What is Reiki ?

Reiki practitioners channel energy in a particular pattern to heal and harmonize. Unlike other healing therapies based on the premise of a human energy field, Reiki seeks to restore order to the body whose vital energy has become unbalanced.

Reiki energy has several basic effects: it brings about deep relaxation, destroys energy blockages, detoxifies the system, provides new vitality in the form of healing universal life energy, and increases the vibrational frequency of the body.

The laying of hands is used in Reiki therapy also as in spiritual healing. There is a difference though. In spiritual healing, a person with a strong energy field places his or her hands above a particular part of the recipient's body in order to release energy into it. So, here the healer is the one who is sending out the energy. In Reiki, however, the healer places the hands above the recipient; however, it is the recipient that draws the energy as needed. Thus, in this case, the individual being healed takes an active part in the healing process as opposed to having a passive part in spiritual healing. The individual takes responsibility for his or her healing. The recipient identifies the needs and cater to them by drawing energy as needed.

What is Acupressure?

Acupressure is an ancient healing art using the fingers and other parts of the body to skillfully press key points, which stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. When these trigger points are pressed, they release muscular tension, and promote circulation of blood, and the body's life force energy to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same pressure points and meridians, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses gentle to firm pressure and integrates bodywork therapies, therapeutic touch, somatic work, healing imagery, energy psychology, and massage therapy techniques.

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.

What is Reflexology ?

Reflexology is sometimes known as Zone Therapy as the body is divided into different zones represented by a point in the foot or hand. Nerve endings are imbedded in the feet and hands that then travel to the spinal cord and to various parts of the body. Stimulating these nerve endings thereby helps promote relaxation, improve circulation, stimulate vital organs in the body and encourage the body's natural healing processes. Unlike conventional medicine, reflexology works on the underlying problems within the body and works through the body's nervous system. Sometimes lactic acid can be felt in the foot in the form of little crystals. This is a sediment due to poor eating or lack of exercise and can be crushed and reabsorbed into the body thereby allowing the lymph system to eliminate the waste product.

What does treatment involve ?

Reflexology treatments can take up to an hour or more and usually about six weekly sessions are recommended for optimum results. A trained reflexologist will, like other professionals in complementary healthcare, take a detailed case history on your first visit. You will be asked to remove your shoes and socks and sit on a treatment couch or special reclining chair. The general appearance of your foot will be examined as any sores or corns cannot receive pressure.

The treatment involves light, but firm, compression massage to the soles and uppers of your feet possibly using talc but never oil. As the reflex points are very small the reflexologist has to be very precise. It is possible that there will be quite a dramatic reaction to the first treatment in various forms such as increased bowel movements, cold type symptoms or skin problems. This is a very healthy sign which tells you that the treatment has encouraged the release of harmful toxins from the body. During treatment some areas of the foot may feel a little tender and these will correlate with the problem areas in the body. Some reflexologists will show you how to treat a certain disorder at home by showing you the exact areas to press.

Refloxology should not be used if the patient is pregnant, has diabetes or a heart problem, but if you do receive treatment, you will find that reflexology is typically a very pleasant, relaxing and rejuvenating therapy. Don't worry if you have ticklish feet, the treatment is very precise and quite firm.

What are the advantages of Reflexology ?

Reflexology can treat nearly all health problems. Although all reflex areas will be massaged, the therapist will pay specific attention to the actual problem area. So, for migraines, strokes, multiple sclerosis, etc. pressure will be applied to the reflex point in the foot or hand that relates to the head and the connecting areas. In this way the reflexologist will treat all disorders according to where in the body they occur, for example, neck, back and hip problems, sciatica and arthritis will be treated in the musculoskeletal area and angina, high blood pressure and any circulatory problems will be treated in the heart reflex area and so on.

Reflexology will not fix problems such as broken bones or hernias but if used regularly it will enhance any other treatments you are receiving by keeping the circulation stimulated and the lymph system active. You should also experience feelings of vitality and well-being after reflexology treatment which encourages the healing process throughout the body.

What is Massage Therapy ?

Massage is derived from the Greek word meaning "to work with the hands, as in kneading dough". [1] Massage therapy is the practice of manipulation of the soft tissues of the body in order to fulfill any of several physical, functional/mechanical, and/or emotional goals. This may be achieved via structured, unstructured, stationary, and/or moving pressure, tension, motion, or vibration manually or with mechanical aids. The target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as, lymphatic vessels, and/or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, forearm, and feet.

How can it help ?

There are many beneficial effects of massage, including pain relief, stress reduction but also relief of many diseases.

Theories behind what massage might do include blocking pain signals to the brain (gate control theory), activating the parasympathetic nervous system, stimulating the release of endorphins and serotonin, preventing fibrosis or scar tissue, increasing the flow of lymph, and improving sleep. [4]

Deep Tissue Massage and its benefits

Deep Tissue Massage is a massage technique that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue. It aims to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas, either following or going across the fiber's of the muscles, tendons and fascia.

Deep tissue massage is used to release chronic muscle tension through slower strokes and more direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles not with the grain. Deep tissue massage helps to break up and eliminate scar tissue. Deep tissue massage usually focuses on more specific areas and may cause some soreness during or right after the massage.

What is Hot Stone Massage ?

Hot Stone Massage is a style of massage in which water-treated stones are placed at specific sites on the client's body to promote relaxation and to help open up the merdians (energy pathways). Muscles are pretreated with the heated stones to allow the therapist to more easily perform deep tissue manipulations. Cool stones are sometimes used alternately with hot stones. Massage oils are usually incorporated into the massage treatment.

Benefits of Hot Stone Massage

Promotes deep muscle and tissue relaxation

Allieviates stress

Releases toxins

Relieves pain

Improves ciculation

Calms the psyche