complementary medicine

I get so frustrated when doctors diagnose arthritis and lead people to believe that there is nothing to be done about the pain they are experiencing. Gah!

True. There is no cure for arthritis. AND that doesn’t mean that it is a sentence to hopelessness and increasing discomfort.

We’re talking about inflammation of one or more joints. It can be quite unpleasant when left untreated. But don’t despair. It’s possible to manage inflammation and to create space in joints that might be jammed together because of tension or imbalanced movement patterns.

(If you’re over 20, I can practically guarantee you have at least one imbalanced movement pattern; perhaps from an old injury that didn’t heal 100% or repetitive actions from a job or hobby.)

It’s possible to have arthritis and to minimize the resulting pain. I see it all the time and feel it in my own body. Reducing inflammation, tension and misalignment can only benefit us. Why not give it a try?

Reiki is an amazing holistic healing technique that utilizes spiritually-guided life-force energy to reduce stress and pain. Stress is a primary driver of inflammation. It stands to reason, and has been backed up by my 20+ years of experience, that minimizing stress can provide relief to inflammatory conditions.

Reiki can also help process suppressed emotions. Releasing anger, resentment, worry and grief that might be blocking the body’s energetic flow can help joint issues. And will help prevent us from tipping over into the stress zone where cortisol triggers more inflammation.

You know what doesn’t help joint issues? A diagnosis presented without hope of a remedy. It’s unclear to me why the medical establishment hasn’t grasped this fact yet. Despair feeds tension that puts greater strain on the joints.

Reducing stress and re-establishing a healthy flow of energy in the body can support the reduction of muscle tension. This encourages circulation, providing the muscles with fresh oxygen and removes cellular waste, reducing pain in the muscles which can trigger a cycle of clenching, pain, clenching and more pain. It also allows for more space in the joints.

Reiki can also support body awareness and increase access to inner wisdom, helping us to notice when we’re using poor body mechanics and guiding us to new patterns or even therapies, such as Somatics, Feldenkrais or Gyrokinesis that promote balanced, healthy movement patterns, or products that activate the body’s innate healing abilities.

It might take time to relearn how to sit, stand and move in alignment, meet with and metabolize feelings and trauma, manage stress and reduce inflammation.

This is what holistic healing looks like: addressing the causes of imbalance rather than trying to eliminate the effects while carrying on with the offending behavior. It’s possible that these causes have been developing for decades; reversing this requires some patience and self-compassion.

But with some attention, effort and consistent Reiki support, there is hope of finding greater comfort and ease in the body and peace of mind.

To me, that seems like a much better option than doing nothing and bemoaning the doctor’s verdict.

I’d be delighted to work with you if you’re interested in pursuing Reiki treatment, or massage if you’re in the Philly area. You might consider taking a Reiki 1 class and learning how to give yourself daily treatments.

If that’s not your thing, I’d encourage you to explore one of the movement therapies I listed above, an anti-inflammatory diet or some form of herbal or homeopathic support.

Most importantly, know that there is hope, as hope is one of the greatest medicines available.

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Reiki and Arthritis

I get so frustrated when doctors diagnose arthritis and lead people to believe that there is…
Aromatherapy is finally here!!

I’ve been testing and sniffing and consulting with a colleague and master aromatherapist about creating delightful essential oil blends.

They are each designed to evoke a particular physiological and emotional outcome AND smell divine.

Choose from one of the four mixes and elevate your healing experience.

Calm: lavender, bergamot, and frankincense

Ground: spruce, sweet orange, and vetiver

Uplift: tangerine, cypress, and petitgrain

Balance: lemongrass, rosemary, and geranium

Some medical conditions don’t pair well with these oils- they are pretty potent medicine and need to be treated with respect. It’s important that you share any conditions or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, with your therapist.

The special for May is a free upgrade with a 90-minute Reiki-massage if scheduled by May 31, 2024.

Prepare yourself for a next-level healing experience! I hope to offer this as an add-on for all appointment types in the future, but for now the 90-minute combo is the way to go.

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Aromatherapy Special

Aromatherapy is finally here!! I’ve been testing and sniffing and consulting with a colleague and master…
A good portion of my work is focused on helping folks with chronic muscle tension and the resulting discomfort. Let’s just say I have a fair amount of job security; thanks to the stressfulness of modern-day living there’s no shortage of tension.

I’ve learned some interesting things over the past 20+ years doing massage and Reiki in addition to finding balance in my own body.

Very frequently a protective mechanism is involved and stimulating the muscle(s) to contract. Fighting against a contracted muscle is an arm-wrestling match you can never win.

It could be the nervous system activating the reflex that attempts to ensure your survival by preparing to fight or flee. It does this by tensing the muscles in your extremities.

It could be an old injury, long forgotten, and the resulting movement pattern that continues on long past it’s helpfulness. It could be an emotional upset or energetic blockage.

What these things all have in common is that they are not effectively treated by pummeling, stretching, thumping or mashing a tense muscle.

Protective mechanisms respond to creating a sense of safety and awareness in the body. Gentle, non-invasive, non-painful touch can communicate to the part that is standing guard, hyper-vigilant and overprotective, that it’s ok to let go. Once that message is received, the muscles can relax effortlessly.

Rather than trying to force the muscles, which btw are only following orders from the nervous system, to release, in my work I go right to the command center and convince the boss that it’s time for a new strategy.

This is why a lot of DIY approaches fail. Stretching a muscle that is on high alert/lock down might feel good in the moment, but it does nothing to change the reason why the muscle is tight to begin with. Same goes for getting your GF, BF, BFF, spouse, sister or neighbor to jab an elbow into the knot.

If you’re not experiencing relief from your current approach, I’d like to suggest trying something different in order to invite different results.

Makes sense, right?

I specialize in gentle massage and Reiki treatments to reduce stress, pain and suffering. These are not your ordinary sessions! My clients report deep transformation and relaxation because I communicate with the command center rather than attempting to overpower muscles.

Book yourself an appointment and let’s get started on rewiring your nervous system and giving your muscles a break.

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A Holistic Approach to Muscle Tension and Chronic Pain

A good portion of my work is focused on helping folks with chronic muscle tension and…
Goodness, things are very challenging for a lot of people lately. It seems to me like we are being called to let go of all the crud that prevents us from fully expressing our power, creativity and compassion in the world.

Over the past few weeks, I am often reminded of the Carl Jung quote: “Free will is the ability to do gladly that which I must do.” Along with a Zen proverb: “Let go or be dragged.”

Sounds simple, right? But not always so easy. Which leads to this month’s Reiki special offer.

Five Remote Reiki sessions for the price of four.

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Reiki is a holistic energy healing modality that fosters relaxation and relieves stress and pain, freeing us up to pursue our goals. Remote treatments are received from the comfort of your own space for maximum impact, minimum effort. We have a short phone call to clarify your needs, then disconnect so I can focus on the energy. Afterwards, I follow up with an email, sharing any pertinent information.

This is double the normal package discount. My intention is to make it easier for folks to get consistent, ongoing support for the challenges they face. Many of the issues I’m seeing are deeply rooted and will require some time to shift. The packages help make that happen as commitment follows investment.

Shedding old skins, cultural conditioning, limiting belief systems, outdated coping mechanisms, releasing trauma, poor self-worth and ancestral healing are all UP these days. Reiki can help get things moving where they’d been stuck and give us the energy we need to keep going in the face of adversity.

For those of us in any kind of transition (divorce, moving, menopause, having kids, kids growing up, grieving loss), those who are beginning a new project and those who are burning the candle at both ends, some extra support and nourishment can make a huge difference. If your energy is depleted, stagnant, stuck, stale or altogether missing, Reiki can fill up the tank.

5 session packages are $400 when purchased through the end of March and good for an entire year. That’s a $100 savings compared to the one-off price and $50 less than the usual five package rate.

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March Reiki Special

Goodness, things are very challenging for a lot of people lately. It seems to me like…
2023 was a doozy of a year for me. Low back pain, which I had managed (mostly) successfully for decades, flared up, an old knee injury returned with vengeance, and I developed menopausal frozen shoulder.

It was A LOT.

As you might imagine, my daily life and mobility were severely impacted. What was surprising to me is that my go-to remedies were largely ineffective, and often exacerbated the pain.

Walking for more than 12 minutes became problematic. The one time I tested this limit, my low back and hip seized, leaving me on the sidewalk deep breathing for several minutes until I was able to slowly hobble back home. It was quite the humbling experience.

Even the gentlest yoga often triggered discomfort the next day. This frustrated me to no end- I didn’t ever do anything that hurt in the moment, but still experienced consequences afterwards.

I tried several other therapies with similar results.

And then I decided to just stop. I was going to rest and give my body time to heal. Over the course of the next six months, I was largely sedentary. As you might imagine, this wasn’t a terrific solution either. I began to lose range of motion EVERYWHERE.

Reiki kept me company through this challenging period. It provided the insight that this… episode was part of my soul’s journey. I became immersed in this revelation so much so that a new blog, A Soul’s Journey, emerged as a means to share my story.

Daily infusions of healing energy helped me to see the beliefs that were untenable and misaligned with my life purpose. I was blocking support (low back), resistant to stepping into the next phase of my life (knee) and carrying burdens that were not mine (shoulder).

I was hanging on to patterns and identities that prevented me from being fully present in each moment and clinging to coping mechanisms that ranged from outdated to destructive.

I learned a lot during this period, and I think that was the whole point. AND I still desired to be able to move more freely in addition pursuing this spiritual growth.

Somewhere along the way, my yearning for movement that wouldn’t trigger pain pointed me towards Gyrokinesis, a movement therapy I’d discovered when I lived in California. I looked for a local teacher in Philly and was unable to find an accessible, affordable solution.

I turned to the internet and found a teacher offering online classes. Skeptical that I would be able to follow the nuances of this technique via a screen, my desperation won out and I gave it a try.

Since you might not know, “The Gyrokinesis Method is a movement method that addresses the entire body, opening energy pathways, stimulating the nervous system, increasing range of motion, and creating functional strength through rhythmic, flowing movement sequences. This method coordinates movement, breath and mental focus.”

I copied this excerpt from Non Edward’s website.

I was delighted that I enjoyed the classes and felt no pain afterwards. My mobility began to return and now I can actually turn around to back up the car safely. I’m noticing a difference in my feet, legs and pelvis when I stand and realized that I’m still carrying patterns leftover from a dismal experience with bilateral plantar fasciitis 12 years ago! The pain in my feet went away, but I was still clenching and holding tension in the same ways I did to walk when every step hurt.

I addition to recommending Gyrokinesis wholeheartedly, particularly for anyone dealing with chronic pain, I’d like to give Non a round of applause. She’s incredible! She has a vast understanding of anatomy and physiology, a clear and imaginative way of communicating the exercises while simultaneously demonstrating them. She does so graciously and gracefully without ever making me feel like a bull in a china shop and manages to position herself on camera so we can see what’s happening.

This is a skill set that is quite rare! Having knowledge and being able to share it clearly and compassionately is practically unheard of; doing it via Zoom is a mastery that should be shouted from the rooftops.

Adversity, Adaptation and Gyrokinesis

2023 was a doozy of a year for me. Low back pain, which I had managed…
There are loads of reasons you might be experiencing, or teetering on the edge of, burnout.

Doing all the things without support from society or family or the workplace is a common source of depleted energy.

Chronic stress is exhausting. And insanely epidemic.

Avoiding our emotions takes an extraordinary bite out of our reserves. Consistent worry and attempts at controlling life or other people are heavy drains on our batteries.

Feeling like you’re lost and alone in a hostile world is another factor that saps energy.

These issues slowly (or not so slowly!) drain life-force over time. If it’s not replaced on a steady basis, the body, mind and spirit suffer.

I think of my life-force energy much the way I do money. I want to have more deposits than withdrawals. I want to spend wisely and curtail all waste. I want to invest in ventures that bring the greatest returns.

It sounds simple, right? Maybe. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Some obligations are non-negotiable, no matter how draining they are. Some phases of life require a hefty expenditure of energy with delayed benefits. Sometimes the perfect storm hits us out of the blue and catches us off guard.

Don’t get me started on menopause!

Many of the remedies our society points to are not helpful at all. Scrolling on social media, alcohol, binge watching trashy TV and comfort foods might bring momentary relief but don’t actually nourish us in any meaningful way.

If the problem is a deficiency of life-force energy, then deposits of the same are the only true medicine. These can come from time spent in nature, connection with uplifting people, joyful movement, creative projects, and pleasure.

Sadly, these activities might not seem accessible from the vantage point of burnout.

Which is where Reiki comes in. Reiki is a holistic healing technique that bathes the recipient in spiritually guided life-force energy and stimulates the body’s innate abilities to restore itself. It’s the easiest, safest, most powerful strategy I’ve discovered in over 25 years of exploring the journey of healing.

If you need to start making some deposits in your life-force account, look no further. To make things even easier, you have the choice of staying in your fuzzy pajamas and receiving an infusion without leaving home. Or coming to my office in your fuzzy pajamas. 🙂 No judgment here.

While I provide sessions year round, for the month of January, I’m offering 24% off all in-person and remote Reiki treatments. Book by the 31st to take advantage of this deal and get started on the road to recovery.

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Reiki for Burnout

There are loads of reasons you might be experiencing, or teetering on the edge of, burnout.…
Folks are often surprised, maybe even bewildered, at all the ways I apply Reiki in my life. Recently a Reiki 2 student commented that it seems like I’m just doing Reiki all day.

She’s right!

But probably not in the way you think. I do live in the world, same as you. I pay my bills, shop for groceries, cook my meals, brush my teeth. I have dentist appointments and get the oil in my car changed and do the laundry. So. Much. Laundry!

I have not forsaken all the usual tasks, but I do bring Reiki into them.

To me, Reiki has become a state of being rather than a task. So, when I’m on hold with the internet provider, Reiki is flowing. When I’m brushing my hair, I’m connected to the flow of life-force energy and aligning myself with its frequency. Before I put the car in drive, I pave the way forward with Reiki intentions.

This is my recipe for maintaining equanimity while dealing with whatever the world presents me. I meet each moment, turning towards whatever pops up with compassionate attention and.. yup, Reiki.

Much of the time, I’m successful. I’m still participating in this human experience and do lose my sh*t from time to time. But it’s rare, usually doesn’t last long, and I recover pretty quickly.

If full-time Reiki sounds a bit overwhelming, let me assure you that I started this journey 21 years ago with a simple daily practice. For about 15 minutes every morning, I used the traditional hand positions to fill myself up with healing energy.

Over time, my practice began to expand. I brought Reiki into the shower with me, washing my body with ki as well as soap and hot water. I brought Reiki to the yoga mat, infusing my breath and awareness with it. It came along on my meditations and walks, gushing from my open palms and surrounding me with supportive and protective energies.

Gradually it grew, seeping into more and more of my daily life. This wasn’t effort-full by any means! Once you realize you have full-time access to healing powers that help smooth the way through the rough spots and deepen the joyful moments, willingness to apply them emerges quite naturally.

I believe that committing to a daily practice is the first step for all of us. Once you get into a habit of showing up for yourself and taking time for self-compassion, self-empowerment, and self-healing, you begin to notice the rewards. And once you get familiar with the rewards, you begin to notice pretty quickly when you aren’t experiencing them and quickly want to return.

There’s nothing particularly special about me. I’m not overly motivated or assertive or ambitious. Quite the opposite! I’m just very averse to suffering and lazy enough to want the simplest, safest, easiest support system that provides amazing results with only beneficial side effects.

I was willing to devote a mere 15 minutes of my mornings to a practice that gave me full-time access. Eventually I began to take more and more advantage of this full-time access, because… why not? Why not use your superpowers all the time to help you with all the things?

If you’re already on your Reiki journey, why not take advantage of the New Year reset energies to reinvigorate your self-treatment commitment? Or consider booking a Chakra-cleanse remote Reiki (December’s special) or an in-person session if you’re in Philly.

If you have yet to be initiated into the Reiki world, join my mailing list and be amongst the first to know about upcoming classes. I’m planning to offer Reiki 1 certification training in January.

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Full-Time Reiki Activation

Folks are often surprised, maybe even bewildered, at all the ways I apply Reiki in my…
Yesterday was my day to go for a hike in the woods, but I just didn’t have the energy. I was in need of rest, but I knew that I always feel better when I spend some time outside. So I decided to go for a short walk at the arboretum in my neighborhood.

I was pleased to see a few deer grazing in the meadow. You’ll have to trust me when I say that’s what the shape below in the center is as it was too far away to get a good pic.

I was strolling about with the intent of finding a sunny bench to read my book. The spot I was thinking of was overrun with dozens of 10 year-olds on some sort of field trip and seemed very unappealing.

I tried a path I’d never been down before and a hawk popped out of the bushes just a few feet in front of me and swooped up into a nearby tree. Whoa! That made me take notice. I don’t recall ever seeing one so close and at eye level before. It must have been on the ground just off the path.

Below the tree where it perched was an empty grassy area with a few patches of sunlight. I decided that the universe had chosen an unlikely messenger to suggest that I have a seat here. I decided to lay down in the grass, realizing that earthing (the act of connecting with the ground and absorbing healing energy) was a better aligned with my needs of the day than hiking.

It’s rare for me to come into contact with the earth without rubber soles in between us. I don’t have a yard and spend most of my outdoor time on sidewalks or rocky terrain, neither of which are amendable to bare feet. It was an extra special treat to breathe fresh air, bask in the sun, and feel supported by the ground.

On my way back to the car, I saw much evidence of ground hogs and one of the critters itself. At least that’s what I think the furry thing scurrying underground was! Hard to be certain from a distance. I finally did find a bench in the sun as was able to spend some quality time with a novel in the great outdoors.

I’m so glad I didn’t push myself to do my scheduled activity or abandon my nature therapy altogether. I’m even glad for the bus load of rowdy kids who steered me in a different direction so I was available to be ushered by a hawk to a different form of nature therapy.

It was a wonderful two hours and a lesson to be willing to adapt my plans to suit my needs and the resources available. And a reminder that many of the best things in life are free if we only pay attention.

Thank goodness for getting rerouted

Yesterday was my day to go for a hike in the woods, but I just didn’t…
Last week a potential client asked me what my success rate was.

Ummmm…

I really had to give that some thought! I am 100% successful at delivering Reiki and/or massage to the clients who request it.

But that obviously wasn’t what she was looking for. She wanted to know how many of my clients were relieved of their symptoms, but that’s not a question I can accurately answer. I’d estimate that 95% of the time, people feel better when they leave my office. What happens after that is generally out of my hands.

Imagine you were seeking treatment for insomnia. Reiki and massage are both fabulous at calming the nervous system so people can fall asleep more easily and stay asleep. I can do my very best work, you’d feel calm and rested when we parted, but you could go home and drink a pot of coffee before bedtime. You probably won’t sleep very well, but you still received many of the wellness benefits anyway.

Holistic healing is a lot like not drinking a pot of coffee before bed. Or getting out of debt by curtailing spending and taking up a side job. All of our choices are affecting our progress.

My clients who switch to decaf after lunch experience tremendous results. Those who rely solely on me while continuing to drink coffee at bedtime get temporary relief.

There’s no judgment here. Anybody can get a session and feel better. Those who want to continue feeling better work with me. We become a detective team, exploring the options that they face every day to pursue or decline wellness.

Success rate? Here’s a more accurate question, one I wasn’t quick enough to express on that phone call. Are you willing to adapt your behavior and make healthier choices that support your goals? Your response is directly correlated to the success rate you can expect. And my services will mostly definitely support you in the process.

Whether or not you’re wanting to participate in your wellness pursuit, gentle massage and Reiki treatments can promote vitality, peace, calm, creativity, and health. Schedule a session without any guilt or shame about your habits. We don’t have to discuss anything you don’t want to!

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Success Rate of Healing Treatments?

Last week a potential client asked me what my success rate was. Ummmm… I really had…