The Heart of Healing

"The Heart of Healing" chronicles the journey home to the heart and authentic Self that frequently accompanies pain, distress, or "dis-ease" – a lack of ease in our physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual being. It is written for anyone seeking to increase awareness about healing and how to actively participate in this often daunting process. Healing is stimulated when we commit to showing up, being present, and connecting to our heart and authentic Self during life and healing challenges. Readers of "The Heart of Healing" will discover seven universal themes encountered during healing; expand awareness about healing as a journey of Self-discovery and personal empowerment; and learn how to enhance their ability to respond. Coming home to the heart is at the center of each theme. Readers will expand Self-awareness as they reflect, journal, and participate in Self-care practices (i.e. meditation, mindfulness, breathing, movement, relaxation and stress management exercises, acupressure) that accompany each chapter. The simple and easy-to-follow practices can be used independently, in groups, and in self-directed or counseling formats. These practices will help readers maximize health and well-being, as they use them to integrate learning and internal and external resources discovered on healing journeys. A more empowered, heart-centered, purposeful, and meaningful life will manifest as readers experience what is at the heart, or core, of their being, as they awaken and reconnect to their heart and authentic Self through healing.

"The Heart of Healing" describes the lifelong journey home to our heart and authentic Self that occurs through healing. It reveals how this journey and Self-care practices guide us to empowering discoveries at the heart, or core, of our being. Healing is a continuous process, not a single life event, and it is stimulated each time we commit to showing up, being present, and connecting with our heart’s pathway. Healing begins with the heart, and all paths lead back to the heart. During my early years as a physical therapist, I came to a realization about healing that has stayed with me to this day – we will experience many healing journeys from the moment we are born. This book is based on a core belief that developed from this awareness – healing is a lifelong process of growth and development. Healing begins with the journey back to our hearts, often initially encountered when we face a health crisis, pain, distress, or disease – a lack of ease in our physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual being. Too often, our hearts are torn because we have fallen into dualistic thinking and living. Guided by either/or choices, we perceive individuals and situations as good or bad, right or wrong, this way or that way, rather than being open to both options. Returning to our heart transports us to a multidimensional world with beginnings and endings, joy and grief, pain and possibility, love and loss, beauty and the beast. "The Heart of Healing" is written for anyone who finds life turned upside down and difficult in the face of: • physical illness as a result of shock, trauma, disease and/or disability • emotional challenges such as shock, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety • mental stress from overload, exhaustion, and burnout related to daily living and/or unchallenged attitudes, beliefs, and habits that no longer serve • spiritual dark nights of the soul—an overall sense of emptiness, aloneness, disconnection, loss. and lack of purpose and meaning "The Heart of Healing" is written for anyone seeking to learn more about healing, and how to be more active in their healing process. The clients I worked with for thirty years were empowered through this educational process. Each theme within "The Heart of Healing" will guide you on an individual journey that is about heart and meaning, and a path to your authentic Self. As you learn, grow, and gain insights on this journey, you will find answers to several questions: • What is healing? • How does healing impact my whole being? • Which theme(s) do I encounter during healing challenges? • How can the themes, expanded awareness, compassion, and mindfulness benefit and enhance my healing process? Your awareness will also deepen as you read, reflect, journal, and consistently participate in Self-care practices at the end of each chapter. These practices will help you discover ways to ground, integrate, and practically apply new insights. Your ability to use internal and external guidance, resources, and support will also be enhanced and will empower you and your healing process. The themes, process of Self-inquiry, awareness-tracking tools, and Self-care practices in each chapter are simple, easy to follow, and build upon one another. They can be used independently, in groups, and in self-directed or counseling formats. These strategies expand body-mind awareness and enhance Self-love, confidence, trust, and inner peace. A more purposeful and meaningful life will be manifested as you practically apply and integrate experiences and insights learned during healing. It is my hope that this book helps to create a bridge for all of us, from where we are now to where we seek to be in our healing process, growth and development, and human evolution. The bridge will be formed from what we discover during archaeological digs and scavenger hunts on our healing journeys, where understanding, answers, and meaning are sought.

Regina Rosenthal has worked in hospital, home care, and private practice settings. In 1991 she established her private physical therapy practice, Dimensions of Wellness. She was an instructor in the Facial Pain Clinic, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, in the Craniomandibular Disorders Program, from 1987 to 1996. She established and taught "Stress Busters," a Stress Management Program for clinic patients at this center. Regina has taught for the Arthritis Foundation of New Jersey (Self-Help Class), and has presented seminars nationwide for: American Cancer Society; Lever Brothers; Visiting Nurse Association of Trenton, New Jersey; American Rheumatism Association; New Jersey and New York Dental Associations; New Jersey Counselors Association; American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey; Rutgers University, Edison, New Jersey; Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, New Jersey; CentraState Medical Center, Freehold, New Jersey; A T & T; and Baxter Health Care Corporation. Regina was an instructor for Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation, presenting Integrative Manual Therapy seminars to physical and occupational therapists, massage therapists, and health-care professionals nationally and internationally. She is an Advanced Practitioner and Instructor of Process Acupressure, a hands-on whole person approach to furthering health, well- being, and soul-centered development. This approach combines acupressure with energy pathways defined in Chinese and Indian medicine. Post-graduate manual therapy training has included: craniosacral therapy; energy healing; Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement®; lymphatic mobilization; myofascial release; neural tissue mobilization; Process Accupressure; strain-counterstrain; the Trager® Approach; visceral mobilization; and Zero Balancing. In her new book, "The Heart of Healing: Discovering the Secrets of Self-Care," readers will discover seven universal themes encountered during healing; expand awareness about healing as a journey of growth and development; and learn how to be active, empowered participants in any healing process by using simple body-mind Self-care practices that accompany each chapter. Regina resides with her husband near the New Jersey shore. She continues to teach, write, spend time with family, garden, knit, and become present with the heart of healing as it emerges in individuals she works with in her private practice. Publications include: 1. "The Heart of Healing: Discovering the Secrets of Self-Care." New Jersey: Dimensions of Wellness Press, 2013. 2. Rosenthal, Regina, 1994, "The Effects of a Chronic Pain Self-Help Course on Self-Perception of Problem Severity, Depression, Pain and Daily Activities." Master’s Thesis, Master of Arts, Kean College of New Jersey. 3. “Acute and Chronic Postural Abnormalities as Related to Craniofacial Pain and TMJ Disorders,” Mannheimer, Jeffrey S. and Rosenthal, Regina M, Dental Clinics of North America, January, 1991, Vol. 35, No. 1. 4. “Treatment of Temporomandibular and CS Myofascial Pain Dysfunction with a Systems Approach Using Integrative Manual Therapy: A Case Study,”, E-Journal, 2001. 5. “Treatment of Asthma with a Systems Approach Using Integrative Manual Therapy: A Case Study,”, E-Journal, 2001.