It was in 2009 that I was first introduced to Body Stress Release – actually, three times in one week!
Attending a travel industry golf dinner, Eugene, the COO from Avis MasterDrive, who was sitting at my table, offered to pour me a glass of wine, and I declined, saying that I avoided alcohol due to a long history of migraine headaches. He promptly and enthusiastically told me about Body Stress Release as a possible solution, saying that his whole family went for sessions, and he then gave me the number of his favourite BSR practitioner, who was based in Alberton.
The second time was from an elated colleague who had just returned from a sabbatical at the Health Hydro in Stellenbosch. As it was common knowledge in our company that I experienced debilitating migraine headaches, she couldn’t wait to share about a ‘wondrous’ technique that she heard about in a presentation at the Hydro. I listened half-heartedly as I had explored so many ‘cures’ up until then, until someone else from our training department complained about a ‘pain in the glute’ which she incurred after bending over the bed finishing off an e-mail on her laptop.
Of course, I immediately gave her the details for the practitioner in Alberton … she later called me from Wiesie’s practice – she had just ended an amazing session with the practitioner, and could she book me an appointment for the following weekend?
I agreed, simply to appease her, not knowing that by committing to that very first session, my life as I knew it would never be the same!
After experiencing a couple of sessions, I was led to find out more about Body Stress Release, and on the way home on one occasion, I waded through shelves of books at the Exclusive Books store in Eastgate, until I found the last available copy of Gail Meggersee’s book: Unlocking Tension Restoring Self-Healing with Body Stress Release, that had been recommended to me.
I devoured the book in a couple of days and was enamoured by all the listed case studies. It was then, with the encouragement of my husband, that I decided to apply for the course. I was coming to the end of my 20-year reign at a corporate company, and felt so ready to make a drastic career change.
It was now or never.
The ‘Interview’
Believe it or not, unbeknownst to me, my husband had booked a surprise wedding anniversary weekend revisit to Leisure Isle at the beginning of the year for our 3rd anniversary on 1 October 2009. Also, without my knowledge, once I had applied for the 5-month Body Stress Release Course in May the following year, he had contacted the co-founders to arrange an introduction at the Academy in the Rondevlei, not far from where we would be staying.
Gail and Ewald were very welcoming, and I remember sitting in the Sun Room at the Academy, enjoying tea with them, overlooking the picturesque Swartvleie with a little posy of flowers in a vase on the table in front of us. Our conversation was relaxed and friendly, and I confessed at the time to Gail, that I was recovering from a migraine headache, and apologised if I was a bit off-key. She immediately questioned me about any recent chemical stressor influences, which she highlighted could have been a trigger; a chemical that could have been ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin – which were all contributing factors. I felt the need to be transparent with Gail, as I remembered from reading her book, that she had also been a migraine headache sufferer.
I felt so fortunate to have the opportunity to meet Gail and Ewald, especially as I discovered that many of the student ‘interviews’ in those days were carried out telephonically. We left their company feeling at peace that this was a venture worth pursuing.
Accepted!
At the time I felt a deep calmness, believing that the outcome would be what was meant for me. It was at the end of November that I received the call that I had been accepted for the BSR Class of 2010! Reality struck, and I realised that being ‘risk evasive’ by nature (according to a personality profile previously carried out by the company), that this would be the boldest move that I had ever undertaken …
I went on to gratefully receive my 20-year long service award, a gold watch, a lapel pin with three diamonds, and a monetary gift at a dazzling awards ceremony. My conscience was prickling of course, as I hadn’t shared my intention to leave with anyone. I was expecting to hand in two months’ notice at my company in January the following year (only one month was compulsory), to leave their employ end of March, take a month to transition and prepare for a brand-new chapter in my life, as well as prepare for my time away from home.
Reality Struck!
On returning my uniform and attending farewell, reality struck. I was leaving behind a safe sense of belonging and a supportive brand that I had come to love over many years. Part of me knew that I had to trust the process, and look forward to what would come next …
Whilst I was away in the Garden Route attending the five months long intensive training course, I compiled the following newsletters to forward to close friends and acquaintance, yes, believe it or not, I was apprehensive that ‘out of sight’, would indeed become ‘out of mind’.
I hope you enjoy the blogs that follow.