Revisiting The Energy in Healing

After a very hectic few months I have started to focus on healing myself again before my baby comes. I am 7 months pregnant with my first and have been warned over and over again to take care of myself now because it will not happen again for a long time. I decided to restart Dalahare healing, which has always given me wonderful results. They are at BODY every Monday. It also made me think of an article I wrote some months back about energy work. If you haven't read it, I hope it gives you some insight to all the different forms of healing we have to offer.

-Kendra

As printed in the September 2008 Sun Monthly

The Energy in Healing

Santa Fe has a worldwide reputation for being a healing destination. In addition to having one of the highest number of massage therapists per capita, the city also offers a variety of experiences that go beyond spa massage by offering services that create healing. I have met many people who have moved here specifically to practice healing work and to work on healing for themselves.
Energy work is one the numerous types of healing that are offered in Santa Fe. Practitioners use less-familiar terms such as qi, chakras, auras and energy fields to describe the health and inner flow of our bodies. Many types of energy work — such as Reiki, qigong, shiatsu, Seimei (meaning “vital life force”) and polarity therapy — are based on Eastern philosophies and have been around since the early 20th century. Other practices, such as tantric or pranic healing, are based on ancient Hindu beliefs and have been used for centuries. In addition to these practices, newer forms of energy work have evolved such as Dalahare, a stress-relief and healing methodology developed by notable healer Launi Hansen 15 years ago with the assistance of a scientist and physicist.
The concept of energy work is that we are all made up of energy that constantly ebbs and flows. In Chinese medicine it is called qi, pronounced “chee.” Some relate it to the blood that flows through our veins and the breath that fills our lungs. When we become stressed or ill, this creates a blockage. The energy stops flowing through the body correctly, leading to illness, stress and fatigue. Benefits from energy work differ for each person, but can include relief from tension, pain and stress; the release of stored physical, emotional and mental trauma; better food and vitamin absorption; and increased support of the immune system. The principle is that when we are relieved of stress, we can heal ourselves. Launi hansen states of dalahare, ''its about spiritual harmony and also creating emotional freedom in the physical body which enhances healing.'' she also states quite simply that ''the goal of dalahare is to establish a deeper peace and greater understanding of self''.
In energy work, the hands of the practitioner either do not touch or are gently laid on the body, and usually the client is fully clothed. It is a wonderful option for someone who may feel uncomfortable getting undressed for a massage. The practitioner moves his or her hands over the body part that requires healing or may follow a set pattern of movement to get the energy flowing throughout the body. Qigong works a little differently from other forms of energy healing: instead of lying on a table, individuals move their own body in positions similar to those of tai chi.
These forms of healing can come across a little on the unconventional side to someone who has never had the experience, but the results can be undeniable. I spoke with someone who practices shiatsu, and she said that after giving a treatment to people, she often notices drastic differences in their appearance: their shoulders drop and their skin looks plumper. “The most amazing thing is when they notice that their shoulders have dropped, they haven’t even been aware they were holding them in a tightly raised position.”
I was skeptical in the past, but personal experience has led me to highly recommend energy work. There are some elements that are hard to explain because the experience is unique to each person. The first time I experienced Dalahare, for example, I had no idea what to expect. What I found was that I went into an almost trancelike state, that point where you are just about to fall asleep, but are still conscious. I felt a slight tingling sensation. Afterward, it felt like I was floating in a dream and was the most relaxed I have ever been in my life.
Getting the best results with energy work requires some ongoing treatment, so it is best to work with someone with whom you feel comfortable. There is no quick fix for anything, though some people feel wonderful after just one treatment. Take advantage of all the opportunities we have in Santa Fe and give energy work a try. The results may amaze you.