As a dental hygienist for over 50 years, Gerri Huffman is a passionate wholistically minded professional, who broadened her knowledge with extensive research in the field of airway dentistry. As part of the team at Beyond Smiles, her work delivering one of the most extensive oral, facial and cranial assessment programs in the Chicagoland area was enhanced by her discovering of RMTi.
A major shift in daily routines, like the start of the school year, can be challenging for students. Transitions are best approached with an open, honest and collaborative approach to quell anxiety and support confidence in change. For those with immature reflexes, resetting routines can feel threatening but involving children in planning and setting expectations helps them not only feel safe but gives them agency in navigating change.
For many young people today, the path to independence is filled with fear, doubt and anxiety. Supporting our young adults means acknowledging the mix of internal and external factors that contribute to their personal growth, and building confidence in their executive functioning skills. It is our neurological connections that help young adults navigate and engage with each new milestone. By creating a strong sense of self and supporting emotional resilience, we are helping our young adults to feel safe when they falter and find strength in the lessons they learn.
As an OT practicing eight years in the field, Summer has connected with a broad professional network to build her Orlando-based practice. After meeting Elizabeth and attending a workshop on the road, Summer sought opportunities to share RMTi with her own knowledgeable and passionate team, and apply the principles to her work with even the youngest of clients.
In this case study, our client battled several compounding stressors and a condition known as POTS that sent her fear paralysis into overdrive. Through rhythmic movement therapy, she was able to regain control over her body and mind and in the process, found inspiration for a new career path.
Rather than view the words ‘I’m bored’ as a problem, let’s look at this as a valuable opportunity for our brains. The valuable mental space freed up in the absence of constant stimulation allows for deeper self-reflection, clarity in the quiet and creativity in the void. There is a chance to further regulate and recalibrate emotions, and often, to navigate these feelings with a greater degree of independence. This is meaningful developmental growth for young minds.
Teresa Bozikis has been a practicing speech pathologist, a certified lactation consultant and a passionate orofacial myofunctional therapist for over twelve years. She opened her practice, Therapia, with the goal of identifying and addressing the root cause behind her client’s challenges. Through a quarterly peer study group, she discovered RMTi as a powerful compliment to her practice and a key element in propelling her comprehensive approach to care.
When we explore the emergence of our earliest reflexes, we often reference their integration as serving to establish a sense of security. The movement and the integration of these reflexes help us explore the world around us, feel safe in our independence and seek healthy attachments with others. We reflect on Mother’s Day and the role a maternal figure plays in these early developmental transitions.
In this case study, an infant with remarkably low muscle tone and a traumatic birth story came to Thrive after muscle professionals failed to diagnose his condition. Through gentle, gradual rhythmic movement work, he was able to slowly integrate early reflexes to achieve critical developmental milestones.
As a lifelong educator, Moira’s true passion is leading and learning within a classroom setting. As one of the co-founders of Rhythmic Movement Therapy International (RMTi), she has worked on an international scale to organize, teach and consult on the power of reflex integration and specifically this rhythmic movement modality.
