Relax, Rejuvenate, Rejoice

Our intention is to provide a pleasant and safe environment to holistically address the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of our clients. In this way, we are better able to assess and facilitate each individual’s unique healing experience.

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~ We are pleased to welcome Eric Popp, whom will be offering Acupuncture and TCM at the Natural Healing Center. Please check out our Practitioners Info for more information on Eric, and the bottom of this page to read about Acupuncture ~

With so many variations of massage & bodywork therapies, how do you know what's what, and what's best for you?

Here's a brief explanation of the techniques of massage & bodywork offered by the practitioners at the Natural Healing Center, L.L.C.

Massage is the therapeutic manipulation (i.e. kneading, gliding strokes) of the body`s soft tissues (skin, muscles, fascia) to promote health and well-being. Research shows that massage relieves muscle tension, increases circulation, and calms the nervous system, which helps us better cope with life`s daily stresses. Although stress is unavoidable, regular massage can improve the body`s ability to relax on its own. Typically, the massage recipient feels pleasantly relaxed and rejuvenated with a newfound energy for his or her daily schedule. Furthermore, frequently scheduled massage facilitates quicker recovery from injury as well as a renewed sense of joy.

Neuromuscular Therapy: Trigger point massage and myotherapy are varieties of neuromuscular massage, which applies concentrated pressure on trigger points of pain and passive stretching of specific muscles. Neuromuscular Therapy is used for the freeing and relief of chronically tense, contracted, and painful tissues. It is an advanced and profound form of massage therapy and requires a high degree of anatomical precision, specificity and skilled palpation. Neuromuscular Therapy provides complete and effective relief from chronic pain and tension, postural dysfunction, and injury.

Deep tissue massage: This approach is used to alleviate chronic muscle pain by reaching deeper muscles in problem areas. Myofascial Therapy is an effective form of Deep Tissue Massage which addresses postural distortions and chronic myofascial patterns of strain. Myofascial Therapy offers a cooperative approach for improving structural alignment with specific emphasis on palpatory skills, postural assessment techniques and orthopedic assessment skills, direction, pressure, breath awareness, perception and sensitivity.

Sports massage: This uses techniques similar to deep tissue massage but more specifically adapted to deal with the needs of athletes (both professional and the weekend variety); it's often used before or after athletic events as part of an athlete's training and to promote healing from injuries.

Reflexology is a soothing therapeutic foot massage, which activates the natural healing abilities of the body. It is based on the premise that every organ, gland and muscle has a specific access site or reflex zone on one or both feet that can be stimulated through touch to induce relaxation. Relaxation helps dissipate pent-up tension in the reflex zones of the feet, which not only enables the feet and legs to feel lighter and move more freely, but also brings relief to the areas of the body to which they correspond. This holistic healing approach looks at the underlying causes or patterns of disease in the body, as well as at nutrition and lifestyle choices in order to help rebalance them and make any recommendations necessary. Reflexology facilitates a rebalancing of damaged or diseased systems of the body to promote long lasting well-being.

Reflexolo-chi is a gentle variation of the traditional reflexology foot massage in which the practitioner conscientiously tunes into and works with energy flow (chi) while massaging the reflex zones. Its special capacity to gently, yet profoundly stimulate the tissue to release pent-up tension has an immediate impact on the person’s physical and emotional well-being. The healing process is accelerated, safely and naturally, without the pain or side effects that sometimes accompanies other forms of treatment. Instead of taking several sessions to experience benefits, people often feel significant improvement in their ailments during or following a single session!

Reiki is a hands above the body healing modality that helps restore well-being by detecting and correcting blockages and imbalances in the body’s energy field that are thought to be responsible for physical and/or emotional states of “dis-ease”. Individuals who had been experiencing pain in their bodies typically feel significantly less discomfort immediately following the session, and usually for a long time afterwards as well. These extraordinary sessions can also be powerful catalysts for personal growth, often enabling the recipient to acknowledge and overcome emotional hardships that have resulted in longstanding physical discomfort or general discontent taking the recipient to a place of new self-awareness and serenity.

Polarity Therapy: A NATURAL, HOLISTIC WAY TO HEALTH

FIRST, A SCIENCE. Polarity Therapy synthesizes knowledge and experience gleaned from centuries of eastern and western healing theories with an understanding of energy dynamics. Polarity Therapy incorporates a systemic knowledge of energy mapping based on the five natural elements (Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth) and the 7 primary energy centers or chakras. Polarity is based on orthodox anatomy and physiology as well the energy anatomy of humans. Although Dr. Stone did not have access to the theories of high energy and quantum physics at the time he was developing Polarity Therapy, one can see how the polarity principles reflect these current theories.

SECOND, AN ART. Polarity Therapy involves the skillful application of bodywork techniques to promote harmonious life functions. With intuitive sensitivity, the practitioner’s hands locate and help to free blocked energy caused by distress on any level. With gentle yet penetrating therapeutic touch, free-flowing balanced energy movement is restored as the body’s natural self-healing powers are stimulated. Physical manipulations, gentle stretching, light reflex contacts and hand movements off the body comprise much of the Polarity art form. In creative combination with other therapeutic styles, (e.g. visualizations, breathing variations, awareness counseling, and other forms of bodywork), balance in the system is achieved.

A PHILOSOPHY FOR LIVING: Polarity addresses physical, mental, emotional and spiritual patterns of being. Distorted beliefs, troublesome feelings, thoughts, and behaviors create energy blocks. In the Polarity process, energy penetrates blockages, awareness increases to expose hidden realities, unconscious attitudes and dysfunctional defense mechanisms that cause destructive body armoring. Released energy nurtures new perspectives and inspirations leading to more balanced, harmonious, creative existence and raised consciousness of one’s spiritual core in union with the higher, ultimate energy source. Thus, fixations are transformed into more moderate behaviors and contentment. This vitalizes the system to heal ailments resulting from repressed life forces.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine are part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which originated in China over 3000 years ago. TCM is made up of numerous healing arts and includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, Qi Gong & eastern nutrition. The goal of each of these modalities is to balance the body’s vital energy known as Qi (pronounced “chee”). Qi circulates throughout our bodies in designated pathways called meridians. When our Qi is abundant & flowing smoothly, we are healthy. Disease occurs when external or internal influences affect the balance of our Qi. Acupuncture is very effective in treating imbalances in our vital energy. Acupuncture uses fine needles placed at various points along the meridians to balance or enhance the flow of Qi. When our Qi has been depleted or is severely out of balance, a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine can usually provide the best results. In certain situations, Chinese herbal medicine alone might be the treatment of choice.

Traditional Chinese Medicine applies a holistic approach to treatment and uses a variety of information for diagnosis. This is done by discussing medical history, feeling the quality of the pulses, examining the tongue, and body palpation. In addition to acupuncture, heat, electric stimulation or cupping may be used to enhance the effects of treatment. The number of treatments needed to restore a person to health varies with the severity of the disorder. Other factors which play a role in the healing process include: age, diet, exercise, mental-emotional state, overall health and constitution. Results vary from person to person. Sometimes improvement in symptoms can be seen after just the first treatment. A course of treatment is six visits. However, chronic conditions often require a few courses of treatment. Most people find acupuncture to be a relaxing and energizing experience.