Sedona Body & Soul

Compassion for Self

2011-07-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Mills, EEM-CP, explores a subject on the Making Eden Energy Medicine Our Own blog that speaks to us all. She uses Eden Energy Medicine to turn this into something positive and healing.

It appears to me that here in the United States we live in a culture in which the media encourages us to look as young and vibrant as long as possible, acquire vast material possessions, and "work hard" filling our 24-hour day with as much “productivity” as we can pump out. Collectively we compare ourselves to others and our young generations bear witness to this. Add to this a growing list of responsibilities, be it family, civic, and otherwise. Our energies become thin as our collective expectations grow thicker.

My question: with our predisposition to hurdle into the whirlwind of checking the proverbial box and gotta-know-now media, where is our lesson to slow down for self-compassion? We are taught ad nauseum to treat others as we would like to be treated, but there remains a great divide between that and treating ourselves. Is it possible to put aside the wishes and desires of others and their perceptions of us so that we may give ourselves permission to live the beautiful life we are designed to live naturally…and perhaps begin that life with self-compassion? [read more...]

Jumping for Joy

2011-07-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

Free Stock Photo: FreePhotos.com

I've always liked to jump. That feeling of being airborne, almost flying, for the second or so you are in the air. Weightless. Exhilirated. Alive!

One of my earliest memories of the breath-holding, heart-stopping excitement I was afforded from being airborne was around age two. My dad, lying in bed, would have me sit on his hand while he would raise me up towards the ceiling. A sort of pumping iron, using his young child as a weight.

At infant school (the first school one attends in England, starting age five), each child's birthday was celebrated by them seeking out a bar of chocolate hidden on the top of a cupboard, followed by birthday "bumps" from two teachers. They held me under the arms and bounced me high in the air, so high I thought I would surely take off right through the ceiling. One bump for each year. Six bumps seemed like they would last forever as the whole class chanted along, counting them off.
As a child, I lived for the times I could get on a trampoline. In those days (the late 60s), trampolines were common seaside attractions in British coastal towns. I would beg my parents for the chance to bounce on one, feeling as if I could almost jump out of my own skin, that for a fraction of a second I was on top of the world and had a unique view of everything below. My family couldn't afford to buy a trampoline, but skipping (jump) ropes sufficed, and I would play for hours, chanting the songs, practicing the double jumps, bouncing, bouncing until I could no more.
Dynamic meditation in my twenties, at the Osho Commune International in Poona (Pune), India, was my next taste of jumping. This meditation technique, given to us by Osho, had five parts to it, each designed to help us let go of all the emotional baggage that could prevent us from being silent in meditation. Part three was jumping up and down for fifteen minutes, arms raised above the head, landing firmly on the feet while repeating the mantra "hoo", letting the energy settle deep into the hara*. Once my mind had got out of the way, with all its reasons why I couldn't get through this, my energy began to jump me as I enjoyed the ride. Then came Eden Energy Medicine and the discovery that many exercises work better when done on a mini trampoline. When a friend moved to L.A., leaving me me her rebounder, I began to see my daily routine in a new light. Never having been someone who enjoys anything routine, I began to play with doing the exercises while I was bouncing. The simple act of jumping once again for the sheer enjoyment of it, lit up my Radiant Circuits (the energies of joy). Cross over patterns were easy to reinstall as I added poi balls to my jumping. Stubborn energies that had a habit of sticking in my head, despite constant Crown Pulls, released easily when I bounced. Bonus effects of bouncing include: moving stagnant lymph, pumping cerebrospinal fluid, and getting the heart pumping with an aerobic workout.
But the biggest bonus for me is the smile that starts on my face and spreads throughout my body as I bounce. My aura grows big and I once again feel like I'm on top of the world!

Got lower back pain?

2011-07-10T09:52:00.003-07:00

Courtesy Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals

Excellent! It's official. Massage therapy is an effective treatment for lower back pain, according to a study published in the July 5 issue of The Annals of Internal Medicine. Better still, NPR ran an excellent story on the subject.

"A Comparison of Massage Therapy and Usual Medical Care for Chronic Low Back Pain" - read the study here.

Read the full text and listen to the NPR story here.

Staying in the Flow with Eden Energy Medicine

2011-06-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

Lynn Bretsnyder, an Eden Energy Medicine Advanced Practitioner, talks about using energy techniques in her personal life.

I had to start thumping my K27's from the minute I buckled up. They are located just below the corners of your collarbone and thumping them helps your energies move forward and to concentrate better, which is just what I was needing. I was leaving on a trip I am now calling the Magical Mystery Tour. I was following a deep intuition to go to Asheville, NC (I live in Miami), specifically in May. So what happens when a busy life of logic and planning collide with intuition? Great resistance! [read more]

Tracking Energies with the Meridian Flow Wheel

2011-06-07T17:51:00.001-07:00

The Making Eden Energy Medicine Our Own blog has a very interesting post today from Judith Poole. It's a subject dear to my heart. I love working with the meridian flow wheel and following patterns of energetic disturbance. Here is Judith's take on the subject.

Illustration from Judith's "Be In Better Balance Book" - the
illustration is by Martha Tierney

There is so much information in this simple graphic. Sometimes I wonder what it might have been like to have lived at the time that folks observed these energetic relationships. They were aware that energy is most available to different organs and their associated meridians at different times of the day. And they noticed that there is an exquisite order to this pattern. I suspect this knowledge was so embedded in people’s experience at the time that they didn’t think very much about it. Perhaps it was similar to people knowing the time of day and the changing seasons by watching the movements of the sun. [read more]

Calming The Stress Response In Our Fast Paced World

2011-06-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Angela Melton of Empowering Energy Medicine is the latest blogger to share her thoughts on Making Eden Energy Medicine Our Own.

She writes on a subject familiar to many of us.

I have always been proud of my ability to multi-task while maintaining attention to detail in my fast-paced life. What I didn’t realize was that, although I felt like I was able to do it all, I was actually surviving in adrenal overload mode. I kept telling myself that when I was finished with whatever I was tied up with doing I would finally be able to take a break and “breathe”, but that time never came. It seemed that just when I was done with one all-consuming task, another was already revving up to take its place. Because of this I was always too busy to relax and enjoy life in real time. However, I was oblivious to this fact because I was moving too fast to see it, and the world around me was spinning right along with me. Our society encourages us to move faster and do more (at whatever cost), and rewards those of us who have these traits, and I had bought into the belief that this was what I was to do if I wanted to get ahead in life. [read more]

Pinkie Shoot Your Problems to the Moon (or Sun)!

2011-06-03T16:18:00.003-07:00

Kids love playing with energy! There's no doubt about it. They are more sensitive to their energies than many adults, and can quickly feel the results of simple exercises.

Jill Carter, who is on faculty for the Eden Energy Medicine Certification Program, recently blogged on the Making Eden Energy Medicine Our Own site about how she has adapted energy techniques into her family life. If you've got kids, or are just a big kid yourself, try these out:

Family Fun with Eden Energy Medicine

Pinkie Shoot Your Problems to the Moon (or Sun)!

When your heart is feeling heavy or you’re feeling overwhelmed Donna Eden teaches that you can put one hand on your heart and the other arm outstretched as if you’re dancing with a partner and then have all of your problems go down your outstretched arm and off your heart meridian. In our house we’ve revised this technique to be a “Pinkie Shoot.” We put our problems in an imaginary rocket and use our heart’s fire to launch the rocket zipping from the heart to the armpit and then down the pinkie side of our arms (along the heart meridian). [read more]

Making Eden Energy Medicine Our Own

2011-06-02T12:28:00.004-07:00

There's a lot of talk about energy medicine these days, but many people don't really know what energy medicine is and all that it encompasses.

The "brand" of energy medicine I practice is called Eden Energy Medicine, after Donna Eden, who developed it. This summer, I'm taking part in a project called Making Eden Energy Medicine Our Own. Created by my friend and colleague, Barbara Ann O'Leary, MEEMOO brings together a core group of Eden Energy Medicine practitioners, students and teachers who will be sharing from their personal experiences of using this type of energy medicine.

It's going to be a very flavorful sharing, that will hopefully inspire and encourage people from all kinds of backgrounds to get a taste of ways Eden Energy Medicine could enhance their life and well being.

I'm going to be sharing some of the posts here, so check back often to enjoy our stories, experiences and insights.

The first post is from Lyn Milum, a Homeopath and Eden Energy Medicine Clinical Practitioner in Florida:

Making Eden Energy Medicine My Own

Why isn't it mine already? A big part of my personal journey is finding myself in my life. I was an excellent student in high school and college, figuring out what the professors wanted, getting the "A." It was a fairly simple formula. Then, when I studied nutrition, homeopathy, and how to homeschool, I was bewildered by the different experts who taught seemingly contradictory truths about all these things, who were also "right," in their way. I have moved through anguish, frustration and futility as I tried to navigate through the world of information, trying to find what works for me. But a question I didn't ask for many years was, "what is my personal way?" Instead, my inclination was to fit myself into a path that was outlined by others, and try to walk it with excellence. [read more]

Breath of Life

2011-02-07T22:37:00.003-07:00

As we breathe, so do we live. How we breathe is how we relax, how we begin and complete tasks, how we absorb and digest information, how we cope with strong feelings and the unfamiliar. It is how we access whole-brain function and balanced brainwave cycles.

Nearly every intangible we value in life is mediated and quality-controlled by our respiration: physical vitality, emotional and mental clarity, nurturing rest, relief from past trauma, connectedness to others, openness to new experiences, and joy, to name a few. Through these and other gifts, breath invites us to live each moment fully and freely.

Breath is more than fuel. It is also a force - mechanical, electro-magnetic and hydraulic - moving constantly through the body. It provides an outlet for toxins, an internal massage for organs and tissue, and diffusion for unexpressed emotions. It is the switch for the body's relaxation response and the gateway to slow-wave brain states.

A fluid flow of abundant breath is what our bodies, psyches and spirits are meant to have. If we are stingy with our breath, we lessen our quality of life. Yet all of us at times restrict or interrupt healthy breathing as we react to stress, fear, sadness, fatigue, injury or other cues.

A guided breath session can help restore us to balance. With safe support we readily recognize and dissolve habits of suppression, avoidance, "upside-down" breathing, and any other impediment to fluid breathing mechanics. Each session brings greater awareness and easier, fuller flow. Vivid trans-personal and spiritual experiences may occur during states of deep, breath-induced relaxation. [Read more...]

Getting Back On Track

2010-11-08T18:03:00.006-07:00

Aside from some noticing a change in some TV and radio schedules, Arizonans (except those living on the Navajo Nation) are blissfully unaware of what most of the rest of the country went through this past weekend. Yes, I'm talking about the Fall time change, when the initial euphoria at realizing you have an extra hour in bed on Sunday morning is quickly tempered by the not so pleasant realization that it now gets dark an hour earlier. There are other repercussions too, as your body clock tries to adjust to the shift. Different mealtimes and bedtimes can make you feel out of sorts for a few days.

Sparky (her nom de plume), the Innersource blogger, "face" of their Facebook page and website updater, did some research on Energy Medicine techniques to get you through the time change with minimal disruption. She did a wonderful job, pulling tips from various senior practitioners as well as Donna Eden herself. But then a minor glitch in her preparations appeared. Somehow she forgot to do the techniques herself! Sparky wrote a lovely post on the Innersource blog about her experience following the time change. I'm sure there are a few of you who can relate. So please, go on over to the blog, read about what you should have been doing last week and do it now!

Have you been feeling (or looking) like this?

Deb Vetter was the winner of the costume contest at the Eden Energy Medicine Certification Program Halloween party in Phoenix recently. Well done for so aptly portraying someone in desperate need of the Wayne Cook exercise!

Recession Proof Your Health

2010-08-30T11:46:00.001-07:00

Here's an opportunity to join Donna Eden in a free teleseminar, and find out what Energy Medicine can do for you. She's an engaging and entertaining speaker. It will be time well spent! Mark your calendar: Tuesday August 31, 2010 1:00 PM Eastern (12:00 PM Central, 10:00 AM Pacific)

Donna Eden #InnerHealingCompass

Computer muscle stress - relief is at hand!

2010-07-21T11:38:00.004-07:00

75 percent of Americans use the Internet and spend an average three hours a day online, according to Brad Stone in a 2005 report*. That was before the advent of the smart phone, iPad and other technological advances. This also doesn't take into account the amount of time Americans spend at their computers for work-related and other personal use. No wonder I see so much computer-related muscle stress in my massage practice on a daily basis!

So, the computer is a fact of life for us here in the western world. You may cut down (briefly) on time spent in front of a monitor when your neck and shoulders are screaming with pain. This, however, is no long term solution. What you really want is to continue using your computer AND reduce the amount of stress (and consequently, pain) your muscles endure. Help is at hand!

[Read the rest of this article at massagesedona.com]

Getting the Most out of your Massage

2010-07-14T17:25:00.008-07:00

How to get the most out of your massage

Being on the other side of a massage today, as I received my weekly session, gave me an opportunity to ponder this question from the client's point of view.

Awareness

Stay present throughout the session. This means staying present in your body, not zoning out or drifting off. Why? Change happens with awareness. Staying present and fine tuning your awareness gives both you and your therapist valuable information about what's going on.

Practice tuning in to the area being touched and learn to describe the sensations. Notice other areas of your body that are affected. In what way? Are you subtly tightening another area? Do you feel tingling or pain somewhere else?

Notice your thought process. Are old memories being released as the tissue unwinds? Or are you thinking about something non-related to avoid uncomfortable feelings or sensations?

Breath

A good therapist will remind you to breathe during your session and will have you work with focused breath during certain procedures. That doesn't however let you off the hook the rest of the time. Your breath is what keeps you present during a session and can help in bringing your awareness to the area being worked.

Does this mean you have to do deep breathing throughout the massage? No. There's no need to change your breathing, for the most part. Being aware of your breath and how you're breathing is the key. When tightness or discomfort is experienced as an area is being worked, sending deep, relaxed breath to that area can help tension dissolve and the tissue let go.

Active Involvement

Many people rate their massage by how quickly they can relax and fall asleep. I don't encourage falling asleep, (unless you're really sleep deprived and that's really the healing your body needs). With certain techniques, you may enter an altered state where you are deeply relaxed, but the key once again is staying present as much as possible.

Certain types of massage may require more active participation on your part than others. Your therapist may ask you to resist against a stretch, or move your body in a certain way to assist a release. Even if they don't, you can still stay involved by giving feedback from time to time of what you're experiencing. By this I mean, let them know when you feel something releasing. Do you notice a difference in an area of the body they have just finished working on? Express that. Apart from providing valuable information to your therapist, this also helps you own the changes that are happening in your body.

At the end of the session, take a moment or two to notice how you feel. Is it different than when you lay down at the beginning of the session? How? Do you feel taller? Lighter? Free from worries?

Stay in that space when you stand up and dress, noticing how you are moving and what has changed in your body. This will give you an opportunity to maintain any new ways of movement. Old patterns persist when we are on automatic and even though much may have shifted during a session, if you don't notice or stay aware of what has changed, the body will simply go back to the old ways it knows.

"Awareness is the beginning of all transformation." Osho, Hammer on the Rock

2010-05-26T09:45:00.002-07:00

"When we ignore energy, we miss 99% of reality (...) When we leave energy out of of our bio medicine, we miss a vast amount of our healing potential. And we've been wearing blinders, we've been using tunnel vision for a hundred years." Dr James Oschman

VIDEO: The Power of Energy Medicine

2010-05-23T11:55:00.001-07:00

Watch Donna Eden and David Feinstein in these interviews with the Tarcher publisher, Joel Fotinos
.
If you've been looking for a clear and easy to understand introduction to Energy Medicine and Energy Psychology, here it is.

You can follow along with the demonstrations and learn some hands-on techniques for yourself.

VIDEO: The Power of Energy Medicine

Surrogate Energy Testing and Dogs

2010-02-15T21:07:00.007-07:00

Yes, you're right, this is my golden retriever, Ruby, wearing a T-shirt that says "Your Body Is My Business. Have a Massage." And no, I'm not exploiting my four-legged friend by using her to advertise my business! The T-shirt is to stop her from pulling out the stitches in her right shoulder, following a minor surgery she had at the weekend (this was the smallest T-shirt I could find to fit her). Here she is looking like she's enjoying life in her new attire.

Ruby had been limping on and off on her right front leg for a while. Actually, a long while - several months, maybe even a year or more. It would come and go, and didn't seem to unduly bother her. She would limp briefly, hold up her paw, which we'd check, find nothing there, and she'd be on her way, seemingly forgetting about it. Our vet suspected arthritis in the shoulder. I would massage around the joint for a while and she'd stop limping.

Then a few weeks ago she stopped wanting to jump in the back of the car (she's always been a very agile jumper), asking for the ramp each time. She would still run at top speed when out on the trails, dig and play the "pully" game with her toys, so again, we put it down to arthritis and her age (almost 10). That was until last Saturday when the limping came on with a vengeance. She would walk a few steps, stop and hold up the paw, we'd check, find nothing, she'd walk a few more steps and hold the paw up again. Back home, she wasn't her usual self and seemed to be asking for something, but we couldn't figure out what. It appeared she wanted to go out, even though we'd only just come back from a walk, but as soon as we were walking again, the limp/stop/check routine would start over. Obviously there was something painful going on with her leg and we needed to find out why.

Once more, I went through the whole paw-checking procedure, this time wearing magnifiers and with the tweezers at hand. Once again, I found nothing, not even a pad sore to the touch, that may have indicated embedded glass or other foreign object. Okay, I thought, time for some Energy Medicine.

For those of you not familiar with Eden Energy Medicine, energy testing has a big role in the accurate determination of what is needed in terms of techniques. We use an indicator muscle to check the flow of energy, and can localize any point on the body to discover where energy is unbalanced, sluggish or otherwise upset. With small children, very sick people or pets, where asking for resistance in a muscle is impractical, surrogate testing is used. So instead of asking Ruby to "please hold out your paw and resist against my pressure", we have someone touch Ruby while we test their indicator muscle to show us what's going on with Ruby. So, I acted as the surrogate, while my partner, Tod, did the testing.

In less than a minute I had, with one hand, scanned the whole of Ruby's right leg, while Tod was constantly testing against my other outstretched arm. My arm faltered at the shoulder muscle. We went somewhere else and tested then went back there and tested again. Definitely "weak", i.e. I couldn't keep my arm up against his downward pressure while I was touching Ruby on her shoulder muscle.

I knew from previous discussions with our vet that the arthritis we were suspecting was in an area more to the front of the body, since the anatomy of a dog's shoulder differs from that of a human. The energy disruption we were seeing was definitely in the muscle at the top of the leg. Now I was thinking more in terms of a pulled muscle or tendon, maybe a tear in the tissue from digging or a sudden turn while running.

I palpated the muscle to see if I could feel any differences in the tissue quality. I'd massaged this muscle many times, but palpation is different. It's a lot more precise and focused. I moved my fingers over the muscle in small increments, letting them sink in a feel for knots or adhesions. Suddenly I was feeling something odd, something that felt like a small stick or toothpick lying horizontally under the skin, slightly embedded in the muscle, something that felt like - a cactus spine!

We live in Sedona. Cacti are everywhere. Ruby has often got a few spines stuck in her. She usually lets us know and we get them out. Sometimes it requires tweezers and a lot of patience, but we always get them out. Or so we thought. We'd obviously missed this one and it had apparently been in there for some time, jabbing her in the muscle when she moved a certain way. Ouch! A quick call to our vet's office in Flagstaff and we got the last appointment of the day (not bad for a Saturday afternoon). Dr Leon Ford of Canyon Pet Hospital performed a truly skillful surgery with just a local anaesthetic (on our request), and within 20 minutes was presenting us with this little beauty.

Had I not known how to do surrogate energy testing, I'm not sure we would have discovered the cause of Ruby's pain any time soon. Energy testing really helped us narrow down where to look and how, by pinpointing the area we should focus on. We could have taken her in for x-rays, which possibly would have shown the culprit, but not knowing where to look would have meant putting her through a lot of radiation, or maybe a very expensive MRI.

This is an instance where Energy Medicine was used hand in hand (or should that be hand in paw?) with conventional medicine with a very successful outcome. Energy testing is such a simple tool to learn, and the more you use it, the more proficient you can become at using it accurately.

For anyone in the area who would like to learn some simple energy medicine tools, including how to energy test, I will be teaching an Energy Medicine 101 evening class on Friday, February 19 and again on Friday, March 5. For those who want to expand their knowledge and furnish their toolkit with all the basics, join me for a 2-day Energy Medicine: Essential Techniques on Sundays, February 21 & 28. Follow the links to register.

Sedona Snow Massage Discount

2010-01-22T11:14:00.004-07:00

Chimney Rock wash by Ian Hyde

(Please note, this offer has now ended)

The snow's arriving and the fog's rolling in. What a perfect day (and weekend) to be staying cozy with a nourishing Holistic Massage. Or how about a Soul Reading?

We have a "snow" rate on massages and readings this weekend. Use the payment button on the sidebar to receive your special price of $75 for either one. Save an extra $10 when you book both.

I've posted the photo of Chimney Rock wash in honor of my friend Ian who died earlier this week. He took a series of these beautiful photos a few years ago.

Tickets for Donna Eden in Sedona

2010-01-20T19:54:00.012-07:00

Energy Medicine: A Hands On Experience in Sedona

Advance tickets sales for this event are CLOSED. Tickets are still available at the door for $20.

Sedona Creative Life Center, 333 Schnebly Hill Rd, Sedona. Doors open at 6:30 pm

Interview with Donna Eden

2010-01-06T21:30:00.003-07:00

Join Sedona's Shaeri Richards for a webcast interview with Donna Eden, Sunday January 24th at 4:00 pm MST.

Donna is always a delightful interview guest, and is an engaging and informative speaker, whether the subject is Energy Medicine or her new grandchild.

This is a free event and is open to everyone. All you need to attend is a computer with internet access or a phone. Go directly to the webcast page via this link. More information is available here.

Special Event in Sedona

2009-12-27T16:27:00.005-07:00

It's official! Donna Eden is going to be in Sedona for a special evening presentation on January 29th. You won't want to miss this rare opportunity, so mark your calendars and tell your friends.

Energy Medicine: A Hands On Introduction

with Donna Eden & David Feinstein

Friday, January 29, 2010

7:00 - 9:30 pm (doors 6:30 pm)
followed by a book signing

Sedona Creative Life Center
333 Schnebly Hill Rd
Sedona 86336

$15 advance ($20 at the door)

Tickets are on sale now at:

Crystal Magic and Golden Word Bookstore in Sedona

direct from me (email or call 928-282-7614)

or online by credit card
($1.00 surcharge applies)

Energy Medicine shows you how to increase your vitality, enhance health, boost joy, and send healing to areas of your body that need attention. In this brief class, you will learn simple techniques for optimizing your body's energies that you can use for the rest of your life. From remedies for "scrambled" energies to a simple technique for improving your memory, a series of useful and user-friendly techniques will be presented. According to Christiane Northrup, M.D., "Donna Eden is one of the most joyous and effective pioneers in the rapidly expanding and vitally important frontier called energy medicine."

Donna Eden has been a pioneer in Energy Medicine for more than 30 years, and she is among the field’s most sought, most joyous, and most authoritative spokespersons. Her book, Energy Medicine, was the Health Book of the Year at the prestigious Nautilus Book Awards, and is the classic in its field. According to Jean Houston, “Donna Eden's body energy work is perhaps the most brilliant, comprehensive, and effective system in the genre that I have ever seen.”

But wait, there's more! We're going to be having a special pre-event that will be free and open to all. I can't tell you anything else about it just yet, but check back in a day or so and all will be revealed.

Holiday Season Special Offer

2009-12-13T20:29:00.002-07:00

I know December can be one of the most stressful months of the year for a lot of people. When you're deep in the busyness of the season, it's the perfect time to give yourself some special attention. Whether it's a relaxing Holistic Massage session, an Energy or Chakra Balance or a psychic Soul Reading, our December prices make these one hour sessions very affordable. They also make great gifts, and all sessions purchased through this offer can be redeemed until January 31, 2010. Ask about our Holiday Gift Cards.

Through December 31, 2009, all one hour sessions are only $50

You can save $35 - $45 on each session you purchase. So go ahead, why not treat yourself, your friends and loved ones. Purchasing is simple through our online system.

Computer woes

2009-11-03T21:33:00.006-07:00

I was recently given the opportunity to experience first hand the daily reality of many of my clients. I got to sit in front of my computer for several hours a day over a period of a few weeks, as part of a short term contract job I took on.

It's been years since I've worked in an office environment, and although I use my computer on a daily basis for personal needs (Facebook, email, catching up with blogs and such like - all the necessary stuff!), I don't use it for too many tasks that involve hours of concentration and dedicated effort. At least, not for days on end, anyway.

Within a day or two, I had become that person with that niggling pinch in the shoulder (you know the one, right on the edge of the shoulder blade), the exhausted, dry eyeballs popping out of the head feeling, the "I've got to lie down right now because I feel like I've been run over with a Mack truck" kind of experience. Anyone know what I'm talking about? As a bodyworker, and particularly as one still working with clients as my "main" job, I quickly realized this wasn't an acceptable way of operating. So, to my toolbox I sped and started figuring out how to make this a manageable, situation.

First up, Energy Medicine (the Donna Eden variety). I knew I had a whole stack of tools ready to employ in such situations. I also knew from experience (my clients' and my own), that Energy Medicine only works when you actually use it - consistently. That said, it was up to me to stay tuned in to my body and take appropriate measures to balance the energies as they started to shift into unwanted patterns. Easier said than done. Computers have a way of sucking you in, overriding good sense and eating up hours the same way an übersized bag of popcorn gets consumed at the movies. I started to find that an hour was really the absolute maximum time I could stay in front of the screen before things started to go south. Ideally, every 30 minutes was a good time to stop briefly and do something else. That something else preferably including some energy exercises. Here are the ones I found most beneficial:

Revitalize with Tapping
- tap the brain points (K27) just below the inner edges of the collar bone (deep breath)
- tap the thymus point, in the middle of the sternum (deep breath)
- and because computer monitors (and laptops) are really good at depleting Spleen energy,
tap the Spleen points, one rib below the breasts in line with the nipple, and also Sp21 on the side of the ribs in line with the nipple (deep breath)

Benefits: counteracts sleepiness and sluggishness; gets the meridians running forwards; stimulates the immune system; strengthens Spleen

Stand up. This on its own is a really good move. Sitting for extended periods tends to stop things moving: energy, digestion, breath...

Connect Heaven & Earth. This qigong movement stretches one arm up towards heaven, and the other down towards the earth. Both hands are pulled back flat. Stretch on the inbreath and hold the stretch and the breath, then breathe out, let go and stretch up/down the other side, bringing the hands back to a prayer position in front of the chest each time. Do several times each side, then fold over and let the arms hang down, emptying out into the ground. Figure 8 the body on the way back up.

Benefits: this feels truly wonderful when you really s-t-r-e-t-c-h. Not only are you creating space in the torso and limbs, but you're also encouraging the meridians (especially Spleen) to get moving again, thereby removing energies that have become stagnant and are starting to settle in the joints, to say nothing of turning on the Radiant Circuits.

Wrist & Shoulder Stretch
While still standing, interlink the fingers of both hands, turn palms away from the chest and stretch the arms out in front. Slowly raise the arms up above the head with an inbreath. Hold for a moment, then separate the hands and bring them slowly down to each side while blowing out slowly through the mouth, as if through a straw.

Benefits: stretches the wrists and forearms, and also opens up the area between the shoulder blades. Normalizes blood pressure.

Spinal Twist
Twist from side to side, letting the arms swing freely, wrapping around the body.

Benefits: encourages flexibility of the spine and back

Tapping to Let Go
Use knuckles or heels of the hands to firmly tap down the outside of the upper legs, from hip to knee.

Benefits: stimulates the Large Intestine neurolymphatic points and encourages letting go

This whole sequence takes no more than a couple of minutes. Amazing how much more refreshed I could feel when I sat down again.

(Fresh as a daisy, in case you were wondering)

With stagnant energies dispersed and some space created in the body, massage works so much better. Here are my favorite self massage techniques for counteracting computer fatigue:

Head Rub & Neck Stretch

Vigorously rub and scratch all over the head. Deeply massage along the base of the skull, just above the neck. Take small handfuls of hair and grasp at the roots. Give a slight tug so the scalp lifts away from the head.

Starting at the base of the skull, place the fingertips in the center, push in and with pressure, drag the fingers apart, stretching across the back of the neck. Continue all the way down the neck and across the tops of the shoulders.

Shoulder Shrug
Shrug the shoulders up to the ears with an inbreath. Hold the breath and tense the shoulders as much as possible. When ready to breathe out, let go and allow the shoulders to drop in a fast movement. Repeat the same procedure, but this time rolling the shoulders back before letting them drop.

Shoulder Tenderizer
Take a hairbrush and with a light bounce, tap all over the tops of the shoulders, avoiding the bones.

Wrist & Ankle Twists
Twist the wrists and then the ankles in circles, one direction and then the other. Stretch as much as possible with each twist.

And finally,

Face Contortions
I don't know about you, but when I'm concentrating on something for long periods, my face can get frozen into one expression. It's not a pretty one. To remind me there are other things my face can still do (such as smile), I open my mouth as wide as I can and make all sorts of silly faces, stretching as much as possible. It feels wonderful getting the circulation going and relaxes all the tiny facial muscles that work so hard to hold a single expression.

During this interesting experiment into office life, I found that if I overrode my body's signals and went for too long between breaks, it took more exercises and more time to loosen things up and get the energies moving again. So I learned that no matter how involved I was in something at the time, it was far better to stop for a minute or two, than do "just 5 more minutes", which usually ended up being 30 or more.

At the end of each day, I took a bath in epsom salts and baking soda, a refreshing pick me up that pulls out stagnant energies and toxins and buffs up the aura till it's shining like new.

Now when a client comes in with laptop shoulders and computer fatigue, I can share my tools with the added benefit of personal experience. I really do feel your pain!

Fall Turnover Special

2009-10-27T21:02:00.004-07:00

Souls in changing seasons
Need nurture for many reasons.
The support and guidance to uplift
Make readings an inspired gift.

To celebrate the change in seasons, Tod invites you to Reading Room. Through the end of next week, Saturday, November 7th, he's offering Soul Readings by appointment at half price, a full
hour for $50, and a half hour for $27.50.

Also on offer is The Someone Special, which is a book of three readings, to be used by any one, two or three persons in combination, at 25% off, for $225, available through January 31st, 2010. Once you've purchased them they can be used anytime until the end of next year.

Everyone interested can reach Tod at (928) 451-4622. Or email: higherharmony[at]esedona.net.

Soul Readings are by appointment only and take place at the W. Sedona Studio. Please ask for directions.

Shop in Sedona

2009-09-24T20:30:00.004-07:00

If you live in Sedona, you've probably received a Shop Local card in your mailbox and are just itching to get out there and use it! I didn't waste any time in getting a deal posted on the Shop in Sedona website (click the image above to have a look), which offers a $25 discount to locals on our hour and longer sessions. I've also put all the details up on a special page on my website. You can even pay by credit card right on the website.

Shop Local is all about stimulating the economy and keeping our dollars in Sedona, so it made sense to me to offer a discount that would really have an impact.

It's so easy to talk yourself out of buying "non-essentials" when money gets a little tight. But your health and well being should stay right there at the top of your list of what's truly important. Donna Eden, renowned healer and pioneer in the field of energy medicine, maintains that there is a stress component in all modern illness and disease. It's a fact of the way we live life today in the western world that our bodies are under some degree of stress a lot of the time. Having a way of reducing the impact of stress is essential in maintaining health and being happy.

Getting regular massages, bodywork and energy work should be top priority for all of us. There simply is no substitute for human touch. Really. A massage chair (as in one of those that vibrates up and down your back) just doesn't provide the energetic connection of another human's hands on your body, to say nothing of all the nurturing and love we receive in a massage.

I really miss my massages when I'm not getting one every couple of weeks. Come to think of it, I could do with one right about now. How about you?

To book your discount session (Massage, Energy or Chakra Balancing, Transformational Breath, Soul Reading), go to the website. Offer valid until October 31st, 2009, so hurry!

Soul Masters Healing Video

2009-07-18T11:15:00.002-07:00

Take a look at this inspiring video about two Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors.

http://www.soulmastersmovie.com/documents/trailer.mpg

Massage Therapists Just Keep Going!

2009-04-22T21:38:00.004-07:00

Here's a heartwarming story that was on Yahoo's UK site today. What an amazing lady!

Gran, 98, celebrates massage moment

A 98-year-old grandmother has been hailed Britain's oldest massage therapist as she celebrated 60 years in the profession.

Evelyn Blackburn was first granted her licence to operate in 1949 and has just renewed it with Harrow Council.

Mrs Blackburn, of Pinner, north London, has treated tens of thousands of people since a friend's sore neck prompted her to learn the techniques of massage six decades ago.

But she has kept abreast of developments, embracing alternative treatments such as cupping - made famous by celebrity enthusiast Gwyneth Paltrow - and radiesthesia, which treats people's energy or auras.

Mrs Blackburn said: "I have massaged thousands of people over the years - from mothers and grandmothers to builders and scientists. Back when I started, I used iodine-based oil called Dragon's Blood. Nowadays, I use the modern substitutes. You have to move with the times.

"I still maintain the best treatment is a pair of hands.

"I don't think anything can replace massage. I have used lots of therapies and machines, but nothing is quite as effective.

"A massage is much better than all these advertised creams to put on your face and body, although the companies making the cream wouldn't like to hear that - but it's the truth."

Mrs Blackburn used to treat up to eight people a day at the clinic where she worked in Nower Hill, Harrow, but for past 24 years has worked from home in a room adapted into a studio.

Outside of her work, Mrs Blackburn, a widow for several years, has travelled to the US 67 times to visit her daughter and grandchildren.

Special Event!

2009-04-06T22:09:00.006-07:00

You are invited to join the Introduction to Energy Medicine Class on Sunday, April 19 for Chakra Balancing.

You will learn

about the chakra system in Eden Energy Medicine
how the chakras affect our health and emotions
how to test each of the chakras
how to clear and balance the chakras in a complete healing session

Chakra work is one of the most powerful and effective ways to work with the body's energies.

What Donna Eden says about chakras:

"Chakras support everything. You can move deeply into the energy when you work on chakras. If I have one shot with a person, I do their chakras. Reiki works better if you do a chakra clearing first. It can go in deeper."

Even if you never learn how to work with any of the other nine energy systems of Eden Energy Medicine, learning how to work with the chakras alone will give you an effective tool you can use for yourself, and with friends and family. Chakra work is also a useful adjunct to other bodywork and healing modalities.

Space is limited, so early sign up is recommended.

When: Sunday, April 19 from 2 - 5 pm
Where: West Sedona
Cost: $47 including book ($30 without book)
Sign up on my website with Paypal
Full payment required to reserve your place

You will need to bring something to lie on (the floor is carpeted) and a light shawl or blanket for covering if you tend to get cold easily.

Class Update - Black Pearl Sanctuary

2009-03-28T11:22:00.004-07:00

Monday's Energy Practice Class here in Sedona will give an opportunity to learn the Black Pearl Sanctuary. This is a profound yet simple technique that directly affects the hypothalamus gland and triple warmer meridian. It is essential when dealing with long term stress and is deeply relaxing.

The whole class will be dedicated to the Black Pearl so that everyone gets a chance to give it to someone else and to receive it too.

The class starts at 3:00 pm and you will need to sign up, either by email or by calling me at 928-282-7614. There is an $8 drop in charge.

If you're just visiting Sedona, this could be a wonderful introduction to Eden Energy Medicine, and a great way to meet some locals. If you live in the area, come try out the class and find out how much better it will make you feel!

Donna Eden's daughter, Titanya

2009-03-28T10:49:00.004-07:00

Donna's eldest daughter Titanya, is a friend and a very special being. Those of you have who have attended one of Donna and David's classes or trainings will have experienced the exuberance and joy that enters the room when Titanya is sharing her Energy Dance or poi ball demonstrations. Titanya, has been seriously ill these past few weeks. If you feel to, please send your love and healing to her. You can read updates about her condition on the blog her partner, Jeff, has set up for her.

Hopefully it won't be too long before our beautiful Tanya is brimming with vitality again and sharing her wonderful free spirit with us once more.

We have a winner!

2009-02-28T19:06:00.003-07:00

Congratulations to Diane Lukich (hope that's the right spelling - the writing was kind of hard to read) who is the winner of a private Energy Medicine session with me. I held a draw at the Sedona Women's Expo yesterday (Saturday), and Diane was lucky enough to have her name pulled. I've emailed her and hope to be hearing from her soon, otherwise we will go back and draw another one.

The day was hard work for me, so I don't think I'll be doing another one any time soon. I'd much rather be teaching a class or giving sessions, but thank you to all who stopped by. It was lovely connecting, and finding out so many of you already know Donna Eden's work and have read the Energy Medicine book.

Tod and I are talking of having an event at home, as a way of introducing our work to more people. For those of you who don't already know, Tod is a very gifted soul reader and counselor. He also works with sound and breath. Now the weather is getting warmer, we could do something outside. Let us know if you'd like an email letting you know of such events. I'll also post it here, so come back and check often!

Energy self-care tips: Making Space

2009-02-21T23:49:00.005-07:00

Our bodies function best when there is space. That's why we can feel so sluggish when our muscles are tense and we're tight with stress. There's no space for the body to breathe. When you're feeling constrained, low on energy, tight, aching or lethargic, take a few minutes to create some space in your body and you'll be so glad you did.

Stand up and stretch. Reach your arms high above you, grab one wrist and pull that arm over to the side and bend sideways as far as is comfortable. Feel the stretch from the hip all along the side of the ribcage, through the armpit and along the arm. Switch to the other side.
Keep both arms reaching up. With each arm in turn, reach up and grab as if you're plucking an apple from a branch high above you. Repeat several times.
Fold yourself over so you're arms are hanging to the ground. Feel your spine lengthen and the backs of your legs stretch. Breathe deeply and feel yourself dropping closer to the ground with each out breath. Slowly roll back up to a relaxed standing position.
With spread fingers, gently tap all over your face, then a little harder over your head, from front to back. Keep tapping all the way to the shoulders. Do one shoulder at a time so you can tap harder, supporting the elbow of the tapping hand with your other hand.
Tap on the chest below the inner corners of the collar bone, on the sternum and on the ribcage beneath each breast.
Continue around to the side of the ribcage, down the sides and onto the hips.
Change to an open fist and pound the sides of the legs from hip to knee. Repeat 3 or 4 times.
Sweep with open hands down the backs and sides of the legs to the feet, then back up the insides of the legs, across the groin to the hips and down around again a few times.
The final time, sweep up the insides of the legs and continue up the front of the body, over the face to the crown of the head. Tap one time quickly on the crown with a "Tuhhh" sound and raise the arms above the head.
Turn your hands so they face outwards and, blowing out your breath as if through a straw, slowly lower your arms to your sides.

Apart from feeling energized and refreshed after this, it's also good for calming you down if you are stressed, as the controlled breathing at the end will balance your blood pressure.

If you have a friend or co-worker who will try it with you, add the option of pounding with open fists down each other's backs (avoid tapping directly on the spine itself).

If you find you're particularly tense in the shoulders, use a hairbrush (the kind with the rounded tips) to tap all over the shoulder muscles. Allow your wrist to be loose so the brush can really bounce. It's more about the action of all the prongs than how hard you do it. This is a great way to break up tension in tight muscles and reset the spindle cells.

New Energy Medicine Classes

2009-02-11T12:42:00.005-07:00

Okay, I admit I've been pretty slack about posting in a while. In my defense, I have been really busy between taking the Energy Medicine for Women Instructor Program (more about that later), fulfilling the requirements to become certified as an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner (I officially graduated this month), and helping to host Donna Eden's class in Sedona this past weekend, to say nothing of moving house in the middle of all that. Things are starting to ease up a bit now, so I realized it was time to get back on the blog and give you some news and updates.

The EM4W Instructor Program took place in San Francisco last September. I became certified in this so that I can offer classes in my local community (here in Sedona), and share these brilliant techniques with the women who need them. Which is just about everyone. We all have hormones, right? It's even useful information for men, if you live with a woman, or have women in your life, there's all sorts of information that will help you navigate the sometimes treacherous path of male/female relationships.

I'm currently working out a schedule and looking at possible locations for the Energy Medicine for Women classes, which I'm planning on starting in the spring. If this is something you are interested in, drop me a line so I can put you on the mailing list.

Coming up at the end of February, I'm going to be an exhibitor at the Sedona Women's Expo. This is happening on February 28th (Saturday) from 10 am to 2 pm at the Sedona Elk's Lodge. Please drop by if you're in town. There's going to be tons of stuff on offer that's relevant to all women. I'll be giving mini massages and mini Energy Medicine assessments/treatments. You'll be able to view the Energy Medicine for Women DVD (fingers crossed I get the electric hookup I requested), and have all your questions answered. I'm also planning on having both of Donna Eden's books available for purchase (maybe the DVD too), and there are going to be some excellent prizes on offer in the drawing.

Other Energy Medicine news is that our weekly practice class in now on Mondays at 3:00 pm. If you'd like to join us, you'll need to register the first time, and get directions.

The practice class isn't for everyone. I know that some of you would like to have more of a formal study class for Eden Energy Medicine, so I'm looking at the possibilities of providing a class either once a week, or for a few hours 1 - 2 weekends a month where we can go through the Energy Medicine book step by step. Please let me know of your interest in this and whether you would prefer a weekly (1 - 2 hours) or monthly (4 - 5 hours) class.

If you're wondering what's happened to massage in the midst of all the energy medicine excitement, I can assure you that I'm still giving plenty of massages. Tod and I have teamed up to provide a "Coming Home" experience for those who are looking for direction in their lives. I give an Energy Massage that brings you to a place of receptivity and gets you in touch with your center, then Tod gives a (channeled) Soul Reading. They are proving to be popular and we've had some very encouraging feedback.

Congratulations Donna Eden & David Feinstein!

2008-10-21T08:41:00.004-07:00

Both Energy Medicine and Energy Medicine for Women have won in their categories in the USA Book News Best Books Awards 2008. To quote Donna when she heard the news, "Wow....hip, hip hoooray".

From the USABookNews press release:

USABookNews.com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of THE NATIONAL “BEST BOOKS” 2008 AWARDS (NBBA) on October 20, 2008. Over 500 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print and audio books. Awards were presented for titles published in 2008 and late 2007.

Jeff Keen, President and CEO of USABookNews.com, said this year’s contest yielded an unprecedented number of entries, which were then narrowed down to over 500 winners and finalists.

If you don't have copies yet, then get yourselves on over to Innersource to put your order in. They're such excellent health and self-help references to have in your library. I wouldn't be without mine.

Self-care tips: Keeping your Feet on the Ground

2008-10-07T09:44:00.003-07:00

Today's self-care massage and energy tip is a follow on from the Crown Pull. Clearing the head so that we can think straight and allow energy to move through the crown chakra goes hand in hand with making sure we stay grounded.

How easily we walk on the earth, both figuratively and literally, is determined by how well we are grounded. We pull energy up from the earth and empty it back out through the feet. When we are not sufficiently grounded, this ability is severely impaired, causing us to feel "spacey", out of sync with our environment and others, tired and just not quite all there and present in the moment. When a lack of grounding continues over time and energy backs up in the system, physical symptoms can ensue, sciatica and hip problems being two that I see a lot in my practice.

Retraining your energy system on a daily basis to be grounded and stay that way can be accomplished through some simple exercises.

Walk Barefoot - spend some time everyday with your shoes and socks off, walking on a natural surface
Be Like a Tree - stand planted on the earth and imagine yourself as a tree, with roots extending into the earth through your feet
Spoon Your Feet - rub a stainless steel spoon along the length of the sole
Reinforce the Grounding Wire - place a piece of hematite on Bladder 66 (in the dip on the outside of the baby toe
Swish your bare feet through dew-dampened grass
Wiggle your toes in the sand at the beach (it doesn't have to be at the ocean - Oak Creek works just as well)
Dance - put on some music with a good beat and stamp your feet into the earth
Massage - work the spaces between the toe tendons on the top of the foot
Stretch - use both hands to stretch the sole in all directions

Above all, have fun! Self-care doesn't need to be a chore. The more enjoyable the experience, the greater the benefits.

Energy Medicine Self-Care Tips

2008-10-02T16:51:00.004-07:00

How would you like to have some simple, easy to follow techniques and exercises that will only require a few minutes of your time, and will help you to go about your day with a healthier, happier body and a spring in your step?

Starting today (because, quite honestly, what better time is there than right now?), I'll be posting regular self-care tips, focusing on different areas of the body and addressing those common, niggling complaints that keep us from being fully productive and full of zing in our daily lives.

If you're familiar with Donna Eden's book Energy Medicine (buy your copy here if you don't already have one - you'll be so happy you did!), the exercises and techniques will act as a reminder for what you already know. If the whole Energy Medicine arena is new to you, then you'll find you can start building your own toolbox of vital techniques to take care of your health and well being. In fact, these exercises are so easy, you won't even need a toolbox - you can keep them right in your back pocket!

Today's tip: How to Clear a Fuzzy Head or The Crown Pull

The Symptoms: You know the feeling. It's like your brain's been working overtime and there's just too much stuff in there. You really need to be able to think clearly, but the harder you try, the more slowed down you feel.

What to do: Stop right now! Take a deep breath (in through the nose, out through the mouth), and continue with deep breaths throughout the exercise.

Bring your fingertips to the base of the skull (where the head meets the back of the neck). Massage and rub deeply from the center of the ridge out to the sides. Do it a couple of times.
Bring your fingertips to your forehead. Starting at the eyebrows, curl your fingers in at the center of your forehead and drag them with pressure out towards the temples. Do 2 -3 passes, working your way up to the hairline.
Continue this movement in increments from the hairline over the top of the head, digging in at the center line and pulling the fingers apart 2 - 3 inches, just as if you're opening up your head.
Continue down the back of the head and neck to on top of the shoulders.
(Optional) Comb your fingers up through the hair to the top of the head. Grasp the hair at the roots and tug it slightly away from the scalp. This helps for those of us with very tight scalps. If you have a sensitive head, you may want to leave this step out.

Effects: Your head is probably starting to feel a little buzzy, tingly or warm, and like maybe there is some more space inside. There is!

Stagnant energy is able to move out allowing energy to flow again. Circulation is increased, as is the pumping of cerebrospinal fluid, and your nervous system starts to calm. With energy able to move through the crown chakra again, you're opening yourself to inspiration and connection to a higher source (God, the Universe - however that is best expressed for you).

Fall Schedule for Energy Classes

2008-10-01T19:25:00.003-07:00

There will be only one practice class a week, on Sundays, through the fall season, starting this Sunday, October 5th.

For those interested in going more deeply into the magic that is energy medicine, I'll offer a once a month class where we study a whole topic from Donna Eden's book Energy Medicine, supported by the DVD. We'll cover a whole area in each class (e.g. meridians, chakras, the five elements) looking at it from all aspects, including hands-on work. This will be a longer, more in depth class that will give everyone the opportunity to gain more understanding and practice of Donna Eden's Energy Medicine.

Please let me know if you are interested in joining. You'll be required to sign up for each class in advance.

Energy Medicine Practitioners Conference 2008

2008-08-04T09:22:00.002-07:00

I'm still riding high on the juice from the Energy Medicine Practitioners Conference that was held in Portland (OR) last month. It was a thoroughly worthwhile experience, jam-packed with interesting classes presented by some of the best EM teachers. Tons of information, new slants on techniques and many new things to try out.

Then, when we thought we were all full up, Donna arrived with her Razzle Dazzle class! Some profound shifts happened as we went through the Diamond Inlay, and I'm itching to share this and other new techniques with my clients.

Titanya, Donna's daughter, gave us 14 new exercises she has created for the meridian archetypes. In her trademark style, they have wonderfully imaginative names, such as "Cinderella's Wish" (for the Small Intestine), "Merlin the Mediator" (for Gall Bladder) and, one of my favorites so far, "Warrior's Grace" (for Liver). We're slowing introducing them to our Energy for Living class, but it's going to be a while before we have them all down with all the other new energy goodies to try out.

Other exciting Energy Medicine news is the new Energy Collaborative that took off this week. It's a networking and discussion site for anyone involved or interested in Energy Medicine. See the new sidebar button over on the right? Click on it and you'll be taken straight to the Energy Collaborative site. It looks like new groups are being formed all the time, so you're sure to find one that suits your level of experience.

Tips to Increase Afternoon Energy Levels

2008-05-13T23:40:00.004-07:00

Prevent the Afternoon Slump by Jerry V. Teplitz

If you're like most people, you've experienced the afternoon slump. You know the feeling -- it's only 2 p.m., yet you feel drained. Fortunately, you can employ methods to reduce the slump's frequency and shorten its duration.

To read this article and view the rest of the latest Magic of Massage In Touch newsletter, go to the website.

Be sure to check the newsletter's back page for my personal message and Special Offer.

It's late spring in Sedona. Dry Creek, which was recently full of snow melt, is now almost back to the state its name suggests. The desert flowers are abundant and the days are heating up. We had a slight reprieve today, with some welcome rain. Before we know it, the temperature will start its relentless summer climb and the intermittent cool days of spring, when we welcomed an extra layer, will be just a distant memory.

Energy Medicine Practice Classes in Sedona

2008-05-10T16:56:00.002-07:00

Want to create more joy, vitality and health in your life?

Energy for Living - Energy for Life!

A weekly class
Wednesdays - 5:30 pm
Sundays - 10:00 am

All classes are at my home in West Sedona. Please email me (info @ massagesedona.com) or call (928.282.7614) to sign up and for directions

$8 drop in, $36 for 6 classes
1 to 1 1/2 hours per class

We practice simple and effective energy medicine techniques, with the focus on daily, self-care exercises, and ways to identify imbalances in the energy systems. We also learn hands-on techniques that can be used with a partner to improve and balance the flow of energy, restore vitality and increase joy and well-being. It's a class for everyone: from the layperson, interested in better health, to the healthcare professional.

The class is fun, uplifting, and offers a wealth of useful tools based on Donna Eden's style of Energy Medicine. We also draw on Qi Gong, shiatsu and other massage techniques to wake up our energies and bring us back into balance. If you have Donna's book, Energy Medicine, bring it along, as you'll find it useful for looking up points we're working on, or just getting a visual of a certain technique. You can also buy the book at the class for $16. The Energy Medicine Kit is also available for $29.

You'll enjoy this class and learn lots of valuable techniques, whether or not you have any experience of energy work or massage. It's on a drop-in basis, so you can join at any time.

See you there!

If you need more information, directions, or would like to suggest another day/time (depending on interest, I'm willing to change), leave me a comment with your email address and I'll get in touch.

Latest Sedona Massage News

2008-05-10T16:44:00.003-07:00

(L to R) Jyoti with Donna Eden, and Libby, client, friend and diehard Energy Medicine junkie!

We were blessed last weekend to have Donna Eden in Sedona for a lecture and one-day class.

It was organized at short notice, but the 50 places for the Saturday class filled up in no time, and those fortunate enough to attend spent a fun-filled, informative and high-energy day with the world-renowned author of Energy Medicine herself. Donna was joined by her husband and co-author, David Feinstein, whose concise and articulate explanations make the world of energy medicine easy to understand for even the least esoteric among us.

(Left) Jyoti, David Feinstein, Libby

(Right) David Feinstein, Donna Eden, Sandy and her two beautiful dogs, Cody (L) and Tasha (R)

If you missed this class, not to worry, you still have a chance to come and get juiced up at our weekly Energy Medicine practice classes. You're right, Donna won't be there, at least not in person, but her spirit pervades the exercises, and it won't be long before you get the Energy Medicine bug and run off to do a weekend or 5-day class with her, or even the Eden Energy Medicine Certification Program which is now taking place in Phoenix. (Go to Innersource for more details).

Other News

The newly created website is up and running at www.massagesedona.com.
All sessions and Gift Certificates can now be purchased using Paypal, with just the click of a button. Plus, some new sessions and packages have been added. Tod is offering his channeled Soul Readings, and his Soul Songs – you won't find these anywhere else.

My Energy Medicine work has a new name - Five Rhythms Energy Healing. I wanted it to reflect more the way that I work, using the Chinese Medicine model of the Five Elements or Rhythms. I am offering Sedona Solace (formerly the Black Pearl Sanctuary) and a basic Energy Balancing session as ways to introduce you to this work, and give you a taste of where we could go with it. Click on over to the website for more information.

The Magic of Touch

2008-05-10T16:37:00.002-07:00

A hug can be the best medicine when we're feeling down or lonely. Stroking a pet brings joy to the heart and a smile to the face. We intuitively clasp a hand to our forehead in times of stress, and the desire to reach out and cuddle a crying infant is an inbuilt human response. No other form of connection is as powerful and universal as touch.

Since 1982, the Touch Research Institute in Miami, Florida has been devoted to better defining touch as it promotes health and contributes to the treatment of disease. These, and studies by other bodies worldwide, consistently show that touch therapy has numerous beneficial effects on the health and wellbeing of all humans.

There is something almost indefinable that happens when one sentient being touches another: an energetic connection that cannot be replicated by machines or massage tools. An electronic shiatsu chair may feel good and provide some relief to sore muscles, but receiving a treatment from a trained bodyworker offers something a non-human tool can't provide. More than simply working out a physical tension, a therapist trained in touch therapies (massage, shiatsu, rolfing), is also initiating a connection with the less-definable aspects of ourselves.

Whether we call it soul, spirit or energy, it adds another dimension to the physical act of touch, opening a doorway to healing that goes beyond the mere alleviation of symptoms. This level of healing not only releases muscular tension, but also nurtures the soul, and provides solace at mental and emotional levels. Touch is a language we use instinctively, and is the first of all the senses to develop. In our society, being deprived of contact with our fellow human beings by being placed in solitary confinement, is one of the worst punishments. Touch means contact and reminds us we are not alone.

Both the giving and receiving of touch is as essential to human survival as food or water. When we are without adequate human touch, our quality of life rapidly diminishes. We become susceptible to depression and illness, and our ability to thrive under stress is severely diminished. There are times in our lives when we may lack touch on a daily basis: following a divorce, when away from friends and loved ones for extended periods, in later life. At these times, turning to the services of a professional bodyworker can help to bring us back into contact with touch and ultimately, with ourselves.

Jyoti Rawlinson is a Sedona Massage Therapist who has over 20 years experience with the magic of touch. She graduated from the renowned Osho International Academy of Healing Arts in Pune, India, holds certification from the Arizona School of Integrative Studies, and is a Teaching Assistant for Donna Eden's Energy Medicine Introductory Trainings. Visit her website at www.massagesedona.com to find out how professional touch therapies can benefit you.

This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any e-zine, newsletter, blog, or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Beyond Technique

2006-10-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

"That was very different from any massage I've ever had! What were you doing?" I've heard this many times during my years of practice. I have to answer that it's not so much about what I'm doing as what I'm not doing. Now that sounds like a bit of a contradiction, so let me explain. There are all kinds of massage techniques, from Swedish to Trigger Point, Neuromuscular Therapy to Myofascial Release and many therapists rely on a particular specialty. By far the best massages I have received have been when the therapist was present, no matter what techniques were used.

Imagine, you come for a massage, with high expectations of a deeply relaxing experience. No matter how hard you try to relax, your mind races as you think about everything, from the movie you watched last night, to what you're going to have for dinner. Suddenly, your 60 minute massage is over, but it feels more like 15 minutes. Chances are, if this happens during your massage, your therapist is not present either. Instead of being in the moment with you, she is off in another world, thinking about the fight she had with her boyfriend this morning, whether she made the bank deposit... meanwhile she is performing a standard sequence of techniques on your body. Sound familiar?

Now imagine, you receive a massage where you sink deeply into relaxation, fully aware of the therapist's hands communicating with your body, of your breath and the stillness of the moment. You fall into profound silence. It feels like 60 minutes has stretched into the longest massage you've ever had. If you meditate, you may recognize this experience: presence, awareness, being in the moment. When your massage therapist is present, your being responds by finding that same place within.

Being present with clients means each massage is unique. It's a journey I take with the individual on my table, into whatever is happening from one moment to the next throughout the session. The less I think, the more I can simply BE and the more freely the dance between our two energies unfolds on its own.

If you would like to experience the Magic of Massage, call 928-282-7614, or email me to set up your appointment.

Doing?
Forget it.
Being.
Aaahh!
Massage?
Call me.

Is shiatsu massage the ultimate stress relief treatment?

2006-09-12T23:54:00.000-07:00

By Terry Dunn
www.holistichealthtalk.com

My first shiatsu massage

I opened my eyes suddenly. He was smiling at me. Then I realised I must have fallen asleep. It was a strange feeling. Energised, refreshed and relaxed, all at the same time. And it was so enjoyable. If that is a full body shaitsu massage, I want another.

Shiatsu massage is done fully clothed, but nothing restrictive must be worn, I was told. I lay on a futon on the floor. He started by placing his hands on my stomach and closed his eyes, just sensing my energy. Then he started to work his way around my body using all sorts of massage techniques combined with stretching and pulling of my arms and legs.

But the best bit was when he worked around my head and neck. That felt so good. And when he moved down my spine with his hands chopping and kneading. My whole body tingled and I felt a rush of energy. I think it was about then that I must have drifted off to sleep.

What is a full body massage?

The session starts with some questions. General health, problems, pain, tension spots and any existing medical conditions. This builds a case history. If you have a number of regular treatments your case history is kept current with the results of each session.

Lying on your back, the giver kneels down beside you and places a hand on your abdomen. This is a 'hara' diagnosis. The Japanese word 'hara' means your centre and it reveals much about your energy system to a sensitive shaitsu practitioner. The shiatsu massage technique involves stimulating or relaxing the acupuncture points or meridians of your body.

The word 'shiatsu' means 'finger pressure'. The purpose of these massage techniques is to release and balance the flow of 'ki' or energy, at points where it has become blocked or overstimulated.

A full body session will include work on your abdomen, chest, shoulders, arms, hands, head, neck, legs, feet and back. You get your arms and legs pushed and pulled. You are kneaded and chopped with hands and static finger pressure is applied at specific points on your body.

Why do you feel both energised and relaxed?

Your body has a network of energy channels or 'meridians' in which your 'ki' flows. This unseen network follows similar pathways to the nervous system and provides a constant supply of life-giving energy.

And just like a busy freeway, blockages in the flow can occur. But unlike a freeway these constrictions often do not clear naturally, causing local pain, tension, irritation or even illness. And because the meridians connect all the organs together, it can cause problems in other parts of your body too.

Shiatsu clears these blockages, freeing your energy, so you feel energised. Clearing blocked energy releases tension. The massaging techniques and the power of 'human touch' has a tremendous relaxing effect on your whole body. This is why you can fall asleep. Releasing all your tension you instantly relax into much deeper levels of mind which border on sleep.

Where does this form of massage originate from?

Shiatsu massage started in the 6th Century in Japan. The modern-day founder of shiatsu as a therapy is Tokujiro Namikoshi and the Institute for Shiatsu therapy which he opened in 1925 on the Island of Hokkaido. After 20,000 graduates, shiatsu is widely practiced in Japan. It is also practiced in China but is called acupressure.

The study of shiatsu involves a lot more than just finger pressure and massage techniques. Students study anatomy, physiology, the meridians and energy 'circuits' of the body, pressure points, case studies and 'hara' diagnosis.

They must have many hours of practice on volunteers and they must be fit and strong. A practitioner must be comfortable sitting, kneeling and squatting on the floor. Something we are not use to doing in the west.

Why shiatsu is the ultimate stress relief

We all lead busy lives balancing work, homes, relationships and many other triggers for stress and tension. These triggers build slowly but surely, especially if your life is 'full-on' with little rest and relaxation. You will notice the signs: inability to relax, irritability or you may suffer from insomnia. These are just a few of the symptoms.

This stress causes body and muscle tension and many inbalances in the way your body works. In turn, the vital energy that flows around your body becomes constricted and blocked causing pain and discomfort. We all know the therapeutic value of massage for releasing tension but Shiatsu combines tension release with energy unblocking, all in one session.

A Shiatsu massage melts away all your accumulated stress and tension and gives you an energy boost all at the same time. There are not many therapies that can do this and be so enjoyable too.

By Terry Dunn
www.holistichealthtalk.com
"using alternative therapy to improve your health"