The Seven Styles of Body Therapy That Can Heal Whatever Hurts You

Do you have a chronic of lifelong physical, emotional, spiritual, social or sexual problem? Have you tried to self-medicate through alcohol, prescription drugs, or recreational drugs? Are you educated about your problem, having read many articles & books? Have you tried traditional counseling, group counseling, seminars, and 12 Step groups?

The following simplified categorization of touch and holistic therapies indicates the enormous, largely untapped resources available to help you heal whatever ails you in your body, your mind, your spirit, your relationships, and any aspect of your life.

Traditional Massage, Swedish Massage, and Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy (sometimes referred to as Traditional Massage, Swedish Massage, or just Massage) is the best known, most thoroughly researched, and one of the only licensed methods of touch therapy in almost every state in this country. I spent an entire year at the Swedish Massage Institute in NYC to become licensed, although the specific types of touch therapy that I use in my practice are listed in some of the categories below this one.

Carefully draping the client’s body with a sheet and towels, a traditional massage therapist typically utilizes oils and creams, as well as herbal and aromatic essences, music, soft lighting, and basic massage strokes directly on the client’s skin. The goal is usually to alleviate muscular tension, improve circulation, eliminate painful nerve constrictions, treat acute and chronic soft-tissue injuries and problems, and relieve stress by relaxing the mind and body.

Contemporary Western Massage and Bodywork

Expanding upon the practice of traditional massage therapy, Contemporary Western Massage and Bodywork methods may include the use of water, ice, heat, chair massage, onsite massage, medical massage, sports massage, pregnancy massage, infant massage, and more recently, animal massage.

Structural, Functional, Movement, and Alignment Therapies

Structural, Functional, Movement and Alignment Therapy methods of touch therapy (e.g., Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Chiropractic, and Myofascial Release) utilize techniques to improve the structure of the spine and body alignment, organ functioning, flexibility of movement, hormonal balance, and integration of the body as a holographic system. These methods may involve actual re-sculpting of the connective tissue, improved flow of cerebral spinal fluid, lymph drainage, realignment of subluxated vertebrae, trigger-point release, or simply guiding the body to move in an easier, more fluid, and graceful manner.

Asian Bodywork

Asian Bodywork methods of touch therapy (e.g., Acupuncture, Acupressure, Chi Gong, Tuina, and Thai Massage) originated in different parts of Asia and are mostly derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory. This ancient theory describes the health of the body in terms of the five basic elements (fire, water, earth, metal, and wood) and the functioning of the 12 pairs of primary meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians, lines of energy flowing in specific patterns throughout the body. The practitioner stimulates points along the meridians using finger, hand, foot, knee, or elbow pressure, and in some cases, fine needles. The goal is to release restrictions in the flow of energy. Acupuncture is the most recognized form of Asian bodywork, in terms of certification and licensure, within the medical and alternative medicine communities.

Energetic Bodywork

These methods of touch therapy (e.g., Polarity Therapy, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and Chakra Healing) focus on the energetic fields within and surrounding the body. These methods range from direct contact on the skin, to indirect contact an inch to a foot or more above the body, to distant indirect contact from another room, another city, or anywhere on the planet. Training may be simple to complex, requiring anywhere from one weekend of basic training, to several years of on-going instruction, to a secretive initiation process open to only a select number of students.

Somatic and Expressive Arts Therapies

Somatic (referring to the Soma or body) and Expressive Arts (referring to non-traditional methods for accessing deep emotions) Therapy methods include body-centered therapies that may or may not involve actual touch. With movement, dance, sports, yoga postures, martial arts, dramatic performances, artistic expression, and visualization, as well as through hands-on touch, the body may allow us to feel sensations and express emotions that have previously been unavailable to our conscious minds. Research has indicated that memories may be stored within the body tissues. Deep traumas can be overcome and the emotional overtones subdued or released. Some somatic practitioners may be trained artists; many have received training and certifications in one or more body therapy modalities, while others are graduates of accredited academic programs.

Somatic Body Psychotherapy

The common element of all body psychotherapy methods (e.g., Rubenfeld Synergy, Bioenergetic Analysis, Core Energetics, Bodynamics, Hakomi, Rosen Method, and Reichian Therapy) is the focus on body awareness and the judicious use of touch during some psychotherapeutic sessions. The touch may vary from very gentle and respectful of the clients needs to more-forceful touch focused on breaking through defenses and body armoring. A body psychotherapy session may include guided imagery, focused breathing, role playing, movement, expressive arts, as well as emotional release work. Body psychotherapists are trained and certified in both psychotherapy and body therapy methods or in specific body psychotherapy modalities. The term “Somatic Body Psychotherapy” helps to further clarify the full scope of this powerful type of therapy.

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Caused by Trauma – Touch Therapy and Body Psychotherapy Can Help You

It is estimated that out of 1.6 million troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan alone, nearly 300,000 have returned with some form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
And those are the reported cases.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about 30 percent of men and women who have spent time in war zones, not just Iraq and Afghanistan, have experienced PTSD for varying lengths of time.

An even more alarming statistic is that nearly 7.7 million Americans have the symptoms of PTSD at any given time. Many of the PTSD sufferers have never been in an actual war zone, but PTSD has no borders. Traumatic experiences and its devastating aftereffects can happen anywhere, sometimes in the most unlikely places, e.g., in your own home or with someone you like and trust.

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

How do you know if you are experiencing PTSD? What are the common signs and symptoms? These symptoms often resemble other psychiatric diagnoses. It is important to consult with a professional counselor, psychotherapist or physician to get an accurate diagnosis and receive appropriate treatment.

o easily startled, jittery, or a sense of being “on guard”
o feeling detached and distant from people, numb, and unable to be affectionate
o sleep problems, nightmares, sexual problems, or an inability to relax
o depression and loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
o feeling irritable, easily angered, more aggressive than before, even violent
o difficulties with working or socializing
o flashbacks or intrusive images (sounds, smells, feelings reminiscent of the traumatic event)
o reliving the event for moments or even hours
o avoiding places and situations that bring back memories of the trauma
o survivor guilt: feeling guilty that others have died and you have lived

Treatment Methods for PTSD

o medication (e.g., anti-anxiety or anti-depressants)
o psychotherapy and group therapy
o combined medication and psychotherapy
o touch therapy, emotional release work and body psychotherapy

The most commonly recognized psychotherapy treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy which focuses on the cognitions (thoughts in your mind) and the behaviors that result from these thoughts. Changing the thoughts will change your behavior, or, changing your behavior can change your thoughts. Another more recent therapeutic process is called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) which involves a method for balancing the right and left sides of your brain in such to actually lessen the emotional impact of traumatic memories. One of the most common prescription drugs used to treat PTSD is known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is also used to alleviate depression.

Less commonly recognized but extremely powerful and highly effective, is a branch of healing which includes touch therapy, somatic emotional release work, and body psychotherapy. There are many different modalities that can be extremely effective in assisting you to break through your defensive armoring and get to the root of the pain you are currently experiencing.

Some touch therapy methods, such as neuromuscular therapy, deep tissue massage, and rolfing, can be quite painful yet as the tissues release their holding patterns, emotional blockages can be released. The emotions that are released can become intense and it is important to have access, sometimes even immediately, to a skilled psychotherapist to help you through the early stages of healing. Some methods are more gentle, such as polarity therapy (which balances your energetic system) and trager (gentle rocking techniques).

Somatic emotional release work and body psychotherapy utilize psychotherapeutic techniques, body awareness and touch to help you understand why you are holding back and blocking the expression of your feelings and to facilitate expression and release of pent up emotions.

Body psychotherapy methods could be divided generally between “hard” and “soft” techniques. “Hard” techniques are those that apply direct pressure on rigid muscles or on the connective tissue that is causing muscles to be tightly held. As the pressure of the therapist’s hands directly confronts the holding patterns, there may be some discomfort as the holding is released. “Soft” techniques can be equally effective. Rather than use forceful movement and pressure, many of them emphasize light touch, often without hand movement, that encourages greater sensing or awareness of bodily feeling. Another comparison is hard techniques tend to emphasize outward expression of feeling, while soft techniques tend to emphasize inner sensing of feeling, or some would say, of energy flow. However, as always, there are exceptions. Some methods, rather than employ direct touch, emphasize body-centered awareness. Such sessions may not feature touch at all.

Clients may work standing up, sitting, or lying down. They are usually fully clothed. Some body psychotherapists will work directly with muscle tension, or with breathing. Clients may be encouraged to do specific physical actions (e.g., to move their shoulders or hips, to kick, or to hold a certain posture for an extended period of time). Meditative, mindfulness exercises, guided imagery, or some form of expressive arts (writing, dancing, drawing) may also be used. The client may be encouraged to notice the sensations in his or her body, and describe what is being felt and in what part of the body. Touch may be used when appropriate and agreed upon, but sexual touching is never permitted in any type of body psychotherapy.

Traumatic memories are often stored within body tissues, resulting in contracted musculature, inhibited breathing, startle response, sexual inhibitions, and even ticklishness. Through this powerful mind/body awareness work, body psychotherapy, clients can overcome even the most lingering traumatic memories and restore their mind and body to a state resembling their pre-traumatic state.

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How to Boost Your Immune System

Are you sick a lot with colds and flu? Do you have allergies? Do you feel run down and fatigued much of the time? If so, you may have a weak immune system.

Notice how some people are seldom sick and seem full of energy? Others are always sick. Different people have different immune systems. This is how we fight off infections and disease. Without a properly functioning defense mechanism, our bodies would be soon overrun by various bacteria, viruses, cancers and other pathogens and we would cease to exist.

Sometimes the immune system does not work properly, as with immunodeficiency disorders. Fortunately, there are natural ways we can strengthen our immune system. I will discuss three ways you can strengthen your immune system.

Feed your immune system

Feeding your immune system well boosts its fighting power. Think of the immune system as an army. Good food and nutrients boost the body’s immune power in many ways. They increase the number of white cells, train them to fight better, and help them form an overall better battle plan. Good nutrition also helps to eliminate substances that drag the body down.

The top eight nutrients to add to your diet to cut down on absence from work and school because of illness are vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, bioflavanoids, zinc, garlic, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids.

Foods containing these nutrients include pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, grapefruit (red and pink), blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, peppers (red and green), tomatoes, broccoli, sunflower seeds, almonds and olive oil, ground flax seeds, walnuts, soybeans and pumpkin seeds, dark green leafy vegetables (turnip greens, mustard greens, spinach, romaine lettuce, collard greens, etc.), beans, legumes, asparagus, brussel sprouts, beets and okra.

Additionally, drink plenty of water, don’t smoke and stop drinking alcohol, coffee and eating refined white sugar.

Reduce Stress

Stress is a constant factor in our fast-paced society. It can wreak havoc upon our health if not reduced. Stress can weaken the immune system and accelerate the aging process. Relaxation and rejuvenation promotes wellness, vigor and long life.

Some natural healthy ways to lower stress and boost your immune system are: walking and moderate physical activity, yoga and stretching, hand washing to keep germs away, laughter and humour, listening to or playing music, getting adequate sleep – at least 8 hours, keeping a positive attitude, soaking in a hot tub and drinking tea (green or black) regularly throughout the day.

Live Well

What is wellness? Wellness is the pursuit of optimal health. Optimal health encompasses physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, financial, social, and environmental well-being.

Wellness means having high self-esteem, confidence, satisfying relationships, staying optimistic, and contributing to the health of the planet. Financially it means having the ability to maintain a balanced budget.

Personal fulfillment from our jobs or our chosen career fields while still maintaining balance in our lives brings us occupational wellbeing. A supportive social network and contributing to society is vital.

Also needed is a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that give meaning and purpose to life, the capacity to love and having compassion for others. This leads to forgiveness, joy and fulfillment and all lead to optimal health and a stronger immune system.

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