Last time we mentioned the magnetism of the fingers and hands and the simplest form of healing - namely Magnetic Conductive Healing (MCH). This type of healing (remember the word means 'to make whole') does not take the various energy systems of either the healer or healee (horrible word) into the equation - such as meridians, chakras, reflexes etc. It is purely based upon the subtle energy flow through the client from your fingers or hands - so how is it done and what do you feel? Say, for instance you want to affect the energy flow through a painful area of the client such as an arthritic knee. You may do one (or more) of the following: -
**Place your hands either side of the knee with one hand in the popliteal fossa and the other hand on the lower patella border.
**Place the hands either side of the knee with one hand over the lateral ligament and the other over the medial ligament
**Place your hands below and above the knee, with one on the thigh and the other on the top of the calf.
With each positioning you are attempting to place the worst part of the condition in the middle of the 'field' between your hands and by attacking it from three different angles you are giving an all round contra planar treatment. With each position there MUST be FOCUS and INTENTION at all times. You may feel that you hands may start to move gently (this is the vital force or cranial rhythm) - just go with the flow and do not oppose it. Keep the hands in situ in each position until there is a change of sensation under the hands and relaxation of the tissue takes place - this varies from half a minute to nearly five minutes and in some instances, where the body part is in a really bad chronic situation, you do not get a change. Please do not 'will' any 'transfer' of energy between you and your client - remember the previous blogs. You are NOT doing the healing - THEY ARE! Good luck.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Magnetism of the Fingers
Touch therapy and hands-on healing comes in many forms and guises. The easiest to learn, and one that falls within the scope of everyone to perform, is conductive magnetic healing. I often state in my books and articles that the middle finger pads should be used when using energy balancing acupressure - why is this? It is said that each finger possesses either a negative or positive magnetic influence. The charge of the thumbs is said to be neutral and therefore they have little influence in subtle energy balancing, although great significance in general acupressure. The flow of electricity and magnetism goes from the negative pole to the positive and this is true in the human body. It appears that the left side of the body is negative and right side positive. It therefore follows that conductive healing occurs through and within the patients tissues a a result of you placing your hands on them - energy flowing from the left hand towards the right.
The individual fingers are also negative or positive. The right index finger is negative and the left index is positive; the right middle finger is positive and the left middle finger is negative. Other forms of contact healing use different principles which we shall start to cover next time.
The individual fingers are also negative or positive. The right index finger is negative and the left index is positive; the right middle finger is positive and the left middle finger is negative. Other forms of contact healing use different principles which we shall start to cover next time.
Friday, 22 January 2010
Intention Healing with the Heels
It's not been too bad here, unlike the rest of the UK, but we are always different here! I have managed to do some outside painting and the neck has held up quite well, so I have decided to start some clinical work next week and think about my teaching schedule.
Today I shall deal with how to use the heels to perform intention healing. If you have followed me thus far, it will not be such a giant leap of faith to understand that by intention on your part, working with your patient, it is possible to send healing thoughts to anywhere in the body. It is, though, extremely important that the first steps of tuning in, analysis and energy balancing are done first - there are no short cuts! So, you already have your hands cuddling the patients heels, and if they are not asleep by now they will be extremely relaxed! You need to feel the Vital Force rhythm again (or whatever you wish to call it) - remember that it feels like a tide coming in an going out, so in one phase there appears to be like a balloon filling between your hands and their heels, and in the other phase - this empties. Try to keep this rhythm going for about half a minute before you commence.
Immediately following the balloon phase, push, with intention (i.e. your silent thoughts) the energy towards the area of the body that needs the healing. It may be a joint, spinal level, chakra, meridian or internal organ. Keep doing this for at least a couple of minutes. When there is a very chronic situation it will feel that nothing much is occurring, simply because there is such an energy depletion in the first place. When treating acute or sub acute conditions, the reaction is much quicker. The reaction under your hands is that there seems to be a glow or warmth and there will be a 'change of emphasis' - as I mention in my books. If not asleep, the patient will feel warmth and relaxation in the part that you are directing the healing. I have actually been accused of doing symptomatic treatments by using this method - nothing is further from the truth. You have already ascertained where the healing is to be directed by the analysis phase - this is where it is needed! Also, you are utilizing the patient's OWN vital force - you are not introducing anything from you (remember what I said a couple of blogs ago).
That's all working on the heels (although in practice there is much more). Next time we shall start a series of teachings on treating musculo-skeletal conditions with touch therapy.
Today I shall deal with how to use the heels to perform intention healing. If you have followed me thus far, it will not be such a giant leap of faith to understand that by intention on your part, working with your patient, it is possible to send healing thoughts to anywhere in the body. It is, though, extremely important that the first steps of tuning in, analysis and energy balancing are done first - there are no short cuts! So, you already have your hands cuddling the patients heels, and if they are not asleep by now they will be extremely relaxed! You need to feel the Vital Force rhythm again (or whatever you wish to call it) - remember that it feels like a tide coming in an going out, so in one phase there appears to be like a balloon filling between your hands and their heels, and in the other phase - this empties. Try to keep this rhythm going for about half a minute before you commence.
Immediately following the balloon phase, push, with intention (i.e. your silent thoughts) the energy towards the area of the body that needs the healing. It may be a joint, spinal level, chakra, meridian or internal organ. Keep doing this for at least a couple of minutes. When there is a very chronic situation it will feel that nothing much is occurring, simply because there is such an energy depletion in the first place. When treating acute or sub acute conditions, the reaction is much quicker. The reaction under your hands is that there seems to be a glow or warmth and there will be a 'change of emphasis' - as I mention in my books. If not asleep, the patient will feel warmth and relaxation in the part that you are directing the healing. I have actually been accused of doing symptomatic treatments by using this method - nothing is further from the truth. You have already ascertained where the healing is to be directed by the analysis phase - this is where it is needed! Also, you are utilizing the patient's OWN vital force - you are not introducing anything from you (remember what I said a couple of blogs ago).
That's all working on the heels (although in practice there is much more). Next time we shall start a series of teachings on treating musculo-skeletal conditions with touch therapy.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Analysis using the heels
You are now in a position to undergo some 'fine tuning' analysis after already determined the gross imbalances that need to be addressed by taking the Case History and examination.
Now that you have an even vital force flow that I described in the last posting, the time has come for you to analyse by asking silent questions. This is all part of the whole system of physical therapy known as body dowsing, that you can perform anywhere and by several different means. The secret of any body dowsing routine is to commence by asking very large general questions and slowly fine tune them to become more specific. A corollary to this is by using Teletext on the television. Firstly you press 'Sport' - this gives you a number of options - then press Football - this gives you more options - then press 'Scores' and so on to get the exact score of the match you are interested in. The other very important thing to remember is that each and every silent question MUST be answered by either Yes or No. WHEN THE REPLY IS 'NO' OR IN THE NEGATIVE, THE RHYTHM UNDER THE HEELS REMAINS CONSTANT ---WHEN THE REPLY IS 'YES' OR IN THE POSITIVE, THE RHYTHM TEMPORARILY CEASES!!!
So, for example, if you have decided to ask about the state of play about the atlas vertebra - C1. Firstly ask if there is any anomaly in the cervical spine. If there is, then the rhythm will stop. It will re-commence within a few seconds. Now ask if there is any problem with the atlas - again the rhythm ceases. No ask if there is a facet joint problem, or if it is rotated or -whatever - to finally fine tune things to the exact diagnosis you need. You may choose whatever system of the body you want to - the spine, internal organs, aura, meridians, chakras or, indeed, any part of the body. Start with general questions and progress to specific!!!
You must explain to your patient what you are doing and give them the results. If you have done your work correctly, you will amaze them as well as yourself. This topic is one of the most popular ones that I teach. I am often presented with either a real live patient to look at and assess or one of the delegates will volunteer. It is one of those relatively simple procedures that are very rewarding but will have to be practised and practised in order to perfect. Next time - Healing with the Heels. Let me have your feedback on this posting as I want to know if this is the sort of stuff that you want out there in e-land.
Now that you have an even vital force flow that I described in the last posting, the time has come for you to analyse by asking silent questions. This is all part of the whole system of physical therapy known as body dowsing, that you can perform anywhere and by several different means. The secret of any body dowsing routine is to commence by asking very large general questions and slowly fine tune them to become more specific. A corollary to this is by using Teletext on the television. Firstly you press 'Sport' - this gives you a number of options - then press Football - this gives you more options - then press 'Scores' and so on to get the exact score of the match you are interested in. The other very important thing to remember is that each and every silent question MUST be answered by either Yes or No. WHEN THE REPLY IS 'NO' OR IN THE NEGATIVE, THE RHYTHM UNDER THE HEELS REMAINS CONSTANT ---WHEN THE REPLY IS 'YES' OR IN THE POSITIVE, THE RHYTHM TEMPORARILY CEASES!!!
So, for example, if you have decided to ask about the state of play about the atlas vertebra - C1. Firstly ask if there is any anomaly in the cervical spine. If there is, then the rhythm will stop. It will re-commence within a few seconds. Now ask if there is any problem with the atlas - again the rhythm ceases. No ask if there is a facet joint problem, or if it is rotated or -whatever - to finally fine tune things to the exact diagnosis you need. You may choose whatever system of the body you want to - the spine, internal organs, aura, meridians, chakras or, indeed, any part of the body. Start with general questions and progress to specific!!!
You must explain to your patient what you are doing and give them the results. If you have done your work correctly, you will amaze them as well as yourself. This topic is one of the most popular ones that I teach. I am often presented with either a real live patient to look at and assess or one of the delegates will volunteer. It is one of those relatively simple procedures that are very rewarding but will have to be practised and practised in order to perfect. Next time - Healing with the Heels. Let me have your feedback on this posting as I want to know if this is the sort of stuff that you want out there in e-land.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Energy balancing using the heels
Having just put bucket loads of sand on our track, so we could drive out, - the thaw came!!! We are actually going shopping tomorrow for the first time in 4 weeks. For those of you who do not appreciate our geography - we live 30 miles from Portree where the one and only supermarket is situated - the Co-Op. I think Andrea is ready to kill for a banana!!
Today I am writing about how you can use the heels to energy balance. Full details are in my book - 'Healing with the Chakra Energy System'. Many of you know that by using cranio-sacral therapy or cranial osteopathy via the Vault hold (using the occiput), you can assess the flow of the cerebro-spinal fluid, analyze or diagnose for any physical or energy imbalances within the body and create an energy balance. This procedure takes a lot of learning, but once it is learnt and mastered, the rewards are amazing. We should all be able to use our diagnostic skills for the gross imbalances, but the Vault hold gives you the nuances and fine tunes everything in order that we can give the correct treatment. The heels are another very accessible area, just like the occiput. Energy flow balancing may be performed anywhere in the body, but if you happen to be a relexologist, the heels are extremely accessible and effective. The heels are just one of the body's 'Listening Posts' where you can assess, analyze and balance. Make sure the patient is comfortable and your forearms are supported. Both heels should be gently 'cuddled' without any undue pressure. At the end of about two minutes a certain amount of tingling, warmth or other sensations will be apparaent. If one heel is warm and the other is cool or sticky - or if there is any other anomoly, this shows an imbalance of energy. If there is very little warmth in either heel, this indicates a chronic situation. Before balancing can commence you first have to 'tune in' to the patient's vital force natural rhythm (similar to the vault hold). This is achieved by trying to sense a gentle expansion and contraction under the heels. The movement is very similar to the movement of the tide at the sea shore. When you have felt this, try to expand this sensation under the hands to create a 'balloon' effect of energy. Keep the rhythm going for at least a couple of minutes to allow the patient to completely relax. Then, with silent thought and intention, ask the body to energy balnce itself. You should find that the rhythm ceases and movemnet will be 'all over the place'. Your hands and their heels arn't actually moving - it just appears that they are. You have to follow the rhythm and 'go with the flow' - never oppose what is occuring!. This carries on until the expansion and contraction appear to be the same under each heel. As this occurs the patient often takes a huge sigh of relaxation. Let me stress that this is NOT the treatment itself, just the 'first course' Let me also stress that all you and your patient (you are a team) are doing at this stage is to energy balance them sufficietly so as to bring about enough harmony within their system that you can proceed to the next part - analysis. This we shall discuss next time.
Today I am writing about how you can use the heels to energy balance. Full details are in my book - 'Healing with the Chakra Energy System'. Many of you know that by using cranio-sacral therapy or cranial osteopathy via the Vault hold (using the occiput), you can assess the flow of the cerebro-spinal fluid, analyze or diagnose for any physical or energy imbalances within the body and create an energy balance. This procedure takes a lot of learning, but once it is learnt and mastered, the rewards are amazing. We should all be able to use our diagnostic skills for the gross imbalances, but the Vault hold gives you the nuances and fine tunes everything in order that we can give the correct treatment. The heels are another very accessible area, just like the occiput. Energy flow balancing may be performed anywhere in the body, but if you happen to be a relexologist, the heels are extremely accessible and effective. The heels are just one of the body's 'Listening Posts' where you can assess, analyze and balance. Make sure the patient is comfortable and your forearms are supported. Both heels should be gently 'cuddled' without any undue pressure. At the end of about two minutes a certain amount of tingling, warmth or other sensations will be apparaent. If one heel is warm and the other is cool or sticky - or if there is any other anomoly, this shows an imbalance of energy. If there is very little warmth in either heel, this indicates a chronic situation. Before balancing can commence you first have to 'tune in' to the patient's vital force natural rhythm (similar to the vault hold). This is achieved by trying to sense a gentle expansion and contraction under the heels. The movement is very similar to the movement of the tide at the sea shore. When you have felt this, try to expand this sensation under the hands to create a 'balloon' effect of energy. Keep the rhythm going for at least a couple of minutes to allow the patient to completely relax. Then, with silent thought and intention, ask the body to energy balnce itself. You should find that the rhythm ceases and movemnet will be 'all over the place'. Your hands and their heels arn't actually moving - it just appears that they are. You have to follow the rhythm and 'go with the flow' - never oppose what is occuring!. This carries on until the expansion and contraction appear to be the same under each heel. As this occurs the patient often takes a huge sigh of relaxation. Let me stress that this is NOT the treatment itself, just the 'first course' Let me also stress that all you and your patient (you are a team) are doing at this stage is to energy balance them sufficietly so as to bring about enough harmony within their system that you can proceed to the next part - analysis. This we shall discuss next time.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Initial hands-on routine
We are still frozen in! Our track is over 450 mtrs to the main road and it resembles an ice rink. Let's hope the thaw comes soon.
Today I shall give some advice on initial hands-on routine. It doesn't matter in this instance if you are using reflexology, acupressure, physical therapy or any other form of therapy - the same advice holds for all types. Some of it sounds obvious, but it never ceases to amaze me that these things are not adhered to by scores of practitioners.
1. Be patient and calm. Your patient will probably be a bit nervous and if you show patient and calm yourself, this will help feel better.
2. Show confidence. As a patient (yes - I am one as well), it always puts me off when the therapist shows obvious nerves or any kind of anxiety. Act as if you know what you are doing without any 'faffing' about.
3. NEVER, NEVER tell the patient about your aches and pains. It is ok just to answer the question put to you 'How are you?' but don't drone on and on. They are paying you for you to listen to their troubles, not the other way around. Constantly dwelling on your problems (even though you may actually feel worse than the person on the couch) is not professional - cut it out!
4. Following your pre treatment prep. (see previous blog) approach the patient's head, feet, knee or whatever slowly and with due care - do not rush!! Always tell them what you are going to do, even if it's in the form of a question - 'I'm just going to hold your heels' or 'Is it ok if I place my hand on your tummy?' for example. Always keep them informed what you are doing and answer any question they may ask.
5. Initially you are probably 'tuning in' to their cranial rhythm or vital force so explain that this is what you are doing - other wise in their eyes you are just placing your hands on their heels without appearing to be doing anything!!
6. Make sure that the hands on hold is gentle yet firm. Over the ensuing 2/3 minutes you will be assessing the patient's heat, cold, energy flow, cranial rhythm and you will feel changes of energy quality taking place during that time - the hold has therefore to be firm.
7. Finally, make sure that YOU are comfortable as well as your patient. Try not to fidget.
The next blog will cover energy balancing through the heels.
Today I shall give some advice on initial hands-on routine. It doesn't matter in this instance if you are using reflexology, acupressure, physical therapy or any other form of therapy - the same advice holds for all types. Some of it sounds obvious, but it never ceases to amaze me that these things are not adhered to by scores of practitioners.
1. Be patient and calm. Your patient will probably be a bit nervous and if you show patient and calm yourself, this will help feel better.
2. Show confidence. As a patient (yes - I am one as well), it always puts me off when the therapist shows obvious nerves or any kind of anxiety. Act as if you know what you are doing without any 'faffing' about.
3. NEVER, NEVER tell the patient about your aches and pains. It is ok just to answer the question put to you 'How are you?' but don't drone on and on. They are paying you for you to listen to their troubles, not the other way around. Constantly dwelling on your problems (even though you may actually feel worse than the person on the couch) is not professional - cut it out!
4. Following your pre treatment prep. (see previous blog) approach the patient's head, feet, knee or whatever slowly and with due care - do not rush!! Always tell them what you are going to do, even if it's in the form of a question - 'I'm just going to hold your heels' or 'Is it ok if I place my hand on your tummy?' for example. Always keep them informed what you are doing and answer any question they may ask.
5. Initially you are probably 'tuning in' to their cranial rhythm or vital force so explain that this is what you are doing - other wise in their eyes you are just placing your hands on their heels without appearing to be doing anything!!
6. Make sure that the hands on hold is gentle yet firm. Over the ensuing 2/3 minutes you will be assessing the patient's heat, cold, energy flow, cranial rhythm and you will feel changes of energy quality taking place during that time - the hold has therefore to be firm.
7. Finally, make sure that YOU are comfortable as well as your patient. Try not to fidget.
The next blog will cover energy balancing through the heels.
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Pre Treatment Routines - 2
Thank you to those of you who commented on the last blog about protection. I am pleased that it helped you and that there are those out there in ether land who are actually reading my scrawls. We managed to get out yesterday for essentials and today it is +3 degrees so its not so icy to walk on. We are keeping the poultry in the fank area and I've erected a make shift high fencing around it to stop the fox getting in!
Today we shall discuss further aspects of pre treatment routines that are vital for a successful practice.
1. Try and watch your patient as they get out of the car and walk towards your clinic rooms. It is amazing how much you can glean from their posture and demeanour before you see them. I realise that it is not a practical logistical suggestion for many of you.
2. Realise that they have honoured you with them putting their trust in you - never take that for granted. So, be polite and courteous at all times. Yes, I know that many of them can be a pain in the butt and that you just want to get rid of them quick time - but they are putting food on your table. If you are self employed, please always remember that you survive purely on other people's whims! If nobody saw you you wouldn't eat! So, you have to good at what you do and very conscientious.
3. Take a good Case History - after all - it is a legal requirement. Try not to interrupt them too much and let them tell their story as they wish to. You can pick up many hints as to analysis (and possible treatment) just by the way they talk and present themselves. They may need to be brought back on track occasionally but, above all, let them pour it out! The following things may be learnt from the way they present to you :-
a) The person who is fidgetty, anxious and gabbles - possible Heart or Small Intestine imbalance.
b) The person who 'whines' and moans that nothing is right - possible Liver and Gall bladder imbalance
c) The person who is quitely spoken (almost shy) - often reveals a cranial base and Brow chakra imbalance
d) The person who does not look straight at you but looks down at the floor most of the time - this shows an old anxiety block that needs to be addressed.
4. Most patients and clients are reticent about divulging their innermost feelings (which is generally what you want to hear), so don't take it too fast on the first session. They may open up once they get to know you. It is a two way thing.
5. Don't get them to remove any more clothing than is necessary and it is always a good idea to have a chaperone handy if you feel that is required for the practical examination. Make sure that you write down your findings in real time and don't rely on your memory to do it at the end of the day!
6. Keep them involved! Many practitioners are very aloof and don't say a darned word to the client - and they are too shy or reticent to ask. Keep the reply to their questions simple and remember that you know far more about anatomy etc. than they do, so don't blind them with science. It is always a good thing to have a visual aid such as a spinal diagram or an anatomical model - a picture is worth 1000 words.
7. Finally, keep your room warm and make sure that you place towels over the patient when they are on the couch. This puts them at ease straight away and it shows that you care about their comfort and modesty.
Obviously there are many more hints, but that gives you a flavour. Next time - initial hands on routines. Keep warm!!
Today we shall discuss further aspects of pre treatment routines that are vital for a successful practice.
1. Try and watch your patient as they get out of the car and walk towards your clinic rooms. It is amazing how much you can glean from their posture and demeanour before you see them. I realise that it is not a practical logistical suggestion for many of you.
2. Realise that they have honoured you with them putting their trust in you - never take that for granted. So, be polite and courteous at all times. Yes, I know that many of them can be a pain in the butt and that you just want to get rid of them quick time - but they are putting food on your table. If you are self employed, please always remember that you survive purely on other people's whims! If nobody saw you you wouldn't eat! So, you have to good at what you do and very conscientious.
3. Take a good Case History - after all - it is a legal requirement. Try not to interrupt them too much and let them tell their story as they wish to. You can pick up many hints as to analysis (and possible treatment) just by the way they talk and present themselves. They may need to be brought back on track occasionally but, above all, let them pour it out! The following things may be learnt from the way they present to you :-
a) The person who is fidgetty, anxious and gabbles - possible Heart or Small Intestine imbalance.
b) The person who 'whines' and moans that nothing is right - possible Liver and Gall bladder imbalance
c) The person who is quitely spoken (almost shy) - often reveals a cranial base and Brow chakra imbalance
d) The person who does not look straight at you but looks down at the floor most of the time - this shows an old anxiety block that needs to be addressed.
4. Most patients and clients are reticent about divulging their innermost feelings (which is generally what you want to hear), so don't take it too fast on the first session. They may open up once they get to know you. It is a two way thing.
5. Don't get them to remove any more clothing than is necessary and it is always a good idea to have a chaperone handy if you feel that is required for the practical examination. Make sure that you write down your findings in real time and don't rely on your memory to do it at the end of the day!
6. Keep them involved! Many practitioners are very aloof and don't say a darned word to the client - and they are too shy or reticent to ask. Keep the reply to their questions simple and remember that you know far more about anatomy etc. than they do, so don't blind them with science. It is always a good thing to have a visual aid such as a spinal diagram or an anatomical model - a picture is worth 1000 words.
7. Finally, keep your room warm and make sure that you place towels over the patient when they are on the couch. This puts them at ease straight away and it shows that you care about their comfort and modesty.
Obviously there are many more hints, but that gives you a flavour. Next time - initial hands on routines. Keep warm!!
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Pre treatment routines
As with the rest of the UK, the snow and ice remain very bad here but we are hoping to get out tomorrow to do some shopping. It is a good job that I am not working clinically because of my surgery recovery as patients would not be able to reach me!! The bitter cold weather has lured mr. fox to our croft looking for food and we have lost 4 hens and a duck. Andrea is devastated. We managed to get the remaining terrified poultry into their houses this evening before dark set in.
I am often asked at a workshop 'How do you protect yourself' from negative 'vibes'. The nature of our type of work with hands on energy medicine can leave us very vulnerable if we do not take adequate precautions. It is generally not the case that clients and patients are malevolent creatures who go out of their way to harm us - of course they don't! It is just that when you deal with sick people who want to off load their troubles and woes in verbal and emotional ways, it is wise not to suck in the outpouring of grief. I have known of at least three excellent practitioners who thought that this was all gobbledegook and, sadly, they paid the price. The following may help you.
1. Do some kind of routine before every patient - no exceptions! It doesn't matter if you have seen them a hundred times before or you are not using obvious energy medicine.
2. Always wash you hands between patients, firstly with hot water and soap and follow this with cold water.
3. The silent routine will take no more than a few seconds. I imagine that I have a protecting bubble around me, rather like a gold fish bowl. I then silently say a few words of asking for protection. You do not have to have any faith or religion and it doesn't have to be a prayer or incantation.
4. Always have your feet firmly on the ground during a treatment session - literally
5. This one is the most difficult - try not to empathise with your patient too much - you have to be caring and yet stay aloof. This takes practice and experience. Remember that at the end of the day you should feel as refreshed as you do in the morning. Try not to let your guard down if you are getting tired.
6. I am always astonished when I hear that the therapist has taken the patient's pain away by transferring it to themselves! DON'T DO IT!!!!
7. Do not treat any more patient's in the day than you are capable of doing and, above all, never, never, treat someone if you are not well yourself! Yes - I know that we are all wrecks, I mean if we have a bad cold or flu etc.
I hope that this helps - let me have some feedback if you think that anything has been omitted.
I am often asked at a workshop 'How do you protect yourself' from negative 'vibes'. The nature of our type of work with hands on energy medicine can leave us very vulnerable if we do not take adequate precautions. It is generally not the case that clients and patients are malevolent creatures who go out of their way to harm us - of course they don't! It is just that when you deal with sick people who want to off load their troubles and woes in verbal and emotional ways, it is wise not to suck in the outpouring of grief. I have known of at least three excellent practitioners who thought that this was all gobbledegook and, sadly, they paid the price. The following may help you.
1. Do some kind of routine before every patient - no exceptions! It doesn't matter if you have seen them a hundred times before or you are not using obvious energy medicine.
2. Always wash you hands between patients, firstly with hot water and soap and follow this with cold water.
3. The silent routine will take no more than a few seconds. I imagine that I have a protecting bubble around me, rather like a gold fish bowl. I then silently say a few words of asking for protection. You do not have to have any faith or religion and it doesn't have to be a prayer or incantation.
4. Always have your feet firmly on the ground during a treatment session - literally
5. This one is the most difficult - try not to empathise with your patient too much - you have to be caring and yet stay aloof. This takes practice and experience. Remember that at the end of the day you should feel as refreshed as you do in the morning. Try not to let your guard down if you are getting tired.
6. I am always astonished when I hear that the therapist has taken the patient's pain away by transferring it to themselves! DON'T DO IT!!!!
7. Do not treat any more patient's in the day than you are capable of doing and, above all, never, never, treat someone if you are not well yourself! Yes - I know that we are all wrecks, I mean if we have a bad cold or flu etc.
I hope that this helps - let me have some feedback if you think that anything has been omitted.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
F I
We are still snowed in here, but at least we have power, water and heat - who needs food anyway? We shall try and get out to the local shop on Tuesday. Today's blog is the first of many over the next few weeks on Bodywork. Most of my students reading this blog will immediately know what I mean by F I.
I introduce the topic as 'IF' and all you have to do to remember this pneumonic is to know that it is Rudyard Kipling's best known poem (and reverse it)! F and I represents the essential costituents of how ALL therapists should approach the treatment of their clients and patients - without exception!!! F stands for FOCUS. Before you even lay a hand on the client, you have to focus on THEM and THEM ALONE. Do not let your mind wander to anything else. The person on your couch is trusting you that you will do your best to help them - they demand your concentration and total mind set. They are paying you a great privilege that they are willing to come and see you in the first place! (Mind set and pre treatment regimen will be covered next time). If it is their knee you are working on then the focus has to be on their knee, if it is the back, then the focus is on the back....
I stands for INTENTION. This is required in all subtle bodywork procedures such as reflexology, acupressure, cranio-sacral therapy, chakra balancing etc. When you are in your comfortable set position with total focus on where you are, the INTENTION is what you are hoping to achieve in that particular part of the treatment session. This is achieved by silent thought! Please remember that THOUGHT IS ENERGY and that ENERGY FOLLOWS THOUGHT. There some therapists who do not think that this is important and that we can achieve all we want to do without positive and specific thought - I do not agree!! Not only do I need all the help I can get but I KNOW after 40 years of practice that without intention the results are not as positive or as dramatic. If you are trying to 'energy balance' between two points, as well as placing your hands or fingers on the patient, it is imperative to visualize the flow of chi (or whatever you perceive the vital force to be) between your hands or fingers. If you are treating a client with reflexology, it really helps to visualize your intentions at each stage of the procedure.
This knowledge is FUNDAMENTAL and ESSENTIAL. Never try and take short cuts, except in certain situations or emergencies.
I introduce the topic as 'IF' and all you have to do to remember this pneumonic is to know that it is Rudyard Kipling's best known poem (and reverse it)! F and I represents the essential costituents of how ALL therapists should approach the treatment of their clients and patients - without exception!!! F stands for FOCUS. Before you even lay a hand on the client, you have to focus on THEM and THEM ALONE. Do not let your mind wander to anything else. The person on your couch is trusting you that you will do your best to help them - they demand your concentration and total mind set. They are paying you a great privilege that they are willing to come and see you in the first place! (Mind set and pre treatment regimen will be covered next time). If it is their knee you are working on then the focus has to be on their knee, if it is the back, then the focus is on the back....
I stands for INTENTION. This is required in all subtle bodywork procedures such as reflexology, acupressure, cranio-sacral therapy, chakra balancing etc. When you are in your comfortable set position with total focus on where you are, the INTENTION is what you are hoping to achieve in that particular part of the treatment session. This is achieved by silent thought! Please remember that THOUGHT IS ENERGY and that ENERGY FOLLOWS THOUGHT. There some therapists who do not think that this is important and that we can achieve all we want to do without positive and specific thought - I do not agree!! Not only do I need all the help I can get but I KNOW after 40 years of practice that without intention the results are not as positive or as dramatic. If you are trying to 'energy balance' between two points, as well as placing your hands or fingers on the patient, it is imperative to visualize the flow of chi (or whatever you perceive the vital force to be) between your hands or fingers. If you are treating a client with reflexology, it really helps to visualize your intentions at each stage of the procedure.
This knowledge is FUNDAMENTAL and ESSENTIAL. Never try and take short cuts, except in certain situations or emergencies.
Friday, 1 January 2010
Weight
Happy new year to all the Cross Patch readers - hope you have been taking the advice about Nux Vomica for hangovers!! I don't drink so rarely have to take the stuff. We still have nearly six inches of compacted snow here but it is due to reach 3 degrees C today so the big melt is on!!
Apart from stopping smoking and cutting down on booze, I guess that many folk's new years resolution is to try and lose weight! My excuse for being overweight at the moment is that I haven't been able to exercise following surgery and we are eating up all the 'naughty but nice' goodies we had for Christmas. Its my excuse and I am sticking to it. I think I read somewhere that more people weigh themselves on their bathroomm scales on new years day than any other day of the year. It is a good thing to do just to get a benchmark weight. The following advice about losing weight may be very common sense but I proffer it just the same.
1. Only weigh yourself once a week - not every day, and always at the same time of time - mornings are preferable as we all weigh more later in the day.
2. Make the goals of losing weight REALISTIC. One or two pounds a week is about right.
3. You have to want to lose weight - not just play at it. Have a committment strategy and a positive mindset - it is mostly in the mind!!
4. If I knew the answer to weight loss, I would not be writing this blog in the freezing cold of the Isle of Skye but would probably be swanning it on my yacht in the Med. ( Oh I don't know about that one) THERE IS NO ONE SINGLE DIET THAT COVERS ALL SITUATIONS. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
5.Most authorities agree that crash diets are usually a waste of time - the quicker you lose - the faster the weight returns. One inescapable fact is that if you burn more calories than you eat, you will lose weight. This comes from a combination of moderate exercise and eating the correct foods.
Next blog I shall start a series of 'teach ins' on touch therapy and bodywork.
Hope the headache eases soon!
Apart from stopping smoking and cutting down on booze, I guess that many folk's new years resolution is to try and lose weight! My excuse for being overweight at the moment is that I haven't been able to exercise following surgery and we are eating up all the 'naughty but nice' goodies we had for Christmas. Its my excuse and I am sticking to it. I think I read somewhere that more people weigh themselves on their bathroomm scales on new years day than any other day of the year. It is a good thing to do just to get a benchmark weight. The following advice about losing weight may be very common sense but I proffer it just the same.
1. Only weigh yourself once a week - not every day, and always at the same time of time - mornings are preferable as we all weigh more later in the day.
2. Make the goals of losing weight REALISTIC. One or two pounds a week is about right.
3. You have to want to lose weight - not just play at it. Have a committment strategy and a positive mindset - it is mostly in the mind!!
4. If I knew the answer to weight loss, I would not be writing this blog in the freezing cold of the Isle of Skye but would probably be swanning it on my yacht in the Med. ( Oh I don't know about that one) THERE IS NO ONE SINGLE DIET THAT COVERS ALL SITUATIONS. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
5.Most authorities agree that crash diets are usually a waste of time - the quicker you lose - the faster the weight returns. One inescapable fact is that if you burn more calories than you eat, you will lose weight. This comes from a combination of moderate exercise and eating the correct foods.
Next blog I shall start a series of 'teach ins' on touch therapy and bodywork.
Hope the headache eases soon!
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