SUNM Experience:
So far, I’m impressed. So far the administration has been nothing but helpful and friendly, and the teachers have already shown themselves to be attentive, thoughtful and extremely knowledgeable in their given subjects. But instead of jumping to reports of classes, I’m sharing some noteworthy facts I picked up this week about the history of Naprapathy:
Tidbits from Week 1:
- There were once 17 schools of Naprapathy in the United States. The downfall of Naprapathy was a result of personality conflicts and politics in medicine.
- One of Oakley Smith’s (founder of Naparapathy) students was the creator of Structural Integration, Ida Rolf. This is interesting to me, as Ida Rolf was the teacher of my teacher, Thomas Myers (KMI).
- A graduate of the school in Chicago was Swedish. After graduating in the 80’s, he left the United States to introduce the practice and create a school of Naprapathy in Sweden. It’s been a successful endeavor with over 2000 practicing in Sweden alone.
Student Pulse:
I’m inspired by these things. Knowing how much connective tissue work has grown in the last 10 years, I have great confidence that Naprapathy is on the verge of a revival.
Think, after all, about the rise of acupuncture. The first schools in the US opened in the 80s, and now it’s present nation-wide and accepted (and resisted) among all members of society. It’s only taken 30 years for a new idea to take root and flourish!
Knowing that connective tissue work (as Structural Integration) is already being embraced by athletes, physical therapists, and general practitioners, Naprapathic medicine has the advantage of kindred spirits already establishing understanding. The Naprapath’s understanding of the nervous system connections, the knowledge of exercise and nutrition, and the ability to incorporate other modes of healing give them a well-rounded training beyond what I can offer as a Structural Integrator. As far as I can tell, the skills each Naprapath has at their disposal will make them in demand wherever they go. There’s a lot to do before it gets as well-known as acupuncture, but I’m determined to be a part of it.
