On May 21st I received some sad news that John Matthew Upledger, the CEO of the Upledger Institute, passed away the day before his 57th birthday.
It takes me right back to the time that I heard the news that his father Dr. John Upledger died in October 2012. At that time I was doing some final edits to my book From My Hands and Heart: Achieving Health and Balance with CranioSacral Therapy. Losing the person who was the founder of CranioSacral Therapy and the Upledger Institute felt like a very big loss but having John Matthew still at the helm was reassuring. Now it feels like we are in unchartered territory with the loss of John Matthew. But I feel that there has been a strong legacy left behind. The Upledger Institute has done an amazing job of training therapists all over the world and providing therapists with solid support as they pursue their education.
In May 2015 Suzanne Scurlock Durana and I embarked on an ambitious project and began a 12-month online program called Empower Your CranioSacral Practice All Year Long in which we interviewed many of the leading lights in the field of CranioSacral Therapy. We ended the series in May 2016 with an interview with John Matthew Upledger.
Although I did not know John Matthew that well, I did get to meet and talk with him over the years. I found him to be a generous and heartfelt person, and he always had a joke up his sleeve! The last time I saw him was in November 2016 where I was a therapist at the intensive program for Veterans with PTSD. John Matthew was not feeling well but was so passionate about the program that he came by and hugged all the therapists. He gave us heartfelt acknowledgment by saying how much he appreciated us. John Matthew's sincere recognition highlights his kindness, and how he lived his life.
As I took in the news on May 21st, I reflected upon the appreciation I have for all the gifts given to me from the Upledger Institute. I have always loved being a Physical Therapist, and now with CST I feel like I have the clinical skills that I always wanted. I have met the most incredible people both in my office and in classes. It has led me to grow in ways I never anticipated! From my own personal growth and healing to writing a book, speaking to large audiences and having a clinical practice that I love. I feel a renewed commitment to continue to do what I feel passionate about and move forward with these gifts I've gained over the years. Each one of us who is a CranioSacral Therapist, or a recipient of CST, is in one way or another the people that move forward the legacy of Dr. John Upledger and John Matthew Upledger. The one thing I know for sure is that there will always be change. I find this opportunity exciting!
From My Hands and Heart, Kate xx
