Healing Modalities

Joyful Path offers a variety of healing modalities through retreats, workshops, classes and individual appointments. We have resident healers who practice on a weekly basis as well as guest healers who come to practice and teach occasionally. The below modalities represent both those that are currently available as well as those that we wish to offer in the future. Contact us to find out more about a particular healing modality or view the calendar to see when the services are offered at the center.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to treat emotional disorders such as stress and anxiety as well as a wide range of other ailments. Essential oils are either inhaled, absorbed directly through the skin or in some cases ingested. Massage since oils can be used to carry fragrances while also allowing more pressure to be applied to muscles. Aromatherapy can be used to support treatment for respiratory problems, skin disorders and immune deficiencies. Many essential oils from botanical sources also have anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.

Feng Shui

Feng Shui - (pronounced "fung shway") is the ancient Chinese practice of configuring home or work environments to promote health, happiness, and prosperity. Feng shui literally means wind & water, shorthand for natural surroundings. Feng Shui consultants may advise clients to make adjustments in their surroundings - from color selection to furniture placement - in order to promote a healthy flow of 'chi', or vital energy.

Healing Touch

Healing Touch incorporates a variety of energy-based techniques to assess and treat the human energy system. Developed by Janet Mentgen, it is practiced by registered nurses and others to accelerate wound healing, relieve pain, promote relaxation, prevent illness, and ease the dying process. The practitioner uses light touch or places his or her hands near the client's body in an effort to restore balance to the client's system.

Ion Cleansing

This is a technique of body detoxification, cleansing and balancing. The client's feet or hands are immersed in an electrically conductive water bath where metal electrodes connected to a direct current power source create negative ions, which are absorbed into the body by osmosis. Using this system, cells are energized by the ions to release oils, acids, heavy metals, fats, cellular debris, and other toxins which have accumulated in body tissues and joints over a lifetime. Used properly, the Ion Cleanse provides a comfortable and relaxing way to rid the body of toxins.

Lama Healing

With higher vision, training and experience the Lama healer uses the Buddhist model of the inner energy structure to invite the individual's deepest level to heal toward perfection. Eye contact, gentle touch, or medicines made from water, butter, or other apparently simple bases, may be used. Mantra as well as the invocation of healing deities (such as Medicine Buddha) may also be used, depending on what the individual needs.

Mantra

Mantra (also known as Mantram ) is a devotional phrase that is repeated over and over to reach higher mental and spiritual states. Every mantra has an audible sound, creating sound waves of a specific resonance. When supplemented with a sincere belief and spiritual attitude, mantras are very effective in assisting healing from a profound place within.

Muscle Testing

Also known as Applied Kinesiology, the theory of muscle testing is that our bodies intuitively know what is good or beneficial for us. To access this intuitive knowledge and by-pass the rational mind a practitioner will have a client hold, touch, or taste a 'remedy' while actively resisting pressure applied to an outstretched arm for instance. After the practitioner has given the instruction, a positive response will be evidenced by strength in the muscle while a negative will be evidenced by a weakness in the muscle.

Qi Gong

Qi Gong, (Chi Kung) is an ancient Chinese exercise system that aims to stimulate and balance the flow of chi (Qi), or vital energy, along the meridians, or vital energy pathways. Derived from the ancient Chinese healing art, it combines slow movements with regulated and directed deep breathing to facilitate the movement of chi throughout the body. Qi Gong is used to reduce stress, improve blood circulation, enhance immune function, and treat a variety of health issues. Qi Gong is taught at weekend workshops and is integrated into the Inner Balance class.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi's slow, graceful weight-bearing movements provide moderate aerobic exercise that improves your balance, coordination, core strength, energy level, flexibility, mental focus, postural alignment, relaxation, and stamina - and each of these benefits apply broadly to the way we move through our days. Practice can teach us economy of effort and presence in our relationships. Medical research has found that it enhances immune function, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress, anxiety, and the joint pain of arthritis. Sometimes described as moving meditation or choreographed qigong, tai chi is both a powerful health practice and an ancient Chinese martial art.

Therapeutic Touch

Therapeutic Touch works on and above the body using a gentle and meditative process. As the practitioner channels healing energy to the client, blocked energy is dispersed and the client ultimately heals herself. This laying-on of hands technique has been used extensively by registered nurses in hospitals to nurture premature babies and to increase the recovery of some patients, including in the emergency room.

Yoga

Roughly translated as 'union', Yoga is a general term for a range of practices used to access higher consciousness and encourage physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It may include postures (asanas), controled breathing, chanting of mantras, or mental focus on a specific concept. In the West, most students learn some form of Hatha yoga. There are several schools of Hatha yoga depending on the name of a great teacher (such as Iyengar or Bikram) or style (such as Ashtanga). For more information about Yoga, visit the Alignment Yoga web site.