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)

ISOMETRIC MUSCLE BALANCING

Developed by Charlotte Vandergrift, Isometric Muscle Balancing is based on the muscle testing positions used in kinesiology.

Balancing and strengthening the 42 major muscles are accomplished by isometric action, producing a feeling of lightness and an increase in energy. A 45-minute to one hour session also includes instruction in creating and maintaining balance and proper postural habits, as well as attention to diet and attitude.

(See also: ISOMETRIC MUSCLE BALANCING , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

RELAXATION

A wide variety of complementary therapies claim to improve health by producing relaxation. Some therapists use the relaxed state as a means of promoting psychological change. Other therapies incorporate movement, stretches, and breathing exercises. Relaxation and "stress management" are found to a certain extent within conventional medicine. They generally overlap with other, more clearly complementary, therapies. Relaxation therapy is appropriate for any ill child who is able to follow verbal directions. It is much easier to relax when provided with specific steps rather than just being told to "relax."

One of the most simple and easily learned techniques for relaxation is Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR), a widely used technique that was developed by Jacobson in 1939. One learns to relax the muscles through a two-step process. First, one deliberately applies tension to certain muscle groups, and then stops the tension and focuses on how the muscles relax as the tension flows away.

(See also: RELAXATION , Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

ANIMAL MASSAGE

Both pets and performance animals experience soft tissue damage in their daily lives just as humans do.

Therapeutic massage provides significant relief, stimulates healing, and promotes stress reduction and relaxation. Other benefits include enhancing performance by increasing range of motion, maintaining muscle tone and joint flexibility, increasing blood and lymph circulation, increasing oxygen to reduce muscle spasms, flushing toxins from muscles and joints, improving disposition, preventing injuries, stimulating areas affected postoperatively, recovering from skeletal and muscular surgery or injury, relieving muscle pain by releasing endorphins, and relieving discomfort from arthritis, lameness, and hip hysplasia.

Animals also can receive pre- and post-event massage for competition.

See equine massage.

(See also: ANIMAL MASSAGE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Swedish Massage: While the healing power of touch is an ancient concept, this technique is named after Swedish massage pioneer, Peter Ling (1776-1839).  This technique emphasizes that all strokes go toward the heart.  Swedish massage uses five main strokes to stimulate the circulation of the blood through the soft tissue of the body.

Theory Swedish Massage

By stroking and kneading the body, metabolic processes and blood circulation are stimulated.  Basic Swedish massage is a relaxing massage that relieves stress, improves sleep, and enhances circulation by improving muscle tone and flexibility.

Techniques of Swedish Massage

Stroking with a light pressure is repeated rhythmically.  Fresh blood flows to the tissues, nourishing them with increased oxygen and other nutrients.

Petrissage or Kneading

Picking up the muscles by squeezing and pressing.  Petrissage helps reduce edema and decongests muscles by encouraging the expulsion of fluids from the muscle.

Friction or Rubbing

Circular or transverse strokes.  Friction massage helps free muscles from scar tissue formed after an injury.  It also helps loosen joints and tendons.

Tapotement or Percussion

Performed by cupping or clapping.  It can be light or deep.

Range of Motion

Mobilizes joints.  Parts of the body are rotated, flexed, and extended.

(See also: Swedish Massage , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

applied kinesiology (AK, kinesiology): Elaborate system of ostensible diagnosis and treatment whose centerpiece is muscle testing (see below). Detroit chiropractor George J. Goodheart, Jr., developed the first AK procedure (the origin and insertion technique) in 1964. He theorized that muscle groups share energy pathways with internal organs and that, therefore, every organ dysfunction is discoverable in a related muscle. Testing muscles for relative strength and tone taps the body's innate intelligence and enables practitioners to detect specific dysfunctions. AK encompasses: clinical nutrition; CranioSacral Therapy; dietary management; homeopathy, including classical homeopathy; meridian therapy (see Ching Lo), especially acupressure and acupuncture; and reflexology.

(See also: Applied kinesiology , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

SOFT TISSUE RELEASE

Soft tissue release (STR) is a powerful injury treatment technique developed in Europe with the world’s fastest sprinters. Due to the amazing amounts of prize money and endorsement contracts available to these athletes, faster and more permanent results were warranted.

Soft tissue release was developed to meet this need. Recovery rates once considered impossible by traditional therapists and sports medicine doctors were achieved. These are not new concepts, but are based on European osteopathy techniques, along with insights from quantum physics. In recent years, Soft tissue release has been given clinical application for chronic low back pain and whiplash injuries.

Soft tissue release deals directly with the reasons for soft tissue dysfunctions and subsequent referred pain and nerve entrapment. In acute conditions, Soft tissue release affects the insidious way scar tissue is formed, and in chronic conditions Soft tissue release breaks up the fibrotic and adhered mass of scar tissue to quickly allow the muscle to return to its natural resting length. Once the muscle or muscle group has returned to the original resting length, there is an immediate release from the pain induced by the inflammation response.

With Soft tissue release, the client is placed in a particular position so that the muscle begins to stretch in a very specific direction or plane. The exact location of the injury has been defined and a determined pressure is applied directly into the affected tissue or along a specific line of injury. At the same time, depending whether passive or active techniques are being used, the client is given a set of instructions that now engage the antagonist of the muscles involved. The muscle is extended from a fixed position in a determined direction under a pinpoint of pressure. Decrease in pain and increase in range of motion are often immediate, offsetting any minor discomfort experienced.

Soft tissue release can be modified so there is no client discomfort at all. The flowing motions of Soft tissue release and total client control afford new levels of deep tissue work and subsequent pain relief.

(See also: SOFT TISSUE RELEASE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

ACTIVE MUSCULAR RELAXATION TECHNIQUES: Active muscular relaxation techniques are a powerful new approach to bodywork used for relaxing overactive muscles and managing soft tissue pain. Over-activity in local musculature is a typical response to pain from trauma or poor posture.

Active muscular relaxation techniques utilize resisted isometric contractions of the overactive muscle or its antagonist (the one opposing its action). The objective of this procedure is to relax and/or lengthen (stretch) the overactive muscle.

(See also: Active muscular relaxation techniques , Body Mind and Soul)

A dictionary Of Commonly Used Sanskrit terms. From A to Crore.

Please note that all words in grey, like "yoga", "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

Herbal therapy or botanical therapy or herbalism:

employs parts of plants (seed, stem, flowers, root, bark, leaf) for the relief of conditions, ailments, or complaints; the earliest known form of medicine. Some popular herbs and common applications are:

algae (spirulina): the most commonly used variety is blue-green algae. Algae is available in powder, tablet and supplemental fruit drink forms. Used to reduce cholesterol levels and to treat degenerative disorders, including arthritis. Unproven medical benefits include treating obesity, colitis, and diabetes mellitus.

aloe or aloe vera: plant widely used as a skin moisturizer and healing agent, especially in treating cuts, burns, insect stings, eczema, bruises, acne, poison ivy rash, sunburn, and psoriasis.

arnica: used as an external remedy for bruises, sprains, and sore muscles and joints.

astragalus: from a family of peas that benefits digestive processes and the immune system; increases resistance to disease and infections; restores depressed immunity, and is used to treat peripheral vascular diseases and to restore peripheral circulation.

black cohosh: helps relieve sinusitis and asthma; lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure; relieves pain, morning sickness, hot flashes, and menstrual cramps.

burdock: with diuretic and orexigenic properties, used to treat cutaneous eruptions, rheumatism, gout, anorexia nervosa, and eczema.

calendula: traditionally used to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and epistaxis; varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and conjunctivitis.

capsicum/capsaicin/cayenne fruit: taken orally to improve circulation, digestion, and stop bleeding from ulcers, to relieve nausea, rheumatism, arthritis, and pleurisy. Used externally for painful muscle spasms of shoulder, arm, and spine and to treat arthritis, rheumatism, neuralgia, lumbago, chilblains, intractable pain associated with shingles (herpes zoster), postmastectomy, diabetic neuropathy, and cluster headaches.

cat's claw bark: used to treat AIDS patients, arthritis, neurobronchitis, allergies, rheumatism, diverticulosis, Crohn's disease, peptic and gastric ulcers, gastritis, parasites, colitis, leaky bowel syndrome, dysentery, hemorrhoids, cancer, herpes, diabetes, and inflammation.

chamomile: often made into a tea and used as a digestive aid, nerve tonic, sleep aid, and appetite stimulant.

cranberry fruit: used for the relief of ladder and urinary tract infections, blood disorders, stomach ailments, liver problems, vomiting, appetite loss, scurvy, and cancer.

dong quai root: used for hot flashes, menopause, premenstrual syndrome, vaginal dryness, anemia with dizziness and palpitation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, constipation, rheumatic arthralgia, menorrhalgia, rheumatalgia, functional bleeding, chest, and abdominal pain.

echinacea herb, also called purple coneflower: bitter herb used for colds and chronic infections of the respiratory tract and lower urinary tract, treatment of Candida albicans infections, prostatitis, polyarthritis (rheumatoid arthritis). Externally, an ointment is used for poorly healing wounds and chronic ulcerations, burns, eczema, psoriasis, and herpes simplex.

evening primrose oil: aids in weight loss, reduces high blood pressure, and helps to treat all skin disorders, female disorders such as cramps and heavy bleeding, hot flashes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and alcoholism.

feverfew: used for prophylaxis and treatment of migraine headaches, nausea, vomiting, arthritis, fever, and menstrual disorders. .

flaxseed: used for female disorders, colon problems, inflammation, and tumors. Promotes strong nails, bones, and teeth and healthy skin.

garlic cloves: used in the West primarily for its cardiovascular effects, principally as a support to dietetic measures at elevated levels of lipids in blood and as a preventive measure for age-dependent vascular changes. Garlic is also used for atheroma, prophylaxis of atherosclerosis, hypertension, respiratory infections, and catarrhal conditions and as a natural antibiotic.

ginger rhizome: primary uses of ginger are prophylaxis of the nausea and vomiting of motion sickness, dyspepsia, stomachic. It is also used as a tonic digestant in sub-acid gastritis, for lack of appetite, as a postoperative antiemetic for minor surgical procedures, for colic, for morning sickness, anorexia, bronchitis, and rheumatic complaints.

ginkgo biloba leaf extract: improves memory loss, brain function, depression, cerebral and peripheral circulation, oxygenation, and blood flow. Good for tinnitus, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, heart and kidney disorders, and glucose utilization.

ginseng root: used for impotence, stress, cocaine withdrawal, energy, diabetes, colds, and chest problems. Promotes lung function, enhances immune function, stimulates appetite, and normalizes blood pressure. Varieties popularly used include American ginseng, Asian ginseng, and Siberian ginseng.

goldenseal: used to strengthen the immune system; acts as an antibiotic; has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, potentiates insulin, and cleanses the body. Good for colds, flu, inflammation, glandular swelling, gum disease, morning sickness, diabetes, hypoglycemia, and ulcers.

grape seed extract: used as a dietary supplement for antioxidant and other cardiovascular benefits and for anti-inflammatory actions.

green tea leaf: believed to act as an antioxidant to prevent cancer and possibly other diseases; reduces the risk of stroke; lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.

kava kava rhizome: used to treat nervous anxiety, stress, and restlessness.Contraindicated in pregnancy, nursing, or endogenous depression.

licorice root: used for catarrhal conditions of the upper respiratory tract and gastric/duodenal ulcers. Licorce is an ingredient in cough drops and syrups, tonics, laxatives, and antismoking preparations.

ma huang: has been used to relieve allergies, asthma, hay fever, colds, and inflammatory conditions. The plant contains two primary alkaloids, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

passionflower: said to possess sedative, hypnotic, antispasmodic, and calming effects. Used to treat neuralgia, seizures, hysteria, nervous tachycardia, spasmodic asthma, and insomnia.

saw palmetto berry: used primarily for urination problems in benign prostate hyperplasia stages 1 and 2.

St. John's wort: traditionally used as a muscle relaxant to relieve menstrual problems, as a mild tranquilizer and as a treatment for depression and insomnia.

valerian root: used primarily for restlessness, sleeping disorders based on nervous conditions; also good for headaches, colic, gas, pain, stress, anxiety, muscle cramps, and spasms.

(See also: Herbal therapy , Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

Kundalini Dictionary

Dictionary over terms related to kundalini and kundalini awakening. Please note that words in grey like " Kundalini " are links to archives with related articles.

APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY: Applied physiology uses the science and art of muscle/fascial monitoring to learn about states of stress in the body.

Certain specific muscles are related to various organs and body systems through the acupuncture meridian network. By monitoring a specific muscle, it is possible to get a "readout" of energy related to a particular organ or body system.

(See also: Applied physiology , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

DEEP TISSUE BODYWORK: general term for a range of therapies that seek to improve the function of the bodyÕs connective tissues and/or muscles. Among the conditions treated are whiplash, low back and neck pain, and degenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

Deep Tissue Massage is a 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 fibre's of the muscles, tendons and fascia.

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, but if it's done right the client should feel better than ever within a day or two.The technique is often used in combination with other massage procedures such as those used in Remedial and Sports Massage.

(See also: Deep tissue bodywork , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

APPLIED KINESIOLOGY: a diagnostic technique and therapy developed in the 1960s by a chiropractor (George Goodheart). Applied kinesiology posits that organ or gland dysfunctions show up as weaknesses in certain muscles.

Using gentle pressure, applied kinesiologists test muscle strength to identify health problems and nutritional deficiencies. After diagnosis, treatment may involve exercises to strengthen a muscle, hands-on manipulation of the muscles and bones, and vitamin or mineral supplements.

(See also: Applied kinesiology , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Deep Muscle Massage

releases patterns of chronic tension in the body through slow strokes and/or deep finger pressure on contracted muscles, either following or going across the grain of muscles and tendon. Can be used for specific areas or full-body.

(See also: Deep Muscle Massage , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Trapped : Dream Interpretation Dictionary - Being lost or trapped

Being lost or trapped

In these highly common dreams, you're lost and feeling desperate. You may be buried alive or locked in a cage. Or you dream of not being able to move; you're powerless to scream or breathe.

These dreams may occur when you feel confusion or conflict about how to act in waking life.

The images are influenced by biological roots and experience. Feeling trapped or paralyzed also mirrors what occurs to the large muscles of the body during normal REM sleep, when they're paralyzed to prevent the body from acting out the dreams.

Such dreams could reflect frustrations in waking life, such as feeling trapped in a relationship or a dead-end job.

You may open a door in your home to find a new room or find something new in the neighborhood. These dreams occur usually when you feel an aspect of your life if opening up.

(See also: Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation Trapped , Dream Dictionary Trapped )

MASSAGE

Hands-on manipulation for healing is probably older than any other healing tradition. The oldest written records of massage go back three thousand years to China, but it is much older than that. Touch and the laying on of hands are human tendencies that seem to be in our genetic makeup.

Perhaps the most basic principle in this field is that improved blood circulation is beneficial for virtually all health conditions. Tension in the muscles and other soft tissues can impair circulation, resulting in a deficient supply of nutrients and inadequate removal of wastes or toxins from the tissues of the body. This in turn can lead to illness, structural and functional problems, or slower healing. Recognition of the importance of blood circulation is implicit in all forms of massage and bodywork.

Massage includes a number of disciplines that share the use of pressure, friction and strain upon the muscles and joints of the body for therapeutic or physical responses. Swedish massage (which is a proper name, not a reference to Sweden) refers to a collection of techniques designed primarily to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. Shiatsu (pronounced shee-OTT-sue), on the other hand, is a system based on the body's energy meridians. Shiatsu massages are normally done fully clothed and involve pressing points on the body and stretching and opening of the energy meridians. 

There are massage therapists experienced in working with the elderly and terminally ill, the chronically ill and disabled, and those persons recovering from trauma as well as infants. A range of gentle and noninvasive techniques tailored to each client group and treatment includes the therapist's sensitivity, responsiveness, and presence through subtle touch. Ill children feel better when touched in just the right way.

(See also: MASSAGE , Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY

A muscle monitoring technique, applied physiology allows the body to express what is out of balance and provides information to restore that balance. Muscles are put through a normal range of motion, monitored to determine where the stresses lie.

The centerpiece of the technique is using acupoints to ask “questions” about specific physiological and anatomical stresses. The goal of treatment is to let go of the stress within the body by integrating the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components of an individual.

(See also: APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

KINESIOLOGY

The study of muscles and their movement. Applied kinesiology is a system that uses muscle testing procedures, in conjunction with standard methods of diagnosis, to gain information about a patient’s overall state of health. Practitioners analyze muscle function, posture, gait and other structural factors in addition to inquiring about lifestyle factors that may be contributing to a health-related problem.

(See also: KINESIOLOGY , Alternative Health, Healing, Body Mind and Soul)

 Ashvini:

a mudra: contraction of the anal sphincter muscles

(See also:  Ashvini , Body Mind and Soul)