Text Box: How We Can Help You Text Box: Therapeutic Massage Whether seeking relief from a painful medical condition, dealing with the stresses of daily life or simply wanting to maintain a high level of health, therapeutic massage can help you. Therapeutic massage involves the manipulation of the soft tissue structures of the body to prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort, muscle spasm and stress within the body. Massage not only feels good, but research shows that it also reduces the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, as well as relaxing muscles. Text Box: Therapeutic Reflexology Reflexology is a gentle art, a fascinating science and an extremely effective form of therapeutic bodywork, based on the reflex areas on the hands and feet. It is a science because it is based on physiological and neurological study, and an art because much depends upon how skillfully the practitioner applies their knowledge when working with the client. Reflexology is a specific, unique pressure technique, which works on precise reflex points of the feet and hands. Reflexology helps with many different acute and chronic health conditions, including headaches, migraines, sinus problems, PMS, constipation, digestive problems, circulatory problems, arthritic pain, diabetes Type II, tension and stress. The benefits of reflexology include: Stress reduction and relaxation Improving circulation Improving the quality of sleep Stimulating neural pathways, to help alleviate pain Improving lymphatic drainage Cleansing the body of toxins and impurities Improving stress related disorders, such as headaches and constipation Safe, drug free way of helping the body to heal Reflexology Diagram Text Box: Emotional Freedom Technique Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a leading-edge meridian based therapy. It utilizes the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical pain and emotional stress, but without the invasive use of needles. The gentle tapping techniques of EFT help to balance the body’s energy system. Restoring the balance of the energy system allows the body and mind to resume their natural healing abilities. Modern scientific technology can now monitor the body’s autonomic nervous system, so the systemic changes that EFT creates can actually be measured and quantified. EFT is easy to apply and safe to use on any age group – babies through seniors. Text Box: Reiki Modern reiki was developed in the early 1900’s by Mikao Usui, a Buddhist lay priest in Japan, who rediscovered the ancient art. In the 1930’s, reiki made it’s way to Hawaii, eventually becoming popular in the West in the 1970’s at the same time that other alternative remedies came to light. “Reiki can help to create a restorative environment within the body to assist in the healing of many conditions and maladies,” explains Linda M. LaFlamme, MS, executive director of the International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP), which has been compiling a database of research in articles relating to reiki and specific conditions. “Reiki is a great complement to use in tandem with traditional medicine to assist a patient’s well-being.” Literally translated into rei (spirit) and ki (life force), reiki (pronounced “ray-key”) involves the circulation of “life force energy” throughout the body, like chi gung and other healing modalities. It can restore balance and support the body’s natural ability to heal itself, explains William Rand, president of the International Center for Reiki Training in Southfield, Michigan: “It’s a subtle energy we all have.” Consequently if someone’s life force energy is too low, he or she is more prone to illness. Similar to healing practices like massage, reiki is administered through the laying on of hands. The client is fully clothed and the practitioner (also known as a master), moves his or her hands in patterns across the body, either lightly touching or keeping the hands hovering a few inches away from the recipient; patients may experience a feeling of warmth, a rush of energy, profound relaxation or tingling sensations. The sessions typically last from 45 to 90 minutes and are designed to be deeply relaxing. For more information please visit www.reiki.org