The Star Institute

2011-08-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome

Thanks for visiting The Star Institute web site!

Founded in 2000 in Austin,Texas, Star Institute provides education for birth, healing and creative living. We appreciate your interest in natural healthcare and the exciting role integrative techniques-- using energy, body, breath, mind, emotions and spirit-- are playing in helping people experience creative and healthful living.

We provide programs for healthcare professionals as well as classes, internship clinics and private sessions for individuals, couples and families.

Star Institute respects the profound potential for vibrant health and well being inherent in the human body. Our programs, based in Ebb & Flow Integration Therapy™, help health professionanls meet the needs of people who recognize their self-healing potential.
In addition to workshops and continuing education Star Institute offers certification as an Ebb & Flow Integration Practitioner, Birth Journey Facilitator, and Water Birth Facilitator. Through these programs participants deepen their understanding, intuition and particular skills using energy, body, breath, and water, centered around birth.

Birth, as a journey each of us has experienced, is explored as a foundational experience for our health and well-being as well as a model for fulfilling our creative potential in daily life.
Please see our catalogue and class schedule pages on this site for more information for 2012. We are in the process of developing this site and will be adding more informative features.
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in a class.

Rima Star, founder
Star Institute
Austin, Texas

Birth Messages That Heal Everyday

2011-08-16T14:08:00.000-07:00

Birth Messages That Heal—Everyday™

A Free Preview and One Day Class w/Rima Star

Co-Mother of Water Birth in the U.S. and author of

The Healing Power of Birth

Fri. Sept. 9 7-9 pm & Sat. Sept.10 9;30-5:30 Austin, Tx.

Fri. Sept. 16 7-9 pm & St. Sept. 17 7-9 pm Madison, WI.

Especially for parents, birth professionals, educators, health and child care providers to gain deeper insight and awareness of the impact birth messages have on an individual’s health & well-being throughout life.

This one day class will give you an idea of the upcoming four day Birth Journey Facilitator Training scheduled for October.

See the catalogue page on this site for details, photos & more!

Austin--Oct 9-12 and Madison Oct. 20-23

Birth Messages That Heal, Everyday™, explores the model that normal, natural birth gives us for bringing creations--our precious children-- into existence, nurturing them until they are ready to breathe (and live) on their own....and eventually relate back to us as co-creators.

In this class we will:

· Explore eight stages in the normal child birth cycle from preconception/conception, each trimester of pregnancy, labor, birth, bonding and breastfeeding

· Have the opportunity to relate your own birth story to these stages to see if you have messages you would like to shift in some way

· Experience Rima’s work developed as Ebb & Flow Integration Therapy™ through two guided breath and visualization sessions, one after the first four stages and one after the last four

· Increase your understanding and use of the core creative experience of birth to current creative challenges with beneficial results for yourself, your family and your clients.

Class Fee: $150 (credit cards accepted)

* Discounts may apply for your area. Be sure to ask.

To Register Call or Email Star Institute: 512 420-0068

Madison Coordinator: Arlinda Michael, RN, 608 512-8525

Correction on July 26 Newsletter

2011-07-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Oops! Correction on the date/time for the Preview for Star Institute classes and programs.

The newsletter says: Monday, Aug. 7 but it should really say: Monday, Aug. 8th, 7-9 pm at
8305 Franwood Lane, Austin, 78757. Please make the correction!

IN Addition, there is a preview this Monday, August 1, 7-9 pm at the same location.

The previews are free but please call or email to reserve your place: 512 420-0068
or info@thestarinstitute.com

I am so excited to share these exciting opportunities for furthering your experience and skills with breath, body, birth and water!

And remember to Like the Star Institute page on Facebook. Thank you. Rima

Upcoming Star Institute Courses/Programs

2011-06-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

Star Institute offers educational opportunities through training in Ebb & Flow Integration Therapy™, Birth Journey Facilitator™ and Water Birth Facilitator™ Courses are offered to healthcare professionals, including birth professionals, and interested non-professionals, including parents. Certification programs are offered. Continuing Education credits are available for Texas Licensed Massage Therapists and may be available for other health professions as well. A teacher training for some of these courses is offered to eligible graduates of Star Institute programs. Star Institute has been leading the way in education for birth, healing and creative living since 2000.

Preview All Star Institute Programs--Monday, August 1, 7:00-9 pm   Location: 83305 Franwood Ln. Austin, 78757
  NO CHARGE RSVP to hold your space 512 420-0068 info@TheStarInstitute.com

Additional Previews: Sunday Aug. 14 and Sunday Aug. 21, 3-5 pm at the above location

Upcoming Trainings:

Sept. 9 & 10th EFI Therapy: Guiding Breath Fri. 7-10 pm Sat. 9:30-5:30

Oct. 9-12 Birth Journey Facilitator Sun. 1-9 M-W 9:30-5:30

Oct. 29-30    Water Birth Facilitator
Fri. Sat. 9:30-5:30

Come to the preview to find out all details and call or email with questions and to register for the preview. info@thestarinstitute.com and 512 420-0068

Don't miss this opportunity to study with the "Co-mother of Water Birth" in the USA, pioneer in massage, bodywork, rebirthing breathing, birth facilitation, ocean EFI sessions in the presence of free dolphins and so much more. Rima is a true healer and teacher from the soul level on up. I cannot imagine doing all that I do with parents and babies without the incredible gifts of learning and experience I have received from Rima and her programs."  Cyndi Lestina, Certified Birth Facilitator, Star Doula EFI Practitioner

Parent Infant Wellness Workshops

2011-03-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

We are exited to announce our monthly Parent Infant Wellness Workshop this coming tuesday March 22.
Arrival is 9:45 and class is 10-Noon. The Parent Infant workshop is an opportunity to learn and share on the subjects of breastfeeding/feeding & postpartum support, infant massage/bonding and self-care strategies for parents. Look for the links on the Upcoming Events page to find out the details and register.
We look forward to seeing you or your parents and infants this tuesday.

Some Benefits of Infant/Child Massage for child and parent

2011-03-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

My children grew up thinking that infant and child massage time was a parenting skill common to all parents. (And in many cultures it IS more of an ordinary parenting skill....thankfully.)

One of the first times my daughter spent the night with a friend (around 6-7) she was in for a surprise. She came home the next day and with some frustration said,"Mom, my friend had a bad neck ache when we went to bed and her Mom did not give her a massage! So, I had to do it! (With a sense of, can you believe that?) I smiled and realized I needed to clue her in on the fact massage time was not necessarily a regular parenting skill in all families. (Now as a wonderful adult child of mine, she assists, probably, over 2000 hours of massage therapy sessions a month at the clinic she manages. Hmmmmm.....)

So, to share some of the benefits of regualr infant (and older children) therapeutic massage for both the child AND the parent:

For Babies and Children:

Helps baby/child know they are heard and acknowledged
This individual focused time promotes child/ infant-parent bonding
Helps regulate smooth transitions from one state to another (activity to rest etc.)
Helps infant/child handle sensory input successfully
Has positive effects on maturation and sympathetic nervous system activity
Helps infant/child release stress appropriately through crying or vocalization and then return to relaxation
Increases oxygen and nutriient flow to cells
Helps relieve "colic" or gassy spells and teething in infants
Deeper and longer sleep habits

For parents:

Provides intimacy and special time for parents and children
Enhances communication and builds respect
Helps parents feel more confident and competent in their parenting role (esp. good w/ first timers)
Helps ease stress of a working parents who may have to be gone during the day (this is their special quality time)
Baby/child regular massage time offers parent a time to relax and unwind as well from their busier pace of life
It's fun for parents to massage their infant or children

Do you have a parent/child/infant massage story to share? Please DO.

And please tell any parents of infants about our monthly (4th tuesday, generally) parent-infant wellness workshop from 9:45-Noon at 7756 Northcross Dr. Suite4 111, 78757 (at Foster).

Understanding Breath--the Secret to great Bodywork! from Rima Star

2011-03-06T16:28:00.000-08:00

Body and breath--a natural combination. So simple in fact that we take it for granted many times looking for far more complicated solutions than the quality, duration and frequency of our (or our client's) breathing. As a massage therapist (or other manual therapist) you have probably observed how a person's breathing changes as you work with their body. But have you observed how a person's body changes as you work with their breath? In my experience, these are two sides of the same coin. To work with the body is to come around full circle to working with breath. To work with breath is to come around full circle to working with the body.

The Ebb & Flow Integration Therapy system represents the culmination of my work with body and breath since 1974, including over 30,000 hours clinical experience and training thousands of therapists. It represents my passion to provide therapists and their clients with a way to simply have "all systems go"--that is, no blockages to a client being able to function normally, as they choose. This seems like such a "simple" goal--doesn't each body deserve that in their life? Yet, as we know, we therapists can work quite hard helping people to reach this "simple" base point for living life.

EFI Therapy is designed to help therapists and their clients facilitate large amounts of change with the appropriate amount of effort. Learning the intricacies of working with breath balances out the equation in bodywork education. You've heard the phrase--a stitch in time saves nine. In my work, I would say, a breath in time saves nine. If I can attentively listen to a client's breath/body interaction I can guide them to breathe in a precise way, at the precise time with hands on the correct body point and they experience an integrated release. This integrated release is a physiological" aaah ha" at the deepest level of body, breath and many times, soul. These moments DO save time. In fact, many clients report feeling a sense of timelessness--a complete letting go into the PRESENT.

These moments of deep relaxation in present time allow the body to work it's miracles (isn't it great what wonderful "material" we've been given to work with?) and start over from a new point of reference. For us, as therapists, we can feel fully satisfied with our work.

Invitation: If you would like to get involved with a greater awareness and use of the less visible forms of bodywork--like breath--I thoroughly encourage you to attend my spring fling (50% off when you sign up with a friend) therapist continuing education special on tuesday, March 29 from 9:30-4:30pm.

I'm so excited to share this day of knowledge and experience with all who wish to attend.

Lobbying at the Capitol

2011-03-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

De'Andrea Jones (Bradley Childbirth Instructor) and Rima Star (Birth Consultant Educator)

Monday, February 28, Texans for Midwifery hosted a day at the capitol to lobby for reforms to support midwives in Texas. Thanks to Jennifer Shaw and the team of organizers for this event. I (Rima) attended, having been gratefully reminded by my friend, Mary Barnett, CNM, from Heart of Texas Midwives. We gathered for breakfast and announcements at the Methodist church at 13th and Lavaca. It was wonderful to see friends old and new. I remember when Texans for Midwifery started (with the lay-off of midwives from Austin hospitols in 2002, I believe). Star Institute hosted TFM meetings at our (then) location near Barton Springs and Lamar. There were so many amazing parents, babies, and children attending. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting legislators with my new friend and Bradley teacher, De Andra Jones and her beautiful daughter Caliope. Did you know that many, many counties in Texas have no obstetricians in their county but do have midwives? Adding Medicaid coverage for midwives in Texas would greatly increase quality birth care throughout the state and save the state money.

Take a look at Quotes from Hannah Boen's Article:
Almost 100 people in support of midwifery in the state gathered Monday in Austin to encourage legislators to make a choice that could potentially save Texas millions of dollars in Medicaid costs. Texans for Midwifery, a consumer group that promotes benefits of midwifery care, organized a group of families and licensed midwives to visit legislators at the Capitol to increase awareness concerning midwifery care and the savings it could provide the state. The midwife advisor to Texans for Midwifery, Brielle Epstein, said Monday that Texas soon could join 11 other states that have added licensed midwives to the list of providers covered under Medicaid.

To sign a petition in support of the rule change needed for this Mediaid coverage go to:

http://ipetitions.com/petition/texasmidwives/

To donate and find out more info about Texans for Midwivery go to:

http://www.texansformidwifery.com/

Caliope and her "baby"

A Breath of Fresh Air for Star Institute

2011-02-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

Emerging from the warm and watery depths where life re-creates itself, Star Institute arises today for a a very cold (25 degrees) breath of fresh air. The coldness seems fitting as a way to clearly highlight the central function of breathing as a source for warmth, and energy and vibrancy. This blog announces the re-birth of Star Institute as a source for educational classes, workshops and programs, centered around a common experience-- birth. Each of us has been birthed both actually, (and this provides the foundation for our health) and figuratively, (as a metaphor for creative living). It seems that such a momentous event deserves some of our time and attention, and an occassional review!

Currently, we are offering a pregnancy massage training, two guided breath groups and one parent/infant wellness workshop this month, February. Details will be added soon to our upcoming events page on this blog.

Any comments or suggestions for classes and events?

And, thank YOU for being born and sharing your gifts and talents here on earth!

Rima Star