Be Stress Free

Exploring Alternative Therapies for Stress Management

 

 

Energy Therapies

Ø      Healing Touch    Ø     Reiki    Ø      Polarity Therapy     Ø      Therapeutic Touch

Ø      Craniosacral Therapy     Ø      Pranic Healing    Ø      Reflexology

Energy Healing

Your body's energy system records and stores everything that has occurred since your physical being was born. Its energy blueprint provides a complete information source about what has and is occurring. Your energy divulges whether physical health issues were derived from an emotional connection or are an acquired physical manifestation from cellular deficiency or breakdown.

Energy Healing is a form of healing that manipulates, restores or balances the flow of energy in the body. The energy is channeled through the practitioner to the client, helping remove energy deficiencies and blockages, which then activates the body's own natural ability to heal itself. Treatments may include a combination of healing modalities including Reiki, Polarity therapy, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, Craniosacral, Pranic Healing and Reflexology.

All the above mentioned therapies work with the human energy field. The field has these qualities: surrounds and permeates the physical body, can be experienced with our physical senses; some aspects can be measured with scientific instruments; changes in the field precipitate changes in mind, body, emotions, and spirituality; we can consciously influence field with attention, thoughts, feelings, and action. (Gilkeson, 19) Field is in “constant flux and change… a semi-permeable membrane, where our external or environmental influences meet with our internal life… Etheric conducts energy and consciousness.” (Gilkeson, 98)

The energy becomes blocked can come from multiple events: sudden impact and pain; loud sounds; threat of danger… triggering the ‘fight or flight’ arousal of the sympathetic nervous system.  "Traumatized body parts or emotions become desensitized or numb…” whether this lasts “for an hour or an instant, we still sustain a wound and the energetic component of that wound is held in the etheric.” (Gilkeson, 101) 

The practitioner creates a means of shifting out of the..."traumatized state", clearing a space for consciousness and healing energy to enter areas that were injured, either physically or emotionally.  The instant the minimum requirements are in place - balance, safety, relaxation, openness - bringing awareness and attention to the body, it's natural tendency to move towards release will initiate the transformational and healing process. 

Source: Energy Healing: A Pathway to Inner Growth by Jim Gilkeson. New York: Marlowe & Company, 2000. Manual.

Being introduced into the medical health field and taught to nurses, research studies suggest that there are a variety of benefits from Healing Touch, backing up the energy theories. Preliminary studies have shown results that include reduction in pain, anxiety and stress; providing support during chemotherapy and surgery; improved mood; and reduced effects from trauma and chronic pain. One study indicated that Healing Touch can impact the dying process. Other benefits of Healing Touch found in a research study included providing additional support when withdrawing from substance abuse, enhancement of the immune system and a deeper sense of spiritual connection.

  • Healing Touch - Healing Touch is an energy therapy in which practitioners consciously use their hands in a heart-centered and intentional way to support and facilitate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Healing Touch is a complementary (or integrative) energy therapy that can be used in conjunction with traditional therapies. Healing Touch utilizes light or near-body touch to clear, balance and energize the human energy system in an effort to promote healing for the mind, body and/or spirit.  The goal of Healing Touch is to restore harmony and balance in the human energy system by creating an optimal environment for the body's innate tendency for healing to occur.  Find Practitioners/Support Groups 
  • Reiki - is a gentle hands-on healing method where the practitioner serves as an open channel for transmitting universal life force energy (also known as ki, qi, prana, or chi) to the client. The energy is channeled through the practitioner's hands, which then activates the body's own natural ability to heal itself. Reiki goes to wherever it is needed most, releasing blocked energies, cleansing the body of toxins, working to create a state of balance and harmony, and promoting relaxation and healing. Reiki is done over clothing in a lying or sitting position with no manipulation of tissue. Reiki enhances any other therapy or treatment the client is going through and is capable of healing the client’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies.  Find Practitioners 
  • Polarity Therapy -  is a holistic, energy-based system that includes bodywork, diet, exercise, and lifestyle counseling for the purpose of restoring and maintaining proper energy flows throughout the body. The underlying concept of polarity therapy is that all energy within the human body is based in electromagnetic force and that disease results from improperly dissipated energy.  Find Practitioners
  • Therapeutic Touch -  Therapeutic Touch is a contemporary interpretation of several ancient healing practices. It is an intentionally directed process during which practitioners move their hands over the patient's body, specifically the affected area, without actually touching the patient. TT adherents claim that this directs the flow of chi to facilitate healing.  While moving their hands lightly over the client's body to detect energetic blockages, they then re-align the energy flow by unruffling or smoothing out the detected blockages. The practice is based on the belief that living beings have an energy field or aura which extends beyond the surface of the body that can be manipulated by the therapist. Find Practitioners
  • Craniosacral Therapyfocuses on reducing tension and stress in the meningeal membrane and its fascial connections to enhance the functioning of the craniosacral system, a fluid circulatory system that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. Treatments can be very relaxing and may include subtle manipulation of the bones of the face, head, vertebral column, and the membranes beneath the skull. It is most commonly used to treat headaches, TMJ-related jaw pain, ear infections, strokes, sinus conditions, vision problems and digestive problems. It is also very effective in helping with autism, dyslexia, learning disabilities and developmental challenges. Find Practitioners
  • Pranic Healing - uses the practitioner's hands to detect energetic blockages and deficiencies in a person’s aura. No physical contact is required because the practitioner works solely on the client's energy body, not the physical body. The practitioner first cleanses and opens up congested areas using specific sweeping hand motions, then replenishes the energy deficient areas with fresh energy. Colored “pranas” or energy forces are also used to accelerate the healing process.  Find Practitioners 
  • Reflexology (or zone therapy) - is the practice of stimulating points on the feet, hands, or ears (termed reflex zones), in the hopes that it will have a beneficial effect on some other parts of the body, or will improve general health. The most common form is foot reflexology. The foot reflexologist appliesgentle pressure to specific points on the feet. Based on the same theories as acupressure, reflexology encourages the flow of energy "Qi" to the organs related to those points to promote self-healing. Reflexology is beneficial for pain management, relief from allergic reactions, digestive disorders and headaches.  Find Practitioners

Be true to yourself.  If you're feeling uncomfortable or threatened in any way, you should leave immediately and look elsewhere.  Watch out for any therapies that don't respect your value system or where you feel that your autonomy isn't respected.  Even though you're going to an expert or practitioner for their guidance, you should always feel safe and that the process involves a free exchange of ideas.

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