such that I can say with no
hesitation that people LOVE HER! Her main forté, apart from the Breathwork
itself, is in the area of relationships - working with couples, or singles who
want to be couples. She has a wonderful knack of helping people, in language
that they can hear and take in, to see just where they are holding back in their
relationships both with themselves and with their partners (real or would-be).
She can also work extremely comfortably, and powerfully, with groups.
Jeremy Burnham.
Hello ! …………. Who
are you ?
Which layer of your being do you identify with
and which do you ignore ? What distractions do you use to avoid being yourself ?
What prevents you from being you and embracing your own happiness and
contentment ? What are you holding on to and why will you not let go ? We are
all plagued by a combination of the above, yet how is it that we fail to find
many of the answers ?
Perhaps by an enormously creative and manipulative act
of hiding ourselves from ourselves, or by ‘ forgetting ‘ – ( an adult version of
hide and seek ) –
all under the illusion that we are protecting ourselves !
Psychologically speaking, this game has resulted in a limited
self‑identity, the projection of our disowned ‘ parts ‘ onto others, and a
feeling of impoverishment and separation. There are aspects of life, both inside
and outside ourselves, from which we have become disconnected. As human beings,
we have a strong drive to reclaim that connectedness, but we may not know how to
go about it. We may be disconnected from childhood memories, from other
unresolved issues in our past, or solutions to current problems. We may feel
disconnected from our bodies, our feelings, or our intuitive abilities. These
disconnections interrupt the natural flow of vital energy so that we repeat old
patterns of behavior that produce results we do not want. The stress can
generate physical symptoms, depression or even illness. Yet the quality of our
daily lives is transformed if we are willing to explore these areas and to
reconnect with these parts of ourselves and our spiritual source.
Breathwork
Breathwork is a powerful and safe practice of
remembering, using accelerated breathing, evocative music, and focused energy
release work to facilitate a deep experiential process. The process creates a
vehicle for experiencing the whole of ourselves, allowing us to access those
lost parts of ourselves through non‑ordinary states of consciousness, as well as
allowing the release of emotional toxins, all in a safe environment!
Breathwork integrates ancient and modern techniques for the purpose of
self‑transformation. For thousands of years, non‑ordinary states have been
employed systematically to seek healing or wisdom. When our bodies and psyches
are energized by the breath, we begin to create our own healing - experiencing,
resolving, and integrating material in the proper sequence and intensity for our
own development.
Breathwork is not part of any religion, cult
or philosophy. There is no ‘ third party ‘ reflection necessary or reliance on a
therapist’s interpretation. There is no work to do before or afterwards – it is
a complete process unto itself. A facilitator is present during the entire
process to ensure that your experience is allowed to take place in a safe
environment, uninterrupted and as comfortably as possible.
Participants who continue to do this work report an
increasing degree of trust in themselves and in others, a reconnection to their
spirituality or Higher Power, and a greater sense of purpose in life. Insights
regarding patterns, releasing of blocked energy / emotions in the body and
spontaneous joy, peace and creativity are common experiences. In exploring the
whole of yourself you will understand yourself better, what you need and how to
achieve it.
Breathwork is a process of
becoming whole !
Breathwork is
not suitable for pregnant women, people with any form of heart ailment,
glaucoma, severe asthma, epilepsy or any history of severe mental illness. If
you have flu please wait three days after recovery before engaging breathwork.
The use of hard drugs of any kind other than those medically prescribed is
contra-indicative to the process.
The Value of Conscious
Breathing
Deep breathing is a big part of your
Well-being, because with that deep breath, there is activation on a cellular
level. In other words, it is the current that carries the vitality to the
extremities of the cells. And so, the more you are breathing, the more you are
thriving.
Some say it is the way the Spirit moves. We would say it is the
way life moves most efficiently through your physical body. And, fortunately, it
is something that is not left to your conscious mind. You don't have to prompt
yourself to breathe. It happens. But you can prompt yourself to breathe
more.
We encourage that you deliberately take some air in. And then
before you let it out, take some more air in. And then before you let it out,
take some more air in. And before you let it out...and you say, "I can't take
any more in, because there's no place for it to go." And we say, yes there is,
take some more in.
Expand your capacity. Your lungs, like balloons, can
be all shriveled up, or expanded fully. As you move on a regular basis, they
expand somewhat, but they don't expand fully. As you deliberately breathe
deeper, it becomes more natural for them to get fuller - and before you know it,
it will be an involuntary thing. You will naturally breathe more
deeply.
When you are running or moving your body, you don't have to think
about it, your body demands it.
As in an environment like this Workshop,
it's very helpful to deliberately breathe in more, breathe in more. And when you
think that you cannot breathe in any more - breathe in more. And then experience
the deliciousness of a long, easy, out, out, out, out, out.
And then breathe in more, breathe in more, breathe in
more.
And as you do this more deliberately, you will begin
to do it more involuntarily - and your bodies will thrive. It's even more
important than drinking water. It's right up there with life itself.
When
concentrating on your breathing, you are not concentrating on other things. And
in that absence of resistance, you are also allowing an alignment of Energy. So
you get a double whammy with it: You're aligning with Source Energy. You are
literally feeding the cells of your body, allowing oxygen to reach the
extremities of your cells. Everybody comes alive - and everything works better.
Metabolism works better, elimination works better, clarity works better, blood
flows better.
Thriving comes from this.
(Excerpted from Abraham-Hicks
Workshop, G-11/25/00 - San Antonio, TX
WHO WOULD COME FOR A BREATHWORK
SESSION?
You may be dealing with:
1. a crisis, eg.
death of a loved one, car accident, injury, diagnosis of a life threatening
illness.
2. a relationship issue, eg. marriage, divorce, strain and stress in
the relationship, dispute with/over children
3. addictions with alcohol,
drugs, sex, gambling, work,
4. creative blocks - acting, writing,
5.
individual existential crises, mid-life crises, retirement issues,
menopause
6. other . . . .
HOW OFTEN SHOULD
YOU COME FOR A SESSION?
Some clients come regularly once a
month as a regular healing modality in their routine.
Some clients come just
when a crisis hits; Some come once a week for several sessions to get passed a
block. Some come when they feel the need.
Five to ten sessions can open up
wonderful new horizons on the journey of consciousness.
Every session is
different, unique and rewarding.
remember: there is no quick fix . . . it
takes years to build blocks and they may not come down
instantly.
Cost
R500 per 3 hour
session
Group prices are less depending on the size of the
group.
DESCRIPTION OF A PRIVATE SESSION OF
BREATHWORK:
A session usually lasts for 3 hours. The facilitator will
explore with the client whatever the presenting issue for that session is, with
the emphasis on positive changes which the client can establish to replace
currently held negative patterns or thoughts. Once a clear direction is
available the client lies down on a mattress covered warmly and to the sound of
strong music is encouraged to breathe faster and more deeply than normal. This
increased rate of breathing is coached and guided by the therapist who helps the
client remember to breathe when negative associations, coming up into
consciousness on their way to being released, cause the client to hold the
breath. The client is encouraged by the therapist to keep breathing through pain
or sadness or resistance and inevitably the client surrenders to the breathing
rhythm to experience the wonderful sensation of the breath 'breathing'
them!
Expertly selected provocative music supports the session, beginning
with driving pulsating rhythms which then flow into music of a journeying kind
to end off with soft melodic relaxing melodies as the cycle of release is
completed and the client relaxes into peace and even bliss. The session is often
accompanied by profound insights and creative thinking and in this altered state
pains and fears are gently unravelled. The actual breath work aspect of the
session lasts for a little over one hour. Over a cup of light refreshment the
client and therapist share insights and understandings.
This is often a soft
and intimate sharing in a healing atmosphere.
Lightness and relief
frequently result as increased oxygen in the blood stream clears toxins and
wastes out of the metabolism, strengthening the immune system. Clients access
experiences from their past and/or present life history, from their gestation
and birth, from past lives, they may astral travel, they may encounter guides
and spiritual friends, they may encounter relatives who
have died, or
experience encounters with the Divine, or they may see colours, totems,
geometric patterns, or feel body sensations, muscle cramping, heaviness, seeming
paralysis, or they may experience nothing at all other than deep
relaxation.
Dreams and imagination can be heightened as the world
of the unconscious searches for symbolic ways to attract the client's attention.
A Breathwork Session is a very special gift to give to oneself -take
3 hours to be with yourself in a safe and gentle space and LET GO to your breath
! ! !
Group sessions vary according to the group size and innate character.
There is time for introduction and discussion, time for light refreshments and a
space to breathe for at least 2 hours and then time to share and
close.
Ericka also
offers:
VOICE
DIALOGUE
Voice Dialogue is a process to access and bring into
awareness the many different aspects (or voices) within ourselves to allow us to
embrace these sub-personalities and explore, in dialogue, how best to use them
in our daily living. Founded and taught by Drs Hal and Sidra Stone,
USA.
COMPASSIONATE
COMMUNICATION
Compassionate Communication is a model for
non-violent communication directed to contribute to the well-being of both
participants in the communication. It makes available communication skills that
empower us to exchange resources and resolve differences non-violently. Founded
and taught by Marshall Rosenberg, USA.
ATTITUDINAL HEALING
Attitudinal Healing is the
approach to healing through an uplifting and positive outlook on situations and
experiences, seeing them as growth opportunities, particularly those that we may
judge 'bad' or negative. Taught by Dr. Gerald Jampolsky. USA
PSYCHOPHONETICS
Psycho phonetics is a
counseling technique based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner using
visualisation, sensing, gesture and sound to access deep wounds and promote new
healing pathways. Founded and taught by Yehuda Tagar Israel, Australia and
SA.
Ericka Allison e-mail: ericka@icon.co.za
Tel: 021 712 7734