The Healing Arts
Massage Therapy
Yoga
Meditation
Reiki
Ayurveda
 Massage Therapy
Mental & Physical
Benefits of Massage
Massage is one of the oldest and
simplest of all the medical treatments. Everybody can
benefit of regular massage, men women or kids of any
age.
Massage creates a calm state of
alertness while reducing stress and helps us to achieve
a higher sense of well being. Massage improves blood
circulation, flexibility, and aids in stress relief. It
also releases muscle tension, pain, and reduces physical
fatigue. Massage promotes the elimination of toxins,
reduced blood pressure, and improves posture and body
awareness.
The HEALING●MIND●BODY
INSTITUTE
is happy
to offer you all these different healing modalities:
Swedish Massage
A blend of Lomi-Lomi, body mobilization
techniques, reflexology and breathing. Pressure of the
techniques depend on the recipient.
The massage
will bring peace, tranquility and serenity. The flowing
techniques instill a deep release of the physical as
well as mental tension in the body.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue is slow therapeutic work using deep pressure to constricted
areas, usually tendons, fascia, and muscle attachments. Deep Tissue,
a.k.a. neuro-muscular, massage is helpful for clients suffering
from injury, chronic stress and/or pain, and lack of flexibility.
Zen Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a Japanese technique based on energy
circulation. Rhythmic pressure is applied along meridian
lines to clear blocks in energy pathways. Pressure
points and dynamic lengthening of your muscles are used
in this ancient acupressure massage. The therapist will use pressure, tapping, and stretching
to balance the body's natural energy. Zen Shiatsu blends Tai
Massage,
Bali Massage, and also includes Yoga. Zen Shiatsu eases pain, deeply relaxes
body and mind, and strengthens the immune system,
bringing
about an overall feeling of well-being.
Sports Massage
Sports Massage is performed immediately before or after stressful
activity. It is designed to help athletes achieve optimal performance
results and reduce common injuries caused by poor flexibility and
fatigued muscles.
Pregnancy Massage
A royal treatment for expecting mothers. A
soothing and highly relaxing massage. Performed while
side-lying, specially trained therapists will access the
entire body without compromising comfort of the mother
or baby. Special attention is given to lower back and
legs. Recommended after the first trimester.
Stone Therapy
River stones are heated and used to massage,
heal and relax sore areas of the body. Experience the
combination of hot rocks, massage and aromatherapy. The
healing properties of the warm stones deliver a more
centered, deeper level of relaxation that stays with you
long after the massage is completed.
Reflexology
This technique is based on the principle that
there are areas - "reflex points" - on the feet and
hands that correspond to each of the internal organs,
glands and structure in the body. By working these
reflexes, the reflexologist will reduce tension all over
your body.
Couples Massage
Drift away and peel away the layers of stress
with that special someone in your life.
Four Hands
Massage
Two therapists work in unison with synchronous
hands and arms flowing over your body so seamlessly that
your mind does not register individual strokes. Mental
chatter disappear...an extraordinary experience.
In addition to Massage Therapy we also offer the
following Body Treatments that exfoliate and moisturize
the skin:
Body Treatments
Our body treatments are performed with Essential
Oils, Shea Butter, Sea Kelp, Apricot, Sugar Glow, Green
Tea, Soy Milk.
YOGA
Introduction to Yoga
Yoga is
a fusion of physical, mental, emotional, therapeutic and
spiritual sense of harnessing oneself to the Sacred. Since all things return to the source, we seek union
with that. Benefits include freedom from the
known, inner peace, meditation and unconditioned awareness.
The five points of yoga; proper exercise - asana, proper
breathing - pranayama, proper relaxation - sayasana,
proper diet - healthy, meditation - dhyana.
Classically the four yoga's;
bhakti - devotion, jnana -
knowledge, raja concentration, karma - action.
Yoga mirrors our lives. A journey and
movement involving three stages. A place to begin.
Choosing of our destination. The effort to arrive.
There
are eight limbs that correspond to the path, also known as Ashtanga.
1. Yama (self control)
2. Niyama (observance of virtues)
3. Asana (postures)
4. Pranayama (control of breath)
5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the mind)
6. Dharana (concentration)
7. Dhyana (meditation)
8. Samadhi (liberation, self realization)
Teachings inspired by
T. Krishnamacharya, Sarada Devi. Sri Nisargadatta
Maharaja, Krishnamurti, Dalai Lama, Thich Naht Hanh,
Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Lao-tzu, Bruce Lee and
Buddha.
We are on a
mission of the Sacred.
"Whether we
want to touch our toes or reach God. There must be
movement. This movement is yoga". A.G. Mohan
Daniel is Instructor of Classical Patanjali
Ashtanga Yoga.
His yoga lessons are a unforgettable
experience!
"Empty your cup, so it can be filled again"
MEDITATION
Man, in order to escape his conflicts,
has invented many forms of meditation. These have
been based on desire, will & the urge for achievement &
imply conflict and a struggle to arrive. This
conscious, deliberate striving is always within the
limits of a conditioned mind and in this there is no
freedom. All effort to meditate is the denial of
meditation. Meditation is the ending of thought.
It is only then that there is a different dimension
which is beyond time. Freedom is pure observation
without direction, without fear of punishment or reward.
Freedom is found in the choiceless awareness of our
daily existence and activity.
For cultivation of the mind at
HEALING●MIND●BODY
INSTITUTE
we illustrate the teachings of; Taoism, Zen,
Vedas, J. Krishnamurti & K.Gilbran. Our
Institute we offer a variety of meditation classes, workshops and seminars. We are proud to be
affiliated to the Vedanta Society of Southern California
and
Ramakrishna Monastery in
Trabuco Canyon
where
Swamis discuss topics including the Vedas, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Upanishads, unity
of life and consciousness.
"When wishes are few, the heart is happy.
When desire ends, there is peace". Buddha
"The true profession of man is to find
his way to himself". Siddhartha
"Start by doing what is necessary, then
what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the
impossible". St. Francis of Assisi.
REIKI
What
is Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese word which means "Universal
Life Energy". Reiki is a technique for stress
reduction and relaxation that promotes healing.
It is simple and direct, can be done at any time
or place, requires no equipment, and is in all
of us. Every one is born with the natural
instinct for healing. It is this energy that
emanates from the hands of a Reiki practitioner.
Reiki is used to promote a balance of energy by
"tapping in" to the client's chakra's and
attuning the meridians by "laying on of hands."
This system is available to anyone who seeks
freedom from pain and a desire to be whole.
AYURVEDA
Ayurveda, the
science of life and self-healing, has its roots in India, dating back to
more than 5,000 years.
Ayurveda teaches us to become familiar with our individual Prakruti,
or inborn constitution. It also believes that each one of us has three bodies: physical, subtle, and causal. In order for changes
to occur, one has to actively seek changes not only at the physical
level, but also at the mental and emotional level. Ayurveda empowers
you with tools to make changes at all levels. These tools are:
understanding of your constitution (prakruti), your ideal daily routine,
types of foods and food combinations, exercise, yoga, and meditation. It
also uses Five Sense Therapy i.e. taste (food and herbs), touch (massage),
sounds (mantras and music), smell (aroma), and sight (color), along
with some cleansing and rejuvenation therapies.
"om mani padme hum"
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The Tao of
Massage Therapy and Martial Arts
By Daniel French
August 1997
published in Probe Magazine, summer 1998
For me, the Tao is a way
of living in balance. The energy used in martial arts known as Chi, is the
life force that runs in all of us. My experiences as a martial artist the
last ten years led me to massage therapy as a way to balance, and come in
touch with, Chi. This article integrates the use of massage therapy into
martial arts. The use of energy in massage is the same as in meditation
and in martial arts. But the application is just a little different!
 There is a fundamental
philosophical difference between eastern and western medicine. In western
culture, modern medicine and science are primarily designed to deal with
pathologies of the body after they happen. For example, when we get a
headache, we are told by our doctors to take a couple of aspirin. I'm
suggesting another approach with a more integrated view, incorporating
both preventative and therapeutic practices from the east. I propose that
since we are already immersed in western culture, we should start to look
to other methods of healing the body. Using the quote from Guro Dan
Inosanto, "Absorb what is useful and disregard what is not." The goal is
optimum health. Find what path works best for you.
If you statistically look at our population
in the U.S., you will find that only 15% of the population exercises on a
regular basis and over 30% of our population is overweight. In contrast,
millions of Chinese get up every morning, go to the park, and practice Tai
Chi and Chi Gong. Just take into account how long modern western medicine
has been around - say 300 years. In China, the use of medicinal herbs and
acupressure have been around since the I-Ching, also known as the book of
changes, written over 4000 years ago. In Tibet or China, their approach is
to be in balance with their bodies by using meditation and Chi Gong. The
goal is being healthy and mindful of your own body. Sure they have doctors
in China, but their role is like that of a teacher pointing the way to a
healthier life.
Of the hundreds of martial arts from many
different countries, some are internal martial arts, while others are
external. The difference between the two lies in the cultivation of the
Chi. In internal systems like Tai Chi, Chi Gong, yoga, and different forms
of meditation, focus is on the nature of Chi in our bodies. External
martial arts like Karate and Thai boxing emphasize sending their Chi
outside their body. Of course I am generalizing and there are many
overlapping elements. Both internal and external martial arts are directly
correlated to healing modalities like Reiki, Shiatsu, and massage.
Learning anatomy and becoming a massage
therapist over the past two years has given me a refreshed perspective
towards how to view life as a therapist and a martial artist. One major
point is that you don't have to suffer and live in pain. There are
alternatives such as education and self care. The remainder of this
article explains how fellow martial artists can treat injuries and learn
self care exercises. Whether you are a practitioner, instructor, or
therapist, simple self care exercises will lead you on the path of self
discovery and renewal.
As martial artists, injury prevention is of
the utmost importance. But in order to prevent injuries, we have to know
what injury is and how to work with it. I will focus on muscle trauma and
strains. First, I will briefly discuss some basic anatomy to explain what
body parts are affected in certain injuries. Then, I will describe various
levels of injury severity, and self care practices to prevent and recover
from such injuries.
For a brief overview, tendons attach muscle
to bone, while ligaments attach bone to bone. Depending on the injury and
what structure is involved; bone, muscle, tendon, or ligament, the
rehabilitation will vary. Bones generally heal within eight weeks, but if
a muscle is torn or a tendon strained, the recovery time is much longer.
When trauma occurs to an area of the body,
such as a Thai kick to the thigh or a joint lock, inflammation may result.
There are three stages of inflammation; acute, subacute, and chronic. The
acute stage lasts up to 48 hours after the injury. During this time, the
tissues are inflamed. Clinical symptoms are pain, heat, redness, swelling,
and dysfunction. The area cannot be worked on by a massage therapist, but
I would suggest very light feather strokes superficially on the skin
surface to stimulate blood flow, thereby speeding up the healing process,
and to assist you in visualizing the area being healed. The protocol to
apply during this stage is called R.I.C.E.; Rest, Ice, Compression, and
Elevation.
The next stage of inflammation is the
sub acute stage which lasts from 48-72 hours after the injury. The tissues
of the body are repairing and healing themselves with collagen, which is
like cement. Symptoms include pain, dysfunction, and swelling, resulting
in compromised technique. Massage treatment would include R.I.C.E. and
circulatory strokes to decrease the swelling and increase circulation. You
may want to increase your activity significantly during this period so as
not to interrupt your training, but I recommend that you try to take it
easy for another couple of days after the initial acute stage has passed.
It took you a couple of days before you could walk normally after
receiving that Thai kick. Give your leg a couple of more days before you
start sparring on it.
The chronic stage of inflammation begins 72
hours after the injury has taken place. The tissues' response at this time
will be maturation and remodeling through connective tissue. The symptoms
are pain and dysfunction, both of which decrease over time as you
gradually increase your activity until healing is complete.
Depending on the severity of the injury, as
the healing starts to take place and the inflammation has reached the
chronic stage, the body sends fibroblasts to compensate for the injury.
Fibroblasts form scar tissue and adhesions. Once that occurs, the muscle
will have a decreased range of motion. This is where massage therapy helps
a great deal by reducing the formation of scar tissue and adhesions,
thereby maintaining range of motion. Once an injury has reached the
chronic stage the tissue response can be realigned in the proper
direction. Because our body's cells have cellular memory, therapies like
massage, shiatsu, and reiki help injured tissues "remember" their
pre-injury state. Massage also stimulates the circulatory system, helping
blood flow reach the injured area taking away the toxins resulting from
trauma and making way for fresh oxygenated blood.
Another basic type of martial arts injury is
muscle strain or tear. There are three levels of muscle strain. In a level
1 tear, a portion of the muscle fibers is torn, which will lead to a minor
loss of function in the muscle. An example would be when my Tae Kwon Do
master overstretched my hamstring. In massage therapy, use R.I.C.E and
light strokes over the area. With a level 1 tear, you may limp for a
couple of days, but heal relatively quickly. A level 2 tear indicates that
50% of the muscle fibers are torn, which leads to edema, a swelling of the
tissues, and a loss of function. Simple tasks such as walking cause
considerable pain. Rehabilitation calls for referral to a medical doctor
in addition to R.I.C.E. application. A level 3 tear refers to 100% of the
muscle being torn, which results in total loss of function and is very
painful. You cannot walk, and it hurts even while at rest. The therapy
approach is the same as a level 2 with a evaluation from a medical doctor
and R.I.C.E. Failure to obtain medical treatment may result in permanent
dysfunction.
Granted, the majority of us are not grounded
in our bodies like a Tai Chi master. But by getting in touch with
ourselves, and listening to what our bodies are telling us, we can use
massage as a form of self care. Learning a few tools from massage can help
anyone if they're open to it. I will discuss two basic massage techniques,
compression and cross fiber friction.
The most basic stroke in massage and Shiatsu
is compression, and can be performed on yourself or a partner. Compression
increases blood flow to the area being worked on and allows muscle fibers
to be spread, making the muscle more pliable. Using the palm of your hand,
slowly exert pressure down on the muscle. When compressing your own muscle
be creative and pretend you are making pizza dough. Feel the compression
stroke. Compression is useful to effectively loosen and relax muscles
after training or competition.
The other massage technique I will discuss
is cross fiber friction. Muscles and tendons should be in a relaxed
position prior to application. Before doing cross fiber friction,
thoroughly warm the tissues involved with light to moderate massage
strokes. The area is sufficiently warm when it becomes red, signifying
increased blood flow in the various layers of connective tissue. Cross
fiber friction is applied across the direction in which the muscle fibers
run. Muscle fibers can be compared to the grain in a piece of wood. For
lengthening muscle fibers, apply massage strokes in the direction of the
muscle fibers. Cross fiber friction is applied across the muscle "grain."
Cross fiber friction prevents extensive fibroblast formation in soft
tissue injuries, which results in healthier, more efficient muscle tissue.
You do not have to have trauma to the body as a prerequisite to a massage.
But if you do have an injury, apply the technique deeply enough to
penetrate the trauma site.
For other martial artists and athletes, as
well as other healing practitioners, I would suggest learning as much as
possible about other healing modalities like Shiatsu, Reiki, Chi Gong, as
well as other forms of massage. Don't just sit there and wait to be
healed, learn how your body works. Just like in Asia, a lot of the top
martial artists are also healers and doctors. For me, martial arts,
massage, and other healing modalities lead to the same place. We are
dealing with the body's energy, but just using it differently.
What does martial arts and massage mean to
me? I view these arts like a tree with many decorative branches. Some of
the branches are health, vitality, strength, and flexibility. Other
branches are philosophies like Buddhism, Taoism, and Zen. For me, as a
healer and as a martial artist, the branches are interrelated. One should
cultivate all of the branches within reach, and development of one branch
enhances the health of the other branches, and the tree as a whole.
I believe the mind and body are one. Our
path leads to self awareness, first on the physical level, then mentally,
emotionally, and finally spiritually. Remember, the path is the goal. With
mindfulness and an open heart, we can learn to live in balance and
harmony, with others and ourselves.
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"Daniel is
a dedicated seeker of knowledge, I highly recommend him to anyone who
wishes to grow."
-Zen Shiatsu Master
Instructor - Randal Cummings, Chicago, IL
" Daniel takes to Yoga like
a duck to water."
Senior Iyengar
Instructor - Peggy Kelly, Austin, TX
HEALING●MIND●BODY
INSTITUTE
Daniel & Marisa French
Classes in Orange County, Encinitas, San Diego
phone 949-302-9315 or
619-599-3276
daniel@movingmindbody.com
marisa@movingmindbody.com
Healing Mind Body Institute
P.O. Box 231816
Encinitas, California
92023-1816
- U.S.A.
Watch
HEALING●MIND●BODY
weekly throughout Southern California. In Los Angeles ch 34, Orange
County ch 6, ch 95 and ch 98.
DVD's now
available call for info!
Correspondence courses available!
Available:
- Group Classes
- Private lessons
- Seminars
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