AROMATHERAPY

The use of essential oils (which are extracted from herbs, flowers, resin, woods, and roots) in body and skin care treatments is known as aromatherapy. Used as a healing technique for thousands of years by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, essential oils aid in relaxation, improve circulation, and help the healing of wounds. Aromatherapy diffusers are utilized to fill the massage room with the scent of the oils. Specific essential oils are blended by the aromatherapist and added to a carrier oil, such as almond oil, to be used during the massage. Each of the oils has its own unique characteristics and benefits. Use of this technique declined as the modern pharmaceutical industry developed. However, the French chemist Gattefossé revived the art by coining the term aromatherapy and by publishing a book on the subject in 1928.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle yet profound method of treatment for correcting imbalance in the craniosacral system.

The craniosacral system consists of the brain, the spinal cord and its covering membrane, the cerebrospinal fluid, and the bones that surround and protect these. Correcting imbalance and restriction here improves the operation of our nervous system, reducing stress, and enhancing the function and health of the whole body. Quite often a great sense of calmness, clarity and well-being is experienced after a CranioSacral session.

The CranioSacral System consists of the brain and spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, connective tissue and the bones of the skull, spine and tailbone. CranioSacralTherapy is designed to correct dysfunction that occurs when tensionor injury impedes free motion in the CranioSacral system. Held tension cancompress tiny openings through which cranial nerves pass on their way toenervate the body. This compression inturn can lead to a cascade of symptoms including headache, dizziness, pain,moodiness, depression, concentration problems, and specific and non-specificneurological problems. In a CSTtreatment, the head and sacrum are palpated and the cranial bones are gentlyadjusted to release underlying connective tissue tensions.

The practitioner works with light holds on the head and other parts of the body. This work is done without oil while the client is dressed in comfortable clothing. Benefits of treatment can include: reduction or elimination of headaches and migraines, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (jaw joint pain and clenching), back, neck and facial pain, grinding of teeth, visual and auditory disturbances, sinus problems, endocrine system (hormonal) disturbances, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, and other nerve disorders.

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, noninvasive method of evaluating and enhancing the function of a physiological body arrangement called the craniosacral system. This manual therapy enhances the body’s natural healing processes and has proven effective in treating a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction. The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face, and mouth — which make up the cranium — down to the sacrum or tailbone. Since this system influences the development and function of the brain and spinal cord, any imbalance or dysfunction in the craniosacral system could cause sensory, motor, or neurological disabilities. These problems may include chronic pain, eye difficulties, scoliosis, motor-coordination impairments, learning disabilities, and other dysfunctions of the central nervous system. Craniosacral therapy encourages the body’s natural healing mechanisms to improve the functioning of the central nervous system, dissipate the negative effects of stress, and enhance health and resistance to disease. The craniosacral therapy practitioner uses a light touch to assist the natural movement of fluid within the craniosacral system. Therapists generally use only 5 grams of pressure, roughly the weight of a nickel, to test for restrictions in various parts of the craniosacral system. It’s often possible for the evaluation alone to remove the restriction and allow the system to correct itself.

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

The strokes applied in manual lymph drainage are intended to stimulate the movement of the lymphatic fluids in order to assist the body in cleansing. This is a gentle, rhythmical technique that cleanses the connective tissue of inflammatory materials and toxins, enhances the activity of the immune system, reduces pain, and lowers the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Meditation: The Healing Process of Self Realization

In every energy system there must be a fulcrum, a center of movement, or there is chaos. The Self is the natural center of our Being. It exists within each of us, as the source of our life and our consciousness. The Self is intelligence: a sentient, cognizant, self-organizing force. The body, mind, and senses emanate from this innermost Intelligence.

We suffer from a chaos of identification with every object of the mind and senses, from a lack of connection to our Source. It is profoundly important to cultivate a relationship with the Self on a daily basis to clear the chaos of the mind. Relating to the fulcrum of Being offers us the opportunity to find a stable center for healing our lives.

The Self is pure Being. It exists in a higher realm than the mind and five senses. It exists outside of time and space. Thus it cannot be grasped directly by the mind and senses. Yet it is always present as the ground state of our consciousness. The Self is the actual cognizer and intelligence which is present from moment to moment as our awareness. But our minds are too disturbed by chaos and obsession for us to experience this truth. Soul communion purifies the mind. The potency of the Unitive Field harmonizes the lower vibrational fields of the body and mind. We can commune with the Self through the creative power of our intention. Through a passionate desire to know the Self, we can build a vehicle within our lives that is receptive to our innermost essence. Daily practices such as contemplation and worship exalt our consciousness and foster the integration of the Self into our lives. The clarity and inner peace that one experiences through meditation and yoga offer this higher knowledge as does devotion and the rapture of worship. Gratefulness, service to life, and love of the Mystery all facilitate Soul communion. A personal experience of Divine Love can become the center of our lives and the basis of a genuine sense of Self-love and Self-esteem.

MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION

Relaxation techniques, meditation, and easy stretching exercises are combined to allow the client to become “mindful” in order to access inner sources of power. By being fully mindful and awake in life, clients may cope more effectively with stress and illness.

MOVEMENT THERAPY

A variety of techniques that utilize movement re-education and proper body mechanics in combination with massage or soft tissue manipulation. After observing the client, the therapist will determine which corrective measures are necessary to accomplish specific goals. Active client participation is important while the practitioner uses verbal instruction, hypnosis and imagery, deep muscle and connective tissue manipulation, and mobilization in the movement re-education process.

MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUE

Muscle energy is a direct, noninvasive manual therapy used to normalize joint dysfunction and increase range of motion. The practitioner evaluates the primary areas of dysfunction in order to place the affected joints in precise positions that enable the client to perform gentle isometric contractions. These directed movements help correct neuromuscular and joint difficulties.

MUSCLE RELEASE TECHNIQUE

This technique combines compression, extension, movement, and breath to give therapists a tool to provide relief from pain, treating such conditions as carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic low back pain, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, tennis elbow, knee pain, shin splints, frozen shoulder, hammer toes, piriformis syndrome, tendinitis, trigger finger, and much more.

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE

Myofascial release is the three-dimensional application of sustained pressure and movement into the fascial system in order to eliminate fascial restrictions and facilitate the emergence of emotional patterns and belief systems that are no longer relevant or are impeding progress. First, an assessment is made by visually analyzing the human frame, followed by the palpation of the tissue texture of various fascial layers. Upon locating an area of fascial tension, gentle pressure is applied in the direction of the restriction. Myofascial release is an effective therapeutic approach in the relief of cervical pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, restriction of motion, chronic pain, and headaches.

LIGHT TOUCH HEALING

Light Touch Healing focuses on clearing charka and chi blockages and rebalancing the human energy field by using spiritual and energetic hands-on healing practices and techniques – including Reiki, Cranial-Sacral, Zen Shiatsu and Polarity Therapy. The application of these healing arts forms facilitates and increases our ambient energetic vibrations and awareness, strengthening the immune system and opening the client to her indwelling god or higher self. As the higher self awareness becomes activated, an evolutionary healing journey begins, moving the client through clarity of understanding, health, spiritual autonomy, and ultimately, culminating in the fulfillment of her purpose of being: to heal herself and her fellow human beings and to find her place within the world.

QIGONG

This traditional Chinese treatment combines hands-on and hands-off techniques that balance the flow of qi (energy) through the body, move and relieve qi blockages, and improve circulation. Qigong is also a combination of timed breathing and gentle flowing movement, meditation, visualization, and conscious intent all working together to achieve an integrated adjustment of mind and body in order to better cultivate, circulate, and balance qi, or life force. Qigong theory is the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is used to treat many serious illnesses, as well as for relaxation.

RAINDROP TECHNIQUE

Originated by D. Gary Young, raindrop technique is a noninvasive tool for helping to correct defects in the curvature of the spine caused by viruses and bacteria that lie dormant there. Antimicrobial essential oils are used to reduce inflammation by killing the viral agents, thus bringing the body into structural and electrical alignment. The oils (primarily thyme, oregano, birch, cypress, peppermint, and basil) are dispensed like little drops of rain from a height of about six inches above the back and massaged along the vertebrae. The oils used in this 45-minute treatment continue to work for the next five to seven days.

REFLEXOLOGY

Based on an ancient Chinese therapy, reflexology involves manipulation of specific reflex areas in the foot, hands, and ears that correspond to other parts of the body. Sometimes referred to as zone therapy, this bodywork involves application of pressure to these reflex zones to stimulate body organs and relieve areas of congestion. Similar to acupressure principles, reflexology works with the body’s energy flow to stimulate self-healing and maintain balance in physical function. Developed in the United States in the early 1900s, this technique is used today to reduce pain, increase relaxation, and stimulate circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids. It is especially useful in stress-related illness and emotional disorders. Reflexology is also convenient in cases where an area of the body is traumatized or diseased to the extent that direct manipulation is not appropriate.

REIKI

Reiki (pronounced “ray-key”) is the Japanese word for Universal Life Energy, a force present in all living beings. Reiki, the ancient healing art, is thought to have originated in Tibet where Tibetan Buddhist monks meditated on the Reiki symbols to expand consciousness and purify the body and mind to help promote healing. It was rediscovered in the late 1800s by Dr. Usui, a Japanese Buddhist monk, who then developed a method to attune and balance an individual's UniversalLife Energy and increase healing potential.

A Reiki Master, attunes you more directly to your higher mind so that your touch becomes more potent and you have more balance throughout your physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies. this energy healing method involves placing the hands on or just above the body in order to align chakras and bring healing energy to organs and glands. The practitioner, trained to access and serve as a channel for the life energy, uses a passive touch that some clients experience as a warmth or tingling. The hands remain in position for 3 to 5 minutes, alternately covering 10 to 12 positions over the body. Treatments work by dissolving or eliminating toxic energy and substances from many levels of one’s being, whether it is physical, emotional, or mental. This works to strengthen the harmonic flow of energy within the body.

In a Reiki I initiation (attunement) you are initiated and taught the hand positions, which correspond to the seven major chakras. You may then give treatments to yourself and others. In subsequent levels, you learn the Reiki symbols and how to do long distance healing. Reiki II concentrates on opening the heart to love and warmth; Reiki III opens you to manifest spiritual vision, and it provides the energy of power and action. These experiences may provide insights into originsof diseases or disorders from which you are suffering, allow your higher self to help you in making decisions on appropriate therapy and permit wonderful healing to occur.

SHIATSU

Developed in Japan, shiatsu is a finger-pressure technique utilizing the traditional acupuncture points of Oriental healing. Similar to acupressure, shiatsu concentrates on unblocking the flow of life energy and restoring balance in the meridians and organs in order to promote self-healing. With the client reclining, the practitioner applies pressure with the finger, thumb, palm, elbow, or knee to specific zones on the skin located along the energy meridians. The treatment brings about a sense of relaxation while stimulating blood and lymphatic flow. The benefits of this treatment may include pain relief and a strengthening of the body’s resistance to disease and disorder.

SOMATIC EXPERIENCING

A naturalistic approach to the healing of trauma, based on the understanding that animals in the wild, though constantly threatened by predators, are rarely traumatized. This approach uses education about and awareness of body sensation as a primary tool. Appropriate, gentle manipulation of the muscles, joints, and viscera is employed. Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, somatic experiencing offers a safe, gradual way to help trauma survivors develop their own natural ability to eliminate the excess energy caused by overwhelming events.

SOMATIC-EMOTIONAL CLEARING

Somatic Emotional Clearing is a therapeutic process that helps rid the mind and body of residual effects of past trauma and associated negative responses. Dr. John Upledger and Bruce Burger have shown that the body often retains physical forces as the result of accident, injury, or emotional trauma. Following trauma, the body isolates the “energy cyst” and can create energy blocks or “emotional baggage.” Somatic-emotional clearing allows clients to physically identify and expel the energy cysts through gently re-experiencing and, with creative visualizations and deep intentions, resolving unpleasant incidents and any somatic residue from the incidents.

SWEDISH MASSAGE

One of the most commonly taught and well-known massage techniques, Swedish massage is a vigorous system of treatment designed to energize the body by stimulating circulation. Five basic strokes, all flowing toward the heart, are used to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. The disrobed client is covered by a sheet, with only the area being worked on exposed. Therapists use a combination of kneading, rolling, vibrational, percussive, and tapping movements, with the application of oil, to reduce friction on the skin. The many benefits of Swedish massage may include generalized relaxation, dissolution of scar tissue adhesions, and improved circulation, which may speed healing and reduce swelling from injury.

THAI MASSAGE

Also called nuad bo rarn, Thai massage has been taught and practiced in Thailand for approximately 2,500 years. Although the origins are somewhat vague, credit for Thai massage is given to a famous Indian doctor, Shivago Komarpaj, who was the personal physician of the Buddha and Magadha king. Historically, manipulation was one of four major branches composing traditional Thai ceremonies or magical practices. This is based on the theory the body is made up of 72,000 sen, or energy lines, of which 10 hold top priority. Thai massage also involves peripheral stimulating, meaning it acts as an external stimulant to produce specific internal effects. This point serves as the main division between Thai and Western massage. Thai massage is practiced on a firm mat on the floor instead of on a table, instrumental in the effective use of the practitioner’s body weight. Except for the feet, the client remains fully clothed, so draping is not necessary.

THERAPEUTIC TOUCH

Developed through the collaboration of a nursing professor and a spiritual healer, Therapeutic Touch is based on ancient energy healing methods. Practitioners, primarily nurses, are trained to feel or sense energy imbalances in the client and to use “laying on” of hands to disperse blocks and channel healing forces to the client’s body. The therapist uses a light touch or holds the hand above the body, with the client generally seated. Meditation is used by the therapist to center herself and strengthen her connection to the client’s energy system. Therapeutic Touch has been applied in an assortment of medical situations, including the care of premature infants and emergency room patients. It is known to induce a state of relaxation within minutes. Therapeutic Touch is considered safe because of its gentle, noninvasive approach. Developers of this technique affirm that everyone has the potential to heal with Therapeutic Touch and may be taught the methodology in one day.

VISCERAL (ABDOMINAL) MASSAGE

Visceral massage enhances the normal mobility, tissue motion and overall health of the organs of the visceral system. Hypertonicity, displacement, and adhesions can all cause organs to work against each other, creating chronic irritation and fixed, abnormal points of tension, and thus weak digestion and poor nutrient uptake. The visceral organs are dependent on their ability to move freely in the visceral cavity to then work correctly and efficiently. When they are pulled out of their effective positions, they cease to function properly, and have been shown to be the source of many diseases and problems for the entire body. By freeing each organ to work compatibly with the others, a therapist can potentially alter and improve the structure and overall functioning of the entire body, mind and energy systems, creating a much higher quality of life.

YOGA

The word yoga describes a variety of Hindu practices developed in ancient India to unify body and mind with universal spirit, thereby encouraging physical and mental well-being. Yoga most commonly involves a series of stretching postures (called asanas), breathing exercises, and meditative practices. Diet is also considered important to this discipline. Yoga increases flexibility, improves muscle tone, and is helpful in the reduction of stress.