DESCRIPTION OF THERAPIES

Massage:

Everyone enjoys time to shut down and relax, but did you know that massage increases the circulation of blood and lymph fluid, increasing the oxygen capacity of the blood by up to 15%? Lymph cannot move on its own and massage is one of the most enjoyable ways to get that lymph moving, which affects our immune system and the health of our muscles.

Massage loosens contracted muscles, stimulates weak muscles, and helps move toxins out of the body. It improves the function of the sweat and sebaceous glands, producing healthy, glowing skin. Everyone looks beautiful after a massage. Athletes using massage before or after training and events improve performance, increases endurance, and lower fatigue levels. It also disperses the accumulated by-products of muscle action like lactic and carbonic acid which cause muscle soreness. Muscle recovery increases 20-100% when massage is used. It increases joint flexibility and reduces scaring after injury.

Massage also helps fight depression through the effect it has on the nervous system, stimulating the release of endorphins and relieving pain. And it feels great!

Acupressure

Acupressure is a science that deals with the human body and the flow of natural energy within the body. Pressure is applied on different 'pressure points' on the body, stimulating the corresponding glands and organs, connected to the meridians, or energy pathways, of the body.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger points are areas of tenderness in a muscle. There are two basic types of trigger points: active and latent. Active trigger points cause muscular pain and will refer pain and tenderness to another area of the body when pressure is applied. Latent trigger points only exhibit pain when compressed, they do not refer pain to other areas of the body. Latent trigger points are believed to be one of the causes of stiff joints and restricted range of motion of old age.

Trigger points are often referred to as muscle knots.

The technique involves applying pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Sometimes massage and trigger point therapy are performed together.

Neuromuscular Therapy

Neuromuscular Therapy is static pressure on specific myofascial points to relieve pain through manipulation of soft tissue (muscles, tendons and connective tissue) to balance the central nervous system. This technique stabilizes low levels of neurological activity and addresses multiple symptoms such as:

Ischemia: Lack of blood supply to soft tissues which causes hypersensitivity to touch
Trigger Points: Highly irritated points in muscles which refer pain to other parts of the body

Nerve Compression or Entrapment: Pressure on a nerve by soft tissue, cartilage or bone
Postural Distortion: Imbalance of the muscular system resulting from the movement of the body off the longitudinal and horizontal planes
Biomechanical Dysfunction: Imbalance of the musculoskeletal system resulting in faulty movement patterns (i.e., poor lifting habits, bad mechanics in a golf swing of tennis stroke, computer keyboarding)

Reflexology

Manipulates the nerve endings on the feet to increase stimulation of the meridians and associated organs, bringing the body into homeostasis.

E.R.T. (Emotional Release Therapy)

These sessions start with bringing the client into an alpha or theta state through relaxation, chakra balancing, or reiki. Guided imagery is used to bring the client into a comfortable and safe setting where they feel able to allow the subconscious to do the talking. The session is then guided by the client so that no ideas are suggested into the subconscious by the therapist. Questions are asked based on the response of the client that lead the client to an awareness of what they are thinking and feeling on a subconscious level. The ultimate goal of the session is to help the client release energy blocks and emotions.

Q: Why couldn't you just do the same thing through prayer or meditation?

Many can, especially with proper training, but often a client has a difficult time connecting to the issues that plague them because of fear, and they need help tapping in to their core emotions. If they only state their discomfort (i.e., traditional psychology) without literally changing the neuropathways of the brain by replacing negative thought with new patterns, they will most likely repeat the process of the pain surfacing. Many clients understand what the issues are, cognitively, but need help in releasing jammed frequencies in energy pathways which enables them to internalize what they comprehend.

Chakra Balancing

In chakra balancing the client remains fully clothed while laying on their stomach. (Balancing can also be done laying on the back or even sitting.) By working through the back (the

"will") clients more readily release entrapped energy. The therapist manipulates the energy in the seven main chakras that correspond to the seven major nerve bundles located along the spine. This allows the client to expose and release trapped energy or emotion, which enables the chakra's energy to translate freely to corresponding body systems. Basic balancing is relaxing and meditative. Clients often describe it as a

"floating" feeling during the session which leaves them calm and clear-headed afterward.

Emotional Release is often combined with chakra balancing when the client wants to delve deeper into core issues that trap them in non-productive patterns. This is often referred to as "processing" and is approached without a specific script or protocol which allows the client personal healing on their terms and at their pace.