Chu Sensory Wellness

The Art and Science of Thriving
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-963367-55-3
Verlag: Future Horizons
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 160 Seiten

Join the sensory revolution.

This life-changing guide will help bridge the gap between understanding sensory wellness and putting it into practice. Drawing on the foundations of neuroscience, personal reflection, and practical strategies, Sensory Wellness invites readers to explore the profound impact of sensory input on their overall well-being.

The journey begins with an introduction to the concept of sensory wellness, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with our internal sensory experiences to support regulation and self-awareness. The author, an occupational therapist specializing in sensory processing, shares expert guidance with insightful anecdotes showing how sensory health can elevate us from merely surviving to flourishing.

Section Two delves into the intricacies of various sensory systems. Each chapter provides a detailed overview of the development, function, and impact of these systems on our daily lives. Through exercises and practical tips, it encourages readers to identify their sensory preferences and integrate sensory regulation strategies into their routines.

The book concludes by offering tools and techniques to enhance regulation, resilience, and overall health. By embracing sensory wellness, readers can foster deeper connections with themselves and others, improving relationships and as well as work performance.

In Sensory Wellness, you will discover how tuning into your body's signals and adjusting your sensory environment can lead to a more connected, joyful life. Whether you are a parent, educator, therapist, or simply someone interested in improving your sensory health, this book provides valuable insights and techniques to help you grow.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Chu, Robyn

Leseproben

This world is experiencing an unprecedented information overload with the explosion of podcasts, videos online, and websites about almost any topic you can imagine. I didn’t want to add to the noise by writing a book that contributed to this information overload. While this book is informational, I wrote with the intent of giving you an eye-opening, expanding-your-possibilities way of thinking about sensory health. I hope this book is not only informative but also experiential for you: a fork in the road of the journey of your life. Sensory wellness can breathe life into the darkest corners of your being, creating choices when you could only see one way and increasing your agency to make the changes you want to be your best self. I invite you into Sensory Wellness as the beginning of a mind-body integrative experience.

The reflection questions and sensory exploration exercises throughout this book will guide you along your journey, deepening your friendship with your brain and body. Through this interactive experience, I hope you and all people feel welcome, included, worthy, celebrated, seen, and heard. I invite you to use the elements of sensation, like paint and brushes for an artist, to create a masterpiece of sensory wellness in your life!

This book is the combined effort of my own personal journey as a woman, daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother, and my professional voyage as an occupational therapist. I personally have done this work and have been honored to walk beside many clients, families, and other helping professionals on their journeys. Stories throughout this book are real and sometimes have been adapted to support the anonymity of the people whose stories are being told. The people I have journeyed with both clinically and personally are diverse in neurodevelopmental process, age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, marital status, educational attainment, employment, religion, gender identity, and geographic location. While I am deeply committed to learning and sharing in a way that honors each person I have had the privilege of connecting with, I acknowledge the limitations of my experiences and racial and economic privilege in bringing you the information and exploration activities in this book. I look forward to learning more in the journey ahead and, as Maya Angelo invites: doing better when I know better.

The journey of writing this book has been a wonderful learning process, one I am committed to continuing. Implementing what I have learned has helped me and the people I love. I hope the sensory wellness movement contributes to a more just and loving world. Onward, ever present.

Author’s
Note

"Truth like infinity is to be forever approached
but never reached."

~ A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR ~

With
Gratitude

This book is both the culmination and the beginning, thanks to so many.

To God: I hope this book conveys the light and blessing You whispered into my heart. Thank You for Your love, Your guidance, and the never-ending piggyback ride that is the wild and exciting journey of life.

To my parents, Peanut and Tena Harms: As a parent now, I think back to my early childhood and the messages you received about my physical development and learning differences. I pause with even more awe for the way you responded and guided me every step of the way. When I bristled at your loving embrace, you found other ways to love me well. Thank you for believing in me and opening doors of opportunity. I’m so grateful for the love you showed me, the passionate living you modeled, and the ever-present message that all things are possible.

To my sisters, Christine, Lillian, and Cora: Oh, the sensational quests we created and played! The seeds for this book were planted throughout our childhood as we journeyed to far-off places and different centuries with our imagination while time stood still. You are the best friends and partners in play I could ever hope for! Thank you for always showing up with a shoulder to cry on and a really long hug.

To my extended family: In the most expansive use of the term, thank you for loving me into the person I am today. Through fun adventures and hard seasons, celebrations and mourning, we journey together, and I am better for it. I love you all.

To my beloved friend Jenae Cooper: In all seasons, you ground me, encourage me, and show me God’s love. We slowly strolled down the sleepless path of parenting young children, in awe of their wonder and joy. I love diving deep into the research on a variety of topics while simultaneously getting in a workout and running hard toward cheering on our families with full abandon. I’m blessed to do life by your side.

To my mentors, Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR; Elysa Marco, MD; Pratik Mukherjee, MD, PhD; Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA; and Sarah Schoen, PhD, OTR: Thank you for all the ways you helped lay the foundation for this book. Your research, encouragement, guidance, and questions have shaped me and this book. Carol, thank you for your editorial insights! I felt your hugs, nurturing advice, and wisdom as we laughed together, separated only in geographic distance. Working on various projects with each of you over the years has taught me so much, and our friendships are sunshine for my soul. The joy of increasing awareness about sensory integration and processing together has been and will continue to be my calling.

To my co-laboring sensational occupational therapists, Carrie Schmitt, Michele Parkins, Lisa Porter, Renee Allen, Colleen Whiting, Mim Ochsenbein, Gabrielle Perelmuter, and Carolyn Stallings: From graduate school, to creating clinics, to teaching on the STAR faculty, I love our journeys together. It is an honor to create ripples of love and hope with each of you! Carrie, our friendship and Introspection & Interoception adventures have guided so much of my healing, while shaping my heart with your always and forever love. Michele, we will carry the work forward with your light in our hearts and your laughter in our play.

To the Growing Healthy Seasons team (past, present, and future): Thank you all deeply and fully with all my being. Each of you and our work together have helped this book come to be. The amazing directors, Kristi Vecellio, Sandy Chiea, Tena Harms, and Jenni Stucki, show endless love and kindness in supporting our team and many circles of schools and organizations beyond. Our clinical excellence leaders and mentors, Sheryl Trainor, Kara Chapman, Denise Larkin Covello, Angie VanVleet, Amanda Hadley Harriss, Priya Talreja, Casey DeLang, and Emily Finn, encourage learning and growth in their dedication to providing evidence-based, sensory-informed, and play-based therapy for all. And all our inspirational therapists, administrative support team, and developmental specialists are the hands of love, welcoming, encouraging, and passionately serving. Oh, the joy to be in your midst and get to call it work!

To my clients and everyone who gave their stories for this book: This journey would not be the same without each and every one of you. Thank you for teaching me and helping me grow. I am humbled to walk with you.

Section 1

Sensory
Wellness
Overview

Introduction

"Sensation is nourishment for the brain."

~ A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR ~

I got an email one day, thought it was a mass marketing message, and moved to the next one, quickly trying to get through the barrage of morning emails that was my daily norm. But something about it stuck. Its words, “My leadership team has all the training on time management and so many leadership techniques. They know their areas of expertise so well...and yet...” circled around my head for the next couple of days, and, “My team wants support with the skills underneath these trainings...” danced through my soul.

Something about this particular “ask” stuck, so I replied to the email: “I appreciate your email, but I think you sent it by mistake. If you could take me off the mass email list, that would be great. I’m already a customer, and I appreciate what you guys do so much!”

But it wasn’t a mass email, and I am so grateful the sender responded with grace and love. You see, this “mass email”—sending business owner knew about the work I do with people whose sensory differences cause them to struggle to do what they want and to live a meaningful life. She thought: “As Robyn is helping her clients individually, why not find out if her clinic could help my team get from...