The notion of energy balance is based on medical systems that have been used in East Asia for thousands of years. All of these systems believe that there is a nonphysical and subtle energy that circulates and permeates the entire body.
This energy is called Chi or Qi in traditional Chinese medicine. The words that best describe this force would be vital energy or life force in English. The difference in the energy that you feel when you are healthy and when you have the flu is an example of changes in this form of energy.
Subtle energy in Chinese medicine is thought to be disseminated throughout the body via energy channels called meridians. To optimize and harmonize the flow of this energy is one of the most important goals of all energy-balance techniques. This is achieved by releasing or eliminating blockages to that flow. Blocked or obstructed Qi leads to stress, anxiety, tension and eventually illness. Chinese medicine actually traces all illnesses back to different degrees and types of blockages in the flow of life force.
Practicing energy balance techniques such as tai chi or yoga regularly can help release blockages to the natural flow of energy. It also can be accomplishedby receiving treatments from healing techniques that free up obstructions to subtle energy. This is especially true for acupuncture in Overland Park and for the various types of chiropractic and massage therapies.
The invisible “subtle body” or energy body,” which is the focus of Oriental medicine is closely associated with the physical body. It’s believed to offer a “template” or an energy matrix for the physical body. Energy balance exercises, on a strictly physical level, can help promote oxygenation and the flow of blood to the brain and tissues, stimulate the production of neurotransmitters and hormones, help the colon and kidneys in the body’s elimination process and boost arterial circulation.
However, the main goal of these energy balance techniques is to enhance mind-body integration and bring about balance and harmonious interrelationship among the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual facets of one’s total being. Wellness and wholeness are usually equated with each other. To the point one functions in a whole, integrated manner, a person can experience genuine well-being and fullness of health. To the point that the person is out of touch with the wholeness of his being, he or she will remain out of harmony with themselves and become prone to disorder, stress and anxiety.
Tai Chi
Designed to unite the mind and body, tai chi is an age-old form of exercise and movement that’s believed to have begun when a Chinese Taoist monk during the 13th century, watched a crane and a serpent fight. As the snake was being attacked by the crane, it would move its position to avoid the sharp talons and beak of the crane. From this observation, the monk created 13 moves that have been refined down through the centuries. Nowadays, millions of people in China are practicing tai chi. It is now one of the most widely practiced exercise in the world.
Tai chi is best seen as a type of moving meditation. It is made up of a set of movements that proceed gracefully and slowly, one movement flowing into another. These movements ground and strengthen the body whilst enhancing the flow of Qi. Students say that it imbibes the qualities of grace and fluidity; qualities that may be used to the way you live your whole life.
Since the movements are slowly performed, tai chi also teaches you how to slow down both in mind and body. Similar to meditation, tai chi can help you attain concentration, clarity and serenity. However, it is unlike meditation in that it imbibes a capacity to translate mental concentration and poise into movement.
Tai chi is similar to yoga in that it helps you to overcome blockages to the flow of your Qi as well as to help you massage your internal organs, strengthen your lower back and spinal cord, enhance the knees, loosenthe joints and other physical benefits. Since it is practiced with your full presence of mind and entire body, tai chi is a very effective and practical way to promote mind-body connection.
Tai chi classes are offered in martial art schools and health clubs. It is also offered in martial arts classes. There are other terrific ways to learn the basic movements such as tai chi video lessons.Thatis, if there are no classes offered near your area. The exercises are sometimes recommended as a complement to acupuncture therapies since it promotes the flow of Qi.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture came from China 3000 years ago a form of healing technique. Nowadays, it is widely practiced in North America and Europe. Similar to tai chi, acupuncture is based on the belief that health is determined by the proper and smooth flow of Qi, the subtle or vital energy that permeates all living things. Qi moves along meridians, with each meridian associated to a specific organ.
When the movement of energy is neither excessive nor restricted, the person enjoys good health. If the flow of energy is not balanced in either direction, both mental and physical symptoms of stress or disease may come about. For instance, fear is believed to be caused by excessive or blocked energy flow along the kidney energy channel. Acupuncture treatments are used to balance the kidney energy channels and other supporting energy channels to help alleviate fear.
In an acupuncture treatment, thin needles are inserted by the acupuncturist at certain points in the body. Most patients experience just a slight sensation but no pain when a needle is inserted into their body. The needles are usually left in place for at least 20 to 30 minutes. A few minutes after the needle is inserted, patients report feeling rejuvenated and very relaxed. Repeated treatment sessions two times a week for a few weeks is usually required to rectify a malady such as back pain, allergies or migraine headaches.
If one wishes to use acupuncture to help release their anxiety, regular sessions once a week or two times a week for several months are recommended. The acupuncturist will often use herbs in the form of capsules or teas, which the patient can make at home to boost the effects of the treatment. People who have a fear of needles can avail of acupressure or shiatsu massage. Both these therapies follow the same principles as acupuncture. Sometimes though, the balance and flow of energy along the energy channels can be enhanced by manual pressure instead of needles. Acupressure oftentimes is preferred because it is an inexpensive and simple form of energy balance approach used by many massage therapists. You can actually learn and perform acupressure on your own body.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a healing technique that strives to alleviate back pain caused by injury or stress. On a more simple level, it strives to boost health by optimizing the movement of energy signals down and up the spine and to other areas in the body. These include the various vital organs and the spinal cord. When a nerve signal is limited or weakened, the organ usually dysfunctions and produces symptoms that may range from pain to acute sickness. Spine misalignments may be due to injury although they are usually the result of stress.
Tight muscles under chronic stress can lead to the misalignment of the vertebrae. The spinal vertebrae may not continue their normal configuration even if the muscle tension is alleviated by massage or exercise. Hence, in order to bring about optimal levels of system function, a chiropractor needs to identify and rectify spinal misalignments, which can lead to the integrity of the whole body.
Chiropractic is useful for alleviating chronic tension regardless if it’s accompanied by pain. Occasionally visiting a chiropractor will likely lead to the improvement of your overall health. When looking for a qualified chiropractor within or near your area, try to get a referral from a relative or friend. If you don’twant to undergo direct spinal manipulations, there are some chiropractors who can perform non-manipulative types of adjustment, which is sometimes known as “gentle chiropractic.”
Massage
Massage is a healing therapeutic technique designed to enhance deep relaxation by means of masterful manipulation of the soft body tissues and muscles. Licensed and highly skilled massage therapists often accomplish 500 to 1000 hours of formal training in physiology, anatomy and other types of bodywork including shiatsu, acupressure, reflexology, deep tissue work and Swedish massage.
One can promote deep relaxation in their bodies by receiving massage therapy at least one hour a week or even two times a month. This can help free up the stress and tension in your body that has been building up for a long time. Massage can deepen and boost the benefits you have obtained from doing PMR or progressive muscle relaxation. Progressive muscle relaxation can help release superficial tension in the muscles of your torso, neck, legs and arms.
Massage, especially deep tissue massage can loosen any long-term chronic tension that that have been building up in the deeper muscles of your body. And aside from freeing muscular tension, massage can help detoxify your body of built-up waste and toxins by mobilizing a slow and sluggish large intestine and by boosting lymphatic flow.
Finally, in terms of psychological health, getting a massage is perfect way to nourish yourself especially if you feel stressed. For survivors of abuse, massage can also offer a therapeutic emotional experience. Massage can help or treat any resistance or painful feelings around being touched, appropriately or inappropriately. This can be helpful for someone who grew up in a dysfunctional family. It can help increase your ease, which is an internal desire for all human beings.