Anti Aging International Academy (AIAA).
LONGEVITY THERAPIST DIPLOMA Course

   
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  “Life is not about finding yourself … Life is about creating yourself”

 

The power of the Brain-Mind-Body Continuum.

What is the Self-Transformational Treatment Program?

Brain's Limbic System
Harnessing the principle of neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to change itself) the treatment program focuses on accessing the subconscious mind and the limbic section of the brain that is the critical link to the brain-mind-body union and how we can affect neural / physiological changes.

The targeted behavioral intervention's objective is to have the participant achieve perceptual self-awareness and learn powerful, self-empowering, brain-mind-body change techniques for physiological rejuvenation, health, happiness and well-being.

This intensive Self-Transformational Treatment Program is experiential in nature and integrates components of:

• Behavioral change therapy
• Mindfulness based cognitive restructuring
• Emotional realignment therapy
• Neural shaping
• Gestalt therapy
• Transpersonal discovery
• The Psychology of Selves
• Positive Memory Reconstitution

And the following key psychological principles and techniques : Self-actualization, Self-Concept, Self Esteem, Self Identity and Working in the Conscious, Unconscious and Super Consciousness Zone, Direct Visualization.

We teach easy-to-use, practical, self-empowering neuropsychological tools that demonstrate how to effectively change and redirect associated neural patterns to activate targeted innate brain-mind-body healing mechanisms.
 

The Brain research that provides the basis of why the Neuro Self-Transformation Program works!

Brain cells found to control aging
-Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "Brain cells found to control aging." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 July 2017.

The Limbic System is located in the core of the brain and includes the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus. Your limbic system functions range from regulating your emotions to storing your memories to even helping you to learn new information. Your limbic system is one of the most essential parts of the brain that help you live your daily life.

Scientists have found that stem cells in the brain's hypothalamus govern how quickly the body ages. The hypothalamus (controls certain metabolic processes and other activities of the Autonomic Nervous System) is a small bundle of neurons at the base of the brain.

The hypothalamus acts like the “regulator” of hormone control, helps the body maintain homeostasis and send signals to the pituitary/thyroid/adrenal glands.

Interactions between the hypothalamus and the rest of the limbic system are responsible for controlling the autonomic nervous system — including the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

This groundbreaking research pinpointed the cells in the hypothalamus that control aging: a tiny population of adult neural stem cells, which were known to be responsible for forming new brain neurons.

The researchers confirmed that the number of hypothalamic neural stem cells declines over the years and this decline accelerates aging. The older we get the greater the decrease in the stem cells in regions such as in the hippocampus, lose their ability to produce new neurons. The hippocampus is known to shrink with age. But the research also found that the effects of this loss is not irreversible as it's possible to slow and even reverse various aspects of aging throughout the body.

The brain can produce new cells.
The brain can grow new cells through a process known as neurogenesis – the creation of new neurons. Neurogenesis is a particularly important process when an embryo is developing. Until only recently, it was thought that the number of neurons we're born with is fixed – that the central nervous system, including the brain, was incapable of neurogenesis and unable to regenerate.

Shrinkage is not necessarily permanent.
"While you can get shrinkage in hippocampus, there is certainly evidence now that you could change that – reverse that shrinkage and reverse any loss of learning in memory by stimulating both the production of these new nerve cells, but also stimulating greater connectivity within the hippocampus," says Professor Perry Bartlett (Queensland Brain Institute).
 

		Neuroplasticity refers to changes in mature neurons resulting from stimuli, aging and other influences. Synaptic plasticity refers to changes in the 'strength' of synapses, or the growth of new synapses. Critically, these processes rely on previously existing neurons. There is ample evidence that it also involves neuroglia in the brain -the non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system. Neurogenesis refers to the birth and maturation of new neurons, either during brain formation or throughout an organism's lifespan. Neurogenesis is more about "capacity" of our brain, while neuroplasticity is more about "capability" of our brain. So the two very different concepts can act entirely independently, but in some contexts, work together in a synergistic manner.

The Brain’s limbic system
Adult neurogenesis (brain cell growth through stimulation) in the hypothalamus.
The Brain’s limbic system includes the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus -areas which are now shown capable of brain cell regrowth and are the focus of our Treatment Program.

The critical role of the release of endorphins in the aging process.

Aging is caused by damage to our cell system, genes and biochemistry. The damage is primarily caused by a decline of the Aging Immune System. As the immune system weakens with age so does our body, health and vitality.

Endorphins
Research has shown the many people who suffer from chronic illness suffer from low endorphins. Endorphins do more than just make us feel good; endorphins are necessary for proper immune function. Natural Opioids, like endorphins, communicate with the immune system, so when there is a deficit of endorphin -- due to stress. anxiety, depression -- the body undergoes stress shocks which causes "immune incompetence."

"Opioids act as the regulator of body stress mechanism, so when endorphins are low, body stress indicators are high," says Sarkar, who directs the Endocrine Research Program at Rutgers University.

The limbic system releases ‘feelgood’ Endorphin chemicals.
A key part of our Treatment Program is teaching our clients how to regularly practice experiential mental exercises which help boost their endorphin levels that stimulate and balance their Immune system and promote the repair of cells and tissues to build a healthier, stronger younger version of their body and brain. Additional means to stimulate the production of Endorphines include; Exercise, Fun, Outdoor activities, Diet and Sex.

The Treatment has also been found to trigger Hormone Responses.

Bottom Line
Our Program focuses on Adult neurogenesis (brain cell regrowth) and the production of natural Opioids in the Limbic System to affect physical and mental rejuvenation.


SOME FURTHER NOTES on HOW and WHY the Treatment Program Works!

The mind can have a powerful influence on the body, and in many cases can help the body heal. But the power of mind is much more than just positive thinking.

Which participants may benefit the most?
Obviously the expectations of a patient has to any treatment will play a significant role in result; the more a person expects the treatment to work, the more likely they are to exhibit a positive response..

Other factors include the patient’s conditioning and motivation. And, of course, the practitioner’s enthusiasm for any treatment can impact how a participant responds.

Researchers have found that typically participants display changes in heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety levels, pain perception, fatigue, and brain activity. These effects point to the brain's role in health and well-being.

As mentioned above, our Program's neuropsychological approach has also been found to trigger Hormone Responses.
-The release of endorphins and it's link to pain.

Endorphins have a structure similar to opiate painkillers and act as the brain's own natural painkillers.

One of the most studied and strongest treatment effects is in the reduction of pain.

One study suggested that some people may possess a genetic predisposition to respond more strongly to this type of treatment. In the study, patients who either had high or low variations of a gene that controls hormone levels in the prefrontal cortex of the brain had differing responses to the treatment. Those with the high-hormone version of the gene were more likely to experience a response to the treatment than did those with the low-hormone version of the gene. Research has found that people with the high-hormone version of this gene tend to also have higher levels of pain perception and reward-seeking.

Why it works!
While research has clearly shown us that the treatment works, researchers do not yet fully understand exactly how and why this occurs. That said, the latest research has proven the brain-mind-body unity by establishing how neural networks connect the cerebral cortex to our body.

The Underlying Medical Science -The "Automatic" Nervous System
Our bodies and minds are profoundly inter-related. Spontaneous remission of incurable diseases happen all the time. And, given that aging will shortly be classified as a disease, the question therefore is: -how can we access the hardwired neural control centers to generate these powerful, physiological, regenerative changes?

The brain is entwined with the whole body through the nervous system, via the spinal cord for example, including all the systems, organs, musculature, liquids and chemicals constantly influencing the brain. There is no separation between brain, mind and body.

Our emotions are anchored in the body and integral to the autonomic nervous system which is the nerve complex that controls the involuntary actions of our internal organs, blood vessels and glands. Emotional balance is mediated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

When we look deeper into the sympathetic/parasympathetic influences of the autonomic nervous system, we can see the critical connection between the mind/brain and the nervous system.

The sympathetic side of our "automatic" regulatory system is involved in the fight/flight response marked by elevated adrenaline, cortisol, blood pressure, inflammation and organ-damaging oxidative stress. The parasympathetic chain, on the other hand, puts cells and organs in rest/recovery mode, improves DNA expression along with hormone/enzyme production and even protects telomeres. Of the cranial nerves, the vagus (wanderer) seems most influential as it winds its way through heart, lungs, upper GI and the other abdominal organs. Since the balance of oppositional and complementary autonomic functions was generally thought to be beyond conscious control, mainstream medicine has tended to ignore it.

That said, the mind-bodies transformational ability is not a single phenomenon, but the result of a complex interplay of anatomical, biochemical, and psychological factors. Research is ongoing to clearly understand why it works..

An Example of the Power of the Mind over the Body..
Most people are unfamiliar with the frequency with which people can unconsciously think themselves ill. Approximately one-third of the patients GPs see every day have medically unexplained illnesses—the same applies to specialist clinics like neurologists, rheumatologists and gynaecologists.

The psychosomatic symptoms presented most commonly to doctors include pain, fatigue and headaches that cannot be medically explained. The more serious illnesses include blindness, seizures and paralysis. The patients symptoms are extremely real. The pain of psychosomatic illness is every bit as real as the pain of a disease, and it's very difficult to treat.

Psychosomatic illness manifests itself unconsciously—often leaving patients confused and desperate for an explanation of what's happening.
It is now understood a separation between the subconscious and conscious could see memories and feelings exist in parallel parts of the mind, neither knowing of the other. This is referred to as dissociation. Stress or a psychological traumatic event can cause the subconscious to disconnect in the patients mind so it was no longer within their reach. For example; in the case of psychosomatic blindness the patient can both see and be unaware of seeing at the same time. The key point here is that the subconscious has the power to generate, real physiological changes in the body.

Age Reversal -How it works!
At the individual neuron level, changes associated with aging are in the neural circuit. We can now provide guided stimulation (eg; through our brain-based intervention program) into these circuits that were slowing down. By stimulating the circuits again you can rewind your body / behavior clock back ten years or more (in some cases 20 years or more depending upon your age and strength of mind-set -see Studies cited on website’s front page).

Stimulating the Neural Control Center (Unlocking the Subconscious Reset Code).
Your whole being is ever-changing!

There is no doubt that the brain-mind-body union is a powerful pathway to healing that has always existed, albeit cloaked in the gray area of consciousness. Hence why our Treatment Program is not just a brain-based intervention (utilizing the power of neuralplasticity) but also incorporates the above page listed psychological principles and techniques that help the participant to unlock their subconscious (through guided imagery / Deep level Metacognition Role-playing incorporating Direct Visualization, Self-Dialogue, Positive Memory Reconstitution) to stimulate neural changes / physiological change by “resetting” / re-establishing versions of their younger and healthier Self.

 

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Insight, when inspired by self-awareness, can promote self-transformation. Insight into ourselves and the workings of our minds and bodies is the key agent for rejuvenation.

This evidence-based, proven program is about helping people re-align and connect with their lost or misplaced younger self we all still possess inside our mind and body.

Western medical practitioners, who are trained to consider mind and body separately, are often helpless in arresting the advance of most of the chronic diseases.

Today, research confirms that stress together with suppressed so-called negative emotions (our state of mind) is the major predisposing factor for cancer, ALS, or multiple sclerosis to autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease or Alzheimer’s.

The separation of mind and body has now been demonstrated by modern science to be incorrect. For example; the brain and body systems that process emotions are intimately connected with the hormonal apparatus, the nervous system, and in particular the immune system. Emotional stress such as; anxiety, fears, frustration, feelings of being overwhelmed and unable to cope, sadness/depression and even worry over aging undermines immunity, disrupts the body’s physiological milieu and prepares the ground for disease and aging.

The Process of Age Reversal and Healing.
In an important sense, disease and how we age can be seen as the ‘end point’ of the process of where and who we are. Guided perceptual, self-awareness can provide important openings where we can identify, embrace, and integrate our Lost, Misplaced more Youthful, Healthier Self to produce a better, lasting life.

Currently there is strong evidence and discussion about the need to classify age as a "disease".
Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis were once considered “normal aging” and as a consequence was felt to be inevitable, a word that often is taken to mean untreatable. Currently, the World Health Organization refers to aging and old-age as a symptom but sees age being treated as a disease in the not too distant future.

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