There is so much to consider when one focuses on the interplay between our autonomic nervous system, our somatic nervous system and our central nervous system. And, there is so much to get excited about when the interplay of these systems can be modified, re-integrated, re-oriented and re-calibrated through oscillation of novel conscious and un-conscious sensory afferentation. Our behavior, i.e. psychology of the conscious, revolves and resolves around fluctuation of brain lateralization, hemispheric specialization, dominance (subjective experience) as it relates to our brain’s individual unique asymmetrical and emotional processing. (page 31 of Cranial Resolution). According to the authors of ‘The Intersubjective Perspective’ (thank you Michael Zhao), focus on inter-related subjective experience unveils forms and patterns that conscious experience repetitively and unconsciously assumes over time (page 101). Therefore, our subjective experience of resolving conscious experience and patterns of behavior and biology through novel integration of these three nervous systems could generate “access to the underlying structures and organizing principles and patterns that unconsciously govern psychological life”. I absolutely love discussing behavior as it relates to evidence based autonomic research. The attendees at this course in NYC gravitated towards behavior as it relates to the limitation of subjective frames of interrelated and integrated nervous systems and their respective developed references. Thank you Borbala Suranyi for being my avatar! Thank all of you in attendance who asked poignant and clinical questions. The award to the one that asked the most insightful and driving questions that pushed us into wonderful engaging response from the entire group, goes to Jeff Eckhouse. Finally, thank you Alicia Ferriere and Finish Line for hosting another PRI course in NYC. I definitely feel at home when I am there.  

Jen and I recently returned to the NATA National Convention in Las Vegas for their 70th Annual Meeting! This year we were joined by Hruska Clinic Physical Therapist and PRC, Jason Masek as he presented and contributed to a break out session on the first day of this Conference. We are always humbled by the unique interest voiced by the Athletic Training community and this year in particular, Universities throughout the country. As more and more Student Athletic Trainers, Graduate Assistants, Administrators and Professional Athletic Trainers introduce Postural Restoration concepts to their athletes, the desire to learn more continues to grow within these populations. Many attendees looked forward to taking further course work through the Institute or hosting courses themselves within their programs. Our PRI Japan Faculty was continuously mentioned by the Japanese Athletic Trainers in attendance and the impact that Kenny, Sy, and Takashi had on their peers not only during their time here in the States throughout their foundational years, but also through their Faculty roles as they currently grow PRI Japan, was voiced with high praise.

Jason intorduced our science through the "Prevention of Movement Patterned Conditions Beyond Competitive Years: Asymmetrical Movement Pattern Considerations". He and Jen fielded many questions by those who attended this talk, and led these individuals through a break out session of performing several PRI objective tests and Non-Manual Technique interventions addressing these findings. A special thank you to Mark Cairns, ATC, PRT and Jessica Tidswell, PT, ATC, PRT for their contribution in helping to guide and assist these techniques during this session. This introduction led even more traffic to our booth and many of those who received these concepts for the first time were eager to attend their first course. 

For those of you who were unable to attend but are interested in viewing the concepts Jason presented, his full Handout can be VIEWED HERE. We look forward to the continued growth of #PRINATION within the Athletic Training community and would love to answer any questions you may have!

This past weekend, the Affiliate program got presented in the southern hemisphere as the PRI  integration for Fitness and Movement was hosted in Sydney, Australia!!  I traveled over 10,220 miles (or over 16,447 km) and the very long plane ride across the south pacific was well worth it! Sydney was such a fun city, and it was a pleasure to spend some time with the PRI Australia group.

 I am beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to share the PRI science with this area of the world.  It is exciting for me to watch attendees connect to a deeper dimension of PRI because I believe it’s in those deeper dimensions of PRI that the magic happens and gaps are bridged.  Attendees from Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Georgia and various parts of Australia were all represented. Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Pilates, Yoga, and Exercise Specialists were all in attendance, with the class being about half and half. Half being exposed to PRI before and the other half were brand new to the science. Needless to say it was a diverse group --- yet all united to learn more about the diaphragm and its influence on posture.

Regardless of credentials and training, this course is enlightening to help us all remember how to program Respiration and Alternating Reciprocal Activity to enhance Tri-Planar performance patterns (i.e “Functional Fitness”)

 We hit the ZOA hard and discussed it’s role in managing hyperactivity and unnecessary muscle tension. The exercises I introduced focused on shaping the ZOA three dimensionally with respiratory abdominals, along with promoting  expansion, movement and flexibility of the ribcage.  I then emphasized the 5 steps of programming for shaping adaptation and better integration for symmetrical compound lifts.

  The 5 steps in this course are presented to help create a framework for programming and organizing how exercises are presented to clients and patients. The 5 steps also help in organizing core stability and symmetry from the diaphragm level outward.

I loved seeing the passion and ah-ha moments as attendees connected with the material and got new resources and insights to help progress their clients and patients. I think we will see PRI quickly continuing to grow in this area of the world. Thank you to Mark Obrien and Jason Thomson for hosting. Special thanks to Mark for the hospitality and opening up his brand new facility for us to use. Fit Plus Well is such great hidden gem just south of Sydney. And Jason, thank you for sharing your passion, your insights (nuts, I will always remember your nuts cue) and helping with much of the logistics of the weekend! 

My visit to Australia was fun and I hope to get to come back one day! I could definitely live in Sydney - beaches, city and mountains were all right there. Beautiful coastline. Thank you to all who helped organize the event! Cheers!!

Who knew that following Ron’s advice many years ago to find a dentist who appreciates the influences of airway, neutral TMJ position and occlusion would take me to Vilnius, Lithuania?  I have had the privilege of working with a multidisciplinary team of dentists, Dara Chira DMD orthodontist, Jeff McClendon DMD restorative dentist, and Michael Gunson DDS, MD orthognathic surgeon for the treatment of complex TMD, Airway and Occlusal patients.  We have been invited to speak at various dental conferences on our multidisciplinary approach to care (Lips, Teeth, and Tongue to Toes).  Most recently we spoke at the Baltic Sea Community on Orthognathic Surgery and Orthodontics Spring course on “The Gravity of Temporomandibular Disorders Treatment “in Vilnius, Lithuania. 

The conference opened with dental radiologist Dania Tamimi BDS, DMSc presenting on radiographic evaluation of the TMJ.  I just about fell out of my seat when she showed a left cranial side bend and how it affects the TMJ, mandibular position and occlusion!! This made my discussion of the RTMCC so much easier for the participants to understand. There were lectures by orthodontists, and orthognathic surgeons as well.  Dr. Mariano Rocabado DPT presented arthrokinematics of the craniovertebral and craniomandibular areas with the influences of manual therapy on the cervical spine and its impact on neutral TMJ.  All the lectures and especially Dania and Dr. Rocabado's lectures were a perfect set up for our team to close the meeting with how we work together to achieve balance for our patients on so many levels.  My part was very well received as I was able to develop the PRI concepts from an Advanced Integration approach including LAIC, RBC, RTMCC, muscle chains, forward head posture, asymmetrical patterns and the importance of the diaphragm and attaining proper breathing mechanics and ZOA with its influences on temporal and mandibular position and function.  It was great fun demonstrating a balloon technique to 230 participants from 30 different countries!!! I am very excited about the feedback we got after and how open minded the group of dentists were to the idea of occlusion being more than just about the teeth!!! They really do like looking at teeth though!!!!

We were able to stay a few extra days and tour Lithuania and Latvia which included a tour of a 14^th century castle on Trakai Island, Riga, Hill of Crosses and The Rondale Palace!! The trip was absolutely extraordinary!!!

I am so grateful for all the continued education and support that Ron, Jen, Jason, RJ and many others have had over the years in helping me understand the science of PRI, the application of PRI for better patient outcomes and for helping me with spreading the word to other professionals on how important it is for patients to work with a PRI minded clinician.