Earth Dancer Massage

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Service & Background Terms Defined

Cranial Sacral Therapy

Cranial Sacral Therapy is a technique based on Cranial Osteopathy. Like Cranial Osteopathy, Cranial Sacral Therapy seeks to restore the natural rhythmic movement found between the bones of the skull. It does the same for the movements of the sacrum. The purpose of this is to aid the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid throughout the central nervous system.

However, Cranial Sacral Therapists believe that the natural movements at the skull bones come from the membrane that lines our nervous system structures, namely the brain and spinal cord. For this reason, their focus is on those membranes, rather than directly on the bones and sutures.

Unlike Cranial Osteopathy, Cranial Sacral Therapy is not taught in Osteopathic Colleges. This technique is often given by massage therapists and body workers, who have engaged in further study and skill development.

Cupping

Cupping is a therapy whereby suction is created with glass/plastic cups and attached on to the body, often the area of the back. The cups can be attached to specific acupressure points and left in place. The suction creates a local congestion that stimulates the acupressure points. It can have a releasing and relaxing effect similar to a deep tissue massage. Cupping warms and promotes the free flow of chi (chu’lel) and blood in the meridians and diminishes congestion, swelling and pain. It help back pain, gastrointestinal disorders, stagnant or delayed menses and conditions.

Herbology

Herbology is the art of combining medicinal herbs. A medicinal herb may be a shrub, woody plant, or a non-woody plant. The word "herb", being a derivation of "herbe" and the Latin word, "herba".

Today, "herb" refers to any part of any plant used for flavoring or medicine. Although the term "herb" can also be equated with food spices, it is generally used in reference to any plant, or any part of a plant, having nutritional and / or medicinal value(s). Additionally, an "herb" may be a fruit, a bark, a flower, a leaf, or a root, as well as anon-woody plant.

There are several types of herbal medicine systems that are used today; European, Native American, Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Western Herbalism are the most prevalent systems. Despite differences in terminology and in the herbs used, there is a common thread that joins these systems: all of these systems treat the body as a 'whole', and they each utilize the energy of plants to 'work as needed' in synergy with the natural energy in each individual.

There are also several ways to dispense herbs. The most common methods are herbal pastes, juices, decoctions, hot or cold infusions, powders, pills (tablets, capsules), aromatics, tinctures or extracts (alcohol or glycerol bases), liniments, syrups, poultices and fomentations, medicated oils, salves and ointments, lotions, teas, and whole herbs. Each type is good for specific ailments, and often may be used together (i.e. internally and externally for an external wound) to take full advantage of the healing attributes of each.

All these choices, like others, should be integrated with both your personal external needs and your internal ideals for the best possible results. An experienced herbalist can help you decide which system is right for you. Herbs are foods, and like any other food, herbs should be taken in moderation. Always follow the practitioner’s directions for use and discontinued usage.

Holistic Health Practitioner

Holistic Health Practitioners understand that the body, mind and spirit are connected in complex ways. Grounded in a variety of theoretical perspectives, Holistic Health Practitioners share a broad view of health and wellness that addresses the multidimensionality of human beings. Only by examining the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, bio-energetic and socio-cultural dimensions of individuals can the holistic professional support clients towards optimum health and wellness. Modalities such as Reflexology, Reiki, and Herbology provide a specialized focus that empowers the practitioner to serve as a guide, an explorer, a teacher and a counselor to clients striving to find balance and wellness. The Holistic Health Practitioner provides a comprehensive consultation in the art and science of complementary health.

Holistic Lifestyle Counseling

"The way we eat represents our most profound engagement with the world. Daily our eating turns nature into culture, transforming the world into our bodies and minds" -Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma

Lifestyle

The word lifestyle can be defined as one's approach to living or pattern of living. It is your overall life attitude and habits. Would you like a more active lifestyle that might improve your overall wellbeing? Would you like to create a more spiritual centered lifestyle to help you with relaxation? Or would you like a lifestyle that supports your self care needs first so you can better help those you care for? These are just some of the ways lifestyle counseling can help.

• Current state of wellness - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually
• Food choices and types of meals
• Eating style and relationship to food
• Nutrition
• Exercise routine
• Stress management and coping skills
• Relaxation methods
• And more

Sessions are tailored to provide you with manageable wellness goals, a lifestyle and holistic health plan specially tailored to you, skills for daily practice, and increased ability to put your health and yourself first.

Home birth

Home birth is childbirth that occurs outside a hospital or birthing center setting, usually in the home of the mother. Home births are usually attended by a midwife (or other attending medical professional) but there are some occasions when this does not happen. If labor progresses rapidly the midwife may not have arrived in time to catch the baby, but would then give immediate postnatal care. In rare cases the decision may be made to give birth without any medical professional present – this is sometimes known as an "unassisted home birth".

In many Western countries, home birth declined over the 20th century due to migration to urban centers and the business development of hospitals supervised by obstetricians rather than midwives. There was a revival of the practice in the United States in the 1970s, with a current rate of .6% - In Denmark, about 80% of all births occur at home or in freestanding birth centers run by midwives. In the Netherlands, about 30% of all births occur at home, and midwifery run units rather than obstetric hospitals care for all other low-risk women.

Increasing numbers of pregnant women in the U.K. are choosing home over hospital when it comes to giving birth, new figures have suggested. The greatest rise in home births was seen in Wales, and Wales now has a higher home birth rate than England, Scotland and Ireland. The county of Devon has the highest number of home births in England, with a rate of 5.4 per cent - more than double the UK average.

The American College of Nurse Midwives and the American Public Health Association have policy statements supporting the practice of home birth for low-risk populations of women, whereas the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) position statement contends that birth should only take place in the hospital setting. Private hospitals rely on childbirth as a major source of profit, though it is not a disease.

For low-risk pregnancies, a number of studies have shown that planned, assisted home births are at least as safe as hospital births. There are fewer medical interventions, such as cesarean sections, forceps or ventouse (vacuum extractor) deliveries, episiotomies and administration of pain medication such as epidurals, all of which may pose some risk to the health of the mother and baby of which a homebirth can help minimize.
See: www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com

Hospice

"You matter because of who you are. You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can , not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die". --Dame Cicely Saunders

Hospice, in the earliest days, was a concept rooted in the centuries-old idea of offering a place of shelter and rest, or "hospitality" to weary and sick travelers on a long journey. In 1967 Dame Cicely Saunders at St. Christopher's Hospice in London first applied the term "hospice" to specialized care for dying patients. Today, hospice care provides humane and compassionate care for people in the last phases of incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible.

Hospice is a philosophy of care. The hospice philosophy or viewpoint accepts death as the final stage of life. The goal of hospice is to enable patients to continue an alert, pain-free life and to manage other symptoms so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones. Hospice affirms life and does not hasten or postpone death. Hospice care treats the person rather than the disease; it focuses on quality rather than length of life. It provides family-centered care and involves the patient and the family in making decisions. Care is provided for the patient and family 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hospice care can be given in the patient's home, a hospital, nursing home, or private hospice facility. Most hospice care in the United States is given in the home, with a family member or members serving as the main hands-on caregiver.

Hospice care is suitable when you no longer benefit from treatment and you are expected to live 6 months or less. Hospice gives you palliative care, which is treatment to help relieve symptoms, but not cure the disease; its main purpose is to improve your quality of life. You, your family, and your doctor decide together when hospice care should begin. If you get better or the disease goes into remission, you can be taken out of the hospice program and go into active treatment. You can go back to hospice care at a later time, if needed. The hope that hospice brings is the hope of a quality life, making the best of each day during the last stages of advanced illness.

There are many things about hospice care that set it apart from other types of health care. In most cases, an interdisciplinary health care team manages hospice care. This means that many interacting disciplines work together to care for the patient. Doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, home health aides, clergy, therapists, and trained volunteers care for you and offer support based on their special areas of expertise. Together, they provide complete palliative care aimed at relieving symptoms and giving social, emotional, and spiritual support.

Infant Massage

Infant massage has been practiced by cultures Worldwide for centuries. Walking through India you will see mothers massaging their children along the roadside.

The benefits of Infant Massage are innumerable and are becoming more apparent as it is studied. Western Scientific Research of infant massage begun in the 1970's found that infants who were premature, exposed to drugs in utero, and infants that had motor skill issues all benefited from the nurturing touch. The results manifested as weight gain, neurological development, decreased hospitalization, and improved digestion.

The benefits of Infant Massage are plentiful.
Loving touch lessens tension, fussiness and irritability. Digestion is aided, providing relief of gas and colic. Massage is a wonderful way to lessen stress of parent and baby. Touch conveys nurturing and love, the essential ingredients for emotional and physical growth, well being and trust. Studies have shown increased weight gain, and immune function. Myelination of nerves is also increased. These things are needed for optimal brain and muscle development. Parents become intone with baby's nonverbal cues. One-on-one communication instills a massage of love and security. As your infant learns to relax and release stress, more restful sleep can be the result.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old. In fact, Hippocrates, known as the "father of medicine," referenced to massage when he wrote, in the 4th century B.C.: "The physician must be acquainted with many things, and assuredly with rubbing."

Nowadays, in addition to "rubbing," massage therapy, often referred to as bodywork or somatic therapy, refers to the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, vibration, rocking, friction, kneading and compression using primarily the hands, although massage therapists do use other areas of the body, such as the forearms, elbows or feet. All of the techniques are used for the benefit of the musculoskeletal, circulatory-lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. In fact, massage therapy positively influences the overall health and well-being of the client:

Physical and Mental Benefits
• relaxes the whole body
• loosens tight muscles
• relieves tired and aching muscles
• increases flexibility and range of motion
• diminishes chronic pain
• calms the nervous system
• lowers blood pressure
• lowers heart rate
• enhances skin tone
• assists in recovery from injuries and illness
• strengthens the immune system
• reduces tension headaches
• reduces mental stress
• improves concentration
• promotes restful sleep
• aids in mental relaxation

Motherhood

Mother is the feminine principle. She represents the yin, the anima, the receptive, the Earth.

Though she must at times take the role of the masculine principle, it is the feminine which gives her power and from which she draws her strength.

She teaches her daughters to respect their feminine nature.
She teaches her sons to respect their feminine side and thus all women.

The truly feminine mother never cringes or defers.
Her strength is unshakable, like the Earth upon which we walk but which can topple us with a single deep breath.

~Excerpt from The Tao of Motherhood by Vimala McClure

Moxibustion

Moxibustion is the application of heat to areas or acupressure points of the body via a warming herb called Mugwort. The indirect method utilizes a cigar like stick heated by match and held above the body about an inch or so, being moved constantly to increase circulation to the specific region of the body experiencing issues. No part of the skin is in direct contact with the moxibustion stick. Moxibustion can be warming, soothing, and relaxing for the body. The warmth of this therapy travels deep into the tissues, therefore effecting the meridians and stimulating chi (chu’lel) and blood, improving circulation and dispeling cold and pain from the body. Moxibustion has a tonifying effect on the body, strengthening the body to counteract chronic illnesses, exhaustion and weakened systems. Moxibustion is used to alleviate pain, menstrual cramping, digestive issues, cold, poor circulation and inflammation.

Natural Parenting

Natural Parenting is about exploring gentle, instinctive and attachment parenting methods by avoiding common conventional products and customs designed to separate us from our offspring and choosing more organic, instinctive and attached parenting techniques such as breastfeeding, baby-wearing, co-sleeping, homeschooling and elimination communication/infant potty training.

Polarity

Polarity Therapy is the art and science of stimulating and balancing the flow of life energy within the human being. The term Polarity relates to one of the fundamental laws of nature, namely the attraction and union of opposites through a balanced middle point.

The human body is an energy system like a battery or magnet. It has positive, negative and neuter poles and currents of energy that flow through them. Polarity Therapy concerns itself with the flow of a very subtle high-frequency energy which in the East is called prana or chi, but which is perhaps best referred to in this context as life-energy.

The body work of Polarity Therapy consists of specific manipulations aimed at releasing tension and holding in the physical body and then balancing the life energy. It should not be confused with massage as the clients body is not stroked or kneaded rather a Polarity therapist will use different kinds of touch tointerface with the body in different ways. These range from working with the hands off the body, through a moulded contact with body which is sometimes combined with gentle rocking that helps to release physical tension patterns and encourages the energy to move, to a deeper, more penetrating touch which can break up chronic, deep congestion in the tissues and enliven the area. As well as discovering where the body needs releasing at a physical level, the Polarity therapist is always tuning into the underlying energy patterns and flows and encouraging their movement. The therapist will sense where and how the body needs to be touched by a developed sensitivity of her own senses so that by listening, observing and palpating, the most effective mode of interaction can be employed to best effect.

Reflexology

Reflexology is the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hand with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands with a premise that such work effects a physical change to the body.

Around the world and throughout history reflexology has been rediscovered and reinstated as a health practice time and time again by peoples around the globe seeking to deal with health concerns. Archeological evidence Egypt (2330 BCE), China (2704 BCE) and Japan (690 CE) points to ancient reflexology medical systems. In the West the concept of reflexology began to emerge in the 19th century, based on research into the nervous system and reflex. The practice of foot and hand work in a variety of cultures, belief systems and historical periods speaks to reflexology for health as a universal bridging concept.

One theory of how reflexology effects the body explains; pressure sensors in the feet and hands are a part of the body's reflexive response that makes possible the "fight or flight" reaction to danger. Feet ready to flee and hands ready to fight communicate with the body's internal organs to make possible wiher eventuality. The sudden adrenal surge that enables a person to lift a car is an example of this reaction. Reflexology taps into this reflex network, providing an exercise of pressure sensors and thus the internal organs to which they are inextricably tied.

Reiki

The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth
~Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
The founder , Usui Mikao

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on of hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy." A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results. Reiki can be done in person and as a remote healing - with patient and practitioner in two different parts of the world.

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

Samantha

Samantha means "She who listens to God" in Aramaic. It's said the person who is named this has power to change the world.

Spiritual Healing

Modern medicine is beginning to understand the healing wisdom of ancient cultures. The link between many physical illnesses is connected with unresolved emotional stress and distress. Maya Spiritual Healing addresses the causes and treatment of chu'lel (life force) and four major spiritual illnesses of the Maya: susto (fright), pesar (grief), tristeza (sadness), and invidia (envy).

Through the use of copal incense, herbal bathing and prayers; you will experience a deeper connection and understanding of Self, enabling you to proceed on your path in a Peaceful way.

In preparation for a Spiritual Healing, bring a bathing suit and a towel to your session.