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N.O.T. (Neural Organisation Technique) is a system of Neuro-Muscular Balancing originally developed by Dr Carl Ferreri (Chiropractor) - who was one of the original research Chiropractors who worked with Dr George Goodheart & others (the group affectionately known as "the dirty dozen", during the 1960's and 1970's). Dr Carl Ferreri went on to develop his own system of Kinesiology which he termed Neural Organisation Technique N.O.T..
My own understanding of N.O.T., from trainings I have done with Trevor Savage and Jennifer Kusmenko and Bernard Carson - and from my own reasonably extensive and mostly successful use of a very limited number of N.O.T. protocols (there's a lot of them!) goes something like this - at least this is what I tell my clients about what it is.
The Musculo-Skeletal-Fascial System is very much like a finely tuned orchestra. When every instrument/muscle/joint etc is working in the correct way and sequence, this orchestra makes beautiful music - manifested by our ability to move, play, dance, work, sport, love - all with complete ease, flexibility, and creative self expression. And what facilitates this orchestra making such beautiful music is of course a magnificent Conductor who can see the big picture, and knows just how each instrument blends with all the others to create that structural harmony! In our metaphor, this Conductor is none other than our incredible Nervous System.
The Nervous System that not only gives us consciousness and cognitive capability, but fairly much oversees, and monitors, and controls, or at least significantly influences, 100% of human physiological and structural processes. One of the major aspects of the Nervous System controlling or "organising" or "conducting" activities is that related to ideal proprioceptive structural balance for the body to respond to the everpresent downward pull of gravity. And in this capacity, the Nervous System has many "proprioceptive" or Gravity based reflexes that in a healthy state gives continual messages to the Musculo-Skeletal-Fascial system - the Orchestra - about just the right combination of muscle tension and co-ordination pattern and responses required for the most efficient and energy conservative way to resist the force of Gravity.
With the usual and unusual stresses that humans are exposed to (e.g. forceps or breach birth; Ceaserian; falls; knocks; bumps; accidents of any kind; surgeries; chronic poor nutritional choices; emotional stresses) many of these "neurologocial reflexes" become "scrambled" or "out of sync" with each other, leaving the Orchestra - the Musculo-Skeletal-Fascia System - without a Conductor, without guidance as to the most efficient combinations of muscle/joint tension and co-ordination patterns to resist gravity. Which means the Musculo-Skeletal-Fascia System has to work "too hard" to figure out how to hold the body up. E.g. some muscles become hypertonic - perhaps "short and tight", while others become hypotonic "long and tight". Over extended periods, days, weeks, months, in many cases years, these deficits create chronic and aberrant postural distortions, which lead to pain. aches, tiredness, restricted movement patterns that exacerbate symptoms. E.g. a regular routine of a 25 minute daily walk, can now become daunting because it leaves the perosn sore and exhausted.
Dr Carl Ferreri painstakingly researched, developed and evolved a deep understanding of how these "Neurological Reflexes" can be re-booted, and brought back "on line" - re-activating these Neurological programmes that are actually "hard wired" into the Nervous System.
My own "clinical practise" of N.O.T. has been limited to these "structural programmes" known as Lateral Atlas, Category I, II & III, Cranial Injuty Complex, and Tempero Mandibular Joint programmes (the pelvic muscles and joints are Reactive to the contralateral jaw muscles and joints), the Cardiac Back programme (I have utilised this programme because even though it has major physiological implications that may reduce the risk of Cardiac Stress/M.I. - this physiology also has a major Structural Correlation - Hypertonic Quads - Hypotonic Abdominals - Hypertonic Psoas muscles - Hypotonic Diaphragm - Exhausted Adrenals (over working to keep Diaphragm working more efficiently) - reduced Thyroid Function. And I have been pleased with the results - the N.O.T. protocols have significantly enhanced my clinical success with structural issues.
There are, however, many other layers to the N.O.T. system - including the Limbic System protocols which balances the body's self repair and homeostatic Healing Reflexes; the Cardiac Back protocols and Defensive TMJ - which togather are guaranteed to reduce 95% of pain in the body. And on top of that are all the protocols for Balancing the Endocrine System, ADD, ADHD, Scoliosis, Learning Difficulties .....
Last year my partner Jane and I went to the 2009 AKA Sydney Conference, and had the fortune to witness and meet 2 extraordinary Practitioners who actually use N.O.T. clinically in really incredibly exciting ways. One is Peter Morningstar who has already taught a 1 day Foot Joint Mobilisation Workshop for Massage Therapists, and a 2 day version for Kinesiologists at our School in Wellington this year.
The other was Bernard Carson, a 78 year old Kinesiologist who started his presentation with "I've studied many different forms of Kinesiology , but now all I use clinically is N.O.T.". A statement we both found surprising, especially with my own somewhat limited use of the system. But what we witnessed at that conference presentation was extraordinary!
To ensure Bernard's work was genuinely extraordinary, and to witness more, I was invited by Bernard to attend 2 days of the 4 day Basic N.O.T. Course he teaches (20 & 21 March 2010) in Sydney, and I was completely blown away - not just with the simplicity of his teaching of the Basics, but also with how he has learned to take these Basic protocols into mind boggling levels of sophistication and healing that even Dr Carl Ferreri never saw the potential for ....
One of the other aspects of Bernard's work, and the way he teaches the work, is how gentle he does all the corrections - being up on his demo table, it reminded me somewhat of Philip Rafferty's work (Kinergetcis) - fast, effective, and very gentle. While Bernard teaches the Basics and allows plenty of time for practise, he also does complete sessions on course participants (after everyone had learned the Basics), so participants get an experience of how Bernard mixes and matches the many programmes of N.O.T. - I would pay just to sit and watch him work for 4 days! I don't know any other Practitioners in any field who are still doing 6 days a week clinical work at age 78 going on 79. The man is extraordinary! And if you're interested in Horses, or animals generally, Bernard claims much of what he's developed as ways of using N.O.T. on humans, comes from his work on horses - so another opportunity to learn for those interested.
This 8 day training will be held in 2 x 4 day blocks here in Wellington in 2010.
Basic N.O.T.Protocols & Procedures (17-10 August 4 days)
Lateral Atlas, Category I & II Cranial Injury Complex, Limbic System, Digestive System, Cardiac Back, and TMJ protocols, and Bernard's own work on balancing the feet and ankle joints which stabilises all the other work.
Advanced N.O.T. Training (18 - 21 November 4 days)
Endocrine Corrections, Learning Difficulties, Emotional Clearning
Places on this N.O.T. training with Bernard Carson will be limited.
Investment Options
First 4 days (August) $750 with earlybird $715 if paid in full by 6 August
Second 4 days (November) $765 with earlybird $730 if paid in full by 8 November
Eligibility: Prerequisite TFH 4 and the first 4 days must be completed before the second 4 days
Course ID: NOT-10
NOT Basics: August 17 - 20 (4 days)
Tue - Fri
NOT Advanced:November 18 - 21 (4 days)
Thu-Sun
Times 9am - 6pm