Tag Archives: Eve Sicurelle

Eve Sicurelle interviews Acupuncturist Keith Koehler

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Hello Everyone!

I am so excited to have Eve Sicurelle back interviewing wonderful practitioners in the area. Eve is a student in the Holistic Health program. She has done past presentations and will be doing presentations in March this coming year. She took time to interview acupuncturist Keith Koehler. Keith have been active in the GCU community for quite a while and I am so excited to share this interview with the blog.

Be sure to take a look at a past blog post Keith did talking about acupuncture.

Thank you Eve and Keith!

Enjoy!

Tracey 

After a semester in GCU’s Holistic Health Program (in particular the Anatomy and Physiology) my interest in the subtle manifestation of Qi (life force energy) was piqued.  Over the years I had used acupuncture to quit smoking as well as to manage pain. In the beginning I was a bit phobic about the needles however I soon came to know they were rarely felt during insertion.  Sometimes during a session I’d feel “currents” running along meridians.  More often I’d feel a peaceful sense of relaxation while resting and allowing the needles to do their work.  I’d heard about Certified Acupuncturist Keith Koehler from several of my colleagues who were treating with him and who experienced relief of symptoms brought on by stress and hormone imbalance.   Hormones and stress,… what a combustible mix!

 

Hormone imbalance (which can occur from our late teens to late 20’s) is a condition that can benefit from acupuncture.  Symptoms of imbalance can manifest as headaches/migraines, dysmenorrhea, neck/low back pain and mood swings.    Dr. Koehler suggested that acupuncture works well to balance the hormone cycle and can provide relief of uncomfortable symptoms.

 

Stress is another imbalance that can be managed with acupuncture.  Two of the areas that manifest stress most frequently are the head/neck/shoulder area as well as the gut.  We are all familiar with the headache/migraine/“pain in the neck” experiences, but what about the gut?  It is here the parasympathetic nervous system can express imbalance by stools that are too loose or really compacted as well as other digestive related issues.  Dr. K also indicated stress can be exacerbated by outside influences (think of bacteria or viral infections/illness) which can further influence the energetic balance in our bodies.

 

Some of the outside influences that can bring on imbalance include early sexual activity, poor food choices and poor breathing habits.  Of these, I find the most intriguing to be breathing habits.  There are many factors that can influence the quality and effectiveness of our breath and it is ultimately the breath that can influence the state of our well-being.  Environmental stressors (i.e., smoking, indoor and outdoor pollution) as well as emotion (we tend to hold our breath or breathe shallowly when stressed) can affect the quality and effectiveness of our breath.  This can result in accessory breathing muscles becoming restricted which further inhibit breath quality as well as the fluidity of energetic movement through our bodies.

 

If imbalance influences our state of well-being, how can we bring ourselves to a balanced state?  Yoga, tai chi, meditation are all well-known for their abilities to minimize stress and increase production of serotonin.  In addition, activities that increase cardiovascular health help to release stress that has accumulated in the body.  Be creative and try different things until you find that which brings you the best results.  As I was processing this information, I had to agree.  I noted that the times I feel the best are the times when my diet is appropriate and there is some activity that makes me sweat daily.

 

Some insurances do cover acupuncture treatment however, If you’re not sure whether yours does, ask Dr. Koehler.  He will check and let you know.  In the event your coverage does not extend to acupuncture, Dr. Koehler offers a GCU discount.

 

Some of us are “called” to our vocations by meaningful events in our lives and this was certainly the case for Dr. Koehler who as a young boy watched his father suffer with incapacitating back pain.  It was acupuncture that ultimately provided relief and allowed his dad to once again participate in life in a way he hadn’t in a long time.  It was clear to me that Dr. Koehler has a deep connection with this healing art and is certainly passionate about getting people back on their feet, no matter the cause for the problem.  If you are challenged in fully participating in life because of hormonal or stress related imbalance, acupuncture may be that which helps you to pull it back together.

 

Keith Koehler, MAOM, C.A. is a certified acupuncturist (NJ). He is also a member of the Advisory Council for the Holistic Health Graduate Program at Georgian Court University. He received his Masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the New England School of Acupuncture, the oldest school of Chinese medicine in the United States. Prior to acupuncture, Keith earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education. Through his studies in acupuncture and health education, Keith has developed a passion for advancing his knowledge of the human body and how to maintain an optimal level of health. When he is not in the office, Keith enjoys staying active through surfing, tai chi, and coaching high school wrestling. His goal is to help others enhance their quality of health, through treatment and education. Keith practices acupuncture out of his office, Koehler Acupuncture location on Drum Point Rd. in Brick, NJ. Please call 732-262-0637 if you are interested in setting up an appointment.

 

Eve’s Visit with the Counseling Center at GCU

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Hello Everyone!

Eve Sicurella is  student at GCU and a wonderful addition to the Holistic Health program. She will be doing blogs and presentations through out the year for the GCU Wellness Program. I hope you enjoy her blog post about her visit to the counseling center at GCU.

Enjoy!

Tracey

 

Several weeks ago an e-mail via The Angel Network arrived in my mailbox about workshops being held on stress, anxiety and phobias.    I’m married for 28 years and when I turned 50, decided to finish my degree.  I sometimes experience anxiety brought on by stressors related to my living in overcrowded (and expensive)New Jersey.  The stress increases as I wonder how to make time for a relationship with my husband while going to school and running my own business.  The stress escalates as I wonder how to pay off my student loans at this time in my life.   (Does any of that juggling act sound familiar to you?)  Even though I’ve put together a support network that keeps me from being a frequent passenger on the crazy train, I was nonetheless intrigued by this workshop.   Although I couldn’t attend because of scheduling conflicts, I decided to get over to theGCUCounselingCenter(which sponsored the workshops) and see what was happening there.

 

GCU CC is located on the second floor of the Casino.  Upon walking through large wooden doors, it was as if I’d just entered a sanctuary and that anything I brought there would be safe.  I was greeted by Stephanie, an intern genuinely helpful in answering my questions who then referred me to John Viterito (a counselor) to talk further.

 

I learned that GCU CC not only provides a caring, supportive atmosphere for those individuals with “healthy” distress (such as the incompatible roommate or the pressure of meeting many deadlines) but for those dealing with the more weighty difficulties of depression or addiction.  I was glad to know there was help for the vast diversity of situations that could walk through those doors.   There are two counselors, a psychologist, and a pre-doctoral intern on staff to counsel students as well as a referral network for help off campus.  The GCU CC sponsors workshops/groups ranging from GRAD (Get Rid of Anxiety Discussion) and “Wanna Talk About It” (topics vary depending on attendee choice) to special events such as the one for 9/11.

 

The experience of stress tends to be intensely subjective and can result in a sense of isolation when feeling overwhelmed by feelings or thoughts not understood.  If we don’t understand, we tend to think that others won’t understand so we suffer quietly (or perhaps not so quietly depending on the personality).  What can be helpful is building a support network.

 

Building a support network will help you become more objective about your perception of what’s happening in your life.  A support network can include sharing what is going on with someone you trust.  It can also include finding ways to quiet your mind so a more objective picture of your responses will arise.  Some of those ways for me are writing, meditation, and physical activity (gardening, walking, bike-riding).  The key is to find that which produces the best results for you.   This will likely be a trial and error process which is well worth the effort because you will come to know that you are capable of taking responsibility for how you perceive the world.  Having options instills you with a sense of your own power and ability.

 

I’d encourage you to begin the journey of exploring what it is that helps you to manage stress and anxiety.   It will be a precious asset to you as you move through one world (GCU) to the   next.  If you need help taking that first step, you can reach out to GCU CC at 732-987-2680 or post on this blog sponsored by the Holistic Health program – there are some effective techniques and ways of managing your life that you can find out about here.  Remember, there are supportive, caring people all around you who have been on this journey and who are willing to walk with you until you are strong enough to walk on your own.

Wrap up of Transformational Menopause

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Hello Everyone!

Monday night, Eve and Suzanne did an amazing job presenting. While I am only 24 and hope I am years away from menopause, there talk still had so much relevance on my own life.

First, Suzanne and Eve talked about how they don’t like the conotations we have in the Western world about aging. It is believed that as we age, we become degenerative and useless to society, and our way past our prime.  In the Eastern culture, as one ages they become a spiritual elder, a person who fosters empowerment, and a person who is respected for their ability to care for themselves, others, and the global community. As we get older, it is a time to get to know ourselves better which only gives us the opportunity to enhance the world around us.

Suzanne and Eve also looked at the symptoms of menopause not as things to hide or take pills to cover up, but as messages from our consciousness and our body. Food cravings could be a way of our body asking us are we really hungry for the sugary doughnut or are we hungry for a different place in out life? Insomnia could be your consciousness asking you what do you need to wake up from? Suzanne and Eve related the symptoms to menopause, but try relating this to any symptom in your life.  Do you get back pain or cramps during you menstrual cycle? What about feeling like an emotional wreck? Do you crave carbs, fats, salts, or sugars? What are you really hungry for? These conversations leads to a deeper relationship with yourself and a greater understanding of your body.

Suzanne and Eve have also created their Transformation Tool Kit which I feel is useful at all stages of one’s life since we are always at stages of transformation. Eve has used journaling as a way to explore who she is and who she was. She uses different exercises like committing to writing three pages a day and write whatever comes to you. If you write I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what to say, over and over again it is a way to work through the thoughts in your head. Journaling is about removing the censor in your head and saying anything you are afraid to say out loud.

Suzanne did a beautiful sharing of energy between the woman who attended. We were able to sending love, compassion, and peace to the other woman. We were both given the position to be giving energy and receiving energy. For Suzanne, taking the time to meditate and focus on giving love to yourself is important as you age.

I took notes during the presentation and something I wrote down pretty much sums up my feelings on the night.  I wrote, “I feel wiser for being in the presence of these amazing woman.”

Thank you Suzanne and Eve for such an amazing evening.

-Tracey

 

Eve Sicurella and Suzanne McMurray Presenting "Transformational Menopuase" at GCU on 10/17/11

Transformational Menopause Tonight!!!!

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Monday, Oct. 17th at 5:30–7:00pm in the Little Theatre

Suzanne and Eve will be the presenters tonight. Below is their experience with their bodies’ journey through this time in their life.

My experience of peri-menopause taught me listening skills. I had no idea how intelligent my body is and now that I have started to listen and heed its sometimes insistent recommendations, I feel more control. I still get hot flashes but I know the triggers. I know what makes them worse and I can control them. This means that I can’t always have that glass of red wine or piece of chocolate so instead I get to experiment and try new things. Different doesn’t mean worse. In fact you may find that change is better.
- Suzanne

Suzanne McMurray is a registered nurse with a variety of experience in oncology, neurology, nursing administration and clinical research. She is a Reiki Master and received her Graduate Certification in Integral Theory from John F. Kennedy University. She is currently pursuing her Master of Arts degree in Holistic Health Studies at Georgian Court University. She lives in Allenwood with her significant other, their three sons, and one-year-old yellow lab, Sophie, who helps “balance out the excessive male hormones” in her home.

My experience of menopause has taught me to trust what I’m experiencing despite what I’m told by others (like the doctors who told me I was too young to be in menopause).  In order to support this new relationship,   I’ve created a “psychic first aide kit” (journaling, meditating, exercise and imagery) which allows me some level of perspective when faced with an emotionally perplexing situation.  No matter how bad it seems, my choices in perception can make it worse or better.
- Eve

Eve Sicurella is a nationally certified massage therapist who has maintained a private practice in Toms River since 1999. Her vast trainings in bodywork and energy therapies have expanded her ability to provide relief of chronic pain patterns in the body. Eve instructed at Garden State Center for Holistic Health Care as well as at Lakewood Community Education Programs. She has facilitated workshops on stress management for the Ocean County Women’s Council of Realtors. Her passion for writing has an outlet through a monthly “Musings” column in the New Jersey Holistic Magazine. Having spent a lifetime as a woman, being post-menopausal since her early 40s, and going back to school in her early 50s, she has great insight into what it means to be a woman in transition.

Hope you all are able to attend tonight!