Day 14 – Reiki, Reflexology and Crystals with Jeff Leoni

As I have said before, I love Reiki-and I love Reiki hybrid sessions.  And this particular session did not disappoint.

I had the opportunity to trade with Jeff Leoni, yet another of my fellow practitioners at Philly Community Wellness. Jeff and I both work with crystals, in our own intuitive ways; and both have training in Reiki, Reflexology, and IET.  Where do we differ?  Well, as some of you may have read on Day 4 I came to discover Reiki through a “paranormal” experience.  Jeff, on the other hand, has a background in the Martial Arts.  When he was 16, he began to notice an ease when working with the energetic component of Martial Arts, and went on to work with qigong and Taichi.  He is a second degree black belt in Okinawan kempo.  The link between Martial Arts and Reiki goes all the way back to Mikao Usui, Reiki’s Founder.  Every time I work with Jeff, I can’t help but to think of Usui.

Usui reportedly practiced Aiki Jutsu, a predecessor of Aikido which has been explained to me as far more spiritual and energetic than physical.  I’m also to understand, through knowledgeable friends of mine who practice Martial Arts, that Aiki Jutsu  has a more subtle, direct and calculated approach to taking down an adversary when needed.  In other words-no big fight scene, just a quick disabling of the opponent with few if any actual “blows” coming from it.  Indeed, it seems a great choice for a Buddhist monk-get in, take down, walk away.

Mikao Usui was born into a Samurai family. Although they were far past the days of running around in the woods fighting each other, their family enjoyed the high rank and status of nobility in Japan’s caste system.  When he was about 6 years old, the Meiji Emperor disbanded the Samurai, and Usui and his family tumbled down to a lower caste.  This may go a long way in understand his connection to energy, and his dedication to helping people help themselves.  His sect of Buddhism, Tendai Mikkyo, is a lay practice-in part meaning that instead of living at a temple, Usui as married and had children.  Also important-they focused on spreading the Buddhist teachings to the masses, rather than being paid to pray for the Community.  This excerpt, from the about page of Tendai.org, sums it up beautifully:

One of the most important teachings, if not THE most important teaching, of the Lotus Sutra is the teaching of skillful means (upaya) – that the Buddhas teach according to the capacity of the listeners, and that the teachings thus may appear to differ, though they in reality are all just different perspectives on the One Buddha Vehicle (ekayana) to perfect enlightenment.

So Usui was teaching Buddhist principals and Reiki in what was known to be a “Beggar City” following the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923 (which was on par with what happened in Haiti last year), and had students that included a Buddhist Nun (Suzuki San) and a Surgeon in the Japanese Imeprial Navy (Chujiro Hayashi).  First, under Meiji rule, these things could have had him thrown in jail or worse-a badass after my own heart.  Second, teaching people in a voice they can best hear, the “capacity of the listeners”?  It takes a special kind of teacher to take a healing modality like Reiki and get it to such a diverse bunch of people so quickly-he only practiced Reiki for four years, and taught teachers for three-until his passing in 1926.

This link to martial arts is something I see today as well.  My practice, as many of you know by now, is not “typical”-I offer affordable sessions in South Philly, which gives me the opportunity to work with individuals some would be surprised to see in a Reiki practitioner’s office.  At one point, my clientele was about 80% male, compared with some of my colleagues elsewhere in the City with more “common” practices which report around a 10-20% male client base.  So, if all these Men had not heard about Reiki on the Dr. Oz Show or by picking up a pink flowery business card; how did they know about it?  Well, a decent amount of them had or still did practice Martial Arts,  which exposed them to energy principals.  They can talk at length on their feelings and experiences of energy quite comfortably.  In fact, these awesome, hard working regular Joes in South Philly would likely have loved the company of Usui.  But if we are going to have a party, I am also told that Yogi Bhajan, who is credited with introducing Kundalini Yoga and Sikhism to the United States, was a sucker for a slice of Pizza and a Diet Coke-so all hail the everyman (and the Yoga nerd) and send him an invitation too.

Jeff is also a Clinical Psychologist with a Doctorate from Pepperdine University.  This makes him the most well educated Reiki practitioner I know of!  I also know Jeff to take great pride in his Psychology practice, in which he utilizes Buddhist/contemplative approaches. Wow, that’s some Usui like stuff there, Sir!

As Jeff’s session had me blissed out beyond belief, Jeff finished the session with reflexology.  I truly love how grounding that can be!  As I shook off a deeeeply relaxing treatment, Jeff had some words of encouragement from a “visitor”.  Jeff didn’t know his name, but when he described an Angel holding a lantern like the one in Doreen Virtue’s Archangel Oracle Deck (pictured above), I knew who it was.  Archangel Uriel.  The message he had for me I’d like to keep to myself, but it was something Jeff could not have understood or known about.  And that visit, and that message, really meant a lot to me.

Thanks for another great session, Jeff! (and for passing along the message).

The sources I used for the information in this piece were found in:

The Reiki Sourcebook by Bronwen & Franz Steine

Reiki.org

Tendai.org

For further reading, also try “Modern Reiki Method for Healing” by Hiroshi Doi (good luck finding it, used copies are sold on amazon for hundreds of dollars) and  anything written by Frank Arjava Petter.

Special thanks to Jeff Leoni for this session.

Jeff Leoni

Jeff is a Level II Usui Reiki practitioner. His Reiki journey began at age 16 when early in his karate training he discovered that he had strong chi flow and a natural affinity for energy work. Jeff has been practicing Reiki since 2008 and was trained by Usui Reiki Master Diane Coleman. His inspiration to learn Reiki was born of seeing relatives experience chronic illnesses and desiring to help others ease the pain and stress of these conditions. Jeff is also a clinical psychologist and utilizes Buddhist/contemplative approaches in his practice. In addition to Reiki, he practices reflexology and Integrated Energy Therapy (IET). He is a second degree black belt in Okinawan kempo and was trained at the dojo of Grandmaster George Dillman of Reading, PA. Jeff lives in Exton with his wife and daughter and is a liturgical minister providing Reiki services at a local hospice. Jeff seeks goals to help his clients experience all the benefits of Reiki and and maximized personal wellness.

You can visit Jeff’s site, Infinite Reiki, or schedule a session with Jeff at Philly Community Wellness by clicking here.

Day 15 – Breema® with Walter Hjelt Sullivan

I’ll be honest with you-until Walter reached out to me for a trade, I had never heard of Breema®.  Walter said “It’s like a ‘Yin’ (passive) form of Thai Yoga Therapy.” You all know by now how Yoga does not quite resonate with me, but I have enjoyed Thai on the one or two occasions I received it.  The passive aspect of it resonated with me. Also,  I like throwing myself at new healing modalities with reckless abandon, so we set up a trade.  On my 30th Birthday!  Hooray! (Crazy thing-it was Walter’s Birthday too!)

Try as I might, I don’t feel that I can come up with a more concise and accurate description of the modality than the one at breema.com:

About Breema Bodywork and Self-Breema

Breema bodywork and Self-Breema exercises use nurturing touch, tension-relieving stretches, and rhythmic movements to create physical, mental, and emotional balance. Breema’s commonsense wisdom guides the practitioner to support the body’s instinctive healing energy, nurturing vitality instead of focusing on symptoms of illness or imbalance.

The Breema philosophy and its Nine Principles of Harmony address the essential nature of life, the deeper meaning of health and how to actualize it, and the means of gaining practical, self-verified knowledge that can lead to an understanding of our unique potential as human beings.

The Nine Principles of Harmony in the Breema system are:

• Body Comfortable
• No Extra
• Firmness and Gentleness
• Full Participation
• Mutual Support
• No Judgment
• Single Moment/Single Activity
• No Hurry/No Pause
• No Force

The session itself started with Walter asking me if I had anywhere I was sensitive, or preferred not to be touched.  He was also very clear about the “no force” , “no judgement” and “body comfortable” principles.  I shared with him about that lower left side thing, where I feel I physically carry the Anorexia. “Are you comfortable being worked on there”?  Yes, I said, and he again explained that if I felt any discomfort, to let him know immediatly.

I understood very well that this was something that was safe, and even though the practitioner may be guiding, bending, and twisting my body  that I was in control of what felt OK, no questions asked.  I feel like this helped me to relax, and let myself go in the session.  They say pictures are worth a thousand words, I included a video of Walter giving a Breema sesson at the top of this post.

It may look a little “forceful” at times in the video, but did not feel that way at all.  It was very relaxing, and certainly brought my mind to my body.  As Walter worked through different parts of my body I was very aware of where he was, what was going on, and what correlated to that part of my body.  As Walter got to my lower abdomen, he checked in with me, making sure that I was OK.  How thoughtful.  I think his asking me made it OK.  It was a little difficult, but I was OK with it. I just felt it was OK to let it be what it was, knowing that I could ask he stop working that area at any time without judgment made me feel safe enough to pay attention to that area.  I can’t say I would be OK with it every day, but on this particular day, I was.

That is something that comes up in recovery for some people with Eating Disorders-the idea of “being comfortable feeling uncomfortable”.  It is something that Maggie Juliano mentioned in my interview with her and Suzi Costello for Sprout Yoga.  I would not necessarily recommend the idea of “being OK not being OK”, but in the case of eating disorders it could make some sense.  Eight years ago when I began treatment, I did not know any other way to feel about my body-it always felt foreign and it never felt comfortable. When I started experiencing my body differently, I often felt-and sometimes, still feel-like I am wearing an ugly, ill fitting dress of insecurities.  Sometimes, just saying “I feel unpleasant and that is what it is” can help it feel a little better.  It is like I am letting the feeling go a little, so I don’t go spiraling down to my disordered notion of  “perfection” quite as easily.  It’s not enough to stop it all entirely, but it is helpful.

The session ended very peacefully and I felt balanced and in harmony.  I really enjoyed this session.  If you are looking for a healing art that can bring your mind to your body in a gentle and empowering way, this is one to consider.  Walter was fabulous and supportive, and I trusted him the entire time (and trust is something I struggle with).  I can definitely see myself getting a Breema® session with Walter again.

If you wish to learn more about Breema, Walter has a class coming up with the Mount Airy Learning Tree. For details, click here.

Walter Hjelt Sullivan

Special thanks to Walter Hjelt Sullivan for this session. Walter is a Quaker educator, non-profit manager, and certified Breema

practitioner and instructor. Married for 24 years, he is the father of two daughters in college. Breema Practitioner Certificate awarded July 18, 2002. Self-Breema Instructor Certificate awarded, October 24, 2004. Breema Bodywork Instructor Certificate awarded, April 4, 2006.

Walter offers sliding scale treatment sessions at his home studio in the Germantown/Mt. Airy neighborhood in Phildelphia, PA.

 

To schedule a session, he can be reached :
Home: 215-843-1203
Cell: 215-900-3938
Email: hjeltsullivan@verizon.net

Please visit Walter’s website for more classes, events and information.

About Breema Bodywork and Self-Breema

Breema bodywork and Self-Breema exercises use nurturing touch, tension-relieving stretches, and rhythmic movements to create physical, mental, and emotional balance. Breema’s commonsense wisdom guides the practitioner to support the body’s instinctive healing energy, nurturing vitality instead of focusing on symptoms of illness or imbalance.

The Breema philosophy and its Nine Principles of Harmony address the essential nature of life, the deeper meaning of health and how to actualize it, and the means of gaining practical, self-verified knowledge that can lead to an understanding of our unique potential as human beings.

Day 13 – Korean Reflexology with Hui Kyung Kang

Korean Reflexology Tools

Korean Reflexology could not be more different from American Reflexology. It is  based in the energetic understandings of Traditional Chinese Medicine like Acupuncture and Shiatsu, and is preformed using those chisel-like oak sticks you see photographed at left.  Don’t go crazy looking for Korean Reflexology at your local establishment…it’s a rare find, as Hui is a second generation practitioner. The modality was created by her Sister, who owns a Bodywork Training Center in Korea.  Like most forms of Traditional Asian Bodywork, it can be…let’s see, what is a good word…Intense? no, not quite…Deep? Painful? Yeah, that’s it.

In many parts of the world, bodywork is done right in the home by family members; and people are often used to having these practices at a young age.  These modalities are seen as basic maintenance-much like brushing one’s teeth.  It is not performed with a “spa” understanding, but rather is intended to help move Chi, kick out toxins,  and be effective in one’s overall health.  Also, the people who live in these regions are more accustomed to bodywork, and therefore are less “tender” than your average American who gets gentle, “pampering”  bodywork once in a while if at all.  My tender American ass was in for a treat today!

This type of reflexology, while focusing on the feet, involves treating the legs and required one to wear shorts or, in my case, underwear.  If you have never had any type of foot based work done, I suggest giving it a try even if you are ticklish (like me), as the pressure used often does not trigger the tickle response. Hard pressure on the soles of your feet can feel especially good. Things started off innocently enough with a massage of the feet and legs, which was quite blissful, followed by deep finger pressure on some of the foot reflex points.  Then, out came the sticks.  Yikes!

Let’s back up for a moment-I worked at Philadelphia Community Acupuncture for about two years, and in that time was treated very successfully and frequently with acupuncture.  In Chinese medicine, often if a point or channel is tender, that can be a sign that something there needs to be addressed…and my stomach and spleen meridian locations are etched into my mind, because they were just so darn tender.  Every so often, especially in Winter, I tend towards something Chinese Medicine terms “dampness”, and my symptoms include a diminished appetite and very low energy.  With repeat acupuncture treatments, I am generally able to get my appetite restored, giving me the ability to eat, fuel my body, and have more energy.

So, into my tender stomach and spleen meridians with pointy wooden sticks!  Not so much “poking” but more “sliding”.  Sliding really, really firmly.  (I’ll have video up later this week!) Did it hurt?  Uhm…YES! At times, I had a hard time not wincing in pain.  I can only describe the sensation on those meridians as searing pressure. But did it work?  YES, YES IT DID! Within 15 minutes, I was ravenously hungry.  All I could think about was stopping at the grocery store on the way home.  My stomach began to growl.  Acupuncture usually takes many treatments-maybe half a dozen or more-for me to get my appetite back like that.  But just 15 minutes into a 45 minute session, I could have eaten the table I was laying on.

When the treatment was finished, I spoke with Hui about what she had seen in her years of offering this therapy.  She told me she felt people with fallen arches, or flat feet, could benefit most from this treatment.  Why?  It is theorized that the arches of the feet help the blood to circulate back up into the body, and take with it not only Chi, but toxins.  Moving these toxins back up could help the body to then cleanse and remove them.  An interesting thing happened before I left-I noticed that I was sweating profusely.  We had just had a snowstorm, and it was quite cold out, so this was surprising.

As I got home and ate, ate, ate everything in sight; the sweating continued…and had gotten quite stinky.  Seriously, I have never smelled myself like this. It was  like someone else’s body odor was pouring out of me.  And I had just showered that morning!  What was going on?  Ahh, toxins! As the body releases toxins and metabolic waste, it often has a smell to it.  Since I had just gotten over a cold a few days prior, it would make sense that my body was doing all that it could to cleanse itself. This is why some people’s feet smell so bad even though they wash daily.  It’s just their body doing a good job of getting rid of stuff they no longer need, or the abundance of these things in their body to begin with.  I drank plenty of water to help to process along, and ended up showering three more times in the next 48 hours.

The appetite lasted, in a big way, for about 2 weeks or so.  I had double servings of everything, and metabolized them quickly without weight gain-a sign that my energy had also returned.  I am still amazed at just how effective this was.  It really worked like a charm!  Discomfort be damned, I am absolutely getting this modality done again.  The other fine treat for my tender American ass?  Experiencing Asian style bodywork from someone born, raised and trained in that culture.  Hui was an absolute doll, I adore her, and I thank her eternally for the opportunity to experience this rare gem of Bodywork.

Hui Kyung Kang

Special thanks to Hui Kyung Kang for this session. Hui was trained in the art of Korean Reflexology by her Sister, the Founder of the modality, in their native Korea.  Hui also studied massage and bodywork in the US at DPT Business School in Center City Philadelphia.  You can receive a session from Hui in Drescher, PA (Near Willow Grove) by contacting her at huikyung08@yahoo.com. If you cannot get out of the City you can schedule with William Burton, whom she taught the modality to, at Philly Community Wellness by clicking here.

Day 12 – Intentional Breathwork with Nick Baker

With Intentional Breathwork, my asana-less practice successfully explored another of the eight limbs of Yoga in a very powerful way.  Pranayama, or Yogic breathing, understands the link between the breath and vital life energy.  In Intentional Breathwork, deep rhythmic breaths and coaching are used to shatter what blocks us psychologically and physically (since the two are sooo often connected).

I had heard wonderful things about Nick Baker from my roommate and friend Sabina, as well as one of my students…but I was still not sure what to expect.  The only thing that each of them had really explained to me was that it was “intense”, and that I would be offered a pillow to scream into… yes, screaming was involved.  As I discuss in When The Healing Does Not Fit, You Must Acquit (Yourself), I abandoned my asana (mat) practice of Yoga after it triggered a relapse of anorexic behaviors – when I am practicing Yoga postures it sure does bring stuff up, but NOT in a way conducive to my healing. Yoga asanas are my own personal Hell, and my only refuge from it is starvation and cutting.  When things “come up” for me in the mat practice, I am powerless to them-I am quickly overwhelmed and feel I have no way to address anything.

Given that experience, a practice based on the Yogic principles of breathing made me quite nervous…but my inner daredevil won out (armed with the knowledge that I could simply stop if this felt less than helpful), and I scheduled a trade with Nick.  I write this on Feb. 6, after having received all of the sessions over the 21 days, and can say without a doubt that this session was the most transformative and empowering session I received during this time.

Nick’s teacher, Mei-yann Hwang, studied under David Elliott (Founder of the Intentional Breathwork practice) and Scott Schwenk; making him a third generation practitioner.  While discussing my intentions and what I was working on in my personal healing, I told Nick about the anorexia.  I told him what had come up in the previous day’s session with Kelly; that it seems clear that I hold the disorder energetically in my lower left abdomen.  He set up an altar and instructed me on how to apply essential oils on all of my chakras.  I laid down on the treatment table and Nick put a small pillow over my eyes.  Then, he began coaching me through deep breathing exercises.

Into the belly. Into the chest. exhale.

Into the belly. Into the chest. exhale.

Into the belly. Into the chest. exhale.

As I became aware of what felt like my Guides and Angels surrounding me. I breathed hard, over and over again, as Nick coached me expertly through bringing the energy up, and into that lower left abdomen.  Pretty quickly, it “brought things up” – the disorder was all but standing in front of me.  Only something was different.    In Breathwork, when the anorexia came up, I breathed harder.  I took control, and as the anorexia and associated body issues, powerlessness and emotional frailty showed themselves, I had a new tool to deal with it.

I looked the tiger in the eyes (which were large, red, and threatening).  And I told it loud and clear in an (internal) scream:

FUCK YOU! GET OUT! I AM STRONGER THAN YOU! I AM TAKING YOU OUT!

and, the ultimate North Jersey battle cry:

I OWN YOU, BITCH!

As I lay there breathing with every bit of force I could muster, I felt like I went right past the monster.  And on the other side was stillness, support, and freedom.  Nick’s coaching shifted, as though he read my mind.  He guided me to feel this “ether”, this result of the practice.  I felt as though I could have been floating, that time and space did not matter or exist (they don’t, by the way).  Over and over in my head I heard the phrase “there is no me”.

there. is. no. me.

I melted into the Universe, like a puddle reaching into an expansive ocean of oneness.  I felt like part of everything, like everything was a part of me.  I became concerned that I may be floating, and possibly freaking out my practitioner.  It was WONDERFUL. Unmitigated bliss.

At the conclusion of the session, I asked Nick how long he had been practicing.  I was FLOORED when he answered “This is my ninth session.”  Seriously?  He could have told me nine YEARS and I would have absolutely believed him.  Every single word he said while coaching me resonated with me 100%.  I’ve been doing bodywork for 6 years, and this was by far the most intensely powerful session I have ever had.  I am grateful for the session, the experience, the healing.

I made friends with another arm of yoga.  And it is a pretty cool friend indeed.

Special thanks to Nick Baker for this session. Nick first experienced Intentional Breathwork with his friend Mei-yann Hwang in January 2010.  After his first session, his life changed in ways he never thought possible.  Where sadness was, new light arose.  Where questions lied, answers became apparent.  Universal Energy Flow came into his life.  From there, he knew this would be his daily practice and a message he must share with others.  Nick recently completed Level 1 training in David Elliott’s Intentional Breathwork System, as taught by Scott Schwenk.  He truly enjoys the fruits of helping his clients achieve balance through breath and relaxation. To schedule your session with Nick email intentionalbreathwork@gmail.com or call (215)808-9931.

When the healing does not fit part II – resources and education

So as discussed in yesterday’s post , I have encountered many things in my personal healing that I have found to be other than helpful.  And have struggled with the judgments of instructors and practitioners who, while having the best of intentions, made a bad situation worse. This piece focuses on how we can go forward as better prepared and more effective healers & teachers.

Yesterday, I used the analogy that one does not need to be an Oncologist to play a part in the healing of Cancer patients-as long as the limits and boundaries of the practitioner are understood and upheld. And the point was made that if something is working on your healing path, keep doing it-and if it is not-stop…or try again later, or seek out additional resources in that field.  Well, today’s piece explores the wealth of information and support that can be found if one simply looks, and how that information can seek to empower clients, students and teachers.  While I need not be an Oncologist to be Reiki Practitioner to a cancer patient, learning a little about cancer may make me a better practitioner to that client.  A well-rounded teacher/practitioner keeps learning constantly.  Learning outside the scope of our “role” can only make us better, more understanding wellness providers and citizens of the world.  Armed with resources and information, the blinders of experience that can at times lead to ignorance will more easily give way to binoculars of possibility and ultimately bring about more potential for healing ourselves and others.

I was given a great opportunity to hear from Maggie Juliano and Susi Costello of Sprout Yoga, a Foundation dedicated to helping those who are healing from eating disorders. They do this by providing free and low-cost Yoga classes to individuals affected and outreach and education to Yoga teachers and others within the greater healing landscape (Therapists, etc) on how Yoga can be an effective tool for healing.  As a Reiki practitioner, I can see the value in understanding the disorder a student or client may be working with – it gives me more resources to pull from to be the best practitioner I can be.  Imagine if that Yoga teacher who told me “Yoga is all you need to overcome an eating disorder” had gone through a training with them-education is also the cure for foot-in-mouth disease.

When I asked Maggie and Susi to describe what Sprout offers those with eating disorders, they stressed the importance of getting the information to the teachers-and then, getting students into the studios where those teachers work.  Sprout helps teachers to understand the many sides to an eating disorder-from distorted body image to obsessiveness to the danger these disorders pose to the person’s entire body.    The scope of these illnesses is far-reaching, for example a slight majority of persons with disordered eating have a background that includes trauma. When the healing student shows up for class, the teacher will know that they are there, and the student will know that they have a teacher that understands.  This makes for a safe, harmonious place to explore something new on the road to recovery.

Maggie and Susi reported many benefits for students involved in classes, among them a reduction in anxiety for anorexic style eating and less objectification of the body. As someone with anorexia, I know first hand how my body can feel like a foreign object at times.  They said it really “runs the gamut”, and sometimes just getting comfortable being uncomfortable can be very powerful.

Given that my experience with Yoga asanas (postures) was less than healing despite numerous attempts, styles, and teachers; (remember y’all, what you do on the mat in a class is only 1/8 of Yoga!) I asked about their take on my situation.  They responded that a step towards healing always has a reward, and that trying is half the battle-a sentiment I strongly agree with.  They also felt that knowing the resource was there for possible future use is another benefit.  It was brought up that some forms of yoga can be more appropriate that others for people with disordered eating habits.  They shared that they have seen Iyengar (a form of yoga very much focused on precise alignment of the body) and Bikram (a form of “hot” yoga which involves deep, often strenuous stretching and compression of parts of the body) are often the least beneficial for this particular population.  They also added that sometimes, it really all depends on the particular form and manifestation of the disordered eating-Maggie mentioned that sometimes, people who are more prone to obsessing find it more difficult to work with slower forms of Yoga as it allows the mind to race.  Sprout can help a student find the best styles of Yoga to suit them.

The conversation got deeper-and for me, more enlightening-when I asked if there were any misconceptions of eating disorders and/or Yoga they would like to discuss.  They both agreed that applying the Sutras (ancient writings that are the basis for the practice of Yoga) with thought-think of who they were written for, and when.  They feel the improper application of them can even justify anorexia, as some of them speak at length of discipline and cleanliness of the body.  Remember, eating disorders are based in disorders of thought and perception-just as pictures of skinny models may not have any affect on one person, they can have a massive impact on someone with disordered eating habits.  It does not take much to fuel the fire of disordered thinking, and therefore disordered behavior.

Another topic that came up here was that of Orthorexia.  I have had the time to research it some, and it is a controversial subject to some extent-allow me to say here that while eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, and many more are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Orthorexia is NOT.  Orthorexia is a name coined by California doctor Steven Bratman and is used to recognize the disordered restriction of a person’s diet in regards to “healthy” foods.  That is to say, a disordered obsession based around what foods the person deems “healthy” or “unhealthy”.  I have certainly seen at events I have attended that a discussion can arise in which competitiveness in dietary restriction becomes apparent, i.e. “I eat less suger/GMO/dyes” etc.  To most people this may simply be a discussion about healthy food choices, but to some, it can be used to justify or mask an obsession with the food they are NOT eating…and that is when it becomes a problem.

Also, body worship is a concern.  When someone has disordered thinking and tendencies, those pictures of crazy yoga poses and ripped muscles with very little body fat can be just as dangerous as the magazine photos of excessively skinny models.  Except, in this case, we have the opportunity to practice under the study of or next to that individual in a class.  Maggie and Susi both expressed the need of teachers to understand their role in working with students-as I mentioned yesterday, there is presumed authority when you are “leading” something, whether it is intended or not.  They also presented the notion of the different agendas teachers may have for pushing students.  Are we really pushing because it is better for them?

I am abundantly grateful to Maggie and Susi for taking time out of their very busy schedules to discuss these points, and I feel this has helped to see the full scope of how holistic methods can be used to best help people.  I also feel that it reiterates the importance of being as well-rounded and open-minded as possible when acting as practitioner or teacher, and that many factors may be at play that may be beyond our understanding or awareness.

For more about Sprout Yoga, you can visit their website here and for even more information on how yoga can help disordered eating, visit their blog.

Yoga Teachers & Therapists! Sprout Yoga has a training coming up at Wake Up Yoga in South Philly on Feb. 20. It will be led by Maggie Juliano, and focus on helping Yoga Teachers & Therapists better understand the role of Yoga as a compliment to the treatment of Eating Disorders.  It is only $30! Click here for details.

Sprout Yoga cannot do all of the wonderful things they do without your support.  To donate online or by mail, click here.

When the healing does not fit, you must acquit (yourself)

This piece could also have been titled “If I don’t like Yoga does that make me an asshole, and if so what does that say about your enlightenment”?

As I’ve mentioned previously I started this blog to clarify the misconceptions of eating disorders and other psychological/mental disorders, and to discuss some of the attitudes within the larger healing arts community that I find troubling (and at times, disturbing). Here, I’ll discuss exactly what I have seen and experienced first hand that have made me feel it necessary to bring this all up.

Let me start by saying again-this is not intended to hurt anyone or point a finger of blame at any particular practice or understanding.  It is to help us get introspective for a moment, so that we may move forward in a better way-a way that is more conducive to healing.  Because we are all at the core here for the same reason-to heal.  It is also to stir discussion as to what types of attitudes and statements my hinder or altogether stop the healing of ourselves, our students, and clients.  This is a tricky thing for all healers, no matter what kind, no matter how long one has been practicing.  Ego often sneaks in when we least expect it.

In this piece, I will interject what is known fact with my own personal opinion and/or experience.  I will do my absolute best to make abundantly clear which is which.  I encourage you to check out the citations and links within for more details on the subjects.

I will also make mention of the actual experiences I have had, sans names.  If you know yourself to be one of the people involved, I still love you.

Back in 2007 while studying to be a Reiki Master, we were required to work with the book “The Life you Were Born to Live” by Dan Millman.  In this book, Mr. Millman presents his “Life-Purpose System”, a system of birth date numerology he devised based on “ancient wisdom” (he never clarifies what ancient wisdom, but suggests in the book that it may be based on the works of Pythagoras). This “Life-Purpose System” takes your birthday and works it down to two numbers which tell you why you have incarnated/what you are on Earth to do in general terms, and what themes you need to focus on the manifest the best life ever.  It suggests a number of “spiritual laws” that apply to everyone and everything (there are laws on perfection, faith, and cycles to name a few) and gives examples of how to “work” these laws in your life.  I’m not a self-help book kind of person, but the first two Reiki classes I took went so swimmingly I trusted with blind faith that this was a wonderful and useful book before ever even opening it. Simultaneously, I began doing a work exchange with a local Ashtanga yoga studio-I scrubbed mats for free classes.  A really good deal for one of the best studios in the City.  I was ready to approach the next level of personal healing.

As I dug in with reckless abandon, something seemed off.  I kept pushing forward, but the more Yoga and working of “Laws” I did, the worse I felt.  I was told by classmates and other people in the healing arts community that if I was feeling resistant to Mr. Millman’s program OR to Yoga, that it was because I must really need it, it must really be pointing out things that I need to do. If it doesn’t fit, I was told,  the problem was with ME.  I continued, trying even harder to get to the root of my issues.  “Man, I must REALLY be FUCKED UP  if this stuff makes me feel soooo terrible”, I thought.

Each Yoga class was my own personal Hell.  Never in my life did an hour take so long to get by. In the holding of every pose, I obsessed about each square inch of my body.  It didn’t help that the studio had a wall of mirrors, but frankly, I could not bear to look an them anyway.  Besides, I was busy looking at every other person in the place and comparing my dumpy, ugly, uncoordinated self to each and every one of them.  I felt like an abomination of a human being, a sad worthless sack of shit on a tiny neoprene mat.  There were many classes I fought back tears and even screams of discomfort, and a few where all I could think about was cutting myself, or forcing myself not to eat.

Add to that what the “Law of Perfection” Mr. Millman’s book spoke about.  On pg. 361 of “The Life You Were Born To Live”, he outlines exercises in thinking to both experience and apply this “law”.  (CAUTION: Shit gets real dark here.)

“Recall a moment when your life felt perfect…and you expanded into the moment of pristine perfection” When I was wearing size 0 and had a little room left in my pants.  That was fuckin sweet.

“Now recall a recent incident…that seemed far less than perfect” My big, fat, ugly ass on this mat.

“Learn to say…It’s good enough-for now” Hell yeah it is! Cuz I am not eating jack shit till after this time tomorrow!

And just like that, I started food restricting again.

By the next morning, those familiar pains of hunger returned.  I felt sad, I was a failure.  I failed at being better.  Wow, I really DID suck.  I went on about my day, feeling shitty.  I reread parts of “The Life You Were Born to Live”, and something struck me-something that could only be described as reality and good sense.  Who the fuck WAS this guy anyway?  And what about all these people telling me that if this does not fit, it’s me?  Were they wrong, or was I?  Yoga has been around for thousands of years, and has been immensely helpful to literally billions of people in that time.  How could I fly in the face of that?

Then, I thought about the Yogic principles I had been reading on.  I truly respect Yoga as a spiritual practice even now-but that’s the thing.  The stuff you do in a yoga class, all those postures (called “asanas”) are just 1/8 of the entirety of Yoga.  One of the other “limbs” is ahimsa, or compassion.  It struck me…I had failed at having compassion for myself.  This practice was NOT helping me.  It was bringing things up alright, but not in a way that was conducive to my overall healing but rather counterproductive.  And if it was not helping, why the hell was I doing it?  To torture myself?

Ahimsa time-I am going to display compassion for myself by loving myself in spite of this practice not working for me.  I am going to love myself for knowing not to do it any more.  And I was going to love myself for getting this book out of my house, out of my life, and out of my thoughts.  And I was going to love myself for going right downstairs to Ishkabibble’s and getting a large cheese fries and eating them with mayo!

I cried.  For a long time.  Like, the kind of cry where your breathing gets all messed up.  But, this was a totally different cry than all the ones I’d had after Yoga classes or while reading that book….it felt GOOD.  I felt lighter. Happier.  The nightmare was over, the storm clouds lifted.  The only thing left to do was tell my much respected and beloved Reiki teacher that I was no longer going to work with this book.  I understood where she was going with the book-she wanted us to work on ourselves, to have a framework with the undeniable introspection and self-healing that happens during Reiki Mastership.  But this framework didn’t work for me.  I decided that I would instead work some principles that helped me in my recovery the first time around.  That afternoon, I went to class and told my teacher-who felt awful and cried a little-but understood.  My classmates…well, some of them did.  But I didn’t care.  I felt better. After that, everyone could just go right ahead and play a violin.

Over the years that followed, I tried Yoga again a few times: small classes, big classes, one on one, home practice.  With teachers I knew and was close with, and with strangers. I tried different styles: Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga & Reiki, Restorative.  No avail.  All the different ways I could try, that proverbial square peg just refused to fit into that round hole. And when that happened, I was completely comfortable with walking away without a second thought.  I have gotten comfortable with respecting a practice that really isn’t for me.  I dated a yoga instructor on and off for two years, and rented space for my Reiki and Bodywork practice in Hawthorne Yoga & Reiki.  I even assisted in the Reiki part of Sean Jacob’s Yoga & Reiki classes.  I love Yoga, the Asanas just are not for me.  And I am cool with that.

Who is NOT cool with that?  Apparently, lots of fuckin people! I really do not like talking about my eating disorder.  But, when you work at/across from a Yoga studio with amazingly friendly teachers (Hi Hawthorne!) it gets discussed, just as it does any time I am anywhere in the healing community-since nearly all of them practice Yoga at least occasionally.  It’s like everyone assumes I must do yoga (actually, a lot of people assume I own or part own Hawthorne; but I don’t and never have.  You have thank Sean Jacobs and all of the amazing teachers at Hawthorne and Kensington Yoga & Reiki Studios for affordable, high quality classes). When I tell yoga teachers and others in the healing community why I do not do yoga, I am often greeted with “it’s cool/you do Reiki, that’s your thing/hey, do what works, and good for you!” And sometimes, I am greeted with “You just need to try again/try it with me/try my style/keep doing it anyway/call me when you are ‘ready’ to get into your body/you just aren’t ready/you clearly don’t understand yoga”.  I have been in more than one setting where my non-asana yoga practice has been a huge point of contention, and have experienced rather heated debates on the subject.

And that is where we start getting into WHY this blog exists.

Frankly, I am sick of hearing the malarkey that one person or practice has all it needs to help what ails you, and if it does not work for or resonate with someone else, that there is something wrong with them.  That very idea smacks of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes. I do not believe that practitioners fall into this trap out of being jerks, I believe it is just misguided passion.  And that is why we need to hold the finger pointing-anyone who truly does what they do out of love for it can easily wind up doing this without even realizing.  In my world, there are people who do not care for Reiki.  It may be too passive for some, allowing for racing thoughts.  Or maybe being touched or hovered over triggers the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder they developed while serving in our armed forces (this of course does not mean Reiki is contraindicated for people with PTSD, it is just one example I have seen of a different modality being a better choice).  It’s cool, there are lots of other things to help-from psychotherapy to shiatsu and beyond.  I have never told a client or student that if Reiki isn’t cutting it that there is something wrong with them.  There are countless modalities because there are so damn many of us. The trick is finding what works for us as individuals.

Yes, you love your thing.  It’s worked wonders for you, that is why you wish to share it with the world-and that is truly a beautiful thing.  And so is the healing path of your fellow man.  You do not need to understand it-you just need to support it.  It can be really difficult at times, but we must try to separate our passion from our ego.  Neither we-nor our modalities-can heal every single person all the time.  Nor does it have to.  Ever have someone smile at you randomly or hold a door for you on an otherwise shitty day?  Sometimes, that is all we can do-be a flash of nice, a supportive human.  And that is still a beautiful thing.

I feel a clear separation needs to be made between this accidental oversight based in passion and love and what I feel is better described as malignant ego.  I’ll be honest-it makes me angry when I hear a wellness provider or fitness instructor of any variety audaciously or ignorantly dismiss the severity of a medical or psychological issue and attempt to make the case that their “brand” can cure it.  This is quite rare, but far more dangerous than the previous example.   I have had clients come to me and tell me a Nutritionist told them to stop taking their prescribed medications.  Not “go to the doctor and see if you still need them”, not “consider a second opinion”-stop taking your prescription drugs immediately and drink this smoothie/eat this food instead.  That is unacceptable.  If you wish to advise people on healthy food choices and Holistic perspectives, receive training as a Nutritional Consultant. If you wish to advise people on medications, go to medical school.  They are two different things.

I once had a Yoga teacher tell me that people with Eating Disorders would be able to fully recover if only they just did Yoga.  First-she didn’t know she was talking to a recovering anorexic.  A great example of the fact that we never know all of what is going on with someone else, and what happens when we assume. Second, and let me be amazingly clear, this is NOT the wide view held in the Yoga Community. In fact, part two of this post (which should be up later today or tomorrow) will include an Interview most graciously granted by Maggie Juliano and Susi Costello of Sprout Yoga which educates Yoga teachers on how to best support those recovering from disordered eating with Yoga and often provides affordable and even FREE yoga classes to those recovering.  They truly are wonderful heroes, helping Teachers to be better prepared; and helping those with disordered eating patterns of all kinds to feel better in their bodies.  Just because Yoga asanas didn’t work for me does not mean they will not work for others-most often, they DO.  Again, just because we don’t understand how something works for someone else does not mean we need to judge it.  It cuts both ways.

I’ve also been told by Reiki practitioners (plural!) that I can only heal anorexia  by way of affirmations, and made it clear that they felt nothing else (psychotherapy, etc) would help it.  I was told I needed to “fix my thoughts”.  I dig affirmations-they are mighty helpful, as any positive disposition and believing in one’s self are a boon to healing. But we need to be realistic. Believing that we can be better is powerful. Believing that we can attract the best professionals of all varieties to help us is productive to the healing process-telling someone they are sick because they need to police their thoughts better is victim blaming.

Pop quiz-what form of Mental Illness has the highest mortality rate?

Anorexia. Yes, really- the mortality rate is 5-20%.  There is even more easy to understand info on how anorexia ravages the body here.  So the statements made by the Yoga teacher and Reiki practitioners is on par with “do my thing, it’ll cure your highly deadly form of mental illness”.  How amazingly reckless.  Would they have dealt with a client or student disclosing they were HIV positive the same way? Dear God.

Did these practitioners have any clue that Anorexia was so dangerous?  I hope not.  But do they really need to know how dangerous something is to know it is not appropriate to say “my thing will cure you and everything else is crap’?  No!  I’ve treated many clients battling Cancer and I do not need to be an Oncologist to do so.  I just need to understand what my role as a Reiki practitioner is, and stay within that role.  And if I want to be an Oncologist, I need to go to school.

Here’s the thing-just as I said in the Day 11 IET post, whether or not we like if or agree with it, when we are in the role of practitioner or teacher we are in a position of assumed authority.  Our words have weight, and we have a responsibility to our students and clients to do our absolute best to keep our egos in check.   Will we make mistakes?  Of course.  We’re human too.  When we do, we need to own up to them, and do our best to not repeat the same mistake again.

My students love it when I say things like “I’m just not that cool” or “I’m just some chick from South Philly that drinks wine out of a box, so take what I say with a big grain of salt”, it helps keep perspective for myself as well as for them. And it is usually good for a chuckle.

And for those of you who encounter these limiting ideals in your own healing process, I offer you this-if something is working for you, keep doing it!  If it is not, stop doing it! Or, just try it again later.  Or, seek out another resource in the same field-if you wish.  And if someone judges you for your decisions…tell them to go play a violin.  You can even tell them this big fancy Reiki Master with the marginal ability to properly operate WordPress said so. 

Day 11 – Integrated Energy Therapy with Kelly Morton

This is the second Integrated Energy Therapy (IET) session I received through the course of this blog, the first being on day 3, so for more information on what IET is and how it came about, click here.  As discussed previously, IET uses a cellular memory map and integration points on the body that are unique to this system.  I continue to be impressed by the level of insight I get when I reflect on the significance of these points, and this session did not disappoint.

My intention for the session was to deal with the apprehension I was feeling in regards to discussing my Eating Disorder, and even more directly with how Yoga had not really been the most effective thing for my recovery.  The truth is, I am very sensitive about my anorexia.  The only reason I am even doing this blog is because I’m tired of the misconceptions, distortions and falsehoods that exist in the healing arts world about Eating Disorders and many other legitimate health concerns.  The issue needs to be addressed, and I am in a position to do something about it.   That does not in any way make it easier.

(check back tomorrow for the much-anticipated piece on the subject, including an Interview with the great people of Sprout Yoga).

As Kelly worked on me, my mind was racing, and I had a hard time just chilling out and enjoying it. Even so, the thoughts passing through my mind seemed to have resolution.  I was working out in my mind how I would broach this tender subject in a way that was helpful and understanding of all sides.  I fretted that somehow, no matter how many sides of the story I showcased in a fair way, that some people in the Yoga & wellness communities would judge me.  That last part isn’t all in my head, it happens to me all the time-twice in the last month, come to think of it.  I let go of their opinions.   My final decision-if some should choose to hold on to their ignorance like a small child does their blankie, they could just go right ahead and play a violin.

At the end of the session, Kelly reported that she felt a lot of energy leave on my lower left side, which relates to emotional powerlessness.  She also reminded me of the first IET session she did on me so many months ago.  When she treated that part of my body, she had a vision of a red letter “A” surrounded by rubble, and without knowing what that side correlated to, my mind immediately went to Anorexia.  As an interesting sidebar, my first dismemberment journey had my Spirit Teacher struggling with the breaking apart of my lower left abdomen as well.  It seems to me like the session, and all the mind chatter that happened during it, really helped me to release a lot of the emotional powerlessness I feel in regards to the disease. That was pretty profound, and I am still sorting through it all now.

In the time since this session, I have had a chance to reflect on just how the harsh words and judgement from those in my community had impacted me.  About how I had let the feelings of others influence the value of the 8 long years of recovery I have behind me, and how they very easily could have affected the many years of recovery that lay ahead.  And how they may be impinging the healing of countless others.  As we’ll all see tomorrow in brutal detail, my road to recovery nearly ended three years ago while in Reiki Master training when I tried to fit myself into the mold that was put in front of me.

And just now, I realize that the correct healing world language of  “the thoughts I allowed myself to believe” and “the opinions I accepted” can be, in much its own way, highly limiting and a barrier to responsibility-but this time, on part of a practitioner or teacher.  Just as it is within ourselves as beings to reject what does not resonate with us, it is our duty as practitioners and teachers to take responsibility for the wisdom and guidance we provide for others.  Are you a healer? If so, whether you like it or not, whether you agree with it or not, your students and clients look up to you and hold in high regard what you say.  By placing upon others our ideas of what healing needs to look like, by failing to open up and accept that their path may look starkly different from our own, we do a detriment to their healing as well as ours.  We degrade their efforts while we negate our ability to learn or be inspired by their example. A tragedy on both sides.

Healing, no matter how little, is still a miracle.  Progress is sacred, and a badge of honor hard-fought for and well-earned.  So from now on if you tell me I must  “just not be ready” for your particular brand of healing, or that I should just work with you because something that failed a half-dozen times will be different THIS time, I just might tell you to go play a violin.  Don’t take it personally.  Just go.

Thank you to Archangels Ariel & Michael for their help in writing piece.  And thank you to Kelly Morton for sharing the awesomeness that is IET with myself and the City of Philadelphia.  You rock!

Kelly Morton

Thanks to Kelly Morton for this session. Kelly has been using yoga, meditation and her Zen Buddhist practice to investigate the links between emotional/mental patterns and the physical body since 2004. After experiencing Integrated Energy Therapy as a client in 2005, she was amazed at the effectiveness of the modality. She began training in IET in 2006 and is now an Instructor. She is excited to share IET with others and help them become empowered to let go of the blockages that limit their potential! You can check out Kelly’s blog paper.ink.pen, or book a session with her at Philly Community Wellness by clicking here.  To inquire about upcoming classes, email her at kel.morton@gmail.com.

Day 10 – Reiki and Crystals with Sean Jacobs

I woke up from my Reiki induced cold coma the morning of January 10, and went to the studio to let clients in for Eva’s acupuncture sessions.  I ran into Sean, who was teaching Yoga & Reiki, and he agreed to stop by my apartment for lunch and a quick Reiki trade.  Sean had preciously taken my Reiki & Crystals class previously, and had been working with stones ever since.  He has a very intuitive approach to his sessions, and will often bring along a crystal helper or two.

Today he brought Aquamarine, which I have always felt to be a gentle, supportive stone that is great for any kind of expansion work you want to do; like expanding your ideas of who you can be, places you feel comfortable, and working with ideas and systems that are foreign to you.  It’s also great for harmonious travel.    How intuitive of Sean, because pretty much all of those things fit.

I also popped my earphones in and listened to binaural beats during the session, as I had in my previous session with Sabina.  As the session began, I started to drift into spirit world, where I see my helpers and guides.  They met me right at the front, and told me not to enter today-I was still sick, and needed to rest.  “Go take care”, they said.  And with that, I drifted in and out of sleep for the next half an hour.

“Taking care” is not always something that comes naturally to me.  I am great at taking care of others, but when it comes to myself, I often neglect to even think about it.  At the height of my anorexia (basically, my entire life until about age 21/22) I viewed my body as something foreign, a thing. A belonging for me to use and abuse as I pleased.

Upset? Starve.  Sad? Go hungry.  Out of control? excercise hard, restrict food.

I can’t say that these thoughts don’t come back, they do all the time.  Literally every day.  The process of recovery for me has been about finding ways to deal with those feelings that are more constructive (and less destructive).  Having Spirit remind me to “Take care” is validating, and serves as a reminder that no work comes before my own wellbeing.  As Maggie Juliano, Founder of Sprout Yoga (who agreed to an interview with me for this blog that will be posted in the next few days) said so eloquently, what we put before our recovery we lose from our recovery.

At the end of the session I felt revitalized, slightly recuperated, and supported.  Thank you Spirit for giving me the day off

Sean Jacobs

Special thanks to Sean Jacobs for this session. Sean is the founder of Hawthorne Yoga & Reiki and Kensington Yoga & Reiki, a Reiki graduate of mine through Learn Reiki Philadelphia, and has developed Yoga & Reiki-a Yoga class that actually includes hands-on Reiki treatment while students move through the postures.  His Jacobs Healing method blends yoga, pranayama, chanting, positive affirmations, Crystals, meditation, music and Reiki as a custom service to the needs of each client.  He also offers Reiki and IET (Integrated Energy Therapy), all on affordable sliding pay scales.  You can schedule a session with him in South Philly or Kensington by emailing jacobshealing@gmail.com, or catch one of his Yoga classes at either sudio…they all start at just $5 each!  For my previous Reflexology & Reiki session on day 2 with Sean, Click Here.

Day 9 – Self Reiki Session

So by day 9, I was still fighting off that cold rather sucessfully, thanks much to the previous day’s acupuncture treatment from Eva Zeller.  Per her advice I had consumed about three cups of ginger tea and got some extra rest.  After steaming up the bathroom with a few drops of Tea Tree oil in the tub, I slathered myself in menthol ointment and went to bed.  I gave myself Reiki, mostly focusing on my head and chest, for about a half hour before falling asleep.  I slept like a rock…and man, did I ever need it!

Day 8 – Acupuncture with Eva Zeller

About three years ago, I walked into Philadelphia Community Acupuncture to get a treatment out of curiosity  with the desire to relax, and to say that the impact Community Acupuncture had on my life was profound would be an understatement.  Not only did it improve my health in ways far beyond what I thought was possible, it changed the way I viewed treating clients and the role of “practitioner” (I discussed this on Day 1 if you missed it).   Explaining exactly what is happening and how acupuncture works can be lengthy and confusing. I will do my best to explain the concepts behind this practice of Chinese Medicine that has been around for thousands of years and the principles that have laid the foundation for a myriad of other modalities from Shiatsu to Korean Reflexology (look for that one on day 13!).

The Chinese Medicine practice of Acupuncture looks at and treats the body as a whole, and understands the systems of the body in relation to one another.  When treating an illness or injury, the approach consists of striving to balance energy, or “Chi” throughout the body.  Where Western medicine may look at your digestive issue and attempt to treat, let’s say, irregularity; your Acupuncturist may look at your overall levels of energy or lethargy, your appetite, diet, activity level and more.  And when you think of it, it makes sense-what you eat effects your digestion, as much as digestion effects what you eat.  If you are not digesting well, and not eating well, you will likely be lethargic and less likely to be getting lots of physical activity and excersize…which will not exactly help you work up an appetite.  These things are related-and if one part of that puzzle is failing to work well, than the rest are not likely to either.

Chinese Medicine theorizes Chi to move through a system of channels called Meridians.  These Meridians have “points” along them that work as “gates”-a doorway if you will to that particular channel, though which intervention, i.e. treatment, can be made.  Not all Chi is the same, and in the name of keeping this explanation simple, we’ll discuss Yin and Yang.  Yin is your restorative, feminine, cool energy.  Yang is the action, male, warm energy.  So if a nap is a yin activity, a jog is a yang activity.  The goal of a healthy body is to have an even cycling between Yin and Yang energy-that is to say, the jog gets you in a position to need your nap, as much as a nap may get you rested and ready for your jog.  With me so far?

If the flow of Chi is hampered in any way, the balance may be thrown off.  And depending on where this takes place, the effects can vary. There are a number of things that can help reset the balance of Chi in your body, from physical activity to dietary change.  An Acupuncturist can stimulate the points along the Meridians with very thin sterile needles.  Some of these points are more Yin, some more Yang.  They may also incorporate things like Moxabustion, which is the burning of an herb (usually Mugwort for the super curious of you) on a point to bring more Yang (warm) energy in.  Another is the use of Cupping, in which actual cups have the oxygen burned out of them, creating a vacuum or suction to pull out or remove Yang, or heat (you will get to see this done to me on day 18!)

Getting a treatment is quite pleasant, despite what that crazy picture with all the needles would suggest.  When I worked at Philadelphia Community Acupuncture, we spoke in a whisper over what was often a chorus of snores.  It can be intensely relaxing.  What you can expect depends on your practitioner, as one on one acupuncture will often require you to disrobe in a private room, while community acupuncture will have you clothed with pants and sleeves rolled up in a large, shared space.  I find neither approach to be truly “better”, but what is required with acupuncture as opposed to many other healing modalities is regular, repeat treatments over a period of time.  One session is very rarely enough to solve an issue.  Community acupuncture offers the huge benefit of cost savings, making repeat-and therefore effective-treatment possible for many who would otherwise be unable to afford it.

Acupuncturists, like any other kind of therapists, are all a little different in approach.  Eva Zeller, who runs Hawthorne Community Acupuncture out of my own Philly Community Wellness, is also a Yoga Instructor & Wellness Coach.  I find her practice to be very spiritually based, and I know her to often recommend Yoga poses to her clients for maintenance between sessions (although not to me, as I am Yoga-Phobic).  She also prescribes Chinese herbs, which some Acupuncturists do and others do not.

On this particular day, I happened to be fighting off a cold, and rather successfully. Eva checked my pulses (there are systems of diagnoses based on the pulses!) and said to me “It feels all floaty, like your protective Chi is just working to push the virus up and out.  To help it along, I am going to just treat the top half of your body”.  After inserting the needles (yes, you feel them, but I can rarely describe the sensation as painful) I quickly fell into a deep state of relaxation, followed by sleep. I was out for about 45 minutes, and woke up feeling refreshed.

As Eva removed the needles, she suggested Ginger Tea to help support my body through the process.  All in all, this cold lasted just about 2 1/2 days-I have never been over a cold so quickly.  Just another acupuncture miracle for me!  I have experienced digestive improvements, appetite stimulation, quitting smoking and menstrual regulation in spite of a Pituitary tumor that would seemingly make that impossible.  Acupuncture is also wonderful for:

• Healing broken bones & other injuries
• Fertility, and though all phases of pregnancy from morning sickness to preparing for birth
• Pain, especially chronic pain
• Anxiety and depression
• Immune support and side effect relief for Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation
• Cervical cell changes and HPV
• Bell’s Palsy
• Weight loss
• Carpal Tunnel

And the list goes on and on.  Acupuncture is a wonderful, safe modality that can be affordable, too!  You can schedule a session with Eva by clicking here, or of you are outside of Philly, you can see Community Clinics close to you by going here.

Special thanks to Eva Zeller for this session. Eva is a nationally certified and PA-state licensed acupuncturist with a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine and a Certificate of completion in Japanese acupuncture techniques from Morinomiya College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Osaka, Japan, and a graduate of Dhyana Yoga’s Teacher Training Program. Over the past nine years she has used acupuncture to help people conquer pain, manage stress, and get pregnant. As a practitioner, Eva realizes the value of treating the whole person, and the importance of making healthcare of all kinds available to everyone regardless of income.  To schedule a session with Eva at Philly Community Wellness click here.