Table Of ContentiYURVEDA£k_
sLlFE IMPRESSIONS
BODYWORK
Peking Our Healing Memories
DONALD VANHOWTEN
areword by Dr. Vasant Lad, Author of the Bestselling Classic Ayurveda: The Science of Self Healing
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Copley Square
AYURVEDA
&LIFE IMPRESSIONS
BODYWORK
"Van is one of the few gifted teachers and healers who has dis-
tilled the best from all the bodywork systems into a process that
brings about a true change in the individual."
Elizer Ben-Joseph
Herbs for Health
"This wonderful book reflects the man and his lifetime body of
working wisdom in the healing arts. Like the man, it is insight-
ful, profound, transformative, life changing, wise. Its greatest
gift is its clear simplicity."
David Ford
Five Element Acupuncturist
"A must for all those who recognize Karma's role in health and
healing."
Lucinda }. Dykes, M.D.
"Not only is this book a must for any bodyworker or somatic
therapist, it demonstrates a way for each of us to live in our bod-
ies with greater understanding, health, intimacy and grace."
Dr. Robert D. Waterman
President Emeritus of Southwestern College
"Van has made a journey across both time and experience to
reach his profound understanding of the body, and the fruit of
that journey is offered in the pages of this book."
Terry Venerable
Bodywork Therapist
"For more than a decade Donald VanHowten has been my pri-
mary source for bodywork. I credit much of my health and sense
of well-being to the mastery of his subtle ministrations."
Phyllis Montgomery
1 Client
AYURVEDA
&LIFE IMPRESSIONS
BODYWORK
SEEKING OUR HEALING MEMORIES
Donald VanHowten
igrus
This book is a reference work, not intended to diagnose, prescribe or
treat. The information contained herein is in no way to be considered as
a substitute for consultation with a licensed health-care practitioner.
Copyright 1996 © by Donald VanHowten
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced in
any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including informa-
tion storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from
the publisher, except by a receiver who may quote brief passages in a
review.
Editor and Photographs - Parvati Markus
Photographs - David Hoptman
Cover Design - Paul Bond, Art & Soul Design
Cover Illustration - Lewisa Goggin
Design and Page Layout - Carola Hochst-Teague
First Edition 1997
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication-Dal
Donald VanHowten 1948
Ayurveda and Life Impressions Bodywork:
Seeking our Healing Memories by Donald VanHowten
includes bibliographical references
ISBN: 0-914955-24-1 96-79622
CIP
Published by
Lotus Press, P.O. Box 325, Twin Lakes, Wisconsins 53181
t/)ec/icutiori
I humbly dedicate this work to my spiritual teacher,
Paramahansa Yogananda,
whose love and inspiration continually challenge
me to look carefully at my own impressions of life.
^/CcAnoto/e</^einent^
First and foremost, I give thanks to God and my spiritual
teacher, Paramahansa Yogananda, for the inspiration, energy
and love to complete this task.
Thanks to my family, my wife Corina, my son Talon, and my
parents for their support and inspiration.
Thanks to my many wonderful teachers: Dr. Jack Painter, for his
example and encouragement to treat the person, not just the
body; Dr. Jerome Rosner, who reminded me I knew more than I
thought I did; Eliezer Ben-Joseph for the training in touch and
the elements in the body; Dr. Vasant Lad for his priceless teach-
ings in Ayurvedic medicine and his continuing friendship; Ron
Kurtz for showing me that emotional transition can be a safe
rewarding adventure; Dr. John Upledger, for having the courage
to share his work with people outside his profession; and Dr.
Rolf, Dr. Stone, Dr. Feldenkrais and the many others who have
influenced my work, although I never met them while they were
alive.
I would like to offer my thanks to Hari Dev, who first inspired
me regarding Ayurvedic Medicine, in the billiard room on San
Francisco Street in Santa Fe...and continues to inspire, with his
occasional calls from Boston when I least expect them.
I would like to thank the many students, clients, and friends
who were in some way my best teachers and encouraged me in
this work.
Thanks to Lenny Blank at Lotus Press for his patience and belief
in this book.
Lastly, I wish to thank my Editor and friend Parvati Markus,
whose contribution to this book was invaluable.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword by Dr. Lad
Preface
Introduction 1
What is Life Impressions Work? 1
Who Can Use This Information? 3
Benefits 4
East Meets West 5
Book Structure 5
SECTION I: Who Are We? 7
CHAPTER ONE: The Making of a Life Impression 9
Etched in Flesh 12
Focusing Awareness 14
Exercise: Rediscover Your Hands 17
How Membranes Respond 19
CHAPTER Two: The Mother of All Healing 23
The Elements 24
The Three Doshas: The Constitutional Types 28
The Vata (Air) Constitution 31
The Pitta (Fire) Constitution 36
The Kapha (Water) Constitution 40
Determining Your Constitution 45
Restoring Balance 47
CHAPTER THREE: Changing the Self-image 49
The Internal and External Environments 50
Self-image 53
Resting in Neutral 56
Exercise: Resting in Neutral 59
You're Okay, I'm Okay 62
Safety and Support 66
Exercise: Bringing Balance to Your Constitution....72
CHAPTER FOUR: Membrane Function:
Safety and Support 77
What are Membranes 77
Inhibition 82
Exercise: Making New Pathways 84
Membrane Hardening 89
Reclaiming Your Frozen Assets 92
SECTION II: How We Change 97
CHAPTER FIVE: The Touch of Awakening 99
Seeking the Healing Memories 99
Touch of Awakening 102
Exercise: The Touch of Awakening Sequence 109
The Three Types of Touch 114
Exercise: The Corn Starch Exercise 117
Practical Applications 121
CHAPTER SIX:
The Components of the Human System 125
Ayurvedic Components 126
A Working Model of the Body 136
Exercise: Outrigger Exercise 147
CHAPTER SEVEN: Intervention 155
The Spiral and the Vector 156
