I used to be first launched to Ryan and Doug on the forty ninth Annual Affiliation for Utilized Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) in April 2018. I used to be giving a workshop on the Alexander Approach in the course of the convention. The Alexander Approach is a psycho-physical methodology used to assist people relearn learn how to use their physique with larger ease and effectivity by first recognizing undesired habits that get in the way in which.
Ryan and Doug attended my workshop and I bear in mind considering that Ryan had a lot power and enthusiasm. He was heat to everybody he met. Doug instructed me just a little bit about Ryan’s damage and requested if I’d come again and provides Ryan some personal classes the next day. Since they might be returning residence to Texas after the convention, that will be the one time I’d be capable to educate Ryan. Though Orlando was just a little over an hour from the place I lived, and I usually do not drive to college students to provide classes, one thing about Ryan made me wish to educate him and see how he skilled the method.
We had two classes again to again with a brief break. Throughout that point I observed how simply Ryan picked up the rules of the Alexander Approach. His physique moved simply and at instances with the identical agility that young children have, corresponding to going right into a deep squat on the ground. That is necessary to notice, as a result of young children have not but acquired the stress and pressure adults accumulate by life by misuse of the physique. To see a person in his 40s transfer with such fluidity was very uncommon. It was an absolute pleasure to show Ryan.
A couple of months later, I obtained a name from Donna Martin, an Alexander Approach trainer from Austin, Texas. She instructed me that Doug had contacted her for Alexander Approach classes since Ryan hadn’t had a seizure in two months since our session collectively. I had no thought of the unbelievable progress that Ryan had made and was moved by the information. I reached out to Doug and he confirmed what Donna had mentioned.
I’ve little doubt that Ryan was the largest think about his progress. I educate many college students the identical instrument however not everybody is instantly receptive to the rules of the Alexander Approach. What I discovered distinctive about Ryan was how little he interfered with life; he simply let it occur. By doing so, he did not harbor lots of pressure in his physique, which allowed him to expertise the total advantage of the method’s rules.
My transient encounter with each Doug and Ryan left an enduring impression on me and I used to be deeply saddened to listen to of Ryan’s current passing. He was somebody I admired for the convenience with which he lived life and the enjoyable he had whereas dwelling. I additionally admire Doug, for his abiding religion in Ryan’s capabilities and dedication to his well-being. It was an absolute honor privilege to show Ryan and to satisfy them each.
–Tami Bulmash
I first met Ryan Reitmeyer and his father, Doug, the Friday after Thanksgiving 2018. It was not clear to me how the Alexander Approach may be of assist to Ryan and as I listened to Doug describe Ryan’s accident, mind damage and his restoration to that time I undoubtedly felt in over my depth! Doug was within the Alexander Approach as a method to scale back or restrict Ryan’s seizures. I knew nothing about seizures.
Two issues particularly that day had been instrumental in giving me a degree of departure for my considering as we went ahead. First, Doug and Ryan attended the nationwide convention of Affiliation for Utilized Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) in April 2018. There they attended a chat in regards to the Alexander Approach by Tami Bulmash, an AT trainer in Orlando. The next day she did two again to again classes with Ryan with a small break in between. It was some months earlier than Ryan skilled one other seizure and it was then that Doug contacted me.
The second factor from that first assembly which was of specific curiosity to me was Doug mentioning that it was at the least 6 months after mind surgical procedure earlier than Ryan’s seizures started. Doug theorized that it was maybe the formation of scar tissue within the mind which was contributing to the seizures. It made me surprise if the “knocking down” we within the Alexander world consider as connecting to poor posture may be placing stress on the scar tissue. Would lessening the “knocking down” and “going up” relieve among the stress.
With these two issues in thoughts we set to work. From Thanksgiving to mid-March we met as soon as per week. We didn’t meet for just a few weeks after which started once more mid-April assembly bi-weekly 5 instances, had a break from mid-June by early August after which met solely twice earlier than his passing. As common in Alexander classes we centered on inhibition and route. We additionally created actions that Ryan might do along with his assistant Scott so as to preserve the work going within the absence of the trainer.
It was a terrific pleasure to work with Ryan. He was all the time keen and within the course of, very cooperative and keen to attempt something. Ryan had a terrific humorousness and I’ll miss our classes! He was very a lot wanting ahead to new initiatives for the long run alongside along with his father and was full of hope. He was very a lot beloved and he knew that. His life took an sudden flip with the boating accident but it surely was well-lived. To the fullest!
–Donna Martin
To learn extra about Ryan’s extraordinary story, click on right here.