Rebecca K. Porter RN BSN CMT

A Holistic Approach to self-care engages physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual restoration. Self-awareness provides access to the healing process, as we utilize every opportunity life presents, to renew our understanding of health, vitality, illness, balance and wholeness.

The following approaches facilitate the development of self-awareness through the individual and group experience of these supportive methods:

Yoga This teaching style places emphasis on gentle supported alignment, and utilizes the breath with movement. The basic yoga poses introduced are:

* Breathing awareness and deep relaxation for energy and renewal

* Seated poses for a healthy back, poise, and reflection

* Forward bends for calming and nurturing the mind and body

* Standing poses for flexibility, strength, and stamina

* Inverted poses for circulation and stress reduction

These poses are introduced in a gradual and progressive manner. Props utilized are belts, blankets, mats, chairs, massage tables, walls, virtually any stable surface such that students of every physical ability can have access to practice. Becky is interested in assisting the student to develop what she considers to be the application of poses to work, home, and other environments. Becky has been a yoga practitioner for over 40 years and a teacher for 17 years. She is a current member of the Michigan Yoga Association.

Therapeutic Massage and Advanced Bodywork Techniques

* Relaxation Massage assists contracted muscle fibers to extend and relax, tension affecting other body structures is reduced, connective tissue is gently stretched and stimulated allowing greater flexibility and range of movement. Long and short gliding strokes utilized in relaxation massage follow the muscle contour, utilizing a cream or oil. Kneading strokes apply gentle but firm compression of muscles, assisting in bringing increased circulation to each area. Percussion strokes commonly used to assist in relieving congestion, or stimulate further release of muscle groups after repeated use in exercise. Gentle stretching and rocking of extremities may also be utilized to engage deeper relaxation.

*Acupressure is an ancient Asian Medicine technique that focuses on specific "pressure points" within the body's chi or vital energy system. This particular system of stimulation or movement of energy, can bring a very different awareness to tension and relaxation in the body, and may be effective in relieving numbness or chronic pain when other techniques have not been successful.

*Reflexology is acupressure that focuses specifically on the feet and hands. The perception in this technique emphasizes a system of reflexes, with organs and structures within the body, as effective points are held, stroked and kneaded.

*Polarity Therapy, Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, Craniosacral therapy. These techniques employ a specific series of “light touch”, resting strokes or brushing strokes, in either direct contact or just off the surface of the body. These techniques are supportive to individuals in situations of emotional upset, debilitating physical illness or trauma where other techniques are ineffective or inappropriate.

*Myofascial Release this technique applies slow gentle, sustained compression and full cross hand movement with the clients body and breath, to assist in releasing and increasing flexibility of fascia, or connective tissue, that connects muscle to muscle and muscle to bone. This is especially effective in working with adhesions, scar tissue, “old injuries” and structural imbalances. This technique integrates very well with a gentle, progressive yoga practice.

The professional bodywork session should provide the client with an experience that is relaxing, informative, therapeutic, and supportive. The professional practitioner will request appropriate information about the clients current physical and medical health and a confidential health history at your first session, and there after as changes may occur. The client and practitioner work together to set goals, and develop a greater sense of partnership in their work together.

Engaging the Healer Within: Four essential self-care techniques for optimal health.

Simple self-healing tools with powerful roots in both ancient healing traditions and modern science can activate the natural healing process inherent in each of us. They cost nothing, cause no side effects, and may be used anytime and anywhere by anyone.

1. Gentle, purposeful movement. Increasing numbers of scientific studies have confirmed our ancient wisdom: movement reduces risk of illness. When gentle movement is integrated with relaxed breathing and deep relaxation of the mind, the human body enters an especially healing and restorative state which benefits the blood, the nervous system, the immune system, the lymph system and oxygenation.

Both yoga and tai chi are examples of these kinds of exercise.

2. Self-applied massage. When a person is un-well or injured, certain trigger points or pain reflexed appear throughout the body. These may appear directly in the area of the problem or at some distance from it. Over the centuries, rubbing and exerting pressure on these points has been found to have a positive effect on the healing process.

Apply a gentle kneading, stroking, pressure, friction, tapping or merely holding to the specific area of pain or tightness. Or, do the same to the ears, hands and feet which are reflex points to internal organs and systems which may be dysfunctional. Do this for yourself between visits with your massage therapist.

3. Practice breathing. When attention is given to the breath and breath rhythm and depth is altered, quite dramatic physical and emotional changes can occur. Try taking a complete breath by beginning with a sigh of relief as you exhale fully through pursed lips and actually sighing as you release tension and fatigue with your breath. Then inhale deeply through your nose, breathing into the lower portion of your lungs, then the middle and finally the very top. Hold briefly before once more exhaling. Repeat two times and feel the calm fill your inner being. Practice this regularly.

4. Deep relaxation, meditation and prayer. When an individual purposefully seeks a state of deep relaxation, a number of important mechanisms are triggered which effectively help you cope with the physical and mental consequences of stress. Therapists at the Holistic Health Center have a number of techniques available to teach you how to elicit the relaxation response.

Weaving these four powerful yet simple methods into your daily life is a visible sign of your intention to take steps toward greater health and well-being. In so doing, you become an example to those around you, soon affecting the health of the entire community.

Holistic Health Center

181 North Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49017

269/963-0932