POLARITY THERAPY

Polarity therapy is based on universal principles of energy - attraction, repulsion, and neutrality. The interrelation of these principles forms the basis for every aspect of life, including our experience of health, wellness, and disease. With this understanding, polarity therapy addresses the interdependence of body, mind, and spirit, the importance of relationships, and the value of creating a way of life in harmony with nature. Founded by Austrian-born naturopath Dr. Randolph Stone in the mid-1920s, polarity therapy is a clothes-on, noninvasive system complementing existing systems with an integrated, holistic model.

Polarity is based on the belief that positive and negative poles exist in every cell. The body is gently manipulated to balance the positive and negative energies. In addition to physical manipulation, blockages and toxins are eliminated through a cleansing diet and simple exercises. Treatments are suggested in a series of four. Training to become a practitioner is 430 hours.

(See also: POLARITY THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY

This comprehensive program of soft-tissue manipulation balances the body’s central nervous system with the musculoskeletal system. Based on neurological laws that explain how the central nervous system initiates and maintains pain, the goal is to help relieve the pain and dysfunction by understanding and alleviating the underlying cause.

Neuromuscular therapy can help individuals who experience distortion and biomechanical dysfunction, which is often a symptom of a deeper problem. It is also used to locate and release spasms and hypercontraction in the tissue, eliminate trigger points that cause referred pain, rebuild the strength of injured tissues, assist venous and lymphatic flow, and restore postural alignment, proper biomechanics, and flexibility to the tissues.

(See also: NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

ART THERAPY

Using the media of the arts (sculpture, painting, collage, etc.) to provide release of symbolic expression, art therapy allows the individual an opportunity to confront inner perceptions of the self.

(See also: ART THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

BREATH THERAPY

The use of respiratory exercises to open lung passages, oxygenate the blood, and cleanse the body by eliminating gaseous toxins. The client is encouraged to breath deeply while the therapist works the appropriate muscles. Breath therapy can ease anxieties and reduce stress.

(See also: BREATH THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

COLOR THERAPY

An ancient system using specific color rays to treat the body and mind, color therapy is based on the notion that organs and systems vibrate at certain frequencies. By applying a particular color ray on an area, the correct vibration - bringing with it health - will be restored.

(See also: COLOR THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

HOSHINO THERAPY

Developed by Japanese-born, Argentine immigrant Tomezo Hoshino, Hoshino Therapy was declared an official medical therapy in Argentina in 1952. Hoshino is a non-intrusive massage and movement system to relieve and prevent musculoskeletal pain and restore vitality. Hoshino therapy recognizes 250 vital acupuncture pressure points directly over the muscles, tendons and ligaments which relate to the bio-mechanical functioning of the body. Pressure and body warmth are applied by the first joint of the thumb and with full-hand contact to reverse the hardening of the soft tissues. Therapy is combined with daily exercises called Hoshino Action.

(See also: HOSHINO THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

HAKOMI THERAPY

A body-centered psychotherapy, hakomi was started in the mid-1970s by American Ron Kurtz. Hakomi uses body tensions and sensations to access information about the limiting beliefs, patterns, and habits of the individual. Hakomi bodywork includes hands-on manipulation to access and change these beliefs. Treatments vary to meet individual needs.

(See also: HAKOMI THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, noninvasive method of evaluating and enhancing the function of a physiological body arrangement called the craniosacral system. Developed by John E. Upledger, D.O., O.M.M., this manual therapy enhances the body’s natural healing processes and has proven effective in treating a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.

The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face, and mouth - which make up the cranium - down to the sacrum or tailbone. Since this system influences the development and function of the brain and spinal cord, any imbalance or dysfunction in the craniosacral system could cause sensory, motor, or neurological disabilities. These problems may include chronic pain, eye difficulties, scoliosis, motor-coordination impairments, learning disabilities, and other dysfunctions of the central nervous system.

Craniosacral therapy encourages the body’s natural healing mechanisms to improve the functioning of the central nervous system, dissipate the negative effects of stress, and enhance health and resistance to disease.

The craniosacral therapy practitioner uses a light touch to assist the natural movement of fluid within the craniosacral system. Therapists generally use only 5 grams of pressure, roughly the weight of a nickel, to test for restrictions in various parts of the craniosacral system. It’s often possible for the evaluation alone to remove the restriction and allow the system to correct itself.

(See also: CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

CRYSTLEDYNE THERAPY

Utilizing self-activated crystal stimulator, which creates an electrical stimulus when two crystals inside are forced together, this therapy stimulates acupuncture, acupressure, and reflexology points on the body, releasing endorphins from the brain to help block pain receptors in afflicted areas and open circuits of the body.

(See also: CRYSTLEDYNE THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

zone therapy (Reflex Zone Therapy, reflex zone massage): Early form of Western reflexology introduced in the United States in 1913 by William H. Fitzgerald, M.D., a specialist in diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. Fitzgerald, author of Zone Therapy, or Relieving Pain at Home (1917), divided human anatomy into ten zones and professed that bioelectrical energy flowed through these zones to reflex points in the hands and feet. His method, which was also called zonotherapy, included the fastening of wire springs around toes. Fitzgerald's associate, Edwin F. Bowers, M.D., coined the name zone therapy. Today, zone therapy may include the attachment of clothespins to fingertips and the use of pencils and aluminum combs.

(See also: Zone therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Qigong therapy (buqi, buqi therapy, external qigong, external Qigong healing, External Qi Healing, medical Qigong, Qi An Mo, Qigong healing, Qi healing, Qi Massage, wai Qi liao fa, Wai Qi Zhi Liao):

1. medical application of short-distance psychokinesis. Qigong therapy is comparable to Non-Contact Therapeutic Touch. At most, it includes light touching.

Its theory posits healing Qi and diseased Qi. (Buqi means spreading the Qi. Wai Qi means external Qi and refers toa shield of chi at the surface of the body. Wai Qi liao fa means curing with external Qi.)

2. Subject of Qigong Therapy and How to Use It (East & West Publications, Ltd.), by Linhai; a combination of acupointing, chiropractics, massage, physical therapy, Tuina, and qi transmission.

(See also: Qigong therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

STRUCTURAL ENERGETIC THERAPY

Developed in 1983, Structural Energetic Therapy (SET) is a deep-tissue, body-restructuring therapy that addresses chronic and acute pain and dysfunction.

Structural Energetic Therapy integrates cranial/ structural techniques, myofascial unwinding, myofascial restructuring, emotional energy release, kinesiology, and postural analysis to address client symptoms and problems as they relate to body structure.

Structural Energetic Therapy is a client-centered therapy that treats the specific needs unique to each client by addressing their particular injuries and conditions as they relate to the structural distortions. The release of the core distortion pattern, both cranially and structurally, allows a balanced weight-bearing pelvis to support the entire spine, and facilitates the unwinding of all other structural distortions.

The goal of Structural Energetic therapy is to have clients return to life activities pain free.

(See also: STRUCTURAL ENERGETIC THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

TRAUMA TOUCH THERAPY

Trauma touch therapy was developed to address the needs of clients affected by trauma and abuse, including sexual and emotional abuse or battering and the trauma of war, surgery, or criminal violence.

Focused on empowering the client, this technique combines therapeutic movement and breathwork with psychotherapeutic elements to bring body and mind together in holistic healing. The pace of therapy is determined individually according to the client’s need. Relearning touch from a healthy perspective is a major focus of the therapy.

The trauma touch training program was developed in 1993 at the Colorado School of Healing Arts.

(See also: TRAUMA TOUCH THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

UNIFIED FIELD THERAPY

Unified field therapy (UFT) proposes that beyond the body, beyond energy, lies a matrix of consciousness that permeates every aspect of our world. This dynamic, ever expansive matrix forms a single field from which all conscious life flows. This field is called the Unified Field.

All physical, mental, emotional, and energetic patterns known to our world originate from this single source. Present in our every experience, these patterns form the very fabric of our reality. The most subtle shift or change in these patterns can yield immense expansion in our consciousness and bring enormous transformation to one’s life. Utilizing this knowledge, Unified field therapy directly accesses the Unified Field to initiate shifts within a conscious system.

Clients remain fully clothed and are asked to lie face up on a massage table in a comfortable position with eyes closed and attention focused internally. The therapist then begins to evaluate, palpate, and integrate fields of consciousness surrounding and permeating the client. This can be done in a hands-on or hands-off application. Sessions last approximately 40 to 60 minutes. Accordingly, clients must define for themselves how their consciousness integrates and changes as a result of this work. For this reason, therapists are trained not to define or project their perceptions or expectations onto a client’s experience.

Therapists often request that new clients follow up between 48 to 72 hours after the initial visit to discuss any additional “shifts” that may have occurred in the interim.

(See also: UNIFIED FIELD THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

VORTEXHEALING ENERGETIC THERAPY

VortexHealing is an energetic healing art that works solely with divine light and consciousness. It derives its name from a particular energy-vortex that is the interface between our physical world and a divine healing realm that is accessed in this art.

This healing realm allows for the practitioner to channel not just a very powerful healing energy - the divine energy and light of the Vortex - but also the consciousness of this realm, which is composed of seven divine beings whose sole intention is to manifest healing. This enables VortexHealing to perform healings on the physical and emotional level as well as to release the deepest karmic issues we hold as human beings - they are transformed directly by divine consciousness.

(See also: VORTEXHEALING ENERGETIC THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

ZEN BODY THERAPY

This technique integrates Zen training with Eastern teachings of the circulation of vital energy or essence of life.

(See also: ZEN BODY THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

LYMPH DRAINAGE THERAPY

Lymph Drainage Therapy is unique in that healthcare professionals learn how to palpate the lymphatic flow. As they develop their skills, they can then identify the rhythm, direction, and quality of the lymphatic flow.

Advanced practitioners will be able to precisely map the lymphatic flow to find alternate pathways for drainage. Developed by Bruno Chikly, M.D., Lymph Drainage Therapy evolved from years of training in traditional medicine, Oriental medicine practices, and manual therapies. (Definition provided by The Upledger Institute.)

(See also: LYMPH DRAINAGE THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

KOREAN MARTIAL THERAPY

This is an effective deep-tissue modality that includes massage strokes, body movement, stretches, pressure point therapy, yum yang therapy, and Korean energy work. Gentle on the practitioner, Korean Martial Therapy (KMT) may be performed with the client on a table, the floor, or in a chair, and may or may not incorporate the use of oils.

Derived from Hapkido and Traditional Korean Medicine, Korean Martial Therapy began as self-therapy stretches that were found useful for keeping warriors in top condition and helping them recover quickly from injury.

(See also: KOREAN MARTIAL THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

INTEGRATIVE MANUAL THERAPY

This therapy recognizes that each person is more than the total components of anatomy, physics, and chemistry, and is instead affected by emotions, thoughts, social interactions, mind, spirit, consciousness, soul, and more.

Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT) combines multiple therapies to locate and alleviate health challenges through individual body systems. Utilizing a combination of structural rehabilitation (a manual therapy process of normalization) and functional rehabilitation (a therapy to restore functional outcome according to the optimal potential of the client), Integrative Manual Therapy utilizes the expertise of professionals in many fields - physical therapy, osteopathic medicine, homeopathy, audiology, massage therapy, etc.

(See also: INTEGRATIVE MANUAL THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

MYOPATHIC MUSCULAR THERAPY

Myopathy is a system of muscular manipulation designed to accomplish relaxation in muscles in which there is progressive and residual tension from physical strain, nervous strain, sports injuries, accidents, infections, and/or years of declining health.

Created by Dr. Claude Heckman, myopathy reduces inflammation and pain, restores circulation and motion, and aids in the restoration of normal body functions without the use of oil, cream, powder, or lotion.

(See also: MYOPATHIC MUSCULAR THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

MYOPRACTIC MUSCLE THERAPY

Robert Petteway developed the Myopractic system after 30 years in the healing arts. His experience in structural integration, biomechanics, acupuncture, Oriental medicine, and a wide variety of muscle therapies contribute to the system. He worked with physicians, surgeons, and chiropractors for more than 20 years to develop this therapeutic model.

Myopractic muscle therapy combines three basic techniques: compression stretching, which achieves deep relaxation and relieves tension, spasms, and holding patterns; clearing methods, which use the myopractic covered thumb and framing techniques to clean obstructions from soft tissue (e.g., trigger points, scar tissue, muscle bundles, and old bruise); and separating techniques to release myofascial adhesions, separate fascial planes, and rebalance muscles.

Myopractic muscle therapy integrates its own unique style of energetic work, Swedish, sports, trigger point, myofascial, and even structural integration techniques into one easy-to-learn system.

Myopractic teaches user-friendly, pain-free therapy for both client and practitioner. This is accomplished using the therapist’s body weight and leverage, rather than relying on size and strength. Myopractic posture balancing evaluation identifies the source of chronic pain misalignments in the body’s structure and realigns them.

Myopractic treatments focus especially on misalignments in the lower body, particularly in the feet, ankles, and the hips. Addressing lower-body misalignments often relieves tension injuries in the upper body. Myopractic espouses a therapist can clear their clients only to the degree they themselves are clear. Therefore the seminars focus on clearing the therapist, as well as learning new techniques.

(See also: MYOPRACTIC MUSCLE THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

QIGONG MERIDIAN THERAPY

Qigong Meridian Therapy (QMT) is a natural healing system. It is derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine, which originated several thousand years ago.

Qigong Meridian Therapy is based on the concept of qi and its focus is qi. Qi is vital energy, the unseen life force that courses though the body, enabling it to perform its functions, and which permeates all of nature.

The purpose of Qigong Meridian Therapy is to release the innate healing ability of the person so their body can maintain health and resist disease. In Qigong Meridian Therapy treatments, specific hand techniques are used to guide healing energy which stimulates the meridians and certain points along or near the meridians.

The Qigong Meridian Therapy treatments serve to remove energy blockages, balance the overall qi of the person, and increase their energy.

(See also: QIGONG MERIDIAN THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)