Learning The Method

MNRI® Reflex Integration for Stress Hormone Regulation

The Masgutova Method® is a set of programs focused on the restoration and maturation of primary sensory-motor patterns, reflexes, skills for optimal performance of developmental mechanisms and brain functioning. The Masgutova Method® is oriented on the stimulation of reflex patterns in order to support genetic sensory-motor schemes, self-regenerating programs, strengthen sensory-motor memory and facilitates stress-management and PTSD recovery. The MNRI® restoration of stress-management is realized through support of the neurophysiological reflex circuit functions.

The Mission of the MNRI® Program and Svetlana Masgutova Educational Institute® Neuro-Sensory-Motor and Reflex Integration, LLC is to provide children and adults reliable knowledge and safe tools for the use of natural, genetic sensory-motor resources to facilitate successful neurosensorimotor development, stress-management and successful learning.

Course Objectives

Participants of this MNRI® Program and Course will take part in both course discussion and hands-on supervised practice. In this course, participants will be introduced to information about neurophysiological and psychological aspects of the stress, distress and traumatic stress. The course aims to explain the role of reflex integration and its benefits for brain function, recovery from stress, distress, Post-Traumatic Stress and PTS Disorder. The focus of this program is information concerning Reflex Integration Disorder (RID) and how it leads to poor stress-management and deficiencies in the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenaline-Stress-axis (HPA-stress-axis) and its stress-hormones regulation. Also topics on the effect of stress and PTSD on neurophysiology of a reflex circuit, as well as whole brain functioning in protection and survival mode will be discussed. The program will give information on the neurodevelopmental, psychological and physical functioning of individuals (children and adults) in state of alarm, stress (imagined or/and real) trauma and PTSD; and, the correlation with reflex circuit functions and stress resistance. The Stress-Resistance Profile Test (psychological) in combination with Defense Reflex Patterns Assessment (MNRI®) will be provided. The MNRI® Assessment is aimed at defining the level of integration of the following reflexes: Core Tendon Guard, Moro, and Fear Paralysis. This assessment also gives information on the respiratory system and other reflexes which offer protection for the body and influence the stress-hormones regulation as part of endocrine and nerve/brain system.

This MNRI®: Reflex Integration for Stress Hormone Regulation is based on the extensive experiences of Dr. S. Masgutova working with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with victims of the Chernobyl disaster (1986-1996), the Baku conflict (1990-1991), the earthquake in Armenia (1989-1999), the train crash in Ufa (1989), the Chechen War (1996-1999), conflicts in Israel (2001-2005) and other traumatic situations. Dr. Masgutova’s work with PTSD became the foundation of the MNRI® PTSD Program, opening resources for survival and beyond which includes her recent work with the MNRIÒ Team using the Reflex Integration PTSD Protocol with individuals who experienced trauma in Newtown, NJ and disaster victims in the Philippine Islands. This course also incorporates new studies on the immune system and reflex integration headed by professor. N. Akhmatova and her staff at I.M. Mechnikov Scientific Research Institute of Russian Medical Sciences Academy.

MNRI® proposes original and simple concepts and tools for work with stress and traumatic stress management. This new paradigm for recovery interventions is based on the idea of neurosensorimotor reflex integration and stress-hormones regulation using the sensory motor circuits of specific reflex patterns to channel resources of brain stem and re-building the negative anchors (self-preservation, territorial and power instincts, fear and panic, panic attack and anxiety). Information on the limbic system or so-called emotional brain will be given emphasis on how this area of the brain primarily deals with stress, emotions and memory. Whenever an event is perceived by a person as a threat, real or imagined, the limbic system responds immediately via the autonomic nervous system regulating work of the endocrine glands and metabolism.

This course will offer information on L. Vygotsky’s work (1930) and explain his theory of child cognitive development through the pallidar system in brain development. Vygotsky’s research offers explanations for poor neurodevelopment rooted in the lack of integration of the sensory-motor system and their corresponding work of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Reflexes play the determining role in the possibility of developing inner control and self-socialization with sensory-motor integration.

This MNRI® Program explains how the PTSD causes Reflex Integration Disorder (RID), which was missed in modern research, and how the practical application of neurosensorimotor reflex integration changes the brain. The MNRI Pilot Research shows that post-traumatic survivors have over 35% of their reflex patterns functioning on the level of disorder and have combined with negative emotional anchors. This course proposes discussion on the topic of the RID and deficit in the proper workings of the electric-bio-conductivity in the reflex circuit. The limbic system, basal ganglia, thalamus linked by the RAS system in stress, coordinates the other aspect of the HPA stress-axis affecting the cortex and whole brain functioning. RID can negatively affect the executive function of the brain for formation of internal control on the cognitive, emotional and physical levels. Behavioral aspects of RID includes a lack of internal control, poor reasoning thinking, impulsiveness, challenging defensive behavior, improper decisions, lack of awareness, inability for better choices, depression, anger, and deficits in the immune system.

This course will emphasize the importance of learning healthy ways to cope with the stressors and manage the stress-hormones using new techniques which optimize the reflex pattern functions. Discussion on how a person in stress experiences a wide range of reactions: physical, emotional, mental will be given and how the work of their endocrine system is important for over-all health and wellbeing. Specific explanations on how the endocrine system regulates the hormones to keep the body in homeostasis and balance other metabolic processes will be given.  Information on how the body mobilizes the energy of internal organs, muscles and brain and how the organism functions in stress will be covered.

The MNRI® reflex integration processes transition these negative anchors and unintegrated reflex patterns to a positive path for survival recovery and creates the feeling of safety. This feeling of safety enhances the ability to make choices for a healthy productive here-and-now existence and active life style. The presence of negative stress or trauma activates automatic survival responses, effects hormone regulation, and can cause distortions in sensory-motor integration, neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity and can lead to neurodeficits. This is why we need stress-self-management tools to develop the integrity of the system.

The MNRI®:Reflex Integration for Stress-Hormone Regulation program offers the ‘missing link’ on ways to bring integrity at the neural level for protection and survival; brings integration of the brain and the associated functions of sensory processing and motor activity; offers a possibility for the return of routine behaviors; emotional processes; memory, and learning. The MNRI® Stress-Regulation Protocol contains unique neuro-sensory-motor and sensory-structural exercises for the repatterning of non-productive protective reflexes, breathing management, and immune-stress modulation and will be the target of the learning for this class. These integrative exercises are based on the concept of restoration of the HPA-stress-axis mechanism and stress hormones regulation; and, the newest immunological and psychological research of effect of stress on immune system provided by medical researchers (N. Akhmatova, MD, Prof., E. Akhmatov, MD, PH.D absolvent/student, D. Masgutov, MA, S. Masgutova, Post Ph.D., 2014, at I.M. Mechnikov Scientific Research Institute of Russian Medical Sciences Academy and SMEI LLC). Effective tools for optimizing the stress-management and treatment of survivors of traumatic events can be used for a variety of symptoms connected with deficits in stress-hormone regulation.

This program offers examples of MNRI® exercises and techniques that offer playful movements and activities to make the neurosensorimotor integration sessions motivating for children and adults. This offers the possibility for true recovery and return back to normal life. One of the most important goals of the program is to demonstrate positive social development through activation of neurophysiology of imitation and creativity. This Program can be used as a stress/distress release program.

Prerequisites:

1. MNRI® Dynamic and Postural Reflex Integration and two other MNRI® courses
2. Completed Trainee Agreement