SRI - The Basics

SRI was created by Donald Epstein, D.C. after studying and implementing fundamental chiropractic techniques and observing thousands of people during seminars and while working in his private practice in Brooklyn, NY.

SRI was created after the development of Network Spinal in order to help the individual connect to themselves and their environment both inside and outside of the office. Although SRI can be used by anyone at any stage of healing, these exercises support the movement healing strategy that is developed with Network Spinal.

The information given here is an accumulation of information and experiences taught to me through members of the Network Spinal community as well as Donald Epstein’s book called The 12 Stages of Healing: A Network Approach to Wholeness. Here is an Amazon link that can be used as reference. I encourage you to read the book - just as I have - and practice the exercises daily in order to get in tune with your body. His book gives much more detailed information about each healing stage than what is given on the website. The purpose of these pages is to help Door to Door’s practice members through their healing journey by using my own words. As well be a reference guide while reading Donald’s book.

These breathing techniques are wonderful, because you are able to produce your own wave based upon the movement strategy created under Network Spinal care. You can take it everywhere you go. It has been such a tremendous help for self-regulation and personal development for many people. I am happy to share it with you.  

Meet the body where it is

at without trying

to change it

This statement above is the hallmark mindset and philosophy of SRI and Network Spinal. In this day and age, it is easy to be bombarded with information and stimulation overload to the point that we are not able to fully process our emotions in real time and actually embody what our nervous systems needs to express. The majority of the world’s social and familiar circles will not make space for what needs to be processed. So, having this strategy is key to your re-organizational healing success.

1) Meet the body where it is at:

Where else could we be other than where we are?

Our higher, intelligent human mind can hijack us into making us believe that we can ‘out-think’ our problems. If this were the case, then Network Spinal and SRI exercises would never have been developed and the world would be a different place. We need to experience the entire process. If we do not, then the longer it is suppressed then the body will manifest what has been buried by creating symptoms (pain, defense postures, pessimistic attitudes, anxiety, brain fog, confusion, low energy, disease, etc.) AKA the body is trying to grab our attention and slow us down.

2) …without trying to change it:

The last but most important part of this philosophy is to embody the entire process of what you are experiencing without trying to change it. This is a paradoxical component that may be hard to grasp and accept at first. Especially, when there are multiple holistic healing modalities that suggest otherwise by trying to “release” and “let go”. By going through the entire process without trying to change it actually allows for your body-mind to move forward.

This mindset is key especially for the beginning stages of healing. As you ascend, this resistance tends to naturally shift away, but it is always good to keep this concept in mind.  

Let’s look at this concept in a different way:

How do you feel when you are expressing yourself to an individual and are not fully acknowledged and/or your feelings/argument/expression is brushed off?

Your body is ‘talking’ (pain, defense posture, shallow breathing, pessimistic mood, low energy, bodily pain, etc.) and trying to express itself to you, so when you are going through this process while carrying a “Yeah, yeah. I get it already. Can we move on?” brushing-it-off type attitude, then you are going to be stuck in the same cycle.

12 stages

There are a total of 12 stages that are categorized for specific life events and situations. You will know which stage to go to based on how you feel and the type of language you are using at the moment. 

We cycle through these 12 stages all the time! All of us do! No matter what!

Granted, there are periods of our lives where we cycle through a certain set of stages. For example, people can loop through stages 1-3 or 8-12 for periods of time. It is possible you can go from a stage 1 to stage 8 within what seems like moments, hours or within a day.

NOTICE: being at a ‘lower’ stage compared a ‘higher’ stage should never be met with guilt or shame. Nor should going from a higher stage to a lower stage be met with a “I shouldn’t be here. I was just doing great!”

You are exactly where you need to be

With these basics established you are now ready to move onto learning the 12 stages of SRI.

Remember this is a skill that is learned and developed. Just like anything else (new language, job, etc.)

Click here for Stage One