This month I will be interviewing some of my favorite guru's and teachers about bodywork and their personal experience with different therapies. The first interview is with Cindy Shaw. Cindy is a gifted physical therapist who owns her own private outpatient clinic in Huntington Beach California (Orthopaedic and Spine Care Physical Therapy). Cindy has worked for 37 years in the field of orthopaedic physical therapy, is a board certified orthopaedic specialist (OCS), has specialization in manual therapy and spine care as well as and visceral manipulation and has a national certification in Biofeedback.
1. What does bodywork mean to you?
Bodywork is a very global word that can be focused internally or externally. For me personally it is expressed with hands-on involvement. I feel strongly that the integration of skilled hands-on-the body care can facilitate release of restrictions within the systems and provide pathways for the body to achieve homeostasis. Bodywork for me is working with the muscular skeletal systems as part of the whole.
2. What are some of the ways you incorporate bodywork into your life?
I share bodywork as a Physical Therapist almost every day and take immense pleasure in facilitating positive change. I also make sure I make the time to receive bodywork once or twice each month to lessen the buildup of day to day activities on my system. Using bodywork in someone else’s skilled hands allows me to respond to what they discover and balance my energies.
3. What lifestyle tips, rules, or mantras do you live by?
MAKE TIME TO TAKE TIME
Breathe deeply often
Cross “get caught up” off the list
Don’t let tasks or things get in the way of experiences
4. Do you have any personal journey or story with health and wellness?
I did not truly start to take the time to incorporate bodywork, healthy eating, and more adventure for myself into my life until my late 40’s as my children were older and stresses made me stop and take another path. This has been a long consistent journey with so many rewards. I am healthier, happier, and hopefully wiser too, a decade later.
5. What is your favorite way to indulge?
Indulge what a great concept! It may be an embrace full of love, a smile or laughter that appears without restraint, a slice of cheesecake, or a glass of nice red wine. Given no time restraints, it is time with the ocean.
6. What is your favorite way to move?
I am passionate about scuba diving. The gift to breathe slowly and deeply underwater centers me. Floating and observing the world of behavior and beauty in our oceans where none of the topside stresses can join me is very therapeutic. Swimming hard when I need to or choose to serves a purpose there to add to adventure. On the surface stretching is my choice of movement on a daily basis combining yoga poses and flow with functional strengthening. I love to participate in Gyrotonics and Pilates to find and practice better and stronger movement patterns.
7. If you could tell your younger self one thing what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to start sooner, even a little bit at a time.
Consistent effort matters.
8. Who are your guru’s, teachers, or role models and why?
I have been fortunate to work closely with Gail Wetzler, a phenomenal woman and PT as she taught and encouraged me to always take my skills to another level. She introduced me to visceral bodywork and abilities to listen to the body’s messages. As a complete yoga newbie, my path crossed with Sarah Reese, another phenomenal and gifted woman who opened my eyes and body to new dimensions that I use daily. Really every single day my patients are my teachers, they all have something to share verbally or through their stories and bodies. I just need to listen.
9. What is your favorite way to spend free time?
Scuba Diving with my dive buddy husband