Self-Healing Is An Art: A Holistic Approach

It has been said that medicine is a science, healthcare a business, and healing an art. Like any art, the uniqueness, individuality, and essence of artistic expression are drawn from the artist’s one-of-a -kind disposition, perspective, and training. These factors, when combined, shape the artist’s approach and work. Your healing process is a unique creation of art.

Holistic healing approaches take into account a broad spectrum of factors and, when taken together, account for your state of health. Rather than just looking at the symptom, holistic medicine looks at the whole person: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Just as the physiological heart is central to the health of the entire body, the heart of the holistic relies upon a healthy interplay of the four bodies working together: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. If you were to take a closer look at the operational aspects of the heart, you would see four individual chambers that work separately, and together, for the full function of the heart. If any one chamber becomes dysfunctional, the entire heart will suffer. The same is true for the heart of your health. If any one body of the physical, mental, emotional and/or spiritual is not functioning at its optimum, it will impact your overall health.

The most effective way to participate in your own self-healing, as an art, is to start by acknowledging the presence of each of the individualized “bodies” and the importance of each coming into concert with the others. The same way a painter blends blue and red to create purple you, as a healer, must look beyond the surface symptom, which in this analogy is the color purple, to the primary sources of red and blue which may symbolize mental or emotional states.

Physical ailments expressed in the physical body are to be treated with physical action while simultaneously addressing, with equal attention, healing in the emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. The invisible bodies (emotional, spiritual, and mental) will manifest themselves in the physical body calling attention to “work” that has been left undone. For example, there is a chemistry that accompanies your emotional state. Humility registers a different acidity in the body than anger. Therefore, a life of anger can lead to a toxic internal state, resulting in disease.

Healing is not what your mind thinks it is. Many people consider “healing” the halting, eradication and removal of their unwanted condition, illness or disease. While, that seems like a reasonable mental approach to take it is also the approach that leads to the most resistance, suffering and limitation.

Harvard psychology professor turned seventies spiritual guru, Ram Dass, says in his heartfelt documentary, Fierce Grace, that healing is “…accepting what is and allowing it to move us closer to God.” In this documentary Ram Dass, powerfully and vulnerably, shares his own personal process of recovery from a life-debilitating stroke. Previously a renowned lecturer and speaker, Ram Dass lost his ability to walk and his ability to speak coherently, suffering from expressive aphasia (the inability to produce normal speech). He continues to “interpret his stroke as an act of grace” and offers talks where, I can personally attest, his most penetrating communication is felt through his presence, which emanates his life’s teachings of unconditional love. His way of communicating has transformed from poignant, superfluous storytelling to staccato words and phrases. Yet, their power remains. If Ram Dass were to focus alone on recovering his ability to speak perfectly he may have remained hidden from his speaking circuit leaving us less rich from the exchange of his presence. His acceptance allows his path of a teacher to reach new heights.

For the purposes of my blog posts, healing is defined as “the ability to accept what is and allow it to move you closer on your path to your divine self.” The heart of self-healing lies in your ability to open to the possibility that your condition, illness or injury, are a part of a meaningful and purposeful part of your personal and spiritual growth.

While healing may include the actual recovery from a particular ailment, it is not exclusive to this. Often attempts to eliminate pain, alone, only lead to numbing the exact signal that was needed capture your attention for action.

Learning to be curious and grateful for pain are the alchemical tools of a self-healing artist. While holistic healing is a new approach for many people, holistic practices are centuries old. The art of seeing yourself, holistically, is a worthwhile viewpoint to explore. By expanding your consciousness, opening to new traditions and seeing yourself as a crucial role in your own healing process, you can open the door to a world of new healing possibilities.

Self-Healing Tips: 7 Simple Yoga Stretches for a Healthy Back

The human body is a miracle. Have you ever considered how many things must function properly to simply walk and talk? Luckily, we don’t have to think about every heartbeat or hair follicle to keep our heart pumping and our hair growing. However, there are areas of our health, which do require our attention to function well.

In fact, we can play a crucial role in facilitating our own health and healing. Self-healing is the ability to invoke our mental, emotional, spiritual and physical powers for own healing experience.

Today’s “Self-Healing Tips” post is about preventing back pain through the implementation of 7 simple yoga stretches. My physical therapist once quoted to me that 8 out of 10 people suffer low back pain. I was shocked at this statistic. While, I am no stranger to back pain I was still surprised at the amount of people who suffer from it.

One of the best ways to relieve back pain is through preventative stretching. The back accumulates a lot of tension through the hyper-contraction of larger muscle groups in the upper legs and thighs. The quadriceps, hamstrings, psoas, and gluteus muscles all attach onto the pelvic region putting a lot of pressure into the back.

To relieve tension in the back start by stretching out the muscles mentioned here. For best results give this sequence a try about 20 minutes a day 3-5 days a week. Hold the stretches anywhere from 1 minute to 3 minutes or by breath count. Be sure to breathe in and out at the same pace. For example, count how long your in breath takes and how long your out breath takes, then match the pace. It is recommended to breathe through your nose and keep your mouth closed.

Feel free to pass along to your friends, family members or co-workers who may suffer from back pain. I look forward to hearing what you learn. Have questions? I am here to answer them, simply comment below.

1.  Standing Hamstring Stretch

To start, choose a wall to support your forward fold. Next, step your feet hip distance apart. Keeping your back straight fold forward at the hips. Place your hands shoulder distance apart on the wall in front of you. Keep your hands at the same height as your shoulders. Press your palms into the wall. Keep the legs strong by contracting front upper thigh muscles lifting the kneecap up towards the hips. If this is stressful on your back bend your knees slightly until you feel relief.

2.  Standing Quadricep Stretch

Stand with your left shoulder and foot next to a wall. Try to step far enough away from the wall so you just barely touch your fingertips into the wall. Bend the right knee bringing the heel to the hip. Place the right hand on the foot holding the heel in place. Keep the knee in a straight line with the kneecap facing the ground. Keep the torso long and straight. Keep pulling the heel into the hip while the knee remains mostly stationary. Switch sides when you are ready. Stand with the right shoulder and foot near the wall. Bend the left knee. Bring the left heel to the back of the hip while holding the foot with the left hand. Gently pull the heel to the hip while keeping the kneecap facing straight down. Feel the stretch on the front of the thigh.

3.  Upper Groin Stretch

Place the left foot on the ground, a few feet in front of you, with the knee bent to a 90 degree angle. The left foot should be just below the left knee in a straight line. Put your right foot on the ground with your leg extended behind you. Let the top of the right foot rest on the earth while the heel remains in a straight line into the knee and hip. Lunge forward stretching out the upper groin. Keep the back as tall as possible while pressing both hands onto the bent knee. Relax the shoulders. Switch sides when you are ready.

4.  Seated Hamstring Stretch

Sit on the ground. Extend both legs in front of you. Raise both arms. Exhale and extend your arms to reach towards your toes. Fold forward. If your hands don’t reach your toes use a towel to wrap around the feet and hold ends of the towel while keeping the back straight folding at the hips. Bend your knees as you need. The most important part of this stretch is to keep your spine long and straight. People often mistake the purpose of the posture. The purpose is to stretch the hamstrings on the back of thighs. It is not to touch the toes.

5.  Seated Spinal Twist

Sit on the ground. Extend both legs in front of you. Keep the right leg straight. Bend the left knee. Step the left knee over the right knee. Place the foot on the ground. Take the right arm and reach it to the sky. Wrap the right elbow around the left knee while twisting the spine. Keep the spine tall as you breathe in. Exhale and twist. Keep the shoulders in an even line. Switch when you are ready. Extend the left leg. Bend the right knee. Cross the right foot over the left knee. Wrap left elbow around right knee.

6.  Seated Inner Thigh Stretch

Sit on the ground. Extend both legs in front of you. Bend your left knee. Bring the left knee toward your shoulder. Take the left arm hook it under the left knee. Cradle the left knee in the crook of the left elbow. Pull the left heel toward right shoulder. Keep extended right leg strong. Hold here. Breath in and out. Switch sides when you are ready. Straighten the left leg. Bend the right knee. Pull right knee toward shoulder and hook right elbow under right knee. Cradle right knee and pull right heel to left shoulder. Keep extended leg strong. Hold here.
7.  Supine Hamstring Stretch

Lay on your back. Keep the left leg straight on the ground with the foot flexed. Bring your right leg up towards the sky. Place the hands behind the right knee and hold the leg straight. Flex the right foot. Keep gently pulling the right leg towards the shoulder. Release when you are ready and switch to the opposite side.

The Amethyst BioMat: A Powerful Self-Healing Tool

The BioMat’s unique technology penetrates at the cellular level, it is capable of addressing a wide range of health issues. As well as providing relief from muscle and joint pain, the BioMat can also speed the repair and regeneration of these areas in the body. The BioMat regulates the body’s immune, endocrine, lymphatic and nervous systems, delivering a wealth of health benefits, including: improved cardiovascular strength; resilience to disease; deeper, more refreshing sleep; cellular detoxification; increased energy and focus.

What is Bio-Mat Amethyst?
The Bio-Mat Amethyst™ system is a state-of-the-art FDA-approved medical device (U.S.F.D.A Medical Device No. 2954299) that delivers therapeutic Far Infrared Rays and Negative Ions, relieving pain and restoring balance and energy to the human body. It was developed by a highly skilled group of scientists, medical professionals and engineers. Many Insurance companies consider the Bio-Mat Amethyst™ a viable treatment option for pain as well as other musculoskeletal problems. (See FDA Link for Registered License).

The Bio-Mat Amethyst’s™ primary gift to the human body is its ability to provide an environment in which the body is able to carry off the acidic waste as it was designed to do. As these wastes are removed, the body’s vitality is restored.

You’ll feel those tired muscles relax, as helpful dry heat not only warms the surface of your skin, but also penetrates into your skin for deep, soothing comfort. The gentle warmth of the Bio-Mat Amethyst gives you an overall massaging effect, soothing nerves and muscles and cleansing your body of toxins with natural healing.

This unique combination of components is what allows the Bio-Mat Amethyst™ to deliver professional therapeutic results. It delivers benefits better than any Infrared Sauna for a fraction of the price.

Multiple Home Use for family and friends, a profitable addition to any healing modality

• Anti Aging and Skin Care
• Relieve Pain and Stiffness
• Reduce Stress and Fatigue
• Strengthen the Immune System
• Burn Calories and Weight Control
• Aid Digestion and Elimination
• Detoxify and Cleanse with Sauna Level
• Chiropractor Care
• Acupuncture Practitioner
• Massage Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Reiki Practitioner
• Skin and Body Care Professionals
• Waiting Room Preparation and Relaxation

What Makes the Bio-Mat Amethyst Work So Well?
The Bio-Mat is enhanced with Amethyst Crystals, known for their calming and healing effects since ancient times. When Far Infrared Rays (FIR) are conducted through Amethyst Crystals, the Far Infrared wave length elongates, penetrating into the human body 5-7 inches.

The Amethyst Crystals amplify the Far Infrared Light 200 times more powerfully than FIR by itself.
These rays, not only benefit the skin and muscle tissue on the surface of the body, but penetrate deeper into the lymph glands, blood vessels, nerves, as well as key organs.  These rays vitalize the biological function of our cells and increase circulation

It works without electric coils, and no harmful electro-magnetic frequencies (EMF’s).
Infrared rays which are at the opposite side of the spectrum are healthy kind of rays that give you warmth and relaxation. Medical and therapeutic professionals have found that the same infrared rays as in natural sunlight are generated in the RichWay BioMat™ by modern technology.

FIR has the ability to penetrate, refract, radiate and reflect. The human body can absorb FIR because of its deep penetrating ability. Humans emit FIR, however we need a reflection to absorb it. For example: When we cuddle with another person or a dog or cat, the cozy feeling you experience is the Far Infrared reflection. When FIR penetrates through the skin to the subcutaneous tissues, it transforms from light energy into heat energy. The thermal effect within the deep layers of tissues causes blood vessels in capillaries to dilate, promoting better blood circulation, and the heat produced helps to get rid of body toxins and metabolic wastes through sweating.

In addition, the Bio-Mat Amethyst™ delivers Negative Ions, which energize the body. Negative Ions are the key to cellular communication and the metabolism of cellular waste. The Negative Ions also restore the blood’s pH balance for optimal health.
Far Infrared Rays Penetrate 80 times more deeply than other kinds of heat. Because of this, they can warm our bodies from the inside out, and stimulate our system.

After using Common Heating Pad for 10 minutes, only skin surface effected in this area.

After using Far Infrared Rays for 5 minutes, skin is penetrated 80 times more deeply.
Unlike an electric blanket or heating pad, the Bio-Mat Amethyst™ does not get hot when it is turned on. However, if you lie down on it, it warms the inside of your body and the part of the pad making contact with your skin gets warm.