re:fit : Provides Holistic Physical Therapy for Total Healing

When Loribeth Cohen opened re:fit in 1999, in Glenview, she was looking to use more than traditional medicine to help people with an illness or injury. Cohen had already been treating orthopedic conditions and chronic pain for 10 years and saw the need for a more holistic approach for clients to heal their mind, body and spirit. “Two people who have the same diagnosis can heal differently. Our emotions and thought processes can affect our healing path,” says Cohen. Today, re:fit is a thriving space that offers comprehensive and innovative treatments customized for each client.

       The team of experts at re:fit sees clients with acute and chronic physical conditions, stress and anxiety, injuries and those that want to achieve or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Many come after exhausting traditional physical therapy or Western medication. Re:fit specializes in Integrated Manual Therapy (IMT), which enhances traditional physical therapy by integrating the system to foster complete healing on a cellular level. “If you are experiencing pain in your neck, the source of that pain is not necessarily in the neck; it may stem from a physical, psychosocial, emotional, or even spiritual origin. We ‘map’ the body using a light touch to determine the primary dysfunction, then apply treatment, including hands-on energy work like CranioSacral Therapy, nutritional compatibility recommendations and psychotherapeutic techniques to improve your healing potential,” says Cohen.

       While clients may arrive for a specific treatment, the practitioners will consult to see if another form may be more beneficial. In addition to IMT, re:fit offers Pilates, Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis classes, therapeutic massage, Feldenkrais and cupping. Other therapies include Pressotherapy, which improves restless leg and varicose vein symptoms, and MELT, a self-help method to improve pain-free motion. “We customize each session, each day. So, even in your Pilates class on different days, seasons and time of the day, we will treat you with a different routine for a healthy balance. One day you may need stimulating, another day calming, but no matter what, each time you leave our studio, you will feel better,” says Cohen.

       Most of the treatments at re:fit are rooted in ayruvedic medicine, which originated in India centuries ago. “Ayurveda is to your body what planting is to your garden. Just as you need to put the proper seeds, soil and amount of water levels into your plants, you also need to put the proper foods, food temperatures, oils and exercises into your body. Ayruvedic medicine encourages metabolically beneficial habits and mindful life decisions,” says Cohen.

       At re:fit, ayurveda treatments can stand alone or can be used in conjunction with a consultation and a series for deeper balancing and maintenance of health. Specific treatments include an herbal body massage called udavartana to invigorate, bolus massage to increase stimulation and remove toxins and a heated oil treatment for localized pain called basti. Cohen, who has been studying ayurveda for years, credits it for allowing her to live more authentically. “When I began living ayurvedically, I found the deep connection to my being. I wasn’t just going through a checklist of what to do every day, I was listening to my body and giving it what it was asking for,” she says.

       The practitioners at re:fit stress preventive practices and mindfulness as the best predictors of good health. “Food is your medicine. Before recommending an herb or supplement, I’ll see if a client can get more nutrients through healthy, grounding food like root vegetables and whole grains. Our bodies enjoy healthy routines, and that should include drinking plenty of room temperature water, eating at regular times during the day, unplugging from electronics at least an hour before bed and breathing mindfully during waking hours,” says Cohen.

       Re:fit stresses harmony through health. “Many of our clients strive to eliminate unproductive thoughts, emotions and energy. When we map someone’s body, we determine the root of dysfunction, which leads to the proper therapy for healing. For example, if you were taught as a child that you aren’t worthy of love, you may have difficulty healing through traditional methods. We provide the functional rehabilitation required to create and maintain healthy energy flow and utilize the body’s improved potential for healing and  personal balance,” says Cohen.

 

Re:fit is located at 910 Waukegan Rd., in Glenview. For more information, call 847-657-0881 or visit RefitInc.com.
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Carrie Jackson is an Evanston-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.