The Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine :: Cambridge, Massachusetts

What is i-LEAP?

i-LEAP stands for the Integrated-Learning Enhancement Acupressure Program developed by Charles T. Krebs, PhD. After sustaining a near fatal Scuba diving accident that left him paralysed from the waist down, Dr. Krebs taught himself to walk again, by drawing on techniques he had mastered as a martial artist. With his mind he discovered he could move Ch'i through his motor nerve pathways and activated muscle after muscle. This inspired him to investigate a number of alternative and complementary therapies to walk even better. In his search, years later when no further neurological change was believed possible, he found a Kinesiology practitioner who significantly improved his walking after only a 90 minute session. Following this experience he engaged in a 10-year study of the Eastern Scientific literature and undertook an in-depth study of Applied Physiology, an advanced form of kinesiology. Applied Physiology, solidly based upon anatomy, physiology and acupressure theory formed the basis of i-LEAP., (See Chapter 1 of A Revolutionary Way of Thinking.)

For over twenty years Dr. Krebs has worked with Clinical Psychologists, Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Neurologists and other health professionals, to develop i-LEAP. The i-LEAP Protocol is a highly rigorous multi-step program to assess stress affecting brain function underlying the ability to spell, read, write and do mathematics. The end result of the i-LEAP Brain Integration program is a fully integrated brain capable of learning in all areas of life maximizing that person’s potential.

How does i-LEAP work?

The central technique used in the i-LEAP brain integration is acupressure formatting, a unique combination of specific acupoints and Yogic mudras or thumb-finger connections. Together the acupoints and mudras (called Finger Modes in kinesiology) create a unique frequency signature that then ‘matches’ the frequency of specific brain areas or structures. In this way, stress in a specific brain area or structure can be directly accessed at both the conscious and subconscious levels using acupressure formatting and muscle monitoring. (See Acupressure Affects on the Brain.)

We begin with a comprehensive assessment of the current state of brain integration, environmental factors affecting brain integration, and the types of learning disabilities the child/adult presents with, e.g. reading, spelling or mathematics problems. Because the i-LEAP treatment program is guided by direct muscle biofeedback (see What is Kinesiology?), each treatment program is unique, and will vary depending upon the number and severity of factors involved in the acupressure correction program. Initial core brain integration can take anywhere from 3-5 sessions.

After core brain integration has been established, any environmental factors previously assessed that compromise brain integration such as hydration, sensitivity to electromagnetic fields, allergies, vaccinations, nutrition, Candida, etc. must be addressed.

The final sessions of the i-LEAP are devoted to challenging each area of academic difficulty to be sure that the child or adult can hold their brain integration even under stress. For instance, for reading comprehension, the child/adult would be asked to read a page, and then asked a series of questions about what they had just read to assess their level of reading comprehension. If this challenge causes the loss of some aspect of brain integration, they would be re-integrated again in this new context until they could hold brain integration to age-appropriate challenges and thus now perform each academic task successfully. This process can take a further 2-10 sessions.

Who benefits from i-LEAP?

The i-LEAP treatment is an effective therapy for both children and adults with learning challenges such as ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, vision and auditory processing problems, sensory integration problems and other types of learning disabilities. The i-LEAP program is successful with functionally based learning disabilities in a high percentage of cases, and may even benefit children and adults with overt neurologically based (organic) problems resulting from stroke or cerebral palsy. For a more in-depth discussion of the i-LEAP Program, its neurological basis, the LEAP model of learning, and current i-LEAP research, please click below:

The i-LEAP program is now taught and practised in eight countries around the world. Currently, the i-LEAP program is taught as a 2-year Professional Integrated Training in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Australia. For the details of the i-LEAP Professional Integrated Training please see the Professional Trainings category on the home page.