Glossary

Access Consciousness: A simple set of tools and techniques to create dynamic change in any area of your life. Access includes hands-on body work and verbal processing to energetically delete all the limited programs that keep people stuck in their lives and do not allow one to achieve the easy and joy of life. Improvements in health, relationships, money, ADD/ADHD, Autism, stress related conditions and more can all be achieved quickly and easily with the access tools.

Acupuncture:In this 6000 year old Chinese origin practice, the body is stimulated to correct and balance itself. Chi or qi, life force, flows continuously throughout the body in a network of meridians. When these meridians become imbalanced, dis ease may be present. With stimulation to the meridian with hair thin needles, the energy is allowed to, once again, flow, which returns balance to the body.

Suggested Reading: Acupuncture -Felix Mann, The Complete Book of Acupuncture -Dr. Stephan Chang

Alexander Technique: Our bodies hold our stress making them imbalanced and rigid. Through this practice the musculo-skeletal system and stress conditioning is examined bringing awareness and ease of movement to the body. Also affected can be your breathing, circulation, digestion, emotional equilibrium, and mental attitudes.

Suggested Reading: Body Learning -Michael Gelb

Amma Therapy: This practice is rooted in the same fundamental principles as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. The aim is to remove blockages of qi (energy) to allow for the free flow of energy in the body, thereby restoring, promoting and maintaining optimum health.

Aromatherapy: Essential oils extracted from flowers and herbs are applied to the skin or inhaled to address specific emotional disorders or organ dysfunction. Also included in this scientifically proven practice are the principles of massage, diet, and an understanding of the psychological factors of illness.

Suggested Reading: The Art of Aromatherapy -Robert Tisserand, The Aromatherapy Book -Jeanne Rose

Art Therapy: In this technique, art is used to create a dialogue between the conscious and the unconscious mind. The therapist may also raise verbal questions to stimulate this process. Anxiety, anger and stress are usually relieved by this self-expressive mode.

Suggested Reading: The Creative Journal -Lucia Cappachione

Asian Bodywork:The same fundamental principles and assessments as in Traditional Chinese Medicine are utilized. The pulse is taken, the tongue is checked and the same acupuncture points are treated. The difference is needles are not used, as in acupuncture. It is a massage which focuses on the tendinomuscle and cutaneous regions of the superficial meridians.

Astrology: Individual emotional and spiritual psychology are examined by using birth charts to map planet positions relative to the location and time of birth. The chart interpretation includes the relationships between the planets and the signs of the zodiac, the area of the chart in which they fall, and other symbolic indicators. Fully utilizing your potential, incorporating disparate personality traits, and understanding life’s ebbs and flows are the practice’s goals.

Suggested Reading: Astrology, Psychology & the Four Elements -Stephen Arroyo, Practicing the Cosmic Science: Key Insights in Modern Astrology -Stephen Arroyo

Ayurveda:This 5,000 year old Indian practice includes aroma, diet, exercise, herbs, mantras, massage, meditation, tantras and yoga.. Here health is based on the balancing of the four elements: air, earth, fire and water. The three basic body types: thin (Vata), muscular (Pitta), and fat (Kapha) greatly influence one’s health and well-being as do congenital, electrical genetic and seasonal factors. Self-responsibility is behind this practice, which examines not the symptoms of dis ease but rather the causes, as the pulse is taken and the tongue is examined to disclose organ dysfunction.

Suggested Reading: Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing -Dr. Lad, Yoga of Herbs -Dr. Lad & Dr. Frawley, Ayurvedic Healing -Dr. Frawley

Bioenergetics: Alexander Bowen invented this system of psychotherapeutic bodywork having been influenced by Wilhelm Reich’s work. Our chronic psychological defense mechanisms like repressed emotional trauma makes for rigid muscles. This “armoring” makes for energy blockage. Through breathing, exercise and psychotherapy the physical/emotional blocks can be released.

Suggested Reading: Bioenergetics -Alexander Lowen

Biofeedback: Non-invasive electronic instruments record the ongoing information about the subtle changes in physiologic stress responses (hand temperature, heart rate, muscle tension and respiration). Armed with this information, guided relaxation is taught and employed creating awareness and self-control altering symptoms of anxiety, asthma, chronic pain, headaches, hypertension, insomnia, menstrual pain, migraines, muscle spasms and other stress-induced disorders.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS):Is a pain syndrome of the wrist, caused by a compression of the medial nerve which usually results in an inflammation of the flexor tendons. Another factor, is the carpal bones can become misaligned, narrowing the carpal tunnel. Common symptoms are: tingling or numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers, along with pain in the wrist and sometimes in the forearm. Any occupation that involves direct compression upon the carpal tunnel itself may cause CTS – especially the computer mouse.

Channeling: By opening our awareness to intuitive information we can communicate with our Higher Selves and guides from other dimensions of reality. The information we receive can be instrumental in helping us lead our lives with more joy and ease.

Suggested Reading: Channeling -John Klimo, Opening to Channel – Sanaya Roman

Chelation: If toxins build up in the body causing tissue, circulation and/or metabolic problems this practice of intravenously feeding the body the synthetic amino acid EDTA will block the excess free radical production. This also protects the tissues and organs from further damage and binds to toxic metals in the bloodstream like copper, iron and lead, which can then be flushed out by the kidneys. This therapy, over time, may halt underlying conditions that could eventually trigger degenerative ailments like Alzheimer’s disease, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, cancer, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

Childbirth Education: Education enhances the experience of mothers, babies and families during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Today there are several different types of classes given. Collaborative methods of childbirth preparations are given in classes to expectant families which addresses emotional and spiritual needs of laboring women, their partner and babies. Techniques are taught to assist families to experience birth with dignity and serenity learning the physiology of labor and techniques that guide women and partners throughout labor.

Chinese Medicine: This practice is based on prevention and the idea that a patient is more than symptoms. The client factors noted for analysis, interpretation and treatment are behavior, emotional state, environment, season and stage of life. This practice includes the balancing theory of yin/yang; qi, a vital life energy flowing through meridian paths; acupuncture and acupressure; herbology; nutrition and the Five Phases theory. This theory aligns organs with the 5 categories: fire, earth, metal, water and wood.

Suggested Reading: The Web That Has No Weaver -Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D.

Chiropractic: Optimal functioning of the body is achieved through natural alignment of the body. Spinal-nerve interferences are corrected by forceful or gentle movement corrections. The spinal cord nerve tissues being out of line will interfere with the nerves ability to properly conduct impulses to other tissues and organs, causing ailments or even dis ease in the body. Back injuries, headaches and other traumas and injuries can be treated by this method. See also Network Spinal Analysis.

Christian Science: Based on the words and works of Christ Jesus, Christian Science draws its authority from the Bible. Discovered in 1866, its teachings are set forth in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. Although a distinctive part of Christian Science is the healing of disease by spiritual means alone, its higher purpose is universal salvation from every phase of evil, including sin and death (see Matthew 10:8). Christian Science practitioners dedicate their lives to helping others spiritually. They lend support, pray and are available day or night to offer comfort, to answer questions about the study and application of Christian Science and to give Christian Science treatment.

Suggested Reading: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures – Mary Baker Eddy (Go to www.spirituality.com to read or purchase on line.)

Coaching: Helps you set goals and then reach them. Ask you to do more than you would have done on your own. Help you to focus better so as to produce results more quickly. Provide you with the tools, support, and structure to accomplish more. You get focused and produce faster because you have a coach.

Suggested Reading: Coach Yourself to Success- Talane Miedaner, Aligning the Whole You- John Felitto Intentions- John Felitto Colon Health Care: Accumulated toxins lining the walls of the colon are washed away in the process.

Colon Hydrotherapy: Is a safe, gentle way to soften and loosen waste material. One colonic irrigation is equivalent to 4 to 6 enemas. This practice would be recommended for acne, allergies, constipation, headaches and psoriasis.

Suggested Reading: Colon Health Handbook: New Health Through Colon Hydrotherapy -R. Gray, Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management -Bernard Jensen

Contact Healing™:Encourages a person to “contact” what is most true, real, alive for that person, to be with it, moment by moment, no as to hear, feel, sense its message and allow transformation to happen. This happens both in one-to-one hands-on healing sessions and in psychotherapeutic talk sessions. Tools for self-healing include breathing experiments, ways to recognize and interrupt the cycle of self-sabotaging thoughts, tracking and dialoging with the body, and conscious inner journeys.

Core Energetics:Human beings emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual selves are examined in order to allow energy and consciousness to work together in a deep and transformative, healing process. This work is based on the work of Eva Pierrakos, Freud, Jung and Wilhelm Reich.

Suggested Reading: Core Energetics -John Pierriakos, MD, The Pathwork of Self-Transformation -Eva Pierriakos

Counselor: One who helps clients find answers for themselves by using focused listening skills, facilitating and asking insightful questions. Some counselors offer advice and incorporate teaching in their sessions. One who guides someone to reveal the divine purposes in their life experiences.

Craniosacral Therapy: This system surrounds the brain and the spinal cord creating a core rhythm in the body. It is broadcast throughout the entire body including all the way to the extremities. The practitioner palpates the patient to evaluate the rhythm and treat the restriction (versus symptom chasing) thereby enhancing the body’s innate healing nature. This is a gentle, non-invasive technique performed on a fully clothed client.

Suggested Reading: Your Inner Physician and You -John Upledger, Craniosacral Therapy -John Upledger, D.O., F.A.A.O. & Jon D. Vredevoogd, M.F.A.

Deep Emotional Release Bodywork: Our bodies are our lives’ maps stored in the body’s cellular memory. These deeply ingrained experiences, attitudes and memories are released through a unique pattern of questioning and hands-on techniques. Once negative thoughts, fears, traumas and behavior patterns have been released the client is able to gain greater personal insights, renew creative energy and increase self-esteem and self-confidence.

Dream Interpretation: Dream Interpretation is used for problem solving and to reveal deep emotional blockages. Dreams indicate all our thoughts and feelings, which need to be analyzed and resolved, all this through our subconscious mind.The interpretation will lift up the issues to a conscious level, and the awareness of the issue will result in a faster resolution of the “problem”.

Energy Balancing (Body Work):Realigning and re-attuning the body between the physical and the etheric and auric fields thereby creating well-being and heightened sensitivity is the goal of this practice. The energy centers (the charkas) and the different energy polarities are worked with to rebalance the electromagnetic healing energy system. Also different psychological and/or spiritual self-healing techniques may be utilized as the client is taught to self-empower and self-heal to remain in harmony.

Suggested Reading: Hands of Light -Barbara Brennan, Human Energy Systems -Jack Schwartz

Environmental Medicine: Air pollutants, chemicals, danders, dusts, foods and mold spores are examined for individual intolerance and sensitivities.

Esoteric Healing: Daily living can throw our 7 energy systems called chakras, out of balance. The area of the body: nervous system, endocrine system, internal organ system and blood, which it vitalizes, will become restricted or unbalanced causing dis ease or injury in our physical, mental and/or emotional being. The rebalancing of the energy is both a preventative and a treatment to promote the body’s own natural healing mechanisms. This is performed on a fully clothed client without touching the body.

Suggested Reading: Any writing by Alice Bailey, Spiritual Politics -Gordon Davidson

Feldenkrais Method®: Habitual movement patterns, which have created unhealthy muscular, neurological or orthopedic problems, are replaced through a series of visualization and movement sequences. Achieved are improved posture, flexibility, coordination, and reduction of chronic pain as well as renewed inner vitality. There are two methods: individual table work or group movement.

Suggested Reading: Awareness Through Movement The Potent Self -Moshe Feldenkrais

Feng Shui: Is the ancient Chinese practice of bringing people and their environments into energetic harmony. Correct choice and placement of buildings and the objects in them enhance your well being as it manifests in all its aspects including health, wealth, career and relationships.

Suggested Reading: Interior Design with Feng Shui -Sarah Rossbach, The Western Guide to Feng Shui- Terah Kathryn Collins, Feng Shui Made Easy- William Spear

Flower Essences: If the heart, mind or spirit are in conflict then the body will experience disease is the premise of this practice founded by Dr. Edward Bach. The leaf, twig or flower essence remedies directly correlate to specific mental attitudes or moods and serve as catalysts for the subtler level in the healing process.

Suggested Reading: The Bach Flower Remedies -Dr. Edward Bach Healing Center, Flower Essences and Vibrational Healing -Gurudas

Guided Imagery: A desired outcome is achieved by following a practitioner’s words affecting one’s physical, mental and emotional being. In listening to these words, the imagination is used to evoke positive mind/body responses which in turn enhances the innate healing potential we all possess.

Suggested Reading: Healing Yourself: A Step by Step Program for Better Health Through Imagery -Martin L.Rossman, MD

Healing Touch: This is an ancient practice of healing facilitation where the gentle laying-on-of-hands balances and restores a client’s self-healing on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.

Suggested Reading: Healing Touch: A Resource for Health Care -Dorothea Hover Kramer Ed.D., RN Healer: A person who believes that healing happens when a person accesses and connects with the Source – which is both within each person and beyond, as two ends of the same pole. The healer facilitates that connection being made. It usually begins with an experience of deep relaxation and release of tensions. in a hands-on healing session and continues as a conscious journey into many aspects of one’s self, guided by inner and outer guidance.

Healing Voice: Guided self healing that weaves resonating voice and intuitive body movement.

Herbology: The basis of today’s synthetic pharmaceutical industry, this ancient world-wide practice utilizes plants and their derivatives as preventative and curative medicine without any of the negative side effects of its synthetic counterpart. Herbs can be taken internally or externally as compresses, extracts, oils, ointments, teas and tinctures.

Suggested Reading: School of Natural Healing -John R. Christopher, The Way of Herbs -Michael Tierra

Holistic Center:Holistic Center is a place (space, location) where growth-oriented people can find programs, advice, workshops, and more, on helping them to become fully integrated–that is, by becoming whole (Wholistic) or becoming Holy, that is, spiritual, by integrating body, mind, emotions, and spirit, and more, along with integrating all past and present spiritual paths.

Holistic Coaching: A specialty within coaching, holistic coaches focus on the whole individual. Using techniques such as Energy Alignment the patient reconnects with Spirit (Spiritual Aspect), lightens emotions (Emotional Aspect), expands perspective and creativity (Mental Aspect), and sees what is abundantly available (Physical Aspect). When all four aspects are in alignment, one experiences a sense of greater fulfillment and ease while accomplishing more. This alignment conserves vital energy that can be redirected in healthy ways such as health, career and finances, relationships, re-creation, and contribution.

Suggested Reading: Coaching- Coach Yourself to Success – Talane Miedaner, Holistic Coaching – Aligning The Whole You -John Felitto, Intentions -John Felitto.

Holistic Health Counselor:A Holistic Health Counselor (Nutritionist) is a health care professional certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. The commitment is to empower the individual to discover the relationship between quality food and quality of life. The belief is that the body is highly sophisticated and, if given the right circumstances, will heal and balance itself. Simple changes in one’s dietary and lifestyle practices result in a healthier and happier body.

Holistic Marketer: One who provides spiritual and practical guidance to creating an abundant practice.

Holistic Medicine/Health/ Counselor: The practitioner partners with the client to achieve self-healing and well-being examining the emotional, environmental, nutritional, physical and spiritual client factors and values. Any number of different treatments may be employed whether traditional and/or complementary.

Homeopathy:German physician Samuel Hahnemann developed this holistic practice 200 years ago and is based on the principle that “like cures like.” Just like the suppression of emotions causes illness, it is thought that the suppression of symptoms leads to illness and as the expression of emotion leads to cure, so too does the rapid and gentle expression of symptoms lead to cure. Therefore minute doses of natural remedies created from animal, herbal or mineral sources are administered.

Suggested Reading: Homeopathy- Medicine for the 21st Century- Dana Ullman, Consumers Guide to Homeopathy -Dana Ullman, Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines -Cummings and Ullman

Hypnotherapy: The altered state that occurs under hypnosis (a state of deep relaxation) is used as a therapeutic tool for achieving greater clarity, achieving resolution or developing a more positive attitude. This treatment is often used to reduce stress and to control addictions.

Iridology:When faulty diet, poor absorption and digestion, environmental pollution and high stress levels affect the constitutional state of the body, this can be read by artfully and scientifically examining and analyzing the eye’s iris determining specific organ function, tissue inflammation levels and tissue integrity throughout the body. Each cell, organ and tissue in the body has specific nutritional needs; their depletions are identifiable and reflected in the iris long before blood work can reveal the same thing. This makes this a powerful preventative tool of self-care.

Suggested Reading: Iridology Simplified -Dr. Bernard Jensen, Visions of Health (Understanding Iridology) -Jensen and Bodeen

Life Balancing: Since increased focus is an aspect of coaching, the aim is to be mindful that the focus in one area is not at the expense of other important areas within one’s life. A holistic coach will help maintain a perspective while the client attends to all areas of one’s life.

Lymphatic Drainage: Manual Lymphatic Drainage or MLD, a preventative treatment affects the flow of lymphatic fluid, which is the body’s cleansing system. The fluid transports cellular wastes, fat, proteins, dead cells and plays a major part in maintaining the protein balance of the blood. If this system malfunctions you could have fluid accumulation between loose connective tissue causing swelling. This is a chronic disfiguring and progressively worsening condition. MLD can also be used as a treatment for this malfunction state.

Meditation: This is a focused or mindful state of attention that might include use of a sitting posture, imagery, mantras, breath observation and control and the letting go of ongoing thoughts. This deeply relaxing practice quiets the mind and heals the body, providing inner peace and balance. As a spiritual practice meditation allows the practitioners to attain higher levels of consciousness, allowing greater clarity and awareness to emerge.

Suggested Reading: The Art of Meditation -Joel Goldsmith, Theory and Practice of Meditation -Edited by Rudolph Ballentine, MD

Midwifery: The practice, performed in homes, in hospitals or at independent birthing facilities, of caring for and advising women during pregnancy, labor and the post-birth period. They often work in conjunction with a physician who is on call should any emergency situation arise requiring their intervention.

Suggested Reading: Spiritual Midwifery -Ina Mae Gaskin

Mind/Body Medicine:This holistic approach assumes that the mind with its thoughts and beliefs is inextricably linked to the physical body and its healing. Modalities such as guided imagery, hypnosis, meditation, psychotherapy, relaxation, tai chi and yoga are utilized. The meaning of a particular illness is emphasized and psycho-social influences examined.

NATURAL FORCE HEALING®:Is a unique and revolutionary energetic and vibrational therapy designed to create optimal health and well being in the body, mind and spirit, by accessing and amplifying specific vibrations, energies and frequencies. NATURAL FORCE HEALING® is used as a tool for personal and spiritual growth. Many of its users are quick to affirm its profound impact on their mental, emotional and physical well being. For more information, please see the NFH website at: www.naturalforcehealing.com

Naturopathic Physician: This is a physician with a standard four year medical education in addition to clinical and academic education in the most effective natural medicines such as herbal, homeopathic and/or nutritional therapies. Additionally other therapies such as physical manipulation or Chinese herbal medicines may be employed in the treatment of diseases.

Network Chiropractic: Is a process of healing – unification and alignment of body/mind/spirit – effected by removing nerve interference from 1) spinal misalignment (a “pinched nerve”), which is the result of mechanical or physical stress and 2)stretching or twisting of the spinal cord and connected nerve tissue, which is associated with emotional, mental or chemical stress. It helps you to recover, in a gentle manner, from moments or years of physical, mental/ emotional, chemical and spiritual stress. Network Spinal Analysis: This is light touch form of chiropractic applied at Spinal Gateways to assist the body to develop new strategies for living and healing.

Suggested Reading: The 12 Stages of Healing -Donald Epstein,DC

Neuro-Biofeedback (EEG Feedback): This is a process by which the brain is assisted in bringing itself and the body back into alignment. Electrodes are attached to specific head sites to monitor brain wave patterns. Then specific areas of the brain are trained to permanently replace abnormal patterns with normal ones. This is a great complementary treatment for chronic pain, clinical depression, coma, epilepsy, head traumas, learning disabilities and migraines.

Suggested Reading: Change Your Brain, Change Your Life -Daniel G. Amen, The Right Mind, Making Sense of the Hemispheres -Robert. E. Ornstein

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP): Unconscious thinking patterns as registered in eye movement, breathing and other body language is analyzed in order to alter unconscious negative, harmful beliefs about healing and illness. Visualization is applied to reprogram and alter these negative beliefs. This therapy is good for phobias, learning disabilities, addictive behavior as well as developing positive behaviors.

Suggested Reading: Tranceformations -J. Grindler and R. Bandler

Option Process®Dialogue: This is a self-directed, non-judgmental procedure for identifying and discarding limiting beliefs. It uses a highly respectful and effective system of questions asked with a gentle, loving attitude. Clients uncover and eliminate self-defeating beliefs that have fueled discomfort, distress and unwanted behaviors. In this way, they increase their sense of purpose, happiness and personal power.

Suggested Reading: Happiness is a Choice -Barry Neil Kaufman

Orthomolecular Medicine: Health is achieved here by the administration of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. These are sometimes given in mega doses, exceeding the recommended daily allowance established by the U.S. government.

Osteopathic Physicians: Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O.’s) are fully trained licensed physicians who have extra training in holistic healing techniques such as OMM, Osteopathic Manual Medicine. This is a gentle manipulation over the entire body to restore normal structure and remove restrictions to full body motion. With this increased flow of blood the body is free to invoke its own healing powers. Cranial Osteopathy increases the vitality of the central nervous system. D.O.’s can correct the true underlying cause of bodily dysfunction, relieve pain and hasten recovery from most medical problems.

Suggested Reading: Dr. Fulford’s Touch of Life -Robert C. Fulford, DO, Spontaneous Healing -Andrew Weil, MD

Palmistry/Hand Analysis:The hand is seen as a mirror of the human soul. The lines, wrinkles, form and surface contours of the palm reflect an individual’s character and potential. While not a fixed condition, the hand actually transforms itself as we change ourselves. Fate is fluid and character is destiny is the underlying principle of this practice.

Suggested Reading: The Scientific Laws of Hand Reading -William Benham

Past Lives Regression Therapy: In this practice it is thought that childhood traumas or previous lives underlie current mental, physical and emotional problems. Using states of altered consciousness, this therapy explores past lives and unconscious images in order to stimulate the release from inner restrictions and fears thus revealing more constructive and creative potential for the individual.

Suggested Reading: Other Lives, Other Selves -Roger Woolger

Pilates®:Joseph Pilates developed this program to improve muscle control, flexibility, coordination, strength and tone. Alignment and breathing are improved and movement efficiency is increased. This method works many of the deeper muscles together, improving coordination and balance to achieve graceful as well as efficient motion. The program is used by athletes, hospitals, physical therapy centers and dance studios among others.

Suggested Videos: Working out the Pilates Way

Polarity Therapy: Dr. Randolph Stone created this health care system, which is a synthesis of western and eastern healing sciences. There are dietary principles, exercise and stretching postures, energy balancing, attitudinal work and physical manipulations like chiropractic and osteopathic traditions -performed in this therapy.

Suggested Reading: Your Healing Hands: The Polarity Experience -Richard Gordon

Psychics: A psychic is a person who is able to receive information through the development of heightened intuition. This ability includes clairvoyance (clear seeing), clairsentience (clear feeling), clairaudience (clear hearing), and telepathy (thought reading). Psychics can work with the individuals past, past lives, present, and futures. Readings are done in person or over the phone.

Qi Gong:(also called Chi Gong or Chi Kung) This 7000 year old Chinese personal practice which incorporates movement, meditation, breath regulation and visualization to stimulate the flow of qi or vital life energy along the body’s meridians. This promotes physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health. It is ideal for stress management as well as a safe fitness exercise for cardiovascular, neuromuscular, arthritic and other chronic immune disorders.

Suggested Reading: Qi Gong Therapy: The Chinese Art of Healing with Energy -Master Tzu Kuo Shih

Rebirthing:Our resistance, negativity and feelings of rejection carried into adult life have their origins in the birth process. Rebirthing allows one to fully surrender to oneself so that a natural smooth restructuring may occur, leading to a sense of acceptance, renewal and gratitude for life. This is a self-help method learned under the guidance of a trained, professional rebirther.

Suggested Reading: Rebirthing in the New Age -Leonard Orr and Sondra Ray

Reflexology: The feet, hands and outer ears are a map of the human body in this practice. Gentle, nurturing pressure is applied to pressure points on these extremities, which helps to instigate the body’s self-healing mechanism. Neck, shoulder and lower back pain can be relieved, allergic reactions, headaches upset stomachs and colon discomforts can be extinguished with this practice.

Suggested Reading: The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology -Kevin and Barbara Kurz, Feet First -Laura Norman

Reiki: This method activates and balances universal life-force energy. Light hand placement techniques are used on the body to channel energy to organs and glands and align the charkas (energy centers). Emotional and mental distress, chronic and acute physical problems can be addressed as well as achieving spiritual focus and clarity. This is a practice of health maintenance, disease prevention and healing art.

Suggested Reading: The Reiki Touch -Judy Carol Stewart

Relationship Coaching: When we become aware of the life we want to experience, how we engage with those closest to us becomes an important part of our work. Whether or not we are currently involved with someone, the way others in our lives perceive us and connect with us has a profound affect on our emotional wellbeing, our selfconfidence, our money and career, our bodies and our spirituality. By learning about the dynamics of relationships, particularly who we are attracting into our lives and why, we can begin to create safe space for the people closest to us, while also becoming the partner they are calling us to be. Becoming aware of the space between us and our family members, friends, colleagues and especially our intimate partners allows us to open ourselves towards profound growth, healing and personal empowerment. Healthy relationships create a rewarding and exciting life.

Rubenfeld Synergy Method®: The body, mind, spirit and emotions are taken into account in this listening hands method. This light, listening touch is supplemented by dialogue, imagery. laughter and movement to help the client access memories and emotions stored unconsciously in the body. The client’s growing self-awareness creates other life choices freeing the client to live a more vibrant life.

Suggested Reading: The Listening Hand -Ilana Rubenfeld, Healing Journeys -Vicki Mechner ed.

Shamanism: A shaman (medicine man in ancient times) will speak to the spirits of good and evil in an individual with the aim of ridding oneself of demons in order to clear one’s spirit.

Spiritual Counseling: Basic psychology is coupled with intuitive insight and knowledge of universal laws in order to assist clients in difficult times.

Tarot: These cards are a series of archetypal images with origins in Kabbalistic European mystic traditions. The cards are archetypes of experience and character traits. Each image provides information from the unconscious and is then applied to a client’s troubling current situation, which stimulates thought and leads to revelations and change.

Suggested Reading: The Tarot -Paul Foster Case Motherpeace -Vicki Noble

Therapeutic Touch:This hands on healing practice attunes to the client’s energy fields, locating weakened or congested areas and rebalancing or refreshing them using touch techniques. Deep relaxation, a decrease in anxiety, alleviation of pain, tension release and the kick-in of the body’s own healing mechanism are some of the benefits of the practice. Helpful for stress and chronic pain, it can also ease the transition for the terminally ill.

Suggested Reading: Therapeutic Touch – Dolores Krieger

Trager Approach:Developed by Dr. Martin Trager, 60 plus years ago, this body work creates new possibilities in movement, thinking and feeling. It has successfully treated a number of neuromuscular disorders as well as daily stress and strain. For an hour and a half a client lies on a heavily padded table and is gently cradled or rocked suggesting the freedom of movement. This is followed by simple movement sequences called Mentastics, which are used as tools in working with particular problems.

Suggested Reading: Moving Medicine: The Life and Work of Milton Trager, MD -Jack Liskin

Transformational Breathwork Facilitator: One who has been certified and trained in using breath as a tool for healing and health through the International Breath Institute and The Transformational Breath Foundation.

Vital Movement™ :This unique program for health and well being integrates the teachings and principles of a variety of kinetic and artistic disciplines to provide intense, restorative, and therapeutic movement experiences for people of all ages and movement capacities. Benefits of regular Vital Movement™ work include increased flexibility, expanded range of motion, improved balance and coordination, spinal alignment, physical strengthening, stress management, and personal integration.

Vision Therapy: Visual function and performance is improved through an individualized treatment program using lenses, prisms, occlusion, and colored filters . Perception, vision-body coordination, and visual information processing as well as lack of eye convergence can all be improved by this treatment. The conditions which respond to the therapy are: visual tension headaches, learning related vision problems, strabismus (crossed eyes), and amblyopia (lazy eye).