Claudia Schembri-Heitmann

• What is BodyTalk?
• Why Do We Need BodyTalk?
• How Does BodyTalk Work?
• Can BodyTalk Help Me?
• What Does BodyTalk Address?
• An Overview of the BodyTalk System?

What do you get when you combine the wisdom of advanced yoga and advaitic philosophy, the insights of modern physics and mathematics, the energy dynamics of acupuncture, the clinical findings of Applied Kinesiology, and western medical expertise? A revolutionary new form of health care called BodyTalk.
BodyTalk is an astonishingly simple and effective form of therapy that allows the body's energy systems to be re-synchronized so that they can operate as nature intended. Each system, cell and atom is in constant communication with each other at all times. Through exposure to the stresses of day-to-day life, these lines of communication become compromised, which then leads to a decline in physical, emotional and/or mental health. Reconnecting these lines of communication then enables the body's mechanisms to function at optimal levels, thus preventing disease and rapidly accelerating the healing process. BodyTalk can be used as a stand-alone system to treat many health problems, or seamlessly integrated into any health care system to increase its effectiveness and promote faster healing.
BodyTalk's major assets are its simplicity, safety, and the speed of its results. It is non-invasive, objective in application, and works effectively on humans and animals alike. Even if a BodyTalk technique is performed incorrectly, it simply means that there will be no result or change. It will not make things worse. It follows, therefore, that anyone who receives BodyTalk has nothing to lose and everything to gain as far as their health is concerned.

The body has built-in mechanisms to initiate the healing process. If we cut ourselves, the body immediately sets up a process to start healing the wound. This occurs at several levels - physical, emotional, and mental. Although this is obvious to every one of us, most people do not fully realize just how wonderful the human healing mechanism actually is.
So why do we get sick? The problem facing the body is in the way our lifestyles interfere with the natural processes of the body. Today, most people in society are routinely exposed to the following:
The physical stresses of day to day life including physical injuries.
Emotional traumas and issues that arise from time to time (e.g. extreme anger, fear, worry, sadness, grief, guilt or jealousy that we experience but cannot process and release effectively).
Chemical substances contained in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air that we breathe.
Exposure to artificial energy fields that exist within our society and the electronic devices that we use on a daily basis (e.g., power plants, overhead electrical wires, phones and cell phones, pagers, computers, TVs, VCRs, stereo equipment, microwave ovens, lights, clock radios, other electrical appliances).
These factors compromise the communication networks or energy circuits of the body. It is critical that these systems be perfectly balanced for the body to effectively coordinate the billions of synchronized activities per second that are necessary to maintain optimum health. The body only fails in its job because its communication systems have been severely compromised through the external stresses of life. In essence, the energy circuits are "blown" in a similar manner to electrical circuits in our house that "blow" when they are overloaded. By re-establishing good communication between the various parts of the body, they once again are able to "talk" to each other. The body is then capable of healing itself very rapidly and effectively.

The BodyTalk system works by first identifying the weak energy circuits that exist within the body. The practitioner relies on the innate wisdom of the body to locate the energy circuits that need repair by using a form of biofeedback, which is a subtle muscle testing technique.
For every malfunctioning energy circuit that is found, the practitioner or client contacts the corresponding "points" with their hands. The practitioner then lightly taps the client on the top of the head, which stimulates the brain centers and causes the brain to re-evaluate the state of the body's health. The result is that the general energy balance of the body is greatly improved.
The practitioner then taps the client on the sternum to "announce" the corrected energy flows to the rest of the body. This is beneficial because the heart is responsible for communicating the state of the body's health to the rest of the body. Stimulating the heart by tapping the sternum forces the heart to store the corrected energy patterns in the body's cellular memory. This means that the body will remember these changes after the treatment.
The BodyTalk treatment protocol is very straightforward and does not require any diagnosis. The practitioner relies on the guidance of innate widom, through muscle testing, to not only locate the weakened lines of communication in the body but also to find the proper order in which they are to be addressed. Just as the body heals a wound with a particular sequencing of chemical reactions, the body wants to address all healing in a certain order. This priority is paramount in the balancing process to initiate the body's ability to heal itself. The healing process usually follows rather quickly.

BodyTalk has proven to be very effective in addressing many common diseases such as dyslexia, chronic viruses and infections, allergies, poor immune system functioning, sugar metabolism disorders, arthritis and general musculo-skeletal disorders, emotional and psychological problems, and many others. Current areas addressed by the BodyTalk system are as follows:
Overall breathing patterns, left/right brain co-ordination, energy blockages associated with birthplace, energy imbalances within the brain cortices, general and localized hydration, and health problems associated with internal and external scarring.
Specific balancing of the twelve major body organs, eight endocrine systems, and other body parts. Correction of genetically and/or environmentally influenced cell disorders. Clearing the body of viruses, infections, parasites, food intolerances, environmental allergies, and accumulated toxins.
Balancing the 36 surface energy points that often impact a person's energy level, mood, overall structural integrity, muscle tension, and digestive system. These surface energy imbalances are also a cause pain in specific parts of the body.
Clearing past and present emotional blockages including specific phobias and fears. These sessions have been very effective in correcting a number of psychological disorders.
Cleansing the lymphatic system including all the body lymph glands and the lymph ducts. Addressing energy blockages associated with the nervous and circulatory systems. Balancing the various energy systems within the body including the traditional acupuncture meridians, the chakras, and general bioenergetic energy flow. Blood sugar balancing also comes under this category.
Releasing parts of the musculo-skeletal system that may be "locked". This includes the spine, pubic bone, cranium, sacrum, ribs, joints and muscles. Restoring energy imbalances between the patient and certain aspects of the environment.
Any of the above mentioned areas can have a profound impact on the overall health of the body. Over the last few years, BodyTalk has been used to successfully address a wide range of psychological and physiological diseases. In addition, BodyTalk's application within other health care modalities is the subject of much research at this time. Because the basic principles of BodyTalk are scientifically sound and far reaching in nature, we expect BodyTalk's scope to be expanded considerably in the future.

BodyTalk can be useful in a number of situations - i) it can be used to address specific diseases and disorders, ii) it can be used as a means of maintenance and prevention to keep the body in good health, and iii) it can be used to complement other treatment modalities.
The number of BodyTalk sessions needed will vary from patient to patient according to their circumstances. For most clients, two or three BodyTalk sessions are sufficient to address the key problem areas and thus ease the symptoms. Each session usually lasts for about half an hour. The client is advised to wear loose fitting cotton clothing if possible, and may be asked to remove jewelry or belt buckles during the session. At the end of a BodyTalk session, the practitioner uses the body's innate wisdom to determine if further sessions are necessary (via the biofeedback technique) and if so, when the next visit should be scheduled.
There are an increasing number of practitioners now being trained in the BodyTalk system throughout the world. Professional BodyTalk practitioners must undergo an intensive training program that involves both theoretical and practical course content. BodyTalk certification can only be issued by the International BodyTalk Association.

Australian Chiropractor and Acupuncturist, Dr. John Veltheim, developed the BodyTalk System in 1995. Since then it has been taught to over a thousand practitioners worldwide. Currently there are 44 trained BodyTalk instructors teaching in 17 countries. Graduates include medical doctors and specialists, psychologists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, physical therapists, osteopaths, nurses, licensed massage therapists, and laypeople.
The outstanding growth and success of the BodyTalk system is essentially fueled by the following factors:
Outstanding results occur in almost every sphere of health care.
It can be used as a stand-alone health care system and can be learned in a relatively short time. The basic program is covered in just two weekend modules totaling 38 hours of workshop time.
It can be seamlessly integrated into any other health care modality and is complementary to each modality.
It is totally non-invasive and absolutely safe. There are no contraindications to its use.
No diagnosis is given, no medications prescribed, and no invasive techniques imposed upon the patient. The BodyTalk System does not conflict with, or legally contravene, any existing health care system or law.
Patients thoroughly enjoy the sessions and the results are evident within all aspects of health ? mind, body, and spirit.
The basic premises underlying The BodyTalk System constitute a new paradigm for synchronizing and balancing the bodymind that can be implemented in conjunction with any health care system. The body is a very complex ecosystem involving a delicate balance between physiological biochemical functions, emotional and mental interactions, environmental influences, hereditary and genetic restrictions, and the need to synchronize all these factors into a cohesive whole.
Until now the majority of health care systems have tended to take a Cartesian approach and have focused on isolated parts of the bodymind equation. The whole picture, incorporating all the variables, has been placed in the 'too hard? basket. This is because the human mind, even with the help of modern science and equipment, is incapable of thinking on such a comprehensive scale.
The BodyTalk System recognizes that within each and every one of us there lies the innate knowing of who we are and what makes us tick. This innate wisdom carries the answer to our health care dilemma. This is addressed in the following way:
The BodyTalk System facilitates communication with the innate wisdom of the body by using neuromuscular biofeedback. This feedback provides the practitioner with a 'yes'or 'no'answer to any question that is asked of the body. The innate wisdom thus provides BodyTalkers accurate guidelines with regard to the bodymind's requirements for optimum health.
By following a comprehensive protocol of questions, the BodyTalk practitioner can establish exactly what balancing the body needs in order to harmonize bodymind function. This involves finding out which organs, endocrines, or body parts need to be connected to heal communication between them at the physiological, biochemical, circulatory, nervous, emotional, and/or energy levels.