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torrancememorial.org PULSE | 37 a year," Columbus recalls. "I tried steroid injections, major drugs and even acupuncture. None of it worked for me. I've been taking this class for a little more than a year and am off the major pain meds, my mobility has improved and more importantly, I've learned to treat myself with kindness and respect." Instructor Jafari, like many who educate others in mind/body practices, had her own experience with a condition that was not improving with conventional therapies. "I personally had an illness, lots of treatments and surgeries, and yoga therapy alone was not doing anything. I decided to apply Hanna Somatics (named for its founder omas Hanna), which is a form of neuromuscular reeducation." Somatics, she says, targets a condition called sensory motor amnesia, which causes muscles that have been traumatized as a reaction to pain, injury and even stress to stay contracted. "We first contract the muscle, then allow it to lengthen slowly. We never 'stretch,' " Jafari explains. "e somatics part of the class is quite unexpected to some," Jafari says with a laugh. "In fact, I first tried out the somatics when I was subbing in a yoga class; the students said, 'What was that?' Many people have tried other yoga classes, but this is better for them. Some people walk into class and then never come back, but the people who are seekers realize what it gives them." She has seen some remarkable recoveries as well: "My students with fibromyalgia are doing wonderfully right now. I have two 89-year-olds who did nothing but somatics for six months, and when we finally got to the yoga balance poses, they could do them. ey were so surprised." "It took me some time to understand the Somatic concept," says Lisa Columbus. "But I've learned to surrender my body to working on a small and concentrated level and not try to override my limitations anymore. And I've seen students who are also in physical pain do things they haven't been able to do before. It's great to see the look of amazement on their faces." No less remarkable are the results instructor Richard Goodman has seen in his Tai Chi classes offered by Torrance Memorial. "People take my class for many different reasons, mostly for health benefits and balance issues. en they start to like it because they feel more relaxed. And some advanced classes want to do it for self defense. I have 80- and 90-year-olds who got into the knives and swords classes." Some of the most remarkable, Goodman says, are patients with conditions such as Parkinson's, who find the slow, repetitive movement helps with their balance and control. "Doing Tai Chi is fun, light, like swimming in air. It's centering and being present in the moment," he adds. "And it's not a cure, but it definitely helps— especially if people also do it on their own. We see students who come in using walkers and then canes and then start using their canes as 'double knives.'" FINDING THE RIGHT ALTERNATIVE PRACTITIONER Torrance Memorial employs practitioners trained to deal with medical issues, and classes in yoga, meditation and energy healing are also available for patients. "What I talk to people about the most tends to be how to eat healthfully, on the anti-inflammatory food grid," Dr. Niehoff says. "Other things include vitamins and supplements, what would be worthwhile and what can cause problems. I also recommend Reiki and energy medicine." ere is an abundance of alternative medicine practitioners in the community as well. Discuss options with your doctor and then learn as much as possible about the practitioner you are considering, including education, training, licensing and certification. It's very important that any practitioner be willing to be part of and work with a patient's conventional healthcare team so everyone can be in the loop. is is particularly important as it relates to oncolog y. Communication is critical. Insurance is another consideration. While more insurance companies are covering alternative therapies, the amount of coverage varies, so check with your provider and the practitioner. PREVENTION IS GOOD MEDICINE TOO Graziadio Wellness Center at Torrance Memorial offers a complementary therapy program for patients and also sponsors free lectures for the public, centered on integrative medicine and mind-body wellness. Drs. Nishimoto, Norcross and Grabb are all members of the Graziadio Wellness Center committee, which oversees the lecture series; previous topics have included neurofeedback and the mind-body connection, nutrition and supplements, and power foods for the brain. An overarching goal of the committee is to inform people about how to reduce stress and stay healthy and out of the hospital altogether. "Just as we have a fight or flight response system," explains Dr. Grabb, "we also have a calm and connect system. When we activate that system, we are able to engage with others more attentively and be more focused and in the moment, which relieves stress. In the moment is where we're supposed to be—it's trite, but it's how we're made." "Meditation and simple breath work can have great effects on mood and anxiety, and just dealing with day-to-day stress," Dr. Neihoff says, "And massage can be wonderfully beneficial." Dr. Nishimoto agrees, adding, "ere's so much we can do to enhance our well-being. And that's really terrific. "Because who wants to take a pill for everything?" For more information about the Graziadio Wellness Center and the lecture series, please call 310-517-4711 or visit torrancememorial.org and click on "Classes" and then "Graziadio Lectures." To learn more about research taking place at the National Center for Complementar y and Integrative Health, visit nccih.nih.gov. Fayzaneh Jafari's Yoga/Somatics teaches movement to join body, muscle and mind. Students like Lisa Columbus have found it remarkable. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY