January 29, 2010

Healing Arts for Haiti

Mending Hands is heading to the Healing Arts for Haiti  event on Friday, February 12th at the Grand Hyatt Ballroom near Grand Central Station in NYC. This amazing event is being organized by the co-founder of the famed Oasis Day Spa. They are bringing together fellow therapists and practitioners to offer New Yorkers some de-stressing treats, and EVERY penny raised is going to Haitian relief via UNICEF.

Click below to see the fab treatments - No appointment needed, just walk up and relax!

January 25, 2010

The Lung Meridian


Contributed by Sarah 

The main function of the Lung meridian is to intake Qi (pronounced chi or ki)  known as Life Force Energy. The Lung meridian is the meeting place of Gu Qi (energy from food) and Ta Qi (energy from breath) These form Zong Qi (Gathering Qi). The Lung meridian also Governs Respiration by taking in Ta Qi as air and eliminating “dirty Qi” (ie. CO2). The Lung meridian is also the House for the Corporeal Soul - The Po. This is considered the spirit of the Here and Now. If there is a feeling of loss of connection with your physical body, sensations and movements - a loss of connection to your pulse of life -  the Lung meridian may be a great place to start with holistic help.

Interestingly enough, I myself have a chest cold. I was just sitting here, writing this entry, coughing, wheezing, and clutching my cup of tea like me life depends on it. The Lung connection literally just hit me going through these signs and symptoms. I have been feeling detached physically, not really feeling in the here and now. It’s incredible to me, how all things are connected. It’s something that has really solidified in my mind while going through these Shiatsu courses. Not only does it help to understand what is going on physically and emotionally within yourself, but it can also help you understand others. What might be going on with them as a whole, causing them to act a certain way.

Other signs and symptoms that may present themselves if there is an imbalance in the Lung Meridian or the lung organ are as follows:

January 15, 2010

Helping a Friend and Her Family in Haiti

*Updated 1/25/2010

GREAT NEWS!

I know that most of you have been keeping up with the extreme tragedy in Haiti. There are many organizations that are collecting donations and finding ways to help. Mending Hands is joining this cause with a more personal recipient.

A dear friend of mine and fellow third semester student at the Swedish Institute needs our help. She is from Haiti, and had just came back from the holidays to finish her Massage Therapy degree -  leaving all of her family and fiancĂ© in the hardest hit city of Port-au-Prince.

January 12, 2010

What is a trigger point?

Trigger points are discrete, hyper-irritable spots located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. They produce pain locally but that's not all! Unlike a more simple adhesion, when addressed - trigger points activate pain in a different area of the body. This is called referred pain. The pattern of referred pain, while not identical from person to person, is extremely consistent across each one of us. Trigger points can be the result of many things, a physical trauma (like an injury or accident) or by an unhealthy repetitive use of muscles that cause great stress in the body. Such as improper sleeping positions, carrying a purse on the same shoulder every day, even muscles used to maintain our every day posture! (muscles in the back, neck, shoulder and hips for example) Certain kinds of visceral diseases or even emotional distress can leave the individual more prone to have trigger points.

January 06, 2010

Spa Scoop: Shizuka New York Day Spa


Shizuka New York Day Spa has been pin pointed in the elite spa world for The Geisha Facial -  it's one of a kind skin treatment that uses powdered nightingale droppings...but I'm here to tell you, that what they really blew me away with was their perfect combination of both Swedish and Shaistu. Shizuka New York Day Spa's "Movement Cure" celebrates the blend of Eastern and Western styles in a very inspirational way.

January 04, 2010

The Classes: Part III


Rumor has it that the third semester of Massage Therapy Training at the Swedish Institute is the most difficult - do you think this line up has anything to do with it?

Pathology I
Pathology II
Applied Topics in Anatomy and Physiology
Assessment of Soft Tissue
Advanced Western Techniques
Shiatsu II with Eastern Evaluation
Clinical Internship II - Shiatsu
Off-Site Internship

Professional Development Education:
Working with Clients with Histories of Trauma & Abuse
Maintaining Rapport with Clients

Wish me luck :-)

January 01, 2010

Monthly Essentials: January


In the season of colds & flu, bronchitis & fevers -  the first Monthly Essential of 2010 is a classic holistic plant from down under: Eucalyptus

Did you know that not only has this plant helped to clear airways for generations, but it heals wounds, deters insects and has been known to prevents the spread of infections, cholera, measles, malaria, scarlet fever and typhoid?

There are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus and here's a list of ways this plant can assist  many ailments.