By definition, massage is the movement of the body's soft tissue. Through the use of compressive, gliding and kneading strokes, the massage therapist works to relax, open and restore balance to the muscles and the body as a whole. But massage is much more. Massage is a way of honoring and caring for your body. Good bodywork reconnects pathways on multiple levels within the body, providing an enhanced awareness of your body and how you feel within it.
Intuitive, nurturing, sensitive, strong, gentle – these are the words clients have used to describe my style of massage therapy. My diverse training in multiple techniques of bodywork and energetic healing enable me to create individual treatments for my clients. The following are the primary massage methods I work with to open, relax and restore balance to the muscles while aiding in the realignment of the body, mind and spirit as a whole.
Hawaiian Energetics is a form of hands-on healing based on the ancient healing teachings of the Kahuna (masters) of Hawaii. The medical Kahuna utilized and directed the elemental energies – fire, air, water and earth – to promote balance and well-being in a person’s body. These elemental energies are the building blocks of our physical existence.
Through their philosophy and spiritual beliefs, the ancient Hawaiians had an intimate understanding of the elements and how they related to the body, environment and the world around them. This understanding extended to the balance and relationship of the elements to the body’s organs and systems.
Daily life presents challenges and choices that can lead to distress and imbalance. Healing occurs when these imbalances are corrected and the elemental energies flow freely and in appropriate volume through the body.
The ancient teachings speak of three bodies – the physical, the etheric and the astral. Each body has its own needs and functions. Together, they make up who we are as a person. Thus, the health and balance of the three bodies is critical to our well-being. To understand the healing process, it helps to have an understanding of the three bodies.
It is through the physical body that we experience the world in which we live. The physical body is tactile and experiences sensations – taste, smell, touch, thought. It requires nutrients, fluid and protection to maintain its health and functionality. The physical body moves us through our daily life and tasks.
The etheric body is considered the powerhouse for the physical body. The etheric body also maintains the communication between all three of the bodies. Electro-magnetic in nature, the energetic body contains all four of the elemental energies, regulating their flow to the physical body as needed. The etheric body replenishes itself from the surrounding environment which abounds in elemental energies.
The astral body is the most challenging to comprehend. It is the body that provides us with direction and purpose as we live our physical life. The astral body gathers information and power from the original resource of creation – referred to by the Hawaiians as Mana – giving us vision. This vision can lead to positive movement and in turn to enlightenment and fullness of living – one of the objectives of the astral body. Additionally, when illness or injury occurs, the astral body provides divine inspiration and information that is utilized in conjunction with the etheric and physical bodies to promote healing within all three.
The ancient medical healers learned to listen and observe the three bodies, understanding the relationship of one to the other and the importance of the balance of the elemental energies to maintaining health. When deficiencies of an elemental energy were observed, the medical Kahuna would work with an individual to restore the proper balance, quality and flow of the element and in so doing, restore the person’s health.
In this tradition, practitioners of Hawaiian Energetics listen to the words of their client as well as to the body itself, paying attention to the volume and flow of the elemental energies through the body. They then work with the information gathered to restore an optimal balance to the client’s body, using the elemental energies and Mana as their tools. As a recipient of this work, each individual’s experience varies, but at the very least, most people experience a deep sense of peace and well-being.
Reiki, (pronounced ray-key), is Japanese for "Universal Life Energy." An ancient healing art lost for centuries, Reiki was rediscovered in the late 1800's by Dr. Mikado Usui during his study of the sacred sutras. Simply defined, Reiki is the channeling of spiritually guided life force energy by the laying on of hands.
The Reiki practitioner works with the Reiki energy allowing it to flow into areas of the client's body that are in need. Working on multiple levels, Reiki heals both the body and the emotions, bringing them into balance to aid in promoting health, happiness, prosperity and long life. Reiki can also heal patterns that lead to pain, often without us knowing it or being able to put it into words.
Reiki is compatible with other healing modalities such as traditional medicine, chiropractic, massage therapy, holistic medicine and psychotherapy. When applied, Reiki brings about a deep sense of relaxation and well-being.
During a Reiki treatment, the client may experience temperature changes in the body, tingling, visions of color, emotional releases and/or just a calming sense of peace. Whether the client "feels" anything or not, the Reiki energy finds its way to where it is needed most in the body to provide healing for the client's highest and greatest good.