Body Work & Energy Medicine

Bodywork and Energy Medicine

Bodywork is a general term for practices involving touch and movement in which the practitioner uses manual techniques to promote health and healing in the recipient.

Craniosacral Therapy:

Craniosacral Therapy is an extremely gentle and relaxing form of hands-on therapy. This whole body treatment is a non-invasive method of detection and correction that encourages your own natural healing and self-correcting mechanisms. By working with the central nervous system, it strengthens your body’s ability to better take care of you, helping alleviate stress, illness, pain and dysfunction.

Restorative Bodywork:

Restorative Bodywork is a general term for manual therapy that integrates a variety of soft tissue modalities and techniques. Craniosacral, visceral and lymphatic therapies are combined with deep tissue and neuromuscular therapies, myofascial release, sports massage, acupressure, joint mobilization and energy work. This provides a holistic treatment session with modalities selected specifically for each individual.

Visceral Manipulation:

Visceral Manipulation is a light-touch therapy that works with the internal organs. The hands are specifically placed to release individual organs from restrictions and tensions that result from stress, injury, surgery or illness. Improving free movement of the internal organs significantly increases their ability to function properly. This can relieve or eliminate many pain syndromes in the body and dramatically improve our health and well-being.

Somato-Emotional Release:

Somato-Emotional Release (SER) is the expression and release of emotion that for reasons deemed appropriate by the body, has been retained, suppressed and isolated within the tissues. Retention of the energy or memory of both physical and emotional trauma is frequently held in the cells of the body and can result in pain syndromes, dysfunction and illness. SER provides a safe means to liberate the body and mind from these residual effects of trauma.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy:

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy is a gentle, relaxing modality that enhances circulation of the lymphatic fluid in the body. Proper functioning of the lymphatic system is critical to our body’s ability to drain stagnant fluids, detoxify, regenerate tissues and maintain a healthy immune system. Clearing lymphatic congestion in the tissues can often reduce or eliminate pain symptoms.

Massage Therapy:

Massage is only a seven letter word, but this manipulation of soft tissue has performed wonders for thousands of years throughout the world. It is the great-great-great-great grandmother of all the other bodyways because it is primal, instinctive act to make yourself or someone else feel better through touch. Massage is the intentional and systemic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to enhance health and healing. Joint movements and stretching are commonly performed as part of the massage. The primary characteritics are touch and movement.

Swedish Massage:

“Classic Western Massage” refers to the techniques traditionally used in Europe and the United States since the late nineteenth century. The five technique categories commonly used are effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, friction, and vibration. The therapeutic session are generally wellness oriented with the aim to improve circulation, relax the muscles, improve joint mobility, induce general relaxation, promote health skin, and create a general sense of well-being.

Esalen Massage:

This is a genre of bodywork based on a simplified form of classic Western massage, whose main purpose is to enhance non-verbal connection with the inner self and with others. It emphasizes the sensual aspects of massage. It was developed at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California in the 1970’s as part of the Human Potential Movement.

Myofascial Massage:

The general term for techniques aimed at restoring mobility in the body’s fascia and softening connective tissue that has become rigid. It is also called myofascial release or myofascial unwinding.

Pregnancy Massage:

Because the nine months of pregnancy involve massive changes to a woman’s mind, body, and spirit, pregnancy massage is offered at Balance. Pregnancy massage is an art form that promotes physical and emotional well-being for both mother and child.

Trigger Point Therapy:

Trigger Points are small hyperirritable spots in muscle or related connective tissue that may cause local pain or pain in a distant referral zone. Trigger points may be relieved manually with ischemic compression techniques, deep friction, and stretching of the muscles.

Sports Massage:

Sports massage is the science and art of applying massage and related techniques to ensure the health and well-being of the athlete, and to enhance athletic performance. The major applications of sports massage are recovery, remedial, rehabilitation, maintenance, and event (ie, pre-, inter-, and post- event).

Shiatsu Massage:

Shiatsu is a general term for Japanese bodywork based in traditional Chinese meridian theory and Western science, in which tsubo (ie, acupoints) are pressed to balance the flow of energy, or Qi.

Chair Massage:

This refers to massage given with the recipient seated in an ordinary or special massage chair. Receivers remain clothed in the chair massage. It has been called “on-site massage” when the chair is taken to a public place such as an office or commercial establishment.

Thai Yoga Massage:

Thai Yoga massage is a healing art that blends traditional Thai massage and Yoga therapy. This is a nurturing hands-on therapy that works along the energy lines of the body to release blockages, which left untreated, can create tension in the body and mind. Thai Yoga sessions include acupressure, stretching, twisting, and massage. Sessions bring the self into harmonious balance, allowing greater freedom of movement and eliciting calm rejuvenation.

Hand and Foot Reflexology:

Reflexology is a form of bodywork based on the theory of zone therapy, in which specific spots of the body are pressed to stimulate corresponding areas in other parts of the body. Foot Reflexology is when the pressure techniques are applied to the foot to correspond with each of the organ systems in the body.

Acupressure:

Acupressure is a Western term for a form of bodywork based in traditional Chinese meridian theory in which acupuncture points are pressed to stimulate the flow of energy, or Qi.

Reiki:

Reiki is an ancient method of energy healing. Humans are made of energy. This is science. Picture a circle around yourself. This circle represents your unique electro-magnetic energy. Now imagine yourself in a crowded park, amongst others who also have circles around themselves. What you should begin to visualize is something akin to the Olympic 5-ring symbol, on a grander scale. You and your energy do not exist and function independently. To take it a step further, your energy, which is affected by your daily thoughts, stresses, and emotions, touches and affects others and vice versa. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Acupuncture, and Reiki are based on this principle, and the idea that energy can be harnessed and channeled.

Reiki is a form of “laying of hands” healing. During a session, the practitioner accesses a universal energy connecting us all, in the theory of quantum physics, and channels it into their client by simply putting their hands over the person in a number of learned positions. While energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can be manipulated and transformed. Thee is no mystery to this technique. Reiki gives your energy a boost, and identifies areas of your body that need attention or healing.

The Reiki Principles:

Just for today I will give thanks for my many blessings.
Just for today I will not worry.
Just for today I will not be angry.
Just for today I will do my work honestly.
Just for today I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing.