Living Touch

Shiatsu originates in Japan and can be described as a finger pressure massage that uses fingers and palms to apply pressure to Shiatsu points throughout the body. The location of the Shiatsu points and the effect of the pressure on them is based on an understanding of bodily functions according to Western anatomy and physiology, and not according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM. By applying pressure to these points, the body’s natural healing ability is enhanced and the progression of disease is prevented.

Rolfing, also known as structural integration, is a system of connective tissue manipulation and movement education that is believed to release stress patterns, improve health, and help us to move and function with greater freedom. Rolfing was developed in the 1950s by Dr. Ida Rolf, a biochemist who was influenced by physical therapy, osteopathy, and yoga.

Gabrielle Roth is an internationally renowned theater director, philosopher and artist who has developed her own form of ecstatic dance, the five rhythms dance. She herself calls her dance technique „The dancing path“ and describes it as a moving meditation and as a shamanic journey. According to her, there are five sacred rhythms which are the essence of the body: flowing, staccato, chaos, lyric, and stillness. These rhythms make up the whole of our experience and are reflected in each of our actions and emotions.

Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis to bring about benefical changes. The term „hypnosis“ is derived from the Greek word „hypnos“ which means „sleep“, although hypnosis is not sleep, but rather a state of deep relaxation or trance. Hypnotherapists utilize that trance to treat numerous medical and psychological problems. While in a trance-like state, the unconscious mind is highly receptive to new ideas, and positive suggestions are used to help a client make desired changes in their lifes.

Qigong is an ancient Chinese health care system that involves physical postures, motion, breathing techniques, and mental focus. The term Qigong is made up of the Chinese words „qi“ meaning breath or vital energy, and „gong“ meaning accomplishment, or skill that is achieved through steady practice. Qigong therefore means to cultivate one’s energy or life force through practice.

Reiki is a Japanese form of spiritual healing that is believed to treat physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual diseases. It is performed by laying on of hands and is based on the believe that practitioners are guided by a universal spirit and act as a channel for energy that flows through their palms to heal others.

The Alexander technique is a way of learning how to overcome harmful tension in our body. It is a practical method for improving ease and freedom of movement, balance, support, and coordination. It can be seen as a reeducation of the mind and body, rather than a series of treatments or exercises. It teaches discovery of a new balance in the body by releasing unnecessary tension. It can be applied to sitting, standing, lying down, walking, or any other daily activity.

Behavioral Kinesiology was developed by John Diamond based on the philosophy of Applied Kinesiology. Each muscle is believed to be related to a particular organ, but a special focus is put on the thymus gland that plays a key role in regulating a person’s psychic energy. The degree of stress under which a patient is functioning is assessed and a rebalancing of the body energy is facilitated by showing the patient how to reduce stress and how to correct emotional attitudes.

Applied Kinesiology is an alternative medical practice developed by chiropractor George J. Goodheart in 1964. People’s illnesses are assumed to be caused by improperly balanced energy fields in the body and they are diagnosed by testing the strength of muscles, each of which is believed to be connected to a different organ. Problems are treated with particular types of muscle massages that are believed to release blockages and stimulate energy flow and thus heal the patient.

Salt is essential for us as it helps to balance the highly complex water and salt metabolism within our body. Over the last few years, publications on so called „Himalayan Salt“ emerged, rapidly spreading across the Western world. Himalayan salt was claimed to come from the high mountain regions of the Himalayas and was said to contain „84 elements essential to human health“, that it had „marvelous healing energies“ and was „untouched by human contamination“.

Compared to Western medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with its history of thousands of years, is something completely different. While Western medicine mainly treats symptoms, TCM understands the body as an integrated whole and disease is seen as an imbalance within the body.