Mind, Body and Soul Therapies
As a Holistic Practitioner, it is great to see that an increasing number of spas are looking at more than physical treatments; they are looking at the total person and mind, body and soul therapies. Yes, many spas indicate that they treat the total person, but it is very superficial. Others have individuals who do not have the proper credentials to perform the treatments. With this issue, we will take a look at some of the holistic therapies that are making their way onto spa menus. In future editions, we will take a look at the credentials that you should look at.
Holistic Healings (Alternative Health) means addressing the whole person on all levels – looking at lifestyle, family, work and diet to find the cause of the problem in order to bring about a complete recovery where possible and to prevent a further recurrence.
Our bodies reflect what is going on in our lives. Every ache, every pain and even accident is a symptom indicating an area of our lives where we need to pay attention and even possibly make changes. As we think, so we become, therefore, as we have become so we can see how we have been thinking. By listening to what the body is trying to tell us we can heal the cause and subsequently, the effect of the problem.
Our bodies are like the black box on an airplane, they record every emotional experience. When the body/mind is out of balance, it is reflected in the immune system and we become susceptible to illness. However, the moment we begin to understand this process and work with it, the healing begins. A dossier of alternative therapies is available around the world, more than 300 alternative therapies have been identified, and many are available at spas throughout the USA. Some of the more common alternative health therapies include: acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, reiki, pranic healing, ayurvedic treatments and guided imagery.
Today, worldwide, alternative health science therapies are gaining ground. Together with the modern system of medicine, alternative health sciences and therapies offer cheaper and easily adaptable solutions to various ailments for positive health.
Acupressure
Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine that concerns itself with the anatomy and physiology of the human body.
It maintains the regular flow of bio-energy (or chi, as the Chinese refer to it) in our body. According to this science, the human body is divided into 14 meridians which are situated in the back and in the front. Each of the meridians, identified as either the Yin (the female) or the Yang (the male), have specific points that link it to different glands and organs. Like the urinary tract, gall bladder, stomach, liver and the kidney, fall under the Yin meridian.
Though the aim of the therapy is to increase our body’s resistance to disease, many aches and pains can also be eliminated. Generally, a patient can undergo a 20-minute therapy at a time.
Acupressure is easy to learn and can be used every day, especially when one suffers from a headache or a common cold. The eastern system entails using one’s fingers, the thumb, elbow, palm and blunt metal or wooden instruments for self-help.
Advantages of Using Acupressure include relieving pain, balancing the body, and maintaining good health. Acupressure’s healing touch reduces tension, increases circulation, and enables the body to relax deeply. By relieving stress, acupressure therapy strengthens resistance to disease and promotes wellness.
Acupressure may be used as a part of many spa treatments.
Varying rhythms, pressures, and techniques create different styles of acupressure. Shiatsu, for instance, the most well-known style of acupressure, can be quite vigorous, with firm pressure applied to each point for three to five seconds, while the Jin Shin style of acupressure gently holds at least two points at once for a minute or more. Acupressure is also used in Tuina (Tui Na) Chinese, Trigger point, therapeutic touch, and maybe incorporated into Swedish and Therapeutic massage.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a branch of Chinese Medicine, which has more than 3,000 years of history. The method of acupuncture is to encourage one’s body to promote natural healing and to improve its functioning. Acupuncture starts the therapeutic ball rolling by stimulating the appropriate organs and systems to create more chi and blood in the body as well as addressing specific problems.
Classical Chinese theory behind acupuncture: In the body, there are channels of energy that run all over its surface. These channels are called meridians. They are like rivers flowing through the body irrigating and nourishing the tissues, allowing a smooth flow of chi and blood, which runs through the body to various parts, structures, and organs.
An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam. The obstruction backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts it in others. Any obstruction and blockages or deficiencies of energy, blood, and chi eventually lead to a disease.
Needling the acupuncture points can influence the meridians. It unblocks the obstructions at the dams re-establishing the regular flow of energy through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments can help the body’s internal organs to correct the imbalance of digestion, absorption, and energy-producing activities. They can also help in the circulation of energy through the meridians.
Modern science explains the functions of acupuncture thus:
Needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord and the brain. These chemicals either change the experience of pain or they trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones. These chemicals and hormones influence the body’s own internal regulating system.
Facial Acupuncture works by increasing and balancing energy to circulate properly around the face and neck thereby helping to improve muscle tone and dermal contraction. By substantially increasing the circulation of blood, lymph, and qi to the head, these treatments also improve the complexion noticeably. Healthy facial coloring can be restored and there can be a tightening of the pores. Additionally, Acupuncture Facial has been shown to increase collagen production and aids in its dispersal thus helping to firm the skin and fill out wrinkles. Fine lines are eliminated and larger, deeper wrinkles are softened. Puffiness, bags or sagging around the eyes and face can be significantly reduced and toned up. Furthermore, metabolism is also improved, resulting in reduced puffiness. Acupuncture has also been shown to affect the regulation of hormones in the body, conditions like acne, dry or oily skin can be quite improved.Many people in recent years have used acupuncture for “face-lift” or “facial-toning” spa treatments. Also known as Cosmetic Acupuncture or Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation is an effective, safe traditional method to turn back time and halt the physical manifestations of aging. Acupuncture Facelift has been used for centuries in China for emperors and royalty. It is also a modality that has been used in Europe, Korea & Japan for decades.
Alexander Technique
The Alexander technique is an intelligent way to solve body problems. The Alexander Technique is a method that teaches people how to sit, stand and go about their daily activities without unnecessary tension. Using a combination of verbal instructions and very gentle guidance with their hands, Alexander Technique teachers show their students how they can recognize and release restricting habits of posture and movement.
Many people are mystified by their own back pain, excess tension or lack of coordination. They often see problems in their joints or muscles as structural, or unchangeable. But, as they learn the technique, they are surprised that they really can make lasting changes in the way they walk, their degree of muscular tension or the shape of their posture. They learn how dynamic and changeable the body really is. They find that, by learning the technique, they can improve their overall movement and achieve optimal health for both body and mind.
We all have unconscious movement habits. Without realizing it, we put undue pressure on ourselves. We use more force than we need to lift a coffee pot or a weight bar. We slouch as we sit, unaware that our way of doing things gives our bodies a certain look. We blame body problems on activities – carpal tunnel syndrome on computer work, tennis elbow on tennis. But often it is how we do something that creates the problem, not the activity itself.
An Alexander technique teacher helps you see what in your movement style contributes to your recurring difficulties – whether it’s a bad back, neck and shoulder pain, restricted breathing, perpetual exhaustion or limitations in performing a task or sport. Analyzing your whole movement pattern – not just your symptom – the teacher alerts you to habits of compression in your characteristic way of sitting, standing and walking. He or she then guides you – with words and a gentle, encouraging touch – to move in a freer, more integrated way.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy means “treatment using scents”. It is a holistic treatment of caring for the body with pleasant smelling botanical oils such as rose, lemon, lavender, and peppermint. The essential oils are added to the bath or massaged into the skin, inhaled directly or diffused to scent an entire room. Aromatherapy is used for the relief of pain, care for the skin, to alleviate tension and fatigue and invigorate the entire body.
Essential oils can affect the mood, alleviate fatigue, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. When inhaled, they work on the brain and nervous system through stimulation of the olfactory nerves.
The essential oils are aromatic essences extracted from plants, flowers, trees, fruits, bark, grasses, and seeds with distinctive therapeutic, psychological, and physiological properties, which improve and prevent illness. There are about 150 essential oils. Most of these oils have antiseptic properties; some are antiviral, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, anti-depressant, and expectorant. Other properties of the essential oils that are taken advantage of in aromatherapy are their stimulation, relaxation, digestion improvement, and diuretic properties. To get the maximum benefit from essential oils, it should be made from natural, pure raw materials. Synthetically made oils do not work.
Essential oils, extracted from plants, possess distinctive therapeutic properties, which can be utilized to improve health and prevent disease. There are some 400 essential oils extracted from plants all over the world. These natural plant oils are applied in a variety of ways:
* Massage (most used method)
* Baths (add a few drops to warm water)
* Inhalations (not for asthmatics)
Aromatherapy and Pregnancy Aromatherapy is an especially effective treatment for stress-related problems and a variety of chronic conditions. Aromatherapy is not intended to replace traditional medicine or traditional healthcare. It is simply an avenue for you to take more responsibility for your own health and to allow nature to do what it does best – balance and heal body, mind and spirit.
Bach Flower Remedies
“There is no true healing unless there is a change in outlook, peace of mind and inner happiness” – Dr Edward Bach, 1934.
Roses on Valentine’s Day, chrysanthemum on Thanksgiving, evergreen or holly on Christmas – flowers definitely have an impact on people’s moods. This understanding was converted into a therapy by an English physicist, Dr. Edward Bach, in 1930. Dr. Bach’s Remedies are an easy way to heal oneself of various mental and emotional conditions like fears, anger, anxiety, and despair. Bach Flower Remedies are an effective and private alternative to going to a psychiatrist or counselor.
Dr. Bach noted that all patients reacted differently to the same disease and so there had to be a link between physical health and emotional health. Inspired by his work in homeopathy and disappointed with the approach towards healthcare in his era, he wanted to discover natural means of healing. That is when he researched the remarkable effects that flower essences have on the moods and emotions of a person. He found that certain flowers correspond to certain human emotions. Hence, he used these flowers as healing aids. He took the flower, immersed in water and kept it in the sunlight for two to three hours. The water, which then became potent, was used as a remedy.
Bach Flower remedies are 38 in number and are strictly English flower extracts. In India, Drs. Atul and Rupa Shah have created extracts of such indigenous blooms as lotus, gulmohar, morning glory, and bougainvillea. The Rescue Remedy offered by Bach Flower is particularly effective in treating shock, buying the victim time till medical treatment is administered. There are no known side-effects since the treatment does not involve the administering of any chemicals. It simply uses the energy fields of flowers.
Flower Remedies are increasingly becoming popular, thanks to the media and positive word of mouth. There are several books and online help available on this topic. Flower essences are available over the counter at most of the homeopathic pharmacies. It is also open to self-treatment. However, it is always preferable to choose professional advice.
Biochemic Tissue Salts
This is a rather popular method of treating ailments. There are people who regard biochemic salts as a part-and-parcel of their domestic first-aid kits. Wilhelm Henrich Schussler discovered that when a body is completely combusted at the cremation, 12 salts were always found in the ashes. So whoever said that ashes are all that remain of us could as easily have said, salts are all that remain of us. Schussler called them Tissue Salts. Biochemic tissue salts are minerals, such as rock salt, that have been prepared using the homeopathic method. There are 12 tissue salts in total.
He then propounded that these salts are really the material basis of organs and tissues of the body. Hence they are particularly important in maintaining the well-being of a person at the organ level. It is the deficiency of one or more of these salts that cause diseases in the body. So, two pills for a headache can cure the same by restoring that salt whose deficiency caused the headache.
There are many books available on this topic and plenty of matter available online too. However, it is advisable that such medication be done under supervision. These salts are available at leading homeopathic pharmacies in powder and pill form.
Schussler believed that tissue salts could restore mineral deficiencies that made the body susceptible to illness. The homeopathic method of preparing tissue salts involves mixing 1 part of the mineral salt with 9 parts lactose. This mixture is diluted with 9 parts lactose. It is repeated 6 times in total.
Conditions Treated
* Colds, cough
* Sinusitis
* Hay fever, allergies
* Anxiety, depression
* Muscle aches and pains
Tissue salts are small tablets. They are placed under the tongue where they are left to dissolve. In a typical treatment, Biochemic tissue salts may be prescribed by homeopaths or naturopathic doctors as part of a complete health program or recommended as self-care. They are recommended either singly or in combination.
Chelation Therapy
Chelation therapy is claimed by its practitioners to be a safe and effective method for drawing toxins and metabolic wastes from the bloodstream. Chelating agents administered intravenously have been proven to increase blood flow and remove arterial plaque. Chelation therapy can help reverse atherosclerosis, can prevent heart attacks and strokes, and is used as an alternative to bypass surgery and angioplasty.
Chelation therapy is used to rid the body of unnecessary and toxic metals, and is employed by a growing number of physicians to reverse the process of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The reversal is accomplished in part through the removal of the calcium content of plaque from the artery walls through the injection of chelating agents. By restoring good circulation to all the tissues of the body, chelation therapy can help to avoid bypass surgery, reverse gangrene, alleviate intermittent cramps of the legs, and restore memory.
Due to its ability to remove toxic metal ions, chelation therapy reduces internal inflammation caused by free radicals (highly reactive destructive molecules), and as a result can ease the discomfort and disability from degenerative diseases such as arthritis, scleroderma (a hardening that occurs in skin and certain organs), and lupus.
Colon Hydrotherapy
Do you experience any of these health problems? Constipation, diarrhea, frequent headaches, backaches, fatigue, bad breath, body odor, irritability, confusion, skin problems, abdominal gas and bloating, lower back pain, sciatic pain, low resistance to colds and infections, low energy and vitality. These are all indicators that you may need to cleanse your body’s elimination system. Colon hydrotherapy is an excellent way to accomplish this objective.
A visit to a registered colonic therapist will involve the taking of your case history followed by an explanation of the procedure. The colonic itself will take 30-45 minutes during which time approximately 15 gallons of highly filtered water, warmed to the correct temperature, will be gently introduced into the colon via the rectum, at a low gravitational pressure, whilst your therapist uses special massage techniques to stimulate the release of stored matter.
Your modesty is preserved at all times. Herbal and probiotic implants may be used and your practitioner may advise beneficial dietary changes to further enhance your treatment. No fasting or special measures are necessary prior to a first treatment but colon cleansing programs may be advised between sessions
Benefits accomplished by colon hydrotherapy:
• Cleansing: Toxic material is broken down so it can no longer harm your body or inhibit assimilation and elimination. Fecal debris built up over a long period is gently removed over a series of irrigations.
• Exercises: The buildup of toxic debris weakens the colon and impairs its functions. Gentle filling and emptying of the colon can improve peristaltic (natural muscular contraction) activity, which aids efficient removal of waste material.
• Reshapes: Over time, the natural shape of a problematic colon will become distorted…causing even more problems. The gentle water action and massage techniques of the therapist will help eliminate protruding pockets of waste and narrow, spastic constrictions.
• Stimulation of reflex points: Every system and organ of the body is connected to the colon by reflex points. A colon hydrotherapy session stimulates these reflex points, thereby affecting the corresponding body parts…in a beneficial way, similar to reflexology.
Dowsing
Dowsing is the ability to find objects and the answers to questions that cannot be obtained by the 5 physical senses. The ancient art of dowsing has been misunderstood and condemned throughout history, mainly because it could not be explained how by dowsing, one could find out in great detail about people and places. Very often distances made no difference.
With the aid of one’s superconscious mind, using a suitable device, one may gain unseen information at a distance, (even through material barriers), about a person, creature, object, substance, place or “thing”, beyond the limitations of one’s five senses and so-called logical, thinking mind.
A combination of mental, emotional and intuitive faculties is focused, in the right order, upon the object of one’s quest. Presently, the device moves beyond one’s physical control, according to a pre-established code.
Dowsing for health enables Medical Practitioners to determine and locate illness and disease and select the most suitable form of treatment and remedy.
Dowsing for safety enables one to check before purchasing to ascertain whether or not certain foods, drinks or medical drugs are good or bad for you, what vitamins and minerals to take and what quantity. Watch out, your body may accept or need something one day, but not another day.
Dowsing is an intuitional science and can be learned. Divining is not just a gift miraculously bestowed upon a “few”.
The quality of dowsing efforts do vary, depending upon how one approaches the work. To dowse, you must have a suitable device and be simultaneously aware of two planes. We live in two worlds; the material outer and imaginative inner worlds of existence.
As to specifics, there are 2 basic targets – tangible and intangible. Tangible targets are things like “Where did I lose my wedding ring?” or “I’m lost in the woods, where’s my car?” Dowsing is also used to answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ questions. The answer ‘Yes’ is not a physical target. It is intangible. You can’t touch a ‘Yes’. Other intangible targets are things like auras and energy leys.“Higher” (knowing) mind, flourishes within the realms of intuition and responds to noble questions posed by the “thinking” intellect. Quality and quantities of valuable information may be tapped from this great universal source, beyond material considerations.
Hypnotherapy
The brain operates in four general states determined by the frequency of the electricity generated by the exchange of chemicals in the neural pathways. The four states include full conscious awareness, the hypnotic state, the dream state, and the sleep state.
Full conscious awareness is where we spend most of our waking hours. In this state, our mind is attentive and uses logic to reason, evaluate, assess, judge, and make decisions. Unfortunately, when making life changes, the conscious mind often gets in the way.
When visiting a hypnotherapist, what you are actually doing is using hypnotic techniques to pull yourself out of a current undesired trance state and with help from the therapist, create a new reality or experience of life – one that lets you achieve your goals and aspirations to live life more fully.
In the hypnotic state, the doorway between the conscious and the subconscious is opened, memories become easily accessible, and new information is stored. In the hypnotic state, you are not really “thinking” in the traditional sense. You are “experiencing” without questioning, without critical judgment or analysis, like when you watch a movie, and the hypnotherapist can make suggestions that are very likely to “stick” – precisely because your conscious mind is not getting in the way. You are not “judging” or being “critical” of the suggestions.
They will located in the conscious way of functioning is always present, always working. If for some reason you will yourself not to allow the suggestions to be accepted, they won’t be. The smoker, who comes in to quit smoking but is not really committed to that goal, cannot be forced to do so.
With the critical faculty bypassed, specific thoughts/suggestions can be lodged in the subconscious where they can propel the client toward a desired goal or change behavior in a positive, permanent way. Any such suggestions must be acceptable to the client, of course. They would have no effect otherwise.
Iridology
Iridology is the scientific analysis of patterns and structures in the iris of the eye which locates areas and stages of inflammation throughout the body. The iris is the portion of the eye showing color. It reveals body constitution, inherent strengths and weaknesses, health levels, and transitions that take place in a person’s body according to their way of life.
T
he complex iris is composed of hundreds of thousands of nerve endings that are connected by impulses to every tissue of the body through the brain and nervous system. The nerve fibers, or trabecula, respond specifically to tissue and organ conditions with a corresponding physiological reflex manifested in the iris as lesions and color variations. The iris chart, which is the result of many years of clinical observation and intensive research by Dr. Bernard Jensen and others, represents the basic placement of body organs and tissues similar to a map. An accurate iris analysis is possible by superimposing the chart over an iris image projection, allowing detailed observation of the valuable and reliable data recorded there.
A complete iris analysis will show whether a person exhibits a generally good constitution or a poor one, depending upon the density of the iris fibers. The patterns, structures, colors and degrees of lightness and darkness in the iris tell if an area of the body is inherently strong or weak. It also reveals the relative site of over-activity, irritation, injury or degeneration of the tissues and organs. Toxic accumulation levels can be observed as well as nutritional and chemical imbalances.
Kinesiology
Kinesiology is a holistic system of natural health care, which uses muscle testing to communicate directly with the body. It can assess a person’s response to any stimuli. It draws on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and can evaluate body function through the muscle/meridian relationship.
It can also establish connections between imbalances, put them in order of priority and determine the most effective treatment. Kinesiology applies a wide range of gentle yet powerful techniques. These restore balance and create and sustain health, well-being and more effective functioning. Kinesiology also draws on and integrates other therapies and healing modalities and can be used as an adjunct to any therapy. Kinesiology is renowned for being able to uncover and help the underlying causes of health problems that are difficult to find by any other means.
Kinesiology restores the whole system to balance thus facilitating the self-healing process.
Procedure It can increase energy and vitality, prevent illness, improve posture, relieve physical pain and tension, release and help people to manage emotions and stress, enhance brain function and co-ordination, discover individual nutritional needs and sensitivities.
As we are all biochemically and emotionally different there is no one treatment that suits everyone. As well as specific reflex massage, a Kinesiologist may use a wide variety of treatments, depending on the individual concerned.
These treatments can include:-
Mechanical Adjustment such as Chiropractic
There are 206 bones attached to hundreds of muscles in the human body. Muscles need to work properly and bones need to be in correct alignment for the proper flow of blood, nerve impulses, lymph, etc. around the body. Illness often means muscle strain or bones are out of alignment interrupting this flow. Gentle muscle massage or bone re-alignment may be used to bring the physical structure of the body back into balance.
Nutrition and Diet
The human body requires food to build power and maintain it. Hence nutrition plays a huge role in health and general well-being. In a modern world of fast food and high stress, we are often not eating or absorbing all the nutrients that our body needs. We could also be eating foods or additives which may cause unwanted reactions.
Energy Meridian Balancing
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are energy meridians that flow around the body. Blockages or disruption to these energy flows often manifest as illnesses. Kinesiology uses gentle non-invasive techniques to detect and remove blockages in the meridians, bringing balance and well-being back to the body.
Flower Remedies
There are 38 Bach Flower remedies, as well as Californian Flower Remedies, which are made from tree and flower essences. They are chosen according to the emotional and personality traits of the individual. Flower Remedies are helpful in coping with emotional difficulties like grief, anger, and depression.
Homeopathic and Energetic Medicines
These include tissue salts and homeopathic preparations which use the vibrational energy of substances to stimulate the body’s unique healing responses.
Chakra Balancing
The human body has seven main chakra energy centers that relate to the transformation of subtle energies. Kinesiology can detect and correct chakra imbalances with crystals, colors, and other tools.
Labyrinth
Labyrinths have been around for over 4000 years and are found in just about every major religious tradition in the world. They have been an integral part of many cultures such as Native American, Greek, Celtic, and Mayan. The Hopi called the labyrinth the symbol for “mother earth” and equated it with the Kiva. Like Stonehenge and the pyramids, they are magical geometric forms that define sacred space.
During the crusades, they were used to symbolically represent the pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Today, labyrinths are being used for reflection, meditation, prayer, and comfort. They are found in many sizes and shapes, and are created in sand, cornmeal, flour, painted on canvas, fashioned with masking tape or string for a temporary design, or built-in a permanent fashion from stones, cut into turf, formed by mounds of earth, made from vegetation, or any other natural material.
Laughter Therapy
The experience of Dr. Mohan Kataria, pioneer of Hasya Yoga, with laughter clubs worldwide, taught him that people were definitely deriving health benefits from laughter yoga exercises. But there was no scientific proof that Dr. Kataria could offer to satisfy logical minded people, especially in the west. “I had no problems in India as more than 100,000 people laughed every morning without asking me for any proof but when it came to the West everybody asked, do you have the data?”
Finally, in 2003-04 the first authentic research was completed by Dr. Ilona Papousek from the University of Graz in early fall 2004. According to the news release by Ananova – March 2004, a new study shows that laughter really is the best therapy for stroke patients, according to scientists.
A study was conducted at a computer company where Mr. Thomas Flindt led a session of laughter yoga in the beginning of the day throughout the month of May 2004.
This project shows clearly the effect that a regular practice of laughter yoga has on the stress levels. On an individual level the results are remarkable. The body stress levels are significantly reduced.
Laugh-yoga is a discipline practiced by individuals, usually in a school-type environment. The laughter is not in response to some form of comedy or physical stimulus like tickling: It’s a forced exercise-like routine in which the participants laugh together as a group, much like the aerobic exercises common in the United States. In a sense, I suppose, it’s pretty much simply an alternative form of aerobic exercise. It starts off with breathing exercises followed by a gentle “hee, hee, hee” that eventually builds up into a raucous “ha, ha, ha.” When you think about it, are we dealing with anything new? Similar exercises have long been acknowledged as ways to improve your circulation (including blood pressure) and your health in general. Even Kataria seemed to agree when he was asked whether a good sense of humor is required to perform the routine and stated, “It’s not about humor or being funny. It’s about exercising the diaphragm with laughter.”
Magnetic Therapy
At the beginning of the 21st century, the most promising pain relief therapy is Biomagnet therapy. Compared to other pain relief therapies, Biomagnet therapy has at least six advantages causing its explosive, worldwide growth today.
• Biomagnet relieve the root cause of pain, not just the symptoms.
• Biomagnet are safe. They have no known side-effects since our bodies already live in the earth’s natural, magnetic field.
• Biomagnet is simple. Anyone can use them in the privacy of their home.
• Biomagnet are non-consumable. You don’t have to buy another bottle or schedule another appointment every month!
• Biomagnet work quickly, often in a few minutes, sometimes in weeks.
• Biomagnet are affordable. Especially since you can use them again and again for years.
And this is only the beginning. The history of magnet therapy is a fascinating account of a famous queen, philosophers, doctors, and scientists. For thousands of years, magnet therapy has been advancing toward its latest discovery of the newest and most powerful Biomagnet.
In 1983, one of the greatest discoveries ever in magnetics was announced. Rare earth neodymium Biomagnet were invented which are 700% as powerful as the older ceramic magnets. The neodymium Biomagnet hold their charge indefinitely, with no significant loss of power after 10 years. At first, their cost was prohibitive, but now they are very economical.
“Today magnet therapy is seeing a resurgence in use and is an officially approved therapy in over 45 countries worldwide,” writes William H. Philpott, MD, author of the book, Magnet Therapy: Alternative Medicine, the Definitive Guide.
Studies show that magnets can be an effective therapy for the relief of pain by blocking pain sensations. Applying magnetic fields to an injured area improves blood flow and oxygen to enhance the body’s natural healing process. The improved blood flow and fluid exchange to the injured tissue helps reduce pain and inflammation.
Do not use magnets or magnetic therapy if using a pacemaker, implanted medical device or insulin pump as they may interfere with the delicate electronic equipment. Magnetic products are not recommended for use during pregnancy. They are not proven beneficial nor detrimental. Be on the safe side, do not use. Keep magnetic products at least six inches away from objects such as credit cards, computers, diskettes, audio and videotapes, and similar items, as loss of data may result.
Mantra Therapy
It is believed that mantras work directly upon our karma: the accumulated latencies and tendencies with which we are born. The vibrations of these ancient formulas work through the chakras to increase the flow of beneficial energy throughout the subtle body where these latencies and tendencies are stored. Mantra Therapy starts by increasing the total amount of energy available for all of our activities. Certain mantras used singly or in combination can greatly accelerate the quality and quantity of energy used in the healing process. However, if the karmic propensity for a given condition is overwhelming, mantra therapy will not remove the difficulty any more than conventional therapy will. However, it will reduce the karmic baggage you take into future lives.
The energy created through mantra practice may lead one to forms of therapy quite different from the ones used initially. Thus, some unexpected new forms of treatment may appear as the result of mantra practice. Investigate it. Ultimately, we do not know through which door the route to recovery might manifest, and it may be in some form of conventional or traditional care of which we had been previously unaware.
A mantra is a mystical energy encased in a sound structure. Every mantra contains within its vibration a certain power. Upon concentration and repetition of a given mantra, its energy is liberated and takes the form
There are different types of mantras. Some called Bija (Seed) mantra. They have no exact meaning but act directly on the nerves of the astral body. The other type of mantras, having a combination of words and having some meaning also set up powerful vibrations in the body.
Most common, however is the deity mantras, in which a specific form with attributes is visualized along with the repetition of the sound.
Initiation – If possible, before attempting Japa one should seek out a guru and receive mantra initiation from him. Only those who are themselves pure can give initiation to others. Therefore it is important to find a qualified guru to successfully implant the mantras in the disciples body. If no guru can be found, one may select any mantra that seems appropriate to fulfill his desires, assuming Lord Shiva as his guru and start repeating it with mentally with faith and devotion every day.
OM is one example of a mantra to improve your life.
1. “OM ”
It consists of three letters A, U, and M. it signifies three periods of time, the three states of consciousness and all existence. A devotee can feel its effect very soon by including it in his daily routine or meditation.
Many spas will teach you the use of Mantras in meditation see the Chopra Center Primordial Sound Therapy.
At the very basic level mantras help you to concentrate on meditation. And once you enter its auspicious circle, the mind instantly gets focused and you discover a new realm of peace and tranquility.
The original of all mantras, Om, is the root of all sounds, thus letters and therefore of all language and thought. The “O” is generated deep within the body, from inside the navel, and slowly brought upward joining with the “m” which then resonates through the entire head. Chanting Om in a whisper correctly for twenty minutes relaxes every atom in of every cell of your body.
Past Life Therapy
You saw it on Oprah with Dr. Oz. “Past life regression therapy includes the mental act of going back to a time prior to this life in order to retrieve memories that may still negatively influence a person’s present life. They are probably the source of symptoms running the gamut from phobias to addictions,” says R.Chandran, a past life therapist.
Past Life Regression is a tool for re-experiencing the lives that we have lived before this current lifetime. It is a guided journey within in order to access our soul’s memories of who, what and where we have been in previous incarnations. It is based on a belief in reincarnation, the concept that a part of us never dies and is born again and again into countless existences. The majority of cultures throughout the world believe in reincarnation and those that do not, believe that there is some kind of existence beyond death.
It can, for instance, be very therapeutic in uncovering the physical or emotional issues that we may have in this lifetime. Many people are born with physical or emotional scars that do not seem to have any connection to their experiences. Explanations for these issues that we bring into this life are often found in past life experiences. The recall of this information can often lead to the spontaneous healing of these problems
Under hypnosis, it is possible to envision what seems to be a memory from a time other than the life you are presently living. Many of these experiences appear to give credence to the theory of reincarnation.
To experience this, the hypnotherapist guides the client backward in time, through the birth experience and out the other side – usually entering another lifetime, usually as a witness to their own apparent death. The client may find they are looking out from the perspective of someone else’s eyes.
For more information you may want to read books by Dr. Brian WeissPeople who are healed through past life therapy are people who remember names, dates and geographic details. But perhaps, even more, important than curing of physical and emotional symptoms, is the knowledge that we perhaps do not die even if our bodies do.
Same Soul, Many Bodies: Discover the Healing Power of Future Lives through Progression Therapy
Reiki
Reiki is one of the more widely known forms of energy healing. Energy healing involves direct application of chi for the purpose of strengthening the client’s energy system (aura).
Reiki is very easily learned, very simple to use, and beneficial for all.
A Reiki healing is very simply performed. The practitioner places his or her hands upon the person to be healed with the intent for healing to occur, and then the energy begins flowing. The Reiki energy is smart since the Universe is a very smart place indeed. The energy knows where to go, and what to do once it gets there, or else is being directed by a higher intelligence.
The energy manages its own flow to and within the recipient. It draws through the healer exactly that amount of energy which the recipient needs. All this happens without direct conscious intervention by the healer. The healer’s job is to get out of the way, to keep the healing space open, and to watch/listen for signs of what to do next.
Reiki is capable of healing anything because it works at very fundamental levels of reality. Even though the capability is there, this is not what always happens. The limits to Reiki seem to be in the recipient’s willingness to cast off old habits and patterns, to accept change and to accept healing.
Spiritual Healing
Spirituality involves the recognition and acceptance of a God beyond our own intelligence and with whom we can have a relationship. This God can provide an experience of inspiration, joy, security, peace of mind, and guidance that goes beyond what is possible in the absence of the conviction that such a power exists.
Spiritual healing is when energy is transmitted to the person who needs it. The treatment works on the body, mind, and spirit, which are seen as one unit that must harmonize for good health. If a separate healer is involved, the healer will place the hand on the person being treated to channel the energy from the Higher Source. The spiritual healing can help mental and emotional problems and physical conditions such as a frozen shoulder.
Spiritual Healing is the practice of attuning to Divine or Life Force energy, by meditative means or prayer, to be the instrument or the means through which this energy can be channeled to a person, place or object, present or not, via the Hands of Loving Thoughts, to have beneficial effect upon the person as a whole, or any or all levels of Body, Mind and Spirit.
Such energies are only now starting to be recognized by western medicine. Most eastern medical systems have acknowledged and used such forces for hundreds to thousands of years. Chi and prana are two of the better-known names for these energies. They are related to and can be directed by, a person’s consciousness. Because of this, one can receive such healing forces either in the presence of or at a distance from, the healer being worked with.
Developing a relationship with God will provide you with guidance for making decisions and solving problems. God has a universal wisdom that goes beyond what you can accomplish through your own intellect. In traditional religions, this has been referred to as the “divine intelligence.”
Through connecting with God, you can draw upon this greater wisdom to help you resolve all kinds of difficulties. By learning to ask God for guidance, you’ll be surprised to find that every sincere request sooner or later is answered. And the quality of that answer generally exceeds what you could have figured out through your own conscious intellect or will. Here, God is like your co-pilot. God is always available in the instant of need to those who have made a habit of waiting quietly before Him for insight and guidance.
Follow these guidelines for an effective relationship with God:
- Be quiet, patient, and open before God
- Be confident that he will communicate his wishes and help you execute them.
- Do not tempt God or make terms with Him. Gandhi said, “Not until we have reduced ourselves to nothingness, can we conquer the evil in us. God demands nothing less than complete self-surrender as the price for the only real freedom that is worth having. And when a man thus loses himself, he immediately finds himself in the service of all that lives. It becomes his delight and his recreation.”
- Be willing to accept what God provides. He knows best. “Thy will, not mine, be done.” Have full trust in the wisdom of God.
- Ask for God’s help.
- Let God speak to you through his Word. Read spiritual and religious books such as the Bible and learn about the rules of victorious living.
These are some of the characteristics that define a close relationship with God. All of them can significantly contribute to your personal healing process. The extent and sincerity of your commitment will determine the degree of personal healing you experience.
Methods that are commonly used for spiritual healing work include:
- Prayer
- Visualization (understanding, caring, healing, protecting)
- Channeling of spiritual energy (for instance: chi, prana, reiki)
- Devices that transmit healing forces
- Channeling of spiritual helpers and guides
- Personal spiritual realization
- Advanced levels of concentration
- Psychic abilities
- Universal compassion
Which problems can Spiritual Healing help?
Spiritual healing can help with any problem, mental, physical or emotional. Healers are especially effective for muscular-skeletal problems. Such as frozen shoulders, stiff necks and bad knees.
What Can You Do To Develop Your Spiritual Life
You can deepen your commitment to spirituality through any of the following means:
- Regular participation in church or your preferred spiritually based organization.
- Regular reading of the Bible or other inspirational literature of your preference. It’s good to do this at least once per day, either upon awakening, during your lunch break, or before retiring.
- Regular practice of meditation.
- Regular practice of prayer or spiritual affirmations.
- Get help from others (Healing practitioners, intercessory prayer, etc.)
- Join a prayer group
Many spas also incorporate spirituality into their programs such as the Chopra Center and Deepak’s book
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy refers to a range of therapies in which sound is used to treat physical and mental conditions. One of these therapies is music therapy, which can involve a person listening to music for conditions such as stress and muscle tension.
Music is one component of this therapy. Others use sound wave vibrations to treat physical and mental conditions. In general, this therapy is based on the theory that all of life vibrates, including people’s bodies. When a person’s healthy resonant frequency is out of balance, physical and emotional health is affected.
Treatment by sound waves is believed to restore that healthy balance to the body. Healing is done by transmitting beneficial sound to the affected area. The healing sound may be produced by a voice or an instrument such as electronic equipment, chanting bowls, or tuning forks. Sound Therapy is a series of frequencies and waveforms. We can describe all matter as organized by waveforms and frequencies. This includes our bodies.
The body has specific frequencies for each gland, organ and system and subtle body. Each resonates at a certain frequency. Each must resonate at that certain frequency for health, balance, and harmony with all other parts and within itself.
We might liken each frequency of that particular body part to a note a member of an orchestra would play. When all the notes coming forth from the orchestra flow together and work synergistically we have beautiful music. If they do not, what do we hear? A sour note. When the body part does not resonate appropriately, our body hits sour notes which manifests as an ache, pain or illness.
The gland, organ or system may begin to function at a low level causing functions to slow down or cease. Or perhaps the gland, Organ or system begins to hyperfunction, eventually leading to burnout and then the function slowing down or ceasing.
The orchestra may begin to sound like a series of discordant notes, with little harmony and certainly no enjoyment to the listener.
Sound therapy is like a person who retunes the instrument. As your parts are returned and come back into harmony and balance, your internal orchestra begins to once again make beautiful music.
Your body is a marvelous creation. Given the right instructions It can correct itself and begin to resonate at the frequencies that create good health.
Sound Therapy has been effectively used in hospitals, schools, corporate offices and psychological treatment programs.
Some of the results of Sound Therapy have been:
- Better sleep.
- Stress reduction, relief of anxiety and assisting in the alleviation of stress-related disorders such as high blood pressure.
- Improved hearing.
- Helps dyslexia, hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children.
- It helps improve mental concentration, learning abilities and creativity. Sound therapy is a technology designed for accessibility, affordability, and ease of use. Its health benefits are extensive and include the following effects:
- New vitality and sense of well-being
- Obliteration of tiredness and stress
- Deep relaxation and relief of anxiety
- Heightened creativity and mental capacity
- Increased energy, focus, and performance
- Deep, beneficial sleep and an end to insomnia
- Improved hearing for those with industrial deafness or hearing loss due to aging
- Relief of tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Better balance and recovery from Meniere’s vertigo and BPPV
- Improved concentration and learning ability
- Recovery from learning problems such as ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, etc.
- Improved behavior and communication in children
- Increased voice quality and vocal range
- Better relationships and greater family harmony
- Improvement for sufferers of epilepsy, schizophrenia, stroke, and dementia
Sound therapy is simple, effective and effortless. By listening to the specially recorded music tapes while you go about your daily routine, you can create the changes needed to enhance your quality of life.
Specially recorded analog tapes of highly filtered classical music are used to rehabilitate the ear and stimulate the brain. Sound Therapy stimulates the ear by presenting it with constantly alternating sounds of high and low tone. This, in turn, exercises the middle ear muscles and stimulates the receptor cells in the inner ear.
As the ear becomes open and receptive to high frequency sounds these are then passed on to the brain. The brain is recharged by means of sound, releasing latent vitality, obliterating tiredness, lessening the need for sleep, and inducing a permanent state of peace and relaxation.
Yoga Therapy
An emerging field in America, yoga therapy hovers somewhere between a doctor’s visit and a stretching class. Yoga therapists work in small groups or private sessions, addressing specific health problems and adapting poses accordingly. A steady stream of interest has become a flood: According to the trade group International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), membership has more than tripled in the last three years, and the number of schools offering training has doubled over the past two years.
Modern yoga therapy can be traced back to the yoga master T. Krishnamacharya, who produced students that became the West’s most influential teachers of therapeutic yoga, including his son TKV Desikachar and BKS Iyengar.
Many have since used yoga for managing high blood pressure, coping with the effects of cancer treatments, or treating symptoms of HIV, depression or anxiety. But lately, it’s become especially popular for musculoskeletal issues like lower and upper back pain, sciatica, and shoulder, neck and hip pain.
Physical therapists use many methods, from targeted stretches to deep tissue massage; exercises with a Theraband, foam noodles, belts, physioballs, bobbleboards, Bosu Balls, or a wall; and heat and/or ice therapy at home. After a physical therapy session, you’ll usually leave with a photocopied sheet of exercises.
A yoga therapist works primarily with yoga moves, and clients typically leave with instructions on a custom series of poses that change each week according to the student’s progress.
Yoga therapy advocates believe that since yoga is a holistic discipline that teaches that the mind, body, and spirit are connected. Yoga therapy can go beyond the results that are possible with physical therapy.
What are a yoga therapist’s credentials?
Many yoga therapists are licensed physical therapists or nurses, or have advanced training in Iyengar yoga. Some use the title CYT, a certified yoga therapist, after graduating from a yoga therapy teacher training program such as Integrative Yoga Therapy. Others are yoga teachers who declare themselves yoga therapists. So check the credentials of the person you see. As with any Massage Therapy, inexperienced teachers or practitioners who lack the ability to correctly diagnose a problem are the biggest danger.
Needless to say, that with any alternative therapy, you should always speak with your medical professional first, before having an alternative treatment.
Yoga itself is being embraced as a health and wellness practice in America: Yoga is offered at 93 percent of 755 integrative medical centers, which combine western and alternative healthcare methods, according to Cary Wing, executive director at the Medical Fitness Association in Richmond, VA.
While it’s unclear how many of those centers offer yoga therapy specifically, there is evidence that some yoga poses offer effective treatment for one of the most common complaints that lands patients in physical therapists’ offices: chronic back pain. Yoga therapy tries to re-establish the inner balance by various means, working from the gross to the subtle. On the physical level it uses:
Asanas: They energize the organism, create awareness of the body and its function and stabilize the mind.
Kriyas: These are simple hygienic procedures that support the body’s own cleansing mechanisms and draw the attention of the mind towards the affected area.
Pranayamas: These are breathing techniques that have very subtle influences on the whole organism.
Diet: Many diseases are directly or indirectly linked with wrong food habits. A change in diet can stimulate the whole system.
Simple Nature Cure Techniques: The elements water, air, sun and simple procedures like massaging or steam inhalation are used as a support.
The second line of therapy is the work on the mind. Mental disturbances – anxieties, confusion, and unsteadiness are the most important factors which can cause a disease condition. Therefore, various techniques have been developed to create positive mental states.
Among others there are:
Relaxation: both physical and mental.
Conditioning: Sitting in a meditative posture one tries to calm down and center oneself.
Yoga has claimed that tension is disease and relaxation is health. To this end, the whole eightfold path of yoga is to purify the body-mind complex. Bhavana: Contemplation on certain basic ideas like the transition of all things can stimulate a change of attitude towards life.
Top Twenty Best Known Holistic Spas
1. The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, Carlsbad, California
The Chopra Center for Wellbeing at La Costa Resort and Spa is located in Carlsbad, California. The resort is located 30 miles north of San Diego and 90 minutes south of Los Angeles. Join us as we celebrate our partnership with one of the world’s premier resorts, bringing you to a Chopra Center campus with accommodations, outdoor amenities, and services for the entire family.
2013 Costa del Mar, Carlsbad, CA 92009 888.424.6772
The Crossings is a wellness resort and leadership retreat center in Austin, TX, with a unique offering of individual and organizational programs. Its mission is to provide experiences, in a learning environment, that expand awareness and support conscious choices by individuals, organizations, and cultures in the work of transformation and renewal.
13500 FM 2769, Austin, TX 78726 512-258-7243
3. Edgar Cayce Health Care Center And Spa
The Mission of A.R.E. is simply to help people change their lives for the better through the ideas and information in the Edgar Cayce material. Through its many programs, services, publication and membership outreach, the A.R.E. provides individuals from all walks of life, levels of education, and religious backgrounds with tools for personal empowerment and healing at all levels – body, mind, and spirit.
215 67th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 757-428-3588
Nestled in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains on the shores of pristine wilderness Lake Ouachita, Turtle Cove Spa at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa is more than a day spa; it is a destination spa for body and soul.
181 Clubhouse Drive Mount Ida, Arkansas 71957 870-867-1220
6. The Dragontree a Holistic Day Spa
Oregon’s finest day spa invites you to experience our sanctuary of peace. We offer a variety of services to still the mind and mend the body. The Dragontree is the perfect place to receive massage, facials, Acupuncture, waxing, Ayurvedic counseling, and herbal consultations.
2768 NW Thurman Street, Portland, OR 97210 503-221-4123
At Wellness Springs, you’ll enjoy a unique experience, whether you are seeking improved health and healing or simply to re-energize and rejuvenate.
489 Route 32 Highland Mills, NY 10930 (845) 928-2898
FUSION seeks health, beauty, and rejuvenation in one inspired dwelling. Part Spa, part Natural Health Clinic. We offer the finest in holistic beauty services and time-honored health treatments.
18142 Minnetonka Blvd, Deephaven, MN 55391 952-345-3335
9. We Care Spa Juice Fasting & Spiritual Retreat
Between the stresses of everyday life and the impurities found in processed foods, the body is full of toxins and the mind, tension. Enter We Care, a holistic health spa in Desert Hot Springs, California. Internationally renowned and respected, We Care is leading the new movement of detoxing the body and hence, the mind and soul.
18000 Long Canyon Road, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241 (760) 251-2261
We invite you to explore our site and discover natural alternatives to better health. Serenity Wellness Center answers your questions about colon hydrotherapy, body wraps, nutrition, detoxification, internal cleansing protocols, and other holistic health and spa services we provide in our San Ramon Wellness center.
2551 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Ste 107b, San Ramon, CA 94583 925.818.2617
11. Canyon Ranch
More than just a fabulous vacation, Canyon Ranch is an experience. This is the place where it all comes together and, in one amazing moment, you realize how great you can feel when you’re living healthy.
8600 E. Rockcliff Road Tucson, Arizona 85750 800-742-9000
12. Cal a Vie
A health spa vacation retreat north of San Diego where guests come to be nurtured and inspired. A visit to this top California health spa will revitalize the body, mind and spirit.
29402 Spa Havens Way Vista, CA 92084 (760) 945-2055
13. Paradise Medspa and Wellness
At Paradise Medspa & Wellness we provide every patient with an opportunity to explore their personal goals for a complete wellness transformation. We are proud to offer the most comprehensive wellness and anti-aging services in the valley.
2060 W. Whispering Wind Drive, Suite 170 Phoenix, AZ 85085 602.266.8144
14. Sedona Rouge
Discriminating, sophisticated travelers will appreciate the full range of spa treatments and amenities provided by The Spa at Sedona Rouge, in Sedona, Arizona. Expert staff members tailor programs to match the seasons and the individual needs of spa visitors.
2250 West Hwy 89A Sedona, AZ 86336 866-312-4111
15. Integrative Medicine Center & Spa at The Springs
The Springs, Integrative Medicine Center at Clifton Springs Hospital, combines alternative and complementary therapies, including the historic mineral baths, with conventional Western medicine.
2 Coulter Rd. Clifton Springs, NY 14432 315-462-0390
Green Valley has been named as an “America’s Healthiest Spas” by Health Magazine, described as the “best mid-sized spa in America” (by Spa Finder Magazine), “among the best spas in North America” (by Conde Nast Traveler), and one of the Top-3 spas in the world (by Travel & Leisure).
1871 W Canyon View Dr, St George, UT 84770 (435) 628-8060
Find true serenity at Turtle Bay Resort’s Spa Luana. Our luxurious spa takes its name from the spirit of relaxation it provides. Pono in Hawaiian means ‘the true condition of nature.’ In terms of well-being, Pono is when the entire person–body, mind and spirit are in harmony.
57-091 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY KAHUKU, O’AHU, HAWAI’I 96731 800.203.3650
18. Miraval
Nestled at the base of the stunning Catalina Mountains, Miraval Tucson’s 400 acres of lush Sonoran Desert creates an inspiring backdrop that is warm and welcoming any time of the year. The luxurious accommodations and world renowned spa, have lead the readers of Travel & Leisure, SpaFinder and Conde Nast to vote Miraval Tucson the #1 spa in the world.
5000 E. Via Estancia Miraval Tucson, Arizona 85739 800.232.3969
Think of a man or a woman… when they walk into a room, you comment on their presence. That person has a secret. This secret is something they practice that nurtures them. Our outer beauty illuminates when we nurture ourselves.
100 Cummings Center, Suite 150F Beverly, MA 01915 978.927.9909
20. The Raj
At the heart of The Raj programs are the profound treatment programs that help restore balance and reawaken the body’s natural healing mechanisms. But the treatments are only a part of a comprehensive approach to creating health.
1734 Jasmine Ave Fairfield, IA 52556 (641) 472-9580
Balance of Life
The next time you develop an ache or a pain, consider seeing a Holistic Practioner or Naturopathic Doctor. If you are interested in Holistic Healings – Be open to learning more about your body, your mind and how your beliefs can affect how you are feeling and the illnesses you develop. There are many books on the topics that we outlined in this edition of Spavelous “Now You Are in The Know”. One of my favorites is Louise Hay’s book You Can Heal Your Life (Gift Edition)
Remember that holistic therapy includes healing the body, mind, spirit, and emotions. The next time you visit a spa, why not try a full body massage, personal visualization, and Chinese acupuncture? With all the elements combined, you will find the holistic therapy approach will have you leaving the luxury spa feeling like a new person.
