I can latch my bra now and it is because of the Lebed Method classes

My cholesterol dropped 50 points and it is directly due to the Lebed Method class

It's easier to turn my head and see to my left while driving as a result of the Lebed Method classes.

Just thought I would share my little triumph with you Julia. I began training on the 1st and 2nd December, and during the week following I practised daily the opening lymphatic exercises, sometimes twice a day, and on the following Friday, the 7th December, I opened my bra while undressing, without thinking. I had actually put my hands round and unhooked it from the back. This was the first time I had been able to do so since I was diaganosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis last April. Sounds like a small thing but to me it was a giant leap forward. I passed my exam on the 8th December, 2007 and I can still unhook it by myself.

I say a huge THANK YOU for The Lebed Method. What a difference I've noticed with energy and enthusiasm; I can actually feel more flowing happening. It was so incredible to me that I have my three children join me for the first fifteen minutes two-three times per week. My husband also joins us when possible and has commented on noticing a difference in how he feels. For weeks after doing the exercises tears flowed. I'm not sure why exactly, but trust that the tears were a necessary part of my wellness journey. My system needs your exercises and I am SO grateful for them. Oh, to have had such exercises and information years ago!

I was thrilled to hear that pregnant women are beginning to learn about The Lebed Method and are doing the exercises. I haven't felt really "well" since my first pregnancy twelve years ago. My story is one of pathological engorgement after the birth of my babies, followed by recurrent mastitis throughout my ten years of breastfeeding three children. While pondering how The Lebed Method might have helped me during that season of life, I estimated that I had mastitis (breast infections) close to one hundred times. Add plugged ducts in there, too, and it was not the "natural" experience I thought it would be, nor the thoroughly enjoyable experience I was told it would be.

With the support of my husband, I was able to continue nursing each baby through each painful bout. In our quest to stop mastitis from occurring, or at least lessen its frequency, I tried antibiotics, diet changes, various dietary supplements, specially fitted, made-for-me nursing bras, wearing no bra at all, changing from typical deodorants to a deodorant stone, classical homeopathy, herbal tinctures and teas, massage, talking with La Leche League leaders, and appointments with: lactation consultants (IBCLCs), a Naturopathic Physician, a classical Homeopath, and my midwife. Lastly, somehow I stumbled upon manual lymph drainage (MLD).

While all of the above seemed to help to some extent, I found the manual lymph drainage (Dr. Vodder's method) to be the most beneficial. I was blessed to have a certified practitioner who was able to adapt what she usually did to what my body needed. If only I had known about it at the beginning instead of finding out about it with my third child! Also, during and following the weaning process of my third child, I noticed at times that my arms would occasionally feel full. Manual lymph drainage relieved that, too.

At this time I am not pregnant or nursing, but I still do not feel 100%. Thus, I went back to the MLD practitioner because she is also a licensed massage therapist. I feel like I'm in a renewing, refreshing, restoring, regenerating, replenishing season now and knew she'd be respectful and understanding, as well as helpful with massage and MLD. She now loans "The Lebed Method, Focus on Healing Through Therapeutic Exercise and Movement" DVD to interested clients. I borrowed the DVD about six weeks ago and have been amazed at how much better I feel mentally, emotionally, and physically. I bought a copy of it from her so my family and I can regularly do the exercises.

I appreciate the emphasis you put on proper posture. After my season of pregnancies, breastfeeding, and lots of baby carrying/wearing, I noticed a tendency for my shoulders to be rounded forward and that my arms, neck, shoulders, and back hurt. I have been making a conscious effort to stretch my upper body and to pay attention to my posture. Your exercises help in that endeavor.

PLEASE consider getting your message to breastfeeding women, in addition to as many pregnant women as possible. Women who experience recurrent mastitis and/or plugged ducts need to know about these exercises that may help relieve their symptoms so they can continue to breastfeed their babies without, or with less, pain and suffering. Women who simply don't feel well after a pregnancy, though nothing specific can be pinpointed, may be helped with these exercises, too, just as I have been.

Exercise has been an important part of my life since childhood, but because of how my pregnancies, postpartum periods, and breastfeeding years were, I have not been able to keep an ongoing exercise routine. Your therapeutic exercises are perfect - gentle and not too taxing. Oh, to have had your DVD years ago!

About the DVD: wonderful, encouraging, enthusiastic, real, inspiring, happy, cheerful, supportive, peppy music (love the drums), fun, bright, a celebration, respectful of individuals' abilities and honoring to the human body. The participants look like great people to know, victorious, handsome, beautiful.

Your slogan, "Surviving is Important, but Thriving is Elegant" is especially touching to me. The years I described above felt like we were in "survival mode," and that is exactly how my husband and I have referred to those years. We are ready to THRIVE!

Now you know some of my story and how I came upon The Lebed Method. Thanks a million for your piece to our journey's puzzle. I will continue to let others know about The Lebed Method. May God richly bless you and guide you as you do this important work.

"We have been thrilled with the results, both physically and mentally. Personally, Dr. Huddlestone and I appreciate those benefits, as well as the increased collaboration between the Society and our MS Center. We believe that one of the unique aspects of our MS center, that sets us apart, is our commitment to the overall health and well-being of our patients. By providing services such as PT/OT, Dr., Nurse, Social Worker, education, etc., we are taking care of the WHOLE person.

I have talked with the people attending the class on several occasions and I have attended one of the classes and participated in the exercises. Patients are all smiles and the morale is high. It was pouring rain the night I attended and two people had walkers and one woman in a wheelchair, and they came anyway. Of course the room was packed, but I thought that it was remarkable that the weather did not deter people with mobility issues; the class's allure was too strong.

People inside the class report increased flexibility and stamina and well as a sense of fellowship with the other people with MS. The music is upbeat and fun and there is a lot of laughter. One woman proclaimed that she had only recently been able to do the exercises standing, but for several years before, spent most of her life sitting down. While they exercise they are personally encouraged by name as well as taught about the benefits of each of the movements that they are performing. A few different people have mentioned that they have not participated in other programs because of finances, and they were "grateful" to the MS Society for their "gift". Others mentioned they were glad to learn and work out with someone who "knows what they are talking about", referring to Anne's credentials.

I would encourage you to personally attend a class if you are able, to see for yourself, the participants will sing its praises even more convincingly than I can.

Megan"

We have found the Lebed Method to be helpful for our patients for regaining physical activity and flexibility after surgery and radiation therapy for breast cancer

I want to express my thanks to you, for your participation in reassuring my Trdi-Anne that allows her to drive and do many of the things that her cancer-operations had brought to a stand-still.

She is a brave girl, I am so proud of her.

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in May 2006. It turns out that I had TWO different forms of it - Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) on one side and, for lack of a better word, "regular" Breast Cancer on the other side. My prognosis was poor, to say the least. The cancer was classified as 3B - it was found on the IBC side in 12 out of 12 lymph nodes. I've had some difficult times in the past year. Aside from the cancer itself, a bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries for port insertions, I had collapsed lungs after surgeries for the ports and a terrible skin reaction to the radiation treatments - in fact, it was the worst reaction my doctors and nurses had ever seen! Leave it to me - I'm a "beat the odds" sort of gal (except for the Lottery, of course!)

I'm writing to you because of the Lebed Method and what it has done for me. After my bad reaction to the radiation, I could barely move my upper torso and ended up with frozen shoulders. I started attending the classes - The Lebed Method: Focus on Healing - that The Cancer Center of Riverside offers when I realized I had a problem. I now have full range of motion of both shoulders. Almost as important - if not MORE important - as the physical advantages of the classes is the sisterhood I now have with everyone who goes to them. I wish I would have gone during my treatments. The love and support I receive from my "sisters" - women who have gone through and are going through what I have experienced - has helped me face Breast Cancer with dignity and a SMILE! The nurses and my sisters are my weekly "backbone" to cope with this disease. I can't leave the classes without a smile and an all around good feeling - not the least of which is that I am doing something physical and mentally that is PERFECT for me. Unlike going to a gym, the Lebed Method focuses on mending for ME!

Sherry Lebed Davis and her brothers have provided an invaluable resource for Breast Cancer patients at every stage of their diagnosis. I know that the Lebed Method is worldwide, but I would like to see it get National attention. I didn't know about it until I physically needed it. I wish I would have gone to the classes sooner, so I could have mentally coped as well as I have physically since I started going.

Thank you so much for your time.

- After one session I was feeling much better and able to lift my arm past my shoulder.
- After two sessions I had even better improvement
- After five sessions, I notice how strong I had become. People who know me also noticed this as well as my doctor.
- The exercises were easy to do.
- The LeBed Method isn't like weight training; however you do get to the same point without the pain.
- The objective of the LeBed Method is to allow your breathing to control the amount of exertion that you put on your body.
- The Lebed Method is the best thing that has happened to me.
- I am thankful to the LeBed Family and to my trainer, Gwen Traylor