Sel Kerans , Author of Leading the Dance: Living Well with Parkinsons Disease

Trust me on this. Take the time to listen to this interview which was recorded several years ago. It will be well worth your time!

Sel Kerans discusses his new book, Leading the Dance: Living well with Parkinsons Disease, and his own journey on the road to recovery in an open, conversational expose of a five year journey with Parkinsons disease and the experiences that have inspired the writing of a book that may be helpful, motivational and encouraging for others, especially those newly diagnosed with the condition.

His book has been dedicated to the late Robin Williams and is about overcoming adversity, staying positive and content; focusing on healing, recovery and living well. Leading the dance with an unwelcome stranger called Parkinsons disease. Sel discusses:

• What hurdles have you faced?
• How have you overcome them?
• Would you consider yourself recovered from Parkinson’s disease?
• Do you believe it’s possible to recover completely from the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
• You mention in your book some reluctance with medication – what’s been your approach to taking medication over the five years?
• What resources have been useful for you in learning about alternative approaches to managing the symptoms?

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

Do I fight or give in to the symptoms?

I know what you are thinking. The
answer is obvious. Of course you fight,
right? This will not be my answer.
Since there are only two choices, you
now know my answer. Read on.

Fight versus Surrender

One of my favorite past times is
reading obituaries. OK. I agree
this is weird, perhaps even
demented, but give me credit
for a little self-disclosure here.

What do people say about their
loved ones when they die of cancer?

“She fought a courageous battle.”
It goes without saying (although
I am now saying it) the obituary
never points out that the battle
was lost. For all of the thousands of
obituaries I have read, no one –
I repeat no one – won the battle.
These odds are not encouraging.

This is my twisted way of alerting you
to what you are not expecting. I will
argue that a healthy way to heal
the symptoms of Parkinson’s is to
embrace the meaning and information
they offer to us.

My explanation starts with a story
about horse racing. How in the
world is horse racing related to
Parkinson’s? Ah, is impatience
an issue for you? It is for me. Let’s
each tolerate our impatience
as I write and you read the next
section.

Horse Racing and Parkinson’s

One of my pleasures in life has been to
live at one time in the beautiful city of
Lexington, Kentucky which is home to
some of the fastest and most famous
thoroughbred racing horses in the world.
Part of the Lexington folklore revolves
around Patrick Henry, a horse that won
over 6 million in purses.

In his retirement years Patrick Henry
lived on a horse farm near the famous
racing track known as Keeneland.
His handlers told me that the most
dangerous time to be inside Patrick
Henry’s horse stall was when the racing
horn at nearby Keeneland signaled
the time for a race to begin.

Patrick Henry knew he was not at the
starting gate. He knew he was not racing.
He knew he had been “put out to pasture.”
He did not like it one bit.

Patrick Henry would become angry,
even violent. His entire body would
shake, rattle and roll. He tore up
anything in his way – his hay rack,
the walls to his stall and even his
handlers if they were inside the stall
with him. It was dangerous business
for his handlers on racing day.

Patrick Henry was determined to
race. He had no interest sitting
on the sidelines, hearing the shouts
of the crowd while eating hay in
his stall.

His handlers quickly learned that you
could not confront Patrick Henry during
such occasions. His fury would be ignited.
He temper would intensify. His symptoms
would become measurably worse.

His handlers explained to me that the
only response was to allow Patrick
Henry to have his pout, shake like
a mad horse and scream out his anger
from the bowels of his life force. The
only response possible was to allow
the energy to be expressed.

Once he was able to fully and
completely express his feelings they
would pass. The shaking would stop.
The fury would pass.

When the horse’s handlers are asked –
do I fight or give in to Patrick Henry – if they
fight they would most certainly be physically
harmed.

Patrick Henry was processing his
own feelings of inadequacy. His
handlers and owners decided he
was too old to race. Part of him
certainly knew that he was too old
to race.

But this was all too much to stomach
for this proud horse. Patrick Henry
needed to release his own feelings of
inadequacy in his own way.

Parkinsons and Horse Racing

Let me now explain the connection
between Patrick Henry’s frustration
and Parkinsons. Having known now
many persons who have the symptoms
of Parkinson’s, I have observed that
there is an underlying intensity that
is usually present. The intensity is
coupled with a genuine sense of power
and focus, two remarkable traits that
help people succeed in life.

The intensity and focus is a good thing.
It is a precursor to success in life. It is
the reason why so many people with
Parkinson’s have a long record of amazing
accomplishments.

The Place of Balance

When the symptoms of Parkinson’s present
themselves what is the typical response for
anyone? For most people (myself included)
the typical response is to fight the symptoms,
to engage an internal war against them.

This response works beautifully for some
people, but I want to offer a companion
response for you to consider.

Consider the possibility that
your body will find a place of
balance no matter what
circumstances you confront
or how you respond. 

If you operate in high gear day in and day out –
running marathons, accomplishing miracles,
running a business, setting high goals, handling
the traumas of everyday living – your body will
find a way – anyway – to find balance in your life.

You cannot stop this process no matter how
hard you try. You have no control over
it.

Yin Versus Yang

We need both yin and yang. Aggression needs to
be balanced with receiving the pleasures of life.
The war inside us needs to be balanced with
making peace within us.

If it suddenly becomes more difficult to move,
your body may simply be finding a way to
slow you down. If it is more difficult to talk,
maybe your body is telling you it is time to
listen more often. If your body wants to shake
uncontrollably, perhaps there is tension in the
tissues that needs to  be released.

In other words, any symptom you experience
is valuable information your body is giving
you. All you need is to listen to your body.
Give in to the pain, discomfort and frustration.|
Set your intention to learn  more about its
underlying meaning. The symptoms –
however unpleasant they may be –
are gifts in disguise.

The best analogy here is to think
of what happens in martial arts
when you absorb the blows of your
opponent rather than counteracting
with equal force. There is limitless
power when you flow with the energy
of the moment – absorbing the blows
rather than fighting them.

If you counteract the blows of your
opponent you will ultimately lose
the fight. In the end the route to
victory is “giving in” and yielding. From
a martial arts perspective the answer to
the question – do I fight or give in – is to yield,
Absorb the blows. Therein lies the power.

Process Work

This philosophy is eloquently honored in
Process Work as formulated by Arnold
Mindell and explained in the Dream Body.
The following is taken from my interview
with Steven Fenwick, Ph.D., who
is a psychologist and national expert in
process work.

“As you look at the underlying meaning
and purpose of the symptoms, what are
they trying to tell you? It is like it has a
gift for you.”

“Even though you may hate the symptoms
– we all hate symptoms – but even though
we hate them and we want them to go away
and we do everything we can to make them
go away, which is good, we also want to look
at what the meaning is.”

“What is it trying to tell you about your life?
What is it trying to tell you about your life
purpose and meaning? And as you unfold
that and get more in touch with that and
express it more in your life, often times the
symptoms do get better. “

“From a Process Work point of view,
I would say ¦- instead of always trying
to repress the symptom, experiment.
Amplify the tremor or whatever your
most disturbing symptoms
are with just making them bigger and
feeling what they are expressing. “

“Maybe you could dance it some; of if
you are sitting in a chair you could move
various ways to express it. You could
draw it. And just feel. If this had a
message for me, what is it telling me?“

Do I Fight or Give In Summary

No one likes to have the symptoms
of Parkinsons. They are horrible.
A usual response is to launch a battle
against the symptoms or to find ways
to suppress them through medications,
drugs, herbs, supplements or other
therapies.

I am suggesting here to consider a
counterintuitive approach to the question –
do I fight or give in – that is
embodied in process work:

• Acknowledge the symptoms
  as gifts in disguise.
• Set the intention to explore
  what they are really about.
• Listen to what your body is
  telling you.

Your body is not broken. It is
working perfectly. My answer to the question –
do I fight or give in – is to listen to the messages
my body is sending. Do not fight them. Listen to
the messages they are conveying to you.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© Parkinsons Recovery

My husband, has experienced a miracle recovery from
Parkinsons. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease
seven years ago, and who was drug free for the first five
of those years, has improved dramatically over the past
two months as follows:

major, noticeable and sustained increase in energy
  (sexual, emotional, physical, mental, etc.):
handwriting is easier;
balance improved;
less need for sleep and recovery/rest;
abatement of muscle soreness;
urge to return to direct, upright posture and then, arms swing naturally;
return of facial expression
moving faster and smoother;
the list goes on.

He presently takes 5 25/100 Sinemet per day, which he
has been taking for almost two years. He also is on a wide
range of supplements, which he has been on from the beginning
and finally, I have been giving him weekly energy treatments
which are loosely based on yin tui na but which amount to
an intuitive, hands on kind of relaxation session.

We are simply unable to explain his seeming recovery
and are happy to live with it as a miracle. However, we
wanted to advise you of the remarkable turn-around
he is undergoing and seek any input you may have.

Your story of recovery is an inspiration to everyone with
Parkinson’s who are on the road to recovery. Thank you
so much for sending it. I hope others with stories similar
to yours will be encouraged to send their own personalÂ
experiences with recovery.

Your husband’s recovery program has consisted of a two pronged
approach: nutrition and energy work. He gives his body the
nourishment it needs to rejuvenate damaged neural pathways and
balance out the intricate array or hormones in his body.

Why did it take so long for the supplements to take effect?
It is often the case that the digestive system is compromised
in the early stages of recovery. The food needed by the
body to repair cells is not being adequately assimilated or
processed. It takes time for blockages and barriers in the
digestive system to clear.

Some of the best evidence of recovery comes from John
Coleman, ND. It took him nearly four years to recover from
the symptoms of Parkinson’s. As a naturopath John has helped
other clients fully recover, but their recovery too has taken
2-4 years. It simply takes time for the digestive system and
the body time to come “back on line.”

You have also been giving him subtle energy treatments.
I believe this is also a significant reason for his miracle recovery
from Parkinsons.

My colleagues and I did a six month study to evaluate the
effects of energy healing on the symptoms of 10 persons
who have Parkinson’s in Portland, Oregon. We tracked
their symptoms using standard research instruments
and videos.

Findings showed that 75% of the symptoms either improved
or stayed the same. Videos of before the treatments and after
also showed remarkable improvements.

Energy work helps to release stress and trauma which we
believe is a factor that causes the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
Energy work also helps the body balance out the complicated
mix of hormones that are continuously circulating throughout
the body.

Your experience with the recovery of your husband matches
our own experience perfectly. The weekly energy sessions and
the nutritional supplements are both clearly two important reasons for
the miracle of his recovery.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery  

© Parkinsons Recovery

Robert you are doing fantastic work: You’ve given me hope through your Parkinsons Recovery Radio program which I’ve never had before. It’s now six years since I was diagnosed, and I’m as young as you are; and I still more or less succeed in running my own medical equipment manufacturing company. However although I am looked after by one of London’s most eminent Neurologists, he has never given me the slightest suggestion that the symptoms can be over come with proper self discipline and determination….

But you have opened my eyes and by your enthusiasm, your profound study of the subject matter, you have transformed my attitude single handed. You are true hero, and I salute your efforts with all my heart.

I have a young first family with a three children of 8,10 and 12 and I have every thing to live for. But it is you that has transformed my attitude to life with Parkinson’s. Now I can see that its possible for me look forward to ten years time when I now still expect to be able to go skiing with my children, rather than dreading as before that they would not want to be seen with their then doddery Dad. You’ve shown me the light and the hope, and with that I can fight like hell to make sure my children are not robbed of their entitlement in a father.

Robert, I thank you for everything you are doing. May you have the strength to continue for a thousand years. 

Robert W (London)

I extend a warm invitation to listen to a remarkable story of recovery documented in my interview with Sue. She provides a thorough and heart warming account of her rocky journey down the road to recovery from the symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Learn all about the therapies and modalities that supported  her ability to recover.

Parkinsons Recovery challenges the false belief that Parkinson’s is a degenerative “disease” by documenting cases of individuals who have made remarkable recoveries. Some of the recoveries are complete in the sense that the person is symptom free today. Other recoveries are partial in the sense that the person has seen remarkable improvements. Both recovery experiences cases are documented in Pioneers of Recovery.

Once anyone realizes that people can and do recover, it is much easier to fully and completely believe in your heart mind and soul that the body really does knows how to heal from the inside out.

Are you serious about wanting to get relief from your symptoms? Sue Richards used a walker last year. She walks without a walker today. How did she accomplish this remarkable feat?

Sue provides a rich accounting of  her remarkable story of recovery as she traveled down the road to recovery. You might want to take notes as she provides a thorough accounting of the therapies that helped her celebrate sustained relief from her symptoms.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery