Issue link: http://www.bodysensemagazinedigital.com/i/1225677
www.massagetherapy.com—your resource for all things bodywork 11 Energy-Based Therapy This form of bodywork is based on the belief that there are energy fields that flow within and around you, and that blockages or imbalances cause disease and dysfunction. Balanced energy promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Techniques can be applied with hands on the body, off the body, and even from a remote location using intuitive intent. Examples include reiki, therapeutic touch, and polarity therapy. Sound Therapy Sound has been used for centuries as a tool for promoting physical, mental, and emotional wellness. This type of therapy rests on the notion that our bodies contain energy frequencies that can become imbalanced or go "off key." The vibrations that are created through the medium of sound can realign these energies, in some cases by entraining brain frequencies. Therapists can be trained in the use of instruments (such as singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, flutes, piano, guitar, etc.), singing, moving to the beat of music, or simply listening to specific types of music for the purpose of healing. The list goes on. Other forms of bodywork include aromatherapy (invoking the sense of smell), hydrotherapy (using water at various states and temperatures), acupressure (stimulating points in hands, feet, or along energy meridians), and spa therapies (use of mud, clay, seaweed, or peat). All have a therapeutic benefit for mind, body, and/or spirit without the requirement of manual tissue manipulation. GO ON A MISSION As you can see, massage is but one facet of the multifaceted world of bodywork. To thoroughly set your understanding in stone, inspire yourself to go on a mission of trying at least three forms of bodywork you've never experienced! It's a great way to expand your horizons while also solidifying your understanding of what's what with massage and bodywork. Cindy Williams has served the massage profession as a practitioner, school administrator, instructor, curriculum developer, and mentor since 2000. She enjoys the challenge of blending structure with creative flow to provide balance in her classroom, bodywork practice, and life. What's your massage and bodywork style? Try this fun approach to discovering the many types of therapeutic touch