Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Ward Brimmer.
Amy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The heart of the work I do at Way Opens Wellness is comprised of various approaches I’ve grown into over time. My journey began in 1989 with lessons in the Alexander Technique (AT), a movement re-education process for healing and holistic growth. Studying the AT revealed how disconnected I was from my body, and my habit of ignoring basic signals that are essential to healthy functioning. This disconnection put me at risk for illness and other types of harm, and ultimately kept me from experiencing the richness of life – tasting food, savoring nature’s beauty, and connecting authentically with others.
This kinesthetic numbness was one way I survived a difficult childhood. Now it was no longer a protection but something that kept me isolated and limited. Working with my Alexander teacher to reconnect with my body brought forth old traumatic memories. Through his safe touch and support, and a skillful, caring psychotherapist, a healing process began. As I became more physically aware, mindfulness entered my life. While it took years before I became a serious meditator and explored Buddhist teachings, mindful embodied awareness became a part of my routine early on.
The Alexander approach was so effective and I was learning so much of value about human psychophysical functioning, that I decided to train and become an AT teacher myself. I attained my training certificate in 1995 and after further training I received professional certification from Alexander Technique International in 1998.
Practicing Insight (Vipassana) meditation for 20 years has been key in the healing of my whole self – body, heart, and mind. As a somatic practitioner I see each person as whole, even if they are suffering from physical injury, psychic wounding, or mental distraction. Whether we’re practicing meditation, having an Alexander lesson, or receiving energy healing through Somatic Release bodywork, I aim to listen deeply and be guided by the body’s innate wisdom.
This journey has provided many other opportunties for expansion within the holistic healing and movement realms. After becoming pregnant and birthing my first child, I saw how poorly we do bith in this country, and I became passionate about helping other women connect more fully to their bodies and become empowered to give birth in the way that is best for them. I trained as a labor and postpartum doula and a childbirth educator, and I served in those roles for about 15 years, using my AT and other hands-on technqiues to teach and support mothers and their partners.
I expanded my mindfulness training by becoming a qualified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a course that teaches how to use meditation and mindful movement for stress and anxiety relief. From teaching those classes, I have branched out into more specific Insight meditation instruction, leading courses and retreats in the Yardley/Pricneton/Philadelphia area.
I also discovered Qigong in 2010 and it has become one of my regular movement practices, as well as teaching it in groups.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
All journeys have their ups and downs. Nobody in private practice has it easy. It’s tough to make a living wage as a somatics practitioner, and none of what I do is connected to systems like social work or standard medical care, so when people see me they pay out of pocket. I prefer to remain independent, but from a business perspective, this creates a built-in challenge.. The upfront cost of AT lessons, for example, can seem prohibitve, but I emphasize that it’s an investment in a future that includes a reliable skill set that brings freedom, ease and a new way of moving.
That said, it’s been my experience that the biggest obstacles are the ones within. Every modality in which I’m trained requires me to look honestly at reality. This is pretty daunting at first, until we learn that it is actually so much easier to be present than to be lost in thoiught or living like a robot. My personal growth process has always informed my work, because I want to give other people what I’ve been given.
My clients face the same perceived obstacles, as they unpack their inner stories and begin to observe their movement and mental habit patterns. The AT is a learning process and not a treatment, and many people just want to be taken care of and pampered. I know I do! I get a monthly massage for this reason.. But treatments don’t address root causes, they generally only eliminate symptoms. I offer ways to make real, lasting change, but they work best with a person’s conscious participation and active learning.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In addition to what is outlined above, I love hiking and walking, and one of my more popular events is the Walking Well clinic, where we meet at a beautiful spot in nature (we’re blessed by many in Bucks County), learn a bit about good use of the body in walking, and then take a mindful walk through natural beauty. People have often said they enjoy my voice and listening to the audio guidance for meditation and other direct embodied experiences. I call these “bodymind experiments,” because they are all simple activities that you can use to explore whatever results they might bring.
The core instruction I always give to everybody is “come see for yourself.” Every wise teacher I’ve ever had has encouraged this. I offer ways to bring positive, lasting change to everyday living. But I’m not a miracle worker, just a trustworthy guide. It’s up to each of us to question authority as we make our way.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I have been very fortunate in many ways throughout my lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not believe in luck per se. I recognize the force of karma, which is rooted in whatever intentions I set in motion, and the resulting consequences of my actions. It’s complex and I am still learning about this as I observe this force in my day-to-day.
That doesn’t mean I’m not immensely thankful for all the good people who have helped me along the way, and I am especially greateful to the many students and clients, from whom I have learned the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wayopenswellness.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WayOpensWellness
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywardbrimmer/?isSelfProfile=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amywardbrimmerWOW
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/amy-ward-brimmer
- Other: https://amywardbrimmer.substack.com/
