Women's Voices From Around The World - Voice 6

This particular voice is very close to me and belongs to my cousin Reyna Dayal. Reyna is a gifted physiotherapist, also known as a physical therapist in the US. As I sit writing this introduction to Reyna, I realize how healing and creativity run through our genes, and I cannot help but think of it from a viewpoint of family constellations!

Our Grandmother

Our grandmother was a very intuitive Scorpio who could sense and predict all kinds of things; her healing gift was expressed through food. Her cooking was both delicious and soul-soothing. We could feel love through her food (our mothers have that same gift). She made everything taste good and remembered everyone's favorites!

Our grandmother was also a skilled judge of character, and being the matriarch that she was, she had no problem letting us know what she thought.

As I write this, Reyna and I come from a lineage of strong women who have been healers for many generations. These traits became especially clear to me during a Family Constellation I participated in many years ago, where the representatives in my constellation, all women from my mother's side, were healers.

Reyna uses her intuition when she works, and I have been the recipient of her healing hands on many occasions. There is an intuitive knowing that comes from her even before she touches the body. There is a gentle firmness that she works with. Here's more from Reyna about her journey in her own voice.

“I have been drawn to working with other people and helping them in some way from a young age. I came across physiotherapy when I was in high school, and after observing a therapist in practice at a school for children with disabilities and researching it a little more, I found that it could be a good fit for me. It felt natural and fulfilling to be able to help people with their pain or to help them recover after an injury or from surgery.

My cousin Reyna

My first few jobs involved working in hospitals. I loved being part of the acute team that took a patient from the bed to walking out the door. I then did two years in the UK working mostly as a community physiotherapist. It was a good experience, but it was not the area I wanted to focus on.

When I returned to South Africa, I worked again in a hospital setting as well as seeing outpatients. I eventually opened my own outpatient practice in 2012, where I treat mostly orthopaedic-related conditions.

It was in that first year after returning to SA that I did a little course with my wonderful cousin Hemla, who introduced me to art. I’ve always been creative and loved to draw. This exposure helped ignite my passion. The next painting I did was for a paint night event. I eventually did a few more and started some art classes with a Polish teacher in my area. Then Covid happened, and I went onto the online platforms. I’ve tried a few different things in the last few years, including dot art, mixed media, and even polymer clay. I love learning new things. Art has become my refuge. It’s hard to stress or become overwhelmed by life when you’re focused on creating something or following a tutorial, online or in person. My creative outlet helps me cope with life’s daily stresses. I am blessed to have an understanding husband and a beautiful young boy who allow me the time and space to nurture my creativity and are my greatest advocates. My extended family is also wonderfully supportive. A couple of years ago, I lost my dear mum to cancer, and despite the pain and hardship of losing her, I found solace in my spirituality and relationships with family, friends, and my understanding patients.

I have tried to incorporate the lessons I learn from my art when I work with my patients. I encourage them to find something that gives them respite in the stressful world we all find ourselves in. I love being able to help people. I enjoy connecting with people, talking to them, learning from them, teaching them, helping them, and making a positive difference in their lives.

Being in a position where I am looked up to as a medical professional, I also find that it is my responsibility to be able to advise people, taking into consideration what is termed the “biopsychosocial” model. The Biopsychosocial is a comprehensive approach to understanding health and illness that considers the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. It acknowledges that health and illness are not solely a product of biological processes but are a complex interaction influenced by a person's mental state, behaviors, and social environment.

People are not just their symptoms,

I find that it is important to approach problems and chronic conditions holistically. I try to keep an open mind and give them truthful advice from a medical perspective. I find that by using a multidisciplinary approach, I can best serve my patients' needs. Not everyone responds to allopathic medicine, and in some cases, I need to be able to advise them to seek help from alternative sources, too. Complementary treatment, exercise, nutrition, and strategies to improve mental health can contribute to the patient's well-being.

When I lay my hands on someone, it opens up a channel to communicate, and I’ve seen now more than ever before that people want to connect.

If I can inspire them as well as help them heal physically, then it is my duty and privilege to continue to do so. By incorporating my medical knowledge with my creative side and spirituality, I hope that patients walk away with more than their physical conditions feeling better."

My website address is www.handsonphysio.co.za.