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Taking Integrative Medicine On The Road (To the World)

One of the true highlights of my Fiji trip was sharing my friends Michael Rubano (massage therapist and Feldenkrais practitioner and general body-mind master) and Matt Szymczak (acupuncturist and Tai Chi/Xi Gong master) with the Fijian people. I had noted on my previous trip that the most common complaint was body pain (most notably low back pain) among these hard-working people. I wanted to give them more than just Advil and Tylenol (which they do appreciate) so I invited my good friends who have devoted their lives to studying the body and bringing people relief with "non-medical, non-surgical" means.

Matt and Michael were huge successes. They worked incredibly hard and shared their gifts with many, many Fijians as well as members of our team. They worked on some people together double teaming them and the majority individually with needles, touch, body re-integration and their incredible wisdom in concert with their energetic and invigorating personas. They often worked on the ground as there were no tables. They helped young guys with rugby injuries and old people with crippled up bodies. The Fijians took them in like they were family. They loved their approaches and their styles. Michael and Matt showed them how to care for themselves and care for each other. They were humble, fun and devoted. I loved sending the Fijians to them because I knew they were going to give them something that was miraculous and totally out of their realm of previous experience.

For me (and I believe the other docs also), it heightened our capacities as doctors to have these 2 humble masters working side by side with us. It was great to know they were there and ready to give their best to anyone who crossed their paths. I have always been a believer in integrative medicine and these two healers in particular but working side by side with them was radical for me. The power to heal and to help was magnified infinitely with these 2 great men on our team.

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