My name Alvina means many things. It comes from the Latin language meaning “Elf Friend”.
Also “White Lotus Flower”
In India an alvina is a lute, like a guitar.
Alvina can mean “of the vine” like grapes that make fine wine.
I was named after my grandmother since I was the firstborn of an only child Italian man.
It wasn’t an easy name to have growing up in rural Connecticut.
I also inherited her nickname which I no longer use once I left home at 16.
I like that the name has a certain flavor or essence that relates to lightness, music, wine, beauty, friendship.
My father looked at me once and he said, “You are an Alvina!”
I suit the name.
My life work has been infused with the energy of healing myself and others – Light comes through me! And, I use music in my work, I make my own oils and I provide a beautiful environment, considering everyone in the highest personal regard (as Dr Fritz Smith conveyed to me through our Zero Balancing Work) and I cultivate lasting connections.
Gratitude to my family, my teachers and to myself!!!
My experience with the acupressure point IA 23 (LI 18) Receive Support and Rush Out.
Assisting a PA Class In Borrego Springs, CA
I was at my teachers (Dr Aminah Raheem) home in Borrego Springs, California, assisting her in a Process Acupressure Class when I learned the power of acupoints for support and healing in a very dramatic way. Although I already knew that acupoints and acupressure are tremendously healing and powerful — it works!! — I had a dynamic illustration of how it works when I partnered with one of the students for her practice session.
Student Practice
She kindly asked me how she could serve me as she did a client intake with me sitting on the massage table in Dr Raheem’s office which was completely covered with photos and icons of saints from all of creation (talk about being supported). Dr Raheem was also standing in the room observing us. I chose a protocol (I don’t remember which one) which had the beginning acupoint IA 23 (LI 18). When the student touched that acupoint I said that I would prefer if she only held the area of the point with her whole hand as I felt I just needed to feel supported there. The student complied.
Altered States
Immediately, I began to cry but only for a moment. Then, I was coughing, like in The Green Mile movie where the actor takes in people’s badness and illness and then lets it out in a stream of gadflies. That happened for a bit, forcefully extracting something from deep down through my throat. I whipped my glasses off (I couldn’t wear my contacts in the desert dryness). As I moved off the table and commenced into a yoga flow that was from an altered state of consciousness for some minutes. One move after the next seamlessly flowing. And then I stopped. I was in a full Camel Pose when I came out of the altered state and I raised one arm up and asked to help me come to a standing position. Dr Raheem told me to go ahead and rest on the lanai the rest of the morning.
Acupoint Name Relevance
Later Dr Raheem came to me to say “That point name is Receive Support and Rush Out”!!!
World Support and Healing
That afternoon was supposed to be my turn receiving a treatment from Dr Raheem as a demo in front of the class. Since I had had such a dynamically transformative session in the morning she gave me the option to have the session or not. I said that I would like to have the session but only if it was gentle. And so she invited me to the table for my session with her. As I was relaxing on the table and she was working around me I had a vision of yellow flowers in a field. It felt as though angels were surrounding all of us and we were being blessed with all love and beauty. Everyone felt it and the room turned golden. It filled with a golden light. We all experienced it.
And that’s how I came to understand that being a support can lend support and healing and bring beauty and love to all. Also, that we don’t have to hold on to any poor feelings or experiences — we can let them go and be well and loved.
I have had the privilege of knowing Alvina for 13 years, and I can wholeheartedly attest to her incredible healing abilities. Our journey began when she worked with my 1-yr old son post open-heart surgery, and her nurturing presence brought a sense of comfort and peace to both my son and me.
Alvina seamlessly transitioned from being a practitioner to a cherished friend and mentor, and her work has been profoundly grounding and soothing. Her extensive knowledge across various modalities is a testament to her dedication and expertise.
If you are looking for a way to improve your well-being, I highly recommend making an appointment with Alvina. Her compassionate approach and deep understanding of healing will undoubtedly leave you feeling better than ever. Thank you, Alvina, for being a guiding light on our healing journey.
Cynthia Sharpe, Naples FL
Note From Alvina:
Due to Cynthia’s diligent parenting and her educational background as a teacher she was well equipped to pursue the needed talents a mother of a down syndrome child would need to create success for her child. Thus, Cynthia has become a healer in her own right, integrating many modalities including biofeedback, meditation & play therapy. CynChronisity.com
She and her husband Doug sponsor a yearly non-profit Art Show for varied abilities contestants at the Naples Botanical Garden. It really is beautiful to be able to offer the backdrop of Nature with the natural gifts of the participants. It’s a natural high for everyone who participates.
In 2001 The Insight Acupressure Faculty and Dr. Aminah Raheem, the founder (formerly Soul Lightening International), created a specific acupressure formula as a world gift to relieve shock and stress after the events of 9/11. Originally, the acupressure formula was called the Shock Stress Release and was taught virtually anywhere in the world. I learned it along with 10 other teachers on the floor of a yoga studio in Rhinebeck NY. I lived at the Jersey Shore at the time (1 hour from the World Trade Center) and my mentor was in Tivoli N.Y. so I drove the 2 hours to tap in to the acupressure formula that was created specifically to heal from this horrible time in our history and to share it with everyone who was also dealing with this emotional and disturbing time. The work has been shared in war zones, hurricane relief and earthquake zones in many areas of the world.
Name Change
Since 2001 the name of the formula has been changed to The SEVA Stress Release after the Sanskrit word for Service because the purpose of the work is to be of service to anyone anywhere in the world who suffers from stress or shock or simply wants to feel supported and deeply relaxed. Many other possible outcomes may occur by practicing the SEVA Stress Release, including resolution of symptoms or personal growth.
Heart-Centered
The acupressure formula was created from the hearts of the Soul Lightening faculty utilizing the Heart Chakra and Heart Meridians of the body. The Heart Chakra is all about love, compassion, and forgiveness. My experience is that focusing on this area helps to bring a person home to themselves which is crucial in times of shock and very high stress. The SEVA Stress Release utilizes the acupoints along the Heart Meridian which helps to create calm in the body. Creating a state of calm invites a person to settle in to themselves, find their breath and peace in their own body and space.
Training — Anyone Can Learn
This formula may be applied by a person to themself – Self-Care – or from another person – For Others. There is a training program that is 3-hours for the Self-Care portion and an additional 3-hours for the For Others portion. Anyone can do it. It is very easy to learn yet there is a specific touch style that is discovered to administer both the self-care and for others methods. Faculty are empowered to grant continuing education contact hours for massage therapists via NCBTMB (National Massage Therapy Board).
Used & Studied In Many Settings:
The SEVA Stress Release was used in the first face transplant at Walter Reed Hospital. The formula was taught to the recipient so that he could calm himself during the ordeal of healing from the operation and it was used by the nurses to help keep the patients stress level low and relaxed. (See additional related post below)
Care for the Caregiver Expo, Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Gina Rosenthal, PT
Integrative Care Service, University of Maryland Medical Center, Dr John Reed, MD
Breast Cancer Support Group, Naples Community Hospital (NCH), Lisa Ann & Lira Bennet.
Golden Gate Senior Center (Spanish & English), Naples, FL
Cancer Treatment Center, West Virginia University School of Nursing, Kari Sand-Jecklin, RN
Neuropsychiatry & Acute Rehabilitation, University of California UCI Health, Susanlee Wisotzkey, Ph.D, RN
Thiotte Haiti Vulnerable Children Relief (THVCR), Theresa Haag, RN, BSN
Community Service, Emily Wright, Deanna Waggy, Sylvia Goodman, Sue Lovett, Diane Arney, Marilyn Zurwaski, Emily Tellez, Alison Babil, Claire Howell, Susan Popiel, Michele Wade, and all the SEVA Teachers world-wide.
Empowering Whole-Being Health Case Study Collection (A whole third of the book is devoted to SEVA), Cathy Miller & Deanna Waggy
Contact
There are over 60 SEVA Teachers in the world and many more people who have been trained to give SEVA Stress Release Acupressure. Contact Alvina Quatrano with any inquiries at 732-266-5276 or alvinaq@aohmassage.com or find info at www.InsightAcupressure.org
Alvina will be teaching the SEVA Stress Release Class on Sunday September 10 from 9 AM – 4 PM at the World Tennis Club, Naples, FL. You can take only the 3-hr Self-Care portion from 9-12 (Lunch Included) or do both sections including an additional 3-hr Part 2: For Others 9-4 (including lunch). Register at www.AOHMassage.com or call Alvina.
Read More…
Below is an original article I published in 2009.
A Way To Relieve Suffering
A Gift From Soul Lightening Int’l
by Alvina Quatrano LMT
September 2001….The World Trade Center had been demolished and many people I knew were at the scene. Everyone in the world was shocked, numb, dumbfounded, grief-stricken. Triages were set up all over to relieve symptoms of shock and stress and grief. Many therapists of all kinds volunteered their time to help the wounded. My regular clients came to me like lost wounded souls and I felt like I needed more to offer. I asked my acupressure mentor to please come up with something. The acupressure teachers of Soul Lightening International led by Aminah Raheem, Ph.D. of Borrego Springs, California got together here on the east coast one day and created a new protocol to serve the world in relieving shock and stress. It is called SEVA. SEVA means service in Sanskrit and was created to relieve suffering and stress and to promote general relaxation. SEVA is a simple acupressure treatment created for anyone to give or receive.
A SEVA treatment can be administered in just a few minutes or can be extended
20-30 minutes, depending on the circumstances. It can be given in a therapists office but was truly designed to be given whenever and wherever it is needed. My friend Missy helped a runner who was down and in shock on the street on a very hot day to revitalize even while EMT’s were standing by. She reconnected his vital energies to come back to the here and now.
Receiving SEVA is a very calming and centering experience. It can relieve post traumatic stress
syndrome. It can provide a turning point for an individual to move toward true healing at the deepest levels.
Clinical Acupressure ( which is an ancient healing modality from China and Asia using finger pressure to acupoints on the body) enhances the free flow of the body’s vital energy, activates it’s own recuperative abilities and diminishes congestion. It can address a multitude of symptoms including back problems, headaches, respiratory, digestive and systemic problems as well as colds, flus, allergies and physical injuries. This treatment modality will facilitate but should not replace, delay or interfere with medical treatment. This work uses the knowledge of ancient traditions combined with contemporary understanding to promote health and self-responsibility for wellness.
I implemented SEVA right away and the results were immediate. I saw the difference in people who received treatment as opposed to those who hadn’t and my heart ached for those who hadn’t sought treatment of any kind. Many divorces happened after 9/11..moving and displacement…many health issues are still happening. After 9/11 most people I know who sought treatment used several modalities to balance themselves as they found necessary; chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, acupressure, yoga, psychotherapy, spiritual guidance, homeopathy, and nutritional counseling and more were sought out to alleviate a myriad of complaints including respiratory, fear, shock, confusion, digestive, muscular, etc. SEVA allowed the unraveling and peace to begin to find a way through from the other side of pandemonium.
I am a certified SEVA instructor and I and my colleagues are teaching SEVA in schools, hospitals, PTA’s, and communities so everyone can know the relief and health building that is possible through acupressure. It has been a terrific addition to the community if someone is so disposed to volunteer it to Women’s or Men’s Shelter’s, VA Departments, and Senior Centers for instance. The protocol is about 20 minutes long. A class runs 3-6 hours. If you would like to learn SEVA or to set up a group demo let me know and it will be arranged. I am available at Art of Holistic Massage (AOHMassage) in Naples FL. 732-266-5276.
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ISLANDWALK – A PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY IN NAPLES ON MONDAYS AT 10: 45am- 11:30am ( You need to let me know if you can come, so I can leave your name at the Gatehouse)
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HOW TO BE ON MY ZOOM INVITE OR TO JUST RECEIVE THE RECORDED CLASS: EMAIL sweetsusan62@gmail.com – Susan Gold Falkenstein
Website:
KINDLY REACH OUT FOR MORE INFORMATION AS WELL. www.chimoveswithsusan.com
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Key health benefits include: Relief of chronic pain Stress reduction Improved sleep quality Improved cardiovascular fitness, including lower blood pressure Improved balance and coordination for falls prevention Cognitive capacity retention (brain plasticity) More energy
