Thrive on the Road
“Each time I attend a workshop with Elizabeth at Thrive, I have a light bulb moment! RMTi has expanded my understanding of reflex integration as a whole and has led […]
Entries by Elizabeth Hickman
Bedwetting and Our Reflexes
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), 20% of five-year-olds and 10% of seven-year-olds experience nocturnal enuresis, or frequent bedwetting issues. While the age range for […]
Spinal Galant Reflex
Spinal Galant is an early reflex that establishes our ability to move side to side, and subsequently, the ability to move upright with a stable spine. The reflex originates with a lateral flexion in the lumber spine region. This movement, stimulated by contractions that touch the lower back, allows for baby to shift in position and progress down the birth canal. This flexion of the spine also helps with early navigation from rolling over to belly crawling.
Our Vestibular System and Moro
“The starkness of the change has been incredible. What Elizabeth did was so different, but I trusted her and the process because she has a lot of great knowledge about reflexes. So many people have come from Thrive and shared with me what a big impact the sessions made.”
The Value of Hands-On Learning
Imagine preparing to board a plane for an overseas voyage. There are two pilots that are likely to fly the aircraft. One spent many years reading manuals on dashboard controls, watching take-off and landing videos and memorizing the mechanics of a Boeing 737. The other received his pilots license early on, joining his uncle on several small aircraft journeys. He wasn’t much for textbooks but logged thousands of airborne miles, gradually working his way to the large carrier planes like yours. Do you feel one pilot has better experience? Which would you trust to fly your plane?
When Travel Isn’t Fun
I’m certain we all know the feeling. Whether you’ve experienced it yourself or you’ve helped a loved one navigate through discomfort, motion sickness is one of the most unpleasant experiences that a traveler can endure. Physiological symptoms like nausea and dizziness come from a sensory conflict during moments of physical, visual or virtual motion.
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex
The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex, or TLR, helps infants establish head control, leading to muscle tone, that supports their independent navigation, from rolling to crawling and learning to walk. Divided into two distinct reflex movements, forward and backward, TLR teaches the head to tilt into controlled flexion and extension helping us to build postural control. The ability to move the head in both directions equally, without flexion or extension playing a greater role, allows for movement with stability.
Finding Calm in the Storm
“The progress from our Thrive sessions has truly been life-changing. Our household used to be so loud, so chaotic, so stressful. It was affecting the whole family.”
Rooted in the Earth
While running is my true passion, I’ve come to appreciate the practice of yoga for how it strengthens our mind-body connection. We inhale and exhale slowly to begin each class, drawing ourselves into the present. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of an outdoor yoga class, the instructor often calls upon the gentle sounds of the birds chirping, the breeze blowing or perhaps water flowing nearby at that moment. The meditative, intentional nature of yoga is a wonderful way to bring calm and focus into our often-chaotic lives.
Babinski Reflex
The Babinski reflex compliments the Infant Plantar reflex, preparing toes and feet for standing upright with stability. Just as we learned that the Plantar curls toes inward, the Babinski teaches toes to stretch out when the outsides of the foot are stimulated. These combined movements guide the development of walking, jumping and even moving laterally as we grow.