by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer

 

Stress. It’s absurd the degree of havoc that a mere six-letter word can all too often wreak on our lives. Whether it originates from career demands, health issues, family commitments, strained relationships or deep-rooted traumas, poorly managed stress can inhibit our capacity to function and interact with the culture around us.

            To be alive on this planet means to exist in a pressurized state of continuous obligations and expectations from what can seem like endless directions. Because stress is unavoidable, it’s important to manage the effects with healthy and constructive tools. No matter how inundated with tension, anxiety and heaviness you might feel, there are options to channel that stress in a way that does not compromise your well-being.

To learn more about these modalities and how they can assist our overburdened minds and bodies, I spoke with Allan Schulte, PhD, a global leader in the science of energetic medicine and executive director of Lotus Stress Relief here in Sarasota. Below is a peek into our insightful—and, of course, stress-relieving—conversation.

 

Natural Awakenings: How long has Lotus Stress Relief been operating in the Sarasota area?

Allan Schulte: Lotus Stress Relief has been in operation for 11 years. We opened our doors in April 2008 at our present location between Beneva and Tuttle. From its earliest stages, Lotus has been a family-owned business. Mom (Marcia) is the office manager, Dad (Allan) is the lead therapist and daughter (Evan) is the head of therapy training and a therapist herself.

 

NA: Which modalities do you offer, and how do these help to alleviate the effects of stress?

Schulte: We use the LIFE System, the leading quantum biofeedback system in the United States which comes from Syracuse, New York. This system enables us to obtain an accurate and broad overview of what occurs in the energetics of the human body. It uses a computerized program to access energy imbalances related to the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual bodies. The LIFE System helps bring these into balance.

Whereas traditional medicine is based on bio-chemistry and uses pharmaceuticals to relieve symptoms, in our case, we utilize the field of bio-physics, and since the human body operates on frequencies, we use those same frequencies to restore balance. The LIFE System emphasizes areas of the body which hold the most stress. It indicates which organs are overtaxed and which systems need energy—the liver, kidneys, digestive or circulatory, for instance. 

It also shows which vitamins, minerals, amino acids and hormones are needed in order to achieve balance, as well as which toxins or pathogens—bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites—need to be removed and cleansed from the body. Moreover, the LIFE System points out which emotional stresses, mental conflicts or buried traumas need to be neutralized and released. It can also work to help a person experience inner peace, find homeostasis, reduce fatigue, boost revitalization and stimulate mood elevation. All of this is accomplished through the body’s own natural frequencies.

Another important modality we offer to alleviate stress is the InLight System. This was developed by NASA to benefit the astronauts, and it uses pads with hundreds of LED lights, red lights, blue lights and infra-red lights. The pads are targeted to relieve pain, open the body’s lymphatic flow and relax the arteries for improved circulation. It is an excellent system for easing the nervous system quickly.

 

NA: How does stress impact the mind, body and spirit, and why is it crucial to restore balance?

Schulte: Stress impacts the triad of mind, body and spirit by overloading the body’s mental and emotional circuitry mentally, while at the same time, unbalancing the physical state with an elevated need for nutrition, hormones, sleep and overall grounding.

Now add in the cultural effects of too much information, too many choices and too much awareness, coupled with not enough time for peace, quiet, serenity and relaxation, and the effect is a confused and overloaded system. Therefore, it is crucial to restore balance since, without homeostasis, the aging process accelerates, and mental imbalance takes a negative toll. In addition, a lack of balance can also cause relationship tensions or addictive patterns when an individual attempts to medicate the pain of stress. 

 

NA: Could you summarize how the LIFE System is beneficial to our local community?

Schulte: The LIFE System offers our community the chance to maintain an even balance in all aspects of life through a reasonable and intelligent means. A stressed body cannot heal itself, so at Lotus Stress Relief, we harness subtle frequencies to help the body reconnect with its own natural healing. Some individuals will even purchase their own LIFE System, so they can work on themselves and their family members on a consistent basis. Over time, the LIFE System can enable people to maintain an optimal degree of health for years to come.

 

NA: What are some effective techniques you have used to manage the stress in your own life?

Schulte: I utilize the LIFE System daily and the InLight method regularly. Since the body is pleomorphic, and is always in a state of change, I also check my hormones and vitamins daily. I monitor which body systems are stressed, and I restore that balance with the LIFE System which helps to calm me down.

In addition, I exercise a minimum of three times per week, using a combination of resistance and cardio workouts. This serves a dual purpose of helping to maintain my strength and dissolve stress. I also practice grounding which means that I connect with the earth by walking barefoot on the grass or the beach. I listen to meditative music, and I watch inspirational videos instead of the news cycle. YouTube has an archive of motivational authors, teachers and coaches who persuade me to expand my view of the world. Finally, I am mindful of which foods I consume. There are many nutritious restaurants here in Sarasota, and I’m grateful for that!

 

 

Lotus Stress Relief is located at 2965 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 941-706-2778, email [email protected] or visit LotusStressRelief.com.

 

Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is the Managing Editor of Natural Awakenings Sarasota–Manatee. She also works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer based in Southwest Florida. Her personal blog HealthBeAHippie.Wordpress.com features practical tips for embracing an active, nutritious and empowered lifestyle.