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If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. - Tao Te Ching
Even though it's been said that the only thing constant is change, many of us still worry, fear and even dread it. The unknown can pull us out of our comfort zone into a new, unfamiliar territory perhaps filled with many unexpected and even abrupt changes. Intuitively we know that going with the flow is the easiest and happiest approach to life. Yet something prevents us from completely letting go, trusting and surrendering to life's exquisite beauty and movement – along with its accompanying changes.
Meridian-energy therapies like Shiatsu and the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) have at their core the essence of going with the flow. Everyone has twelve main meridians that flow like ocean currents or rivers within us. They light up and nourish all facets of our being including our physical body as well as our emotional, mental and spiritual body.
Meridians are like our personal access to the "ultimate river of life." They carry and distribute within us that vital life force known as chi or ki, which permeates and flows through everything. Ensuring our meridians are flowing unobstructed and to their optimum efficiency is key to living a life free from emotional and physical pain as well as being able to embrace joyfully the changes that life brings.
Both Shiatsu and EFT are excellent tools to help us surrender, go with the flow and live life to our deepest potential. So what exactly is Shiatsu? Imagine the healing benefits of acupuncture combined with the joy of massage and you begin to understand the relaxing, renewing, energizing effects of Shiatsu. Unlike the acupuncturist who uses needles to remove blocks impeding the meridian's flow, the Shiatsu practitioner uses the exquisite sensitivity of her hands. Both giving and receiving Shiatsu are
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pleasurable experiences. Using palms, fingers and thumbs, comfortable pressure is applied to the body along the pathways through which energy travels. Some of the common conditions Shiatsu helps are back pain, digestive and menstrual problems, stress and anxiety, migraines, joint pain, depression and addictions.
EFT, another meridian-energy therapy, is a wonderfully simple technique that stimulates well-established meridian points on your body by tapping on them with your fingertips. It is based on the premise that the cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system. And because our physical pains and diseases often appear to be connected to our emotions, Gary Craig, the founder of EFT, also states that our unresolved negative emotions are major contributors to most physical pains and diseases.
Using EFT with children for everything from anger, trauma and bedwetting to fears, behavior problems and pain is especially gratifying because of its quick success rate. I have had great success with this approach particularly with children who have self-confidence, anxiety and fear-based issues. This technique can be very helpful for some children who have trouble transitioning back into the school year. (With an 80% success rate, it works for adults too!)
We were born with the ability to go with the flow. It is our nature. Meridian-energy therapies like Shiatsu and EFT merely help us restore our natural ability to joyfully ride the waves of life, go with the flow and embrace life's many changes.
Joan D'Argo, a Reiki Master, is a certified practitioner of Asian Bodywork Therapy with a focus on Zen and Quantum Shiatsu. She also incorporates the Emotional Freedom Technique with clients, especially children, when useful. She lives in Traverse City and can be contacted at 231.620.1713 or joan@oryana.coop |
