Teresa Jade LeYung's BLOG » retraining Beautiful Brain https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog Story Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung on Wellness, Themes, Archetypes - Love Made Of Heart ® Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:55:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Paris, Brain, Neurological Disorder, Elisabeth Tova Bailey’s Snail, Diane LeBow’s Dancing, Gilles Marin’s Taoist Approach to Healing https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/paris-brain-neurological-disorder-elisabeth-tova-baileys-snail-diane-lebows-dancing-gilles-marins-taoist-approach-to-healing/ https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/paris-brain-neurological-disorder-elisabeth-tova-baileys-snail-diane-lebows-dancing-gilles-marins-taoist-approach-to-healing/#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2021 04:28:35 +0000 admin http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/?p=10269 2021 August 19, 16:38;   October 19, 22:22;  October 20, 16:23-21:23 California

Dear Reader,

I send you wishes of wellness, lasting wellness of deep peace.  Over the decades, I have been fortunate to gain knowledge and skills from generous folks who shared secrets to the “good” life.

If you are a friend reading this blog post … I thank you for your emails, physical mail, text messages, voicemails, well wishes, lovely thoughts and prayers.

So many books have enriched my life … 3 books have been especially healing for me these past months as I continue to learn how to move away from persistent unpleasant sensations (including pain signals) that began last year after an episode of Shingles.

Therefore, as a fellow sojourner during this world pandemic …  I am dreaming of Paris, retraining Beautiful Brain, understanding this neurological disorder, reading and getting inspired by Elisabeth Tova Bailey’s snail, Diane LeBow’s dancing, and Gilles Marin’s Taoist approach to healing.

 

 

 

 

Book by Gilles Marin

Five Elements, Six Conditions – a Taoist Approach to Emotional Healing, Psychology, and Internal Alchemy

Gilles Marin is the Founder and Director of the Chi Nei Tsang Institute and School of Taoist Healing Energetics, California, USA https://www.chineitsang.com

Co-directeur de  l’institut de Chi Nei Tsang, Nice, FRANCE   chineitsang.marin.free.fr

Universal Healing Tao and Chi Nei Tsang Senior Instructor since 1986

TaoTouch: The art to help people heal, get rid of pain, and bring back vibrant health by reconciling self, soul and spirit while triggering emotional processing.  This is done through a traditional Taoist monastic healing practice called Chi Nei Tsang, which works with deep and gentle abdominal touch to enhance health and vitality to the internal organs.

Gilles Marin was born in France on Bastille Day, July 14th, and is a Fire Monkey in Chinese Astrology.

Thank you, dear Fire Rooster and Goddess of Happiness Linda A. Harris and dear healer Marie-Christine Cornet https://www.mariechristinecornet.com , for introducing me to the wonderful world of Gilles Marin.

 

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Book by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

ELISABETH TOVA BAILEY’s natural history/memoir, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, recounts her year-long observations of a wild Maine woodland snail. The true story of her interspecies relationship is reaching a general international audience of both genders and all ages and is finding special homes in the fields of literature, natural history, medical humanities, and education.

https://www.elisabethtovabailey.net  Elisabeth Tova Bailey tells the inspiring and intimate story of her year-long encounter with a Neohelix albolabris—a common forest snail. While an illness keeps her bedridden, Bailey watches as the snail takes up residence on her nightstand. Intrigued by its molluscan anatomy, cryptic defenses, clear decision making ability, hydraulic locomotion, and mysterious courtship activities, Bailey becomes an astute and amused observer. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is a remarkable journey of survival and resilience, showing us how a small part of the natural world illuminates our own human existence.

Thank you, dear Luisa Adams, author of  the exquisite memoir Woven of Water https://www.rp-author.com/Adams/, for gifting me Ms. Bailey’s book.

 

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Book by Diane LeBow

Dancing on the Wine-Dark Sea: Memoir of a Trailblazing Woman’s Travels, Adventures, and Romance 

https://dianelebow.com

Diane LeBow is an award-winning writer and photojournalist. She is the recipient of Gold and Silver Solas Awards for “Best Women’s Travel Writing,” and she is President emerita of Bay Area Travel Writers.

DianeLeBow has traveled to more than 90 countries. She has spent time with Afghan women, the Hopi, Amazon people, Tuvans, Mongolians, Corsicans, and Parisians. She has scuba dived with sharks in the Red Sea and trained champion Morgan horses.

A pioneer of college women’s studies programs, Diane LeBow received her Ph.D. in the History of Consciousness from the University of California. She is also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Douglass College at Rutgers University. Diane began her teaching career in the Netherlands and was a college professor in Paris, New York City, and California.

Thank you, global traveler / certified tour director / author Sasa Southard  https://sasasouthard.com/ , for introducing me to the wonderful world of Diane LeBow!

Thank you, author / photographer Margie Yee Webb https://www.amazon.com/Books-Margie-Yee-Webb/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMargie+Yee+Webb , for having invited Ms. LeBow to speak at the June 16, 2021 meeting of Gold Country Writers and broadcasting Ms. LeBow’s memorable stories!

 

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Thank you for reading my blog post “Paris, Brain, Neurological Disorders, Elisabeth Tova Bailey’s Snail, Diane LeBow’s Dancing, Gilles Marin’s Taoist Approach to Healing”

For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity  in my blog  https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog …  If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”.  Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to the topic.

 

I wish you and your Beautiful Brain – safety, kindness, excellent health.

Sincerely,

Teresa Jade LeYung

photo of Teresa Jade LeYung by Mary E. Knippel, author, speaker, writing coach https://yourwritingmentor.com

 

 

Story Consultant and Photo Historian Teresa Jade LeYung says: “I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”

 

Teresa Jade LeYung, American naturalized citizen of Chinese ancestry, is a manuscript-theme consultant, author of Love Made Of Heart (daughter-mother story – archived at the San Francisco History Center), Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days (workbook), and Talking To My Dead Mom monologues, and, an advocate for public libraries and public schools.

 

photo of Teresa Jade LeYung by Global Adventurer Sasa Southard https://sasasouthard.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the workbook – Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

Kindle ebook edition https://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Writers-Platform-Fanbase-ebook/dp/B005J9ZEIA/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1634787032&sr=1-1

Print edition  https://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Writers-Platform-Fanbase/dp/0983010005/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1634787032&sr=1-1

Love Made Of Heart ®

 

 

 

]]> https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/paris-brain-neurological-disorder-elisabeth-tova-baileys-snail-diane-lebows-dancing-gilles-marins-taoist-approach-to-healing/feed/ 0 “Flare-ups of Pain in Body Parts? Feldenkrais Lets Weak Body Part Listen to Strong Body Part,” says Teresa Jade LeYung https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/flare-ups-of-pain-in-body-parts-feldenkrais-lets-weak-body-part-listen-to-strong-body-part-says-teresa-jade-leyung/ https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/flare-ups-of-pain-in-body-parts-feldenkrais-lets-weak-body-part-listen-to-strong-body-part-says-teresa-jade-leyung/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2021 02:24:57 +0000 admin http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/?p=10272 2021 August 21, 11:37 – 19:24  by Teresa Jade LeYung

Dear Reader,

Three people I care about inspired me to blog about this topic. Do you get pain flare-ups? Your hands, knees, or your back?

Years ago, I injured my right hand -  awful pain – radiating from thumb to wrist. Ten months of hand therapy helped reduce pain level – first, from 9 to 7, sometimes to 5, then, pain would climb back to a 7, sometimes down to 3. There the pain stayed. Pain that doesn’t go away completely saps energy.  Even mild persistent pain robs other brain functions.
Thank you to Susan Cupples, hand specialist/OTR, who taught me new ways to use my hands and wrists in everything I do … to prevent new injuries.
However, the Brain sends pain signals even when there is no new injury – I call them “fire drills”

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I was at SFO about to board AirFrance with my pals when I decided to get euros right there at the airport.  Mistake!  Costly mistake!  The part of my brain (for planning and decision making) was too busy sending pain signals. I lost about $100 value because I had forgotten that I would get a much better exchange at ATMs in banks at the destination point.
The morning after we arrived (and I told myself that Parisians would approve the color of my wrist brace – chic black), the pain continued to throb, even while I was eating my first heavenly croissant.

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When I returned to California and went to see my mentor author Lynn Scott … and she saw my brace …. she gave me the name of the Feldenkrais practitioner who had helped her.
Wellness was mine again after two sessions with Naomi Schaeffer Draper, M.S. Physical Therapist; she taught me Feldenkrais techniques that would change my life.

What I do when I experience a flare-up and my right hand hurts:

- sit or lie down
- rest my weak hand on my other arm or on my thigh
- then move the other arm or my thigh (slowly) up and down (giving my weak hand “a ride”) – my strong body part is “carrying” the weak hand, telling the weak hand: “I’m here to help you.  You CAN move, effortlessly. You ARE moving effortlessly.”)
- also, I could speak out loud or think the words: “No need for pain signals. I am fine.  My hand is fine.”

This works every time!  Body and Brain need the conversation.

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This blog post is NOT about emergency situations or acute pain.

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After practicing neuroplasticity these past 12 months and remembering that “Pain is our most sophisticated protective device,” says Professor Lorimer Moseley, and, my knowing how to use Feldenkrais techniques…  I fully understand why my brain and my body must communicate with each other for optimal benefits.

While a hand therapist (such caring folks they are) uses her/his hands and equipment to talk to my hand… providing brief relief…. my brain would not be convinced that I don’t need pain signals to stop me from re-injuring myself.  However, my own body part and my own brain talking to each other is much more convincing, much more effective.  Body-Brain communication is immediate.  I don’t have to schedule an appointment or wait for insurance approval while suffering chronic / persistent / recurring pain in the meantime.

What I do when I experience out-of-the-blue pain in my knee:

- If I’m already sitting, I remain seated; If I’m out walking and there’s no place to sit down, I remain standing
- I put one or both hands (not straining my wrists) on my knee, applying firm but gentle pressure, using my hand(s) to talk to my knee.  Also, I could speak out loud or think the words: “No need for pain signals. I am fine.  My knee is fine.”

This works every time!  Body and Brain need the conversation.

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You might want to watch Brain/Pain scientist / physiotherapist Professor Lorimer Moseley who delivers fascinating facts about pain with humor -

“TEDxAdelaide – Lorimer Moseley – Why Things Hurt”  https://youtu.be/gwd-wLdIHjs  14 minutes, 32 seconds

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Curious about  Moshe Feldenkrais  and the miraculous techniques?

In the book The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge, M.D

Chapter 5 Moshe Feldenkrais: Physicist, Black Belt, and Healer

Healing Serious Brain Problems Through Mental Awareness of Movement

Chapter 6 A Blind Man Learns to See

Using Feldenkrais, Buddhist, and Other Neuroplastic Methods

 

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This blog post is NOT about emergency situations or acute pain.

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Learn about what is happening in the brain during acute pain and persistent pain – visit Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s and Dr. Marla Golden’s website http://neuroplastix.com  Look at the graphics.

 

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Thank you for reading my blog post “Flare-ups of Pain in Body Parts? Feldenkrais Lets Weak Body Part Listen to Strong Body Part,” says Teresa Jade LeYung

* * * * * * * * *

For my post “Retraining Beautiful Brain By Rewriting My Personal Truths With Wordplay,” says Teresa Jade LeYung

For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity  in my blog  https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog …  If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”.  Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to the topic.

 

I wish you and your Beautiful Brain safety, kindness, excellent health.

Sincerely,

 

photo of Teresa Jade LeYung by Mary E. Knippel

 

Teresa Jade LeYung

Story Consultant and Photo Historian Teresa Jade LeYung says: “I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”

Love Made Of Heart ®


]]> https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/flare-ups-of-pain-in-body-parts-feldenkrais-lets-weak-body-part-listen-to-strong-body-part-says-teresa-jade-leyung/feed/ 0 Story/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “I refuse to let pain pathways hijack other Brain functions” https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/storytheme-consultant-teresa-jade-leyung-says-i-refuse-to-let-pain-pathways-hijack-other-brain-functions/ https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/storytheme-consultant-teresa-jade-leyung-says-i-refuse-to-let-pain-pathways-hijack-other-brain-functions/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2021 07:16:24 +0000 admin http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/?p=9428 Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog Post Number 600; Part 3 of first trilogy on our Beautiful Brains -

2021 January 11, 22:55 — January 12, 00:10; January 12, 22:18–23:28;  January 13, 14:14–15:10; 17:44–19:27; 19:56–22:36

California USA

Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Look what happens when persistent (chronic) pain pathways take over the other brain functions – impacting my emotions, problem-solving, memory, creativity, and …”

 

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All graphics in this blog post are from Michael H. Moskowitz, MD & Marla D. Golden, DO

TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION workbook

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When Beautiful Brain is not producing pain -

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When Beautiful Brain is producing acute pain –

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When Beautiful Brain is producing persistent (chronic) pain -

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According to Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Dr. Marla Golden, Dr. Norman Doidge, Dr. Danielle Rosenman -

There are 9 areas in the thinking brain (actually a few more, because some are on both sides of the brain) that control our personal experience of pain and discomfort. This is where pain signals are received.  Normally, only 5% of the nerve cells in the brain process pain.  In persistent pain, 15-25% of the cells of the entire brain are involved! The actual map of the brain has changed, with an increased part of the map given to pain.  This is because the pain areas get bigger, stealing nerves and synapses (connections) from the rest of the brain.

The relationship between pain (or discomfort) and mood (includes anxiety and depression):

Remember that the brain has different areas for different functions? It’s actually more complicated than that! Many brain functions are located in the same areas or are very close together, and there are some shared connections. (Review: “Nerves that fire together wire together.”)

Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden say to “flood” the brain map, interrupt pain signals with pleasurable –

- THOUGHTS

- IMAGES

- SENSATIONS

- MEMORIES

- SOOTHING EMOTIONS

- MOVEMENT

- BELIEFS

Dr. Danielle Rosenman adds: “Smile for yourself and talk out loud to your Brain.”

Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says:

“I refuse to let pain pathways hijack other Brain functions. Some days I win the steering wheel/control panel. Other days Pain/Depression win. The more consistent I give my Beautiful Brain pleasure, the more winning days I shall have.

“Dr. Danielle Rosenman (via ZOOM sessions) has guided and coached me (with techniques from Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden) in creating my unique ‘bag of tricks’ to interrupt pain, depression and other unpleasant signals.”

Dr. Norman Doidge and Professor Lorimer Moseley say: “MOVEMENT is critical in retraining the nervous system. Even imagining movement will retrain the system!”

https://www.normandoidge.com/

https://www.neura.edu.au/staff/prof-lorimer-moseley/

How do I create Pleasure for my Brain? How do I communicate with / give feedback to my Brain?

My evolving “Bag of Tricks” (with the 7 modalities) to give my Beautiful Brain pleasure:

“Imagining” any of these modalities when I can’t access the physical form (especially during COVID-19 Stay At Home order) serves me well.

THOUGHTS -

When pain or depression signals (including unpleasant thoughts) pop up, I have to interrupt them with pleasurable thoughts.

Pleasurable Thoughts this month include:  candied wintermelon pastry (thanks to MT’s selecting); sweet persimmons (thanks to EO); Nan’s signature pesto; Linda’s signature pear Clafoutis; Sasa’s signature salads; Pad Thai with fresh ingredients.

IMAGES -

Because our brains store all experiences (including what we see in movies. read about, and hear about…), I have to stay away from all unpleasant images (even some of my favorite movies, details of sensational news) while I am retraining Beautiful Brain

Pleasurable images include looking at – my photos taken in Paris; postcards of paintings by  Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall; photos from MT of her hikes; photos from Marie-Christine (she’s in France);  photos of nature and kids (2-legged and 4-legged ones) from all my friends; art by Chandra Garsson, Cynthia Tom, Cris Matos, Sharon Leong;  photos of Happy Dog (my sister Maria Kawah Leung’s hero in her book Little Heroes Of Bay Street);  seeing Linda’s little Gracie; the montage (of me and “Brain-no-pain”) at the end of this blog post.

SENSATIONS -

Some sensations I liked (before persistent pain began) aren’t pleasurable right now – drinking hot tea fuels pain right now.

While I am happy for neighbors who are modifying their house for “Aging In Place”, the construction noise (hammering, drilling) also fuels pain and depression right now.

Pleasurable sensations include -  cool and cold water on skin; seeing green plants, blue sky, squirrels and hummingbirds in our patio and neighbor’s; laughing at GOMER PYLE USMC episodes (especially Season 3, Episode 6); smiling for myself; listening to “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy; tasting sweet fruit on tongue; smelling roses; firm and soothing touch to the body part that is feeling pain.

MEMORIES -

Because our brains store all memories … when unpleasant memories pop up, I have to interrupt them with pleasant ones.

Pleasurable memories:

- Being with people I care about.

- Eating breads and quiches, buying postcards, and walking and gawking at buildings in Paris

- Living sans clutter

SOOTHING EMOTIONS – this is most difficult for me

When my reaction to someone’s behavior brings on pain and other unpleasant signals, I send my thoughts to what the person means to me.

Remember what the good doctors said about “the relationship between pain (or discomfort) and mood (includes anxiety and depression)?

Please see Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION page 35 through page 75.  And, I hope you’ll find someone like Dr. Danielle Rosenman to coach you.

 

MOVEMENT -

Walking in the neighborhood (when my Brain is occupied with looking, listening, smelling… I feel no pain); dancing with Ms. Sophia Loren, Ms. Rita Hayworth, and Ms. Cyd Charisse (thanks to Youtube clips) ; imagining flying (ballet) over Paris; and running on dirt tracks and fields of wildflowers!

BELIEFS -

That I hold the power to be pain-free and depression-free; that every task can be accomplished with ease; that wellness is reality

 

Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung at Place des Vosges, Paris.(photo by Margie Yee Webb et Sasa Southard 2016)

 

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Thank you, Dr. Norman Doidge, Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Dr. Marla Golden, and Professor Lorimer Moseley!

Thank you, Naomi Schaeffer Draper, M.S. Physical Therapist, for teaching me Feldenkrais techniques! Thank you, mentor Lynn Scott, for the referral!

Thank you, Dr. Danielle Rosenman!

https://www.medicalcounseling.net/   Danielle Rosenman, M.D. uses neuroplasticity, imagery, meditation, psychotherapy, and other techniques in her Medical Counseling practice and in her innovative “Tools for Healing” groups.

Thank you, Dr. Amy Grace Lam !  vibrational energy healer

http://amygracelam.com/

Thank you, all dear hearts who care about me and have helped/are helping me on this journey !!!!!

My next blog post will be about what I continue to learn from: “Getting a grip on pain and the brain – Professor Lorimer Moseley – Successful Ageing Seminar 2013″  https://youtu.be/5p6sbi_0lLc  41 minutes

 

For other posts in my blog, please go to: https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog   If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”. Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to our our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity.

 

I wish you, dear Reader and your Beautiful Brain, wellness!

Sincerely,

Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung, photo by Emily O. on Nov 8, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love Made Of Heart ®

To read Part 1 of my trilogy on our Beautiful Brains:

Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Scarecrow in THE WIZARD OF OZ would feel NO pain” http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/story-theme-consultant-teresa-jade-leyung-says-scarecrow-in-the-wizard-of-oz-would-feel-no-pain/

To read Part 2 of my trilogy on our Beautiful Brains:

Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Adaptable Brain, Let Quiet Enter.” http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/storytheme-consultant-teresa-jade-leyung-says-adaptable-brain-let-quiet-enter/

Teresa Jade LeYung, an American naturalized citizen of Chinese ancestry, is a story continuity/theme consultant, author of LOVE MADE OF HEART (daughter-mother novel archived at the San Francisco History Center and used by college professors), BUILD YOUR WRITER’S PLATFORM & FANBASE IN 22 DAYS (a workbook), and TALKING TO MY DEAD MOM Monologues (the first monologue received an award from Redwood Writers Ten-Minute Play Festival), an advocate for public libraries and public schools, creator of http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/ , and, admirer of City of Light. Composing Haiku poems is a new love for LeYung.

 

 

 

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