If you want to go fast – go alone. And if you want to go far – go together.
— African Proverb
Hi everyone,
As 2013 comes to a close, I can’t help but feel incredibly grateful to all the people who helped Living Ubuntu this year.
So, to our financial contributors:
Miriam Erb Allen, Nirmala Bhat, Terry Cleary, Kathleen Duffy, Susan Eaton, Fran Faraz, Karen Fruchter-Ross, Marsha Goldfine, Allison Harvey, Martina Knee, Gayane Kulikyan, Betsy Limebrook, Janice A. Madnick, Kiel Majewski, Laurie Miller, Pam Omidyar, Jan Parker, Melissa Rome, Lil Rostoker, Jenny Saar, Erin Shawn, Gila Wdowinski, Kent N. Treptow, and San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition.
And our phenomenal volunteers, interns, advisers, and board members:
Atal (AJ) Atawan, David Berceli, Alicia Buly, Jasmin Guevarra, Bridgette Hanning, Allison Harvey, Martina Knee, Patty League, Tamara Leider, Betsy Limebrook, Terri Martin, Elad Michael Massuri, Laurie Miller, Anshul Mittal, Nkem Ndefo, Kristen Nguyen, Shiksha Patel, Zaklin Phat, Lorraine Saenz, Dave Salahi, Mirelle Leider Schlesinger, Vin Schroeter, Eleanor Taylor, and Helen Tomlinson.
Thank you all so very, very much! Your generosity made a difference in 2013 and we are all better off on account of it.
Happy New Year!
Barbara English
Founder & Executive Director, Living Ubuntu http://livingubuntu.org
(949) 891-2005
[Ubuntu] n. Every human being truly becomes a human by means of relationships with other human beings.
“The first night, I fell asleep really easily and felt like I’ve been asleep for weeks.
I woke up feeling deeply rested. It feels like a sense of ‘letting go’ […] I feel like I can then move forward in my life and I’m not acting out of things that have happened and pains that I’m carrying around. So it just feels like I can become more available to… life.”
– Nicole
Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) is an easy to learn body-centered method created by Dr. David Berceli. It is a simple technique that helps releases stress or tension from the body that accumulate from every day circumstances of life, from difficult situations, immediate or prolonged stressful situations (e.g. anxiety, depression), or traumatic life experiences (i.e., natural disasters, social or domestic violence, PTSD).
TRE consists of six simple exercises that help individuals release tension from the muscles, which in turn relaxes the anxiety of our minds, by evoking a muscular shaking process in the body. The exercises elicit this shaking in a controlled and sustained manner. When evoked in this way, this shaking, also called “neurogenic tremors“, begins to release deep chronic muscular tension held within the body.
Reported benefits include:
Better sleep
Less worry & anxiety
More energy & endurance
Less relationship conflict & work stress
Reduced muscle pain & body tension
Alleviates symptoms of PTSD and helps heal trauma
“The human body registers everything that occurs to it, both physically and neurologically. And if we do not resolve trauma, all it can do is to continue to wear us down over life psychologically, emotionally and physically.”
– David Berceli, creator of TRE
* * *
David Berceli, creator of TRE
David Berceli, PhD is an international expert in the areas of trauma intervention and conflict resolution. For the past 22 years he has lived and worked in nine countries including Israel, Palestine, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Yemen, Egypt and Lebanon providing trauma relief workshops and designing recovery programs for international organizations around the world.
The human animal is designed to experience, endure and survive traumatic episodes. If we did not possess this ability the human species would have become extinct shortly after it was born. This natural ability to let go of and resolve post traumatic reactions is genetically encoded in us to complete one process and begin something new as a part of our unending cycle of evolution. When a traumatic event occurs, the individual feels overwhelmed and the experience seems unbearable.
However it is precisely because of this overwhelming experience that the individual is forced out of their old way of thinking into a new way of being in the universe. Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa, all experienced trauma and used their painful encounters to develop a more moral and ethical response to their traumatic circumstances. Their lives demonstrate to us that the trauma recovery process contains the possibility of helping the human person develop into a more moral and ethical species. If we can repeat this process for thousands or millions of people, we can use the transforming power inherent in the trauma recovery process to transform the ethical and moral foundations of the human person… Mass trauma may be the process whereby the human species is evolving into a more ethical species. The trauma survivors of the third world may be the harbingers of a morality necessary to temper the technology of the first world. These survivors may be evidence of the natural evolution of the human species from the Age of Technology to the Age of Wisdom.
Wisdom born of trauma
“I do not wish tragedy on anyone but ever since that accident, I never fail to tell my wife I love her. I kiss my children every day. Life is richer, fuller and deeper than I have ever experienced. It has more meaning and depth than it ever had before.”
This type of transformation of life after surviving a traumatic experience is very common. The questions that beg to be asked here are: How and why does a traumatic experience cause us to live a more profound life than we previously had? Why don’t we simply choose to live life at its deepest level before a tragedy? Why do we need to have a traumatic experience to wake up to appreciating life to its fullest?
As a human species, we are biologically designed to experience, endure and survive trauma. No different from other living organisms on this planet, we are genetically encoded to let go of and recover from trauma as a way of ridding ourselves of any experience that obstructs or interferes with the natural evolutionary process of the human body.
Resolving past traumas delivers us into the future. Through the unending cycle of trauma recovery, the human species learns how to adapt to life threatening situations. This process of adaptation makes the species stronger and wiser to protect it from future traumatic episodes. If we did not possess this natural evolutionary instinct, we would have died as a species shortly after we were born. Trauma recovery is as natural and common as trauma itself. Accepting this sometimes unpleasant fact of life allows us to see trauma in a new light… Only by letting go can we unlock ourselves from the past, be delivered into the future and prepare ourselves for our next evolutionary experience.
Once a trauma befalls us we are forced, whether we like it or not, whether we want to or not, to follow its life-altering path. At times, this process often leads us through episodes of helplessness and hopelessness. It can terrify us by unveiling the fragility, precariousness and vulnerability of our humanity. It exposes us to the rawness of life as a living species on this planet. It tears at the very fabric of our identity and radically redefines our view of life. However, it is precisely because this experience has burned the bridges of our past ways of thinking that we are forced into a new way of being in life. The old ways of thinking and relating no longer suffice and a new way of being begins to emerge. We discover that on the other side of this frightening journey we have the potential of emerging into a new life of maturity, compassion and wisdom.
We are a non-profit organization with a focus on mind-body issues, specifically health and well-being, and the effects of stress, trauma and compassion fatigue. We seek to increase awareness of the global and local impact of these issues, build a sense of community, and encourage living a more fully embodied life.
David Nazar from PBS recently did a feature story on Living Ubuntu regarding our work to create a Trauma Recovery Program for Refugees & Immigrants in Southern California.
Due to a late cancellation, we now have 1 more additional space available for the retreat. Thanks for the responses everyone. The retreat is now full.
Like past retreats,
We will leave on Friday morning (October 1), and carpool up the mountains together.
Fee for the retreat is $130. This includes all food and accommodation. However, if there is any financial hardship, please let us know. We will work with you on the expense.
The theme this time around is our relationship to nature and our environment. Below is a brief writeup by Barbara. Please let either of us know soon if you are interested in joining us. Thank you.
Our interconnectedness within our self, with each other, and natural world we live in
Fee: $130 Fee includes lodging and healthy tasty veggie meals from mid-day Friday through mid-day Sunday. If you have any financial hardship, please let us know. We will work with you on the expenses.
We will leave Friday morning, arrive by lunch time at the retreat house, and stay through lunch and clean up on Sunday, leaving for the trip back home in the early afternoon.
The retreat is intended to provide a safe environment for deeper exploration of a variety of issues that impact our lives and relationships. Grounding exercises, TRE and experiential exercises are practiced daily so as to optimize the ability to be present with our own process and with each other.
“…denial of the environment parallels the denial of the reality of the bod… By improving the flow of energy within the body, we increase our sensitivity, awareness, creativity, compassion, and humility — we become more vibrantly alive and aware of our interconnectivity. Without felt access to the body’s vibrancy, the mind becomes disconnected from not only the body, but also from nature and others. Such a dissociated mind… [allows] disinterest toward the environmental destruction that is currently ravaging our planet or, worse, allowing active participation in this destruction without any sense of feeling about the horrific damage being done.
“… As the undeveloped countries increasingly adopt Western lifestyles… the natural and environmental resources of our planet will simply be insufficient—and, as a species and as a planet, we will become increasingly stressed, possibly to the point of destruction.
“For those in touch with the feelings in their bodies, and sensitive to the environment, recognition of this reality can only be painful. Instead of running from our pain in denial, which leads to deadness, [we need to encourage] people to face their issues and problems with integrity and courage. …we have to harmonize with the natural forces, internal and external, or pay the high cost. Sensitive and reasonable people are increasingly seeing this as the crisis of our age.
“…part of the solution has to help people develop greater feelings for their interconnections with the environment and other people.”
When Anxiety Holds You Back by Mac Eaton (Saturday, January 30th 2010)
This past January, Mac Eaton presented, When Anxiety Holds You Back in Orange County. I think most people had a moving time and walked away with some valuable insights. Click here to see all pictures from the event.
Here is some feedback from people who attended.
I felt uplifted after this event. I wanted to take everybody home with me. I used one of the movement techniques to distress on Monday afternoon–and one of my coworkers connected to it.
– Karen
I thought it was extremely encouraging! I feel I now have tools that will definately help me with anxiety. I feel this could be life changing.
– Jan
I think Mac did a wonderful job. Easy to learn and so heartfelt. I loved that it was experiential. It made it very powerful.
– Laurie
I thought Mac had a lot of really good and interesting material to present; however, I felt the time was too short. It took almost half the class time to do the exercises and go around the room for sharing. I thought Mac was very generous letting anyone ask questions but unfortunately people abuse this invitation and use if for free therapy time. I would have liked to have questions saved for the end and the sharing time restricted. I know this is difficult.
– Eileen
The workshop was great. Mac connects with his people and not only enlightens about how to reduce anxiety but also demonstrates it so everyone can do it. Thanks for including me in on this wonderful technique.
– Korean
I am so glad people had a meaningful time. And I hope everyone realizes that this workshop was organized with all volunteer effort (Barbara, Terri, Diane and me). Mac, thank you for your generosity in offering this workshop. It is truly a gift.
Wonderful, Mac is so compassionate and I was thrilled to be there. It helped me so much.
– Elizabeth
I found the BOO technique most useful, not only with myself but with clients. I thoroughly enjoy Dr. Mac Eaton. He practices what he preaches; the calmative exercise makes much sense. There was a relaxed atmosphere with the group of people from all walks of life, a freedom to ask questions and compassion and understanding from as needed. I had a helpful experience. Looking forward to Dr.Vin’s presentation.
– Dorothy
I was most impressed with Mac’s genuine compassion. He did a really nice job making everyone feel safe. I would have liked more explanation about the exercise moves and how they relate to alleviating anxiety. I already know a lot of this from my yoga practice, but I think it would have been helpful to elaborate a bit. I also think that diet, exercise and caffeine intake could have been addressed a bit more. That is tough though because with only four hours you cannot cover everything, but maybe have a take home sheet you can give people with “TIPS to Treat Anxiety”…
– Julie
Here is a video of Nelson Mandela explaining the meaning of Ubuntu.
In the old days, a traveller through our country would stop at a village and he didn’t have to ask for food or water. Once he stops, the people give him food… that is one aspect of Ubuntu.
…
Ubuntu does not mean that people should not address themselves. The question is, are you going to do so to enable the community around you… to improve? These are the important things in life. And if one can do that we’ve got something very important which will be appreciated.
– Nelson Mandela
“Respect, helpfulness, sharing, community, caring, trust, unselfishness… One word can mean so much.”
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