?Rolfing Abdomen for Expectant Mothers
Posted on November 3, 2009
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Now that people are learning about the beneficial effects of Rolfing, it is becoming a trend for women to have Rolfing abdomen before becoming pregnant. Yes, women who are planning to get pregnant decide that Rolfing abdomen before getting pregnant will allow for an easier pregnancy. Much stress is put upon the uterus, the connective tissues of the pelvic area and the back. Stretching the fascia of this area will help the body grow with the child and remain balanced to her center of gravity.
The woman’s center of gravity is in her pelvis; and once she becomes pregnant her center of gravity changes somewhat. Rolfing takes place from head to foot with emphasis to the pelvic and abdominal region. With pregnancy comes weight gain. Many women gain more than 20 pounds in their pregnancy, though 20 pounds is what is considered normal weight gain in pregnancy. A common complaint in pregnancy is low back pain, and this is understandable, because for every pound gained is 10 pounds of force put on the vertebral discs. Now multiply that by 20 pounds gained in pregnancy, and that equals a whopping 200 pounds of force exerted against the low back. It is understandable that she is in pain much of her later months in pregnancy. Rolfing abdomen can help the connective fascia in the pelvis and abdomen maintain elasticity, so that there is not so much pulling against the core of the body, which is the back.
As the baby grows inside the mother’s womb, she grows heavier in the front, then to compensate, her posture changes and her buttocks protrude from the back to help balance her. Her center of gravity moves down toward her hips and buttock area to keep her from falling forward. As she grows her gait changes when she walks and she waddles, which is due to changes in the connective tissue that covers and supports her whole body. Rolfing abdomen helps to center the mind and body.
Rolfing abdomen during pregnancy is beneficial because the mother’s body changes very quickly. Rolfing abdomen prior to conception and during the pregnancy, is beneficial to both the expectant mother and baby. Rolfing abdomen during the post partum period helps the mother’s body come back into balance quicker. The increased circulation secondary to the Rolfing sessions helps the post pregnancy hormones return to normal. Rolfing abdomen techniques assists the mother to regain her normal posture, in fact Rolfing may improve the posture to better than what she had before conception. Rolfing takes place on the whole body, but during prior to and during pregnancy special attention is given to the pelvic and abdominal and back area. Sessions are in a series of ten. They can be done one a week, or they can be spaced out for longer periods up to about six months. Rolfing is good for everyone, especially for expectant mothers.
?The Exposure of Art Therapy Projects
Posted on November 2, 2009
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Art therapy projects are short-term art therapy events that students and board-certified art therapists actively create to encourage a wide range of community partnership, assessing the art therapy project’s objectives and its end result. Many other individuals can be involved in it, such as social service for the individual and family, community centers and healthcare, educational school systems, corporations, and alternative sites.
New York’s “Village Voice” printed an article, “Battling Mental Illness with a Paintbrush,” on how a special art therapy project is helping the mentally ill, with Judith Raskin-Rosenthal’s Gallery 300. Clients of an organization called The Bridge, Inc.”, 61 of her student’s works were hung on the walls. These clients belonged to a mental-health agency on West 108th Street, calling themselves the Bridge Group Artists. Disorders such as bipolar disorder, physical disability, and schizophrenia are just a few of the client’s conditions which have leased a new life with their art work. Each artist had their own style, saying their own message, with the hopes of selling their work to supplement their meager incomes.
Special projects involve specific art therapy projects, with a multitude of goals involved for not only the community but also the students involved in the art therapy projects. Another such example is an Art Therapy Project in the Bellevue Hospital by Valerie Sereno, M.A., ATR-B-C, Coordinator, Special Programs and Projects. This project had several goals involved in their art show between the art students, their art therapists, and the community:
• Providing addition experience in the artistic field, in addition to diverse client contact to the art therapy students.
• Promoting community partnership and collaboration.
• Introducing art therapy benefits to specific programs and populations that are totally unfamiliar with art therapy projects.
• Educating institutions, agencies, the public, and financial supporters about the extensive applications of art therapy and art therapy projects.
• Providing creative and therapeutic opportunities for social interaction, communication, expression and emotional development.
• Establishing partnerships with new organizations generating future placements, resources and employment for students.
• Promoting the SVA Master Program in Art Therapy Projects.
Most of the art therapy projects involve themselves with the community they belong to, considering itself its strongest member who acts as a force for positive social change. Some art therapy projects for unique ideas are Community Art Programs for Children, Art for America Benefit, Bellevue Hospital: Adult Rehabilitation Unit, Long Island College Hospital: Partial-Hospitalization Psych Unit, New Alternatives for Children: Children with Chronic Illness and Disabilities, Fight Against Childhood Epilepsy and Seizures, Early Childhood Therapeutic Learning Center for Foster Care, Catholic Charities, and Residential Substance Abuse Rehabilitation for Teens.
?Safety of Acupuncture Needles
Posted on November 1, 2009
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With different diseases in the world today, especially those caused by needles that are unclean, the safety of acupuncture needles is of concern to many people. Fortunately in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has strict guidelines on acupuncture needles such as the requirement they be sterile and used only one time. Of course, in spite of these safety mechanisms that are in place, some people will still be fearful at the thoughts of any kind of needles including acupuncture needles. Making certain to choose an experienced practitioner can allay some of those fears.
In addition to sterile needles, a patient may fear pain from the acupuncture needles. A search of various types of acupuncture needles shows the existence of even painless ones. In addition to painless needles easing the stress level of the patient, the acupuncturist can avoid the possibility of an automatic reflex from the patient upon insertion of the needles. Painless acupuncture needles allows the patient more comfort during the procedure, thus creating a lower stress level that will allow the procedure to work more effectively.
The success level of any procedure is enhanced by the patient’s ability to relax. The endurance of painful acupuncture needles does not allow the relaxation of the patient, and therefore may not afford the same level of success as a painless needle. Certainly this differs from patient to patient, but when you have someone who already fears needles, you are not going to help him or her by inflicting pain that is avoidable. For some people the pain of the acupuncture needles is less than the pain from which they seek relief, and thus they consider it worth it; for others, they are not seeking relief from pain by enduring more pain.
When you are searching for an acupuncture practitioner, and you have a problem with painful needles, you can ask about using painless needles. Depending on the practitioner, he may not have them in his office but may be willing to order them for you. On the other hand, you may be able to choose a practitioner who uses nothing but painless acupuncture needles in order to assure the comfort of his patients. While acupuncture used to be a procedure that patients expected to be painful, new technology makes pain the exception rather than the rule.
In addition to the pain from acupuncture needles, some people may fear infection from unclean needles. Visiting the office of the practitioner before treatment will allow a patient to ease his fears and show him or her that the practitioner has a clean office and invests in sanitary, disposable acupuncture needles. Showing a patient that he has concerns for the safety and well-being of his patients will ease the fears and tension of those patients he treats. Without the tension or fear, a patient will respond better to treatment.
?Boulder’s Rolfing Institute
Posted on October 31, 2009
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The word Rolfing is a nickname that stuck to the field of work founded by Dr. Ida P. Rolf, called structural integration. It has commonly become known as Rolfing. The Rolfing Institute is located in Bolder, Colorado. The Rolfing Institute is now registered in 27 countries around the world.
The Rolfing Institute has gained favor over the years because people from all walks of life have benefited from Rolfing. The Rolfing Institute offers a holistic approach to soft connective tissue manipulation, which over time will bring the body back into a state of balance with the person’s center of gravity. The body changes over time due to the effects of gravity, and the body parts can be pulled out of balance. Rolfing brings body and mind back into balance. The Rolfing Institute teaches that the mind, as well as the body needs to be educated to maintain the correction that Rolfing achieved in the client’s body.
The Rolfing Institute was founded in 1971; however Dr. Rolf had been working in her field and teaching others, while traveling from place to place around North America from the 1930s on to the 1950s. Dr. Rolf died in 1979, but her work did not die with her. Now there are more than 1500 Rolfing practitioners that are helping people through a non-invasive form of treatment to relieve pain from structural problems related to the body’s connective tissue.
The name of the Rolfing Institute in Bolder, Colorado is the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration. There is a Rolfing Institute in Germany called the Rolfing Training Center. Though the names of the schools may differ around the world, there is one commonality; the word Rolfing is a universal word that is registered service mark.
If you are interested in a career as a Rolf practitioner, you will need to contact the Rolfing Institute in Bolder, Colorado. The only way to become a certified Rolfer, the student must graduate from the Rolfing Institute. Other schools that teach massage may teach Rolfing techniques, but they are not certified rolfers.
Training at the Rolf Institute is extensive. Students are required to have 600 hours of instruction to become certified Rolfers. As people seek out alternative health care, more and more people turn to Rolf practitioners. This is a rewarding profession to be in. Training is very expensive. Total tuition costs between $14,755 and $16,800. The tuition is broken up into the individual classes. The fundamentals are over $3000, the advanced class that follows is $1500. The clinical portion of the course is over $6,000, and other expenses such as housing and books can run from $250 to $500. You can apply for federal student aid to help with expenses.
?Learning the Techniques of Chakra Meditation
Posted on October 30, 2009
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When it comes to meditation and all the different styles, there are many of them to choose from. In fact, one of the styles of meditation that is becoming more and more popular is chakra meditation; as it is very simple to learn.
Many times when people learn chakra meditation, they will not want to meditate any other way after that! For many people, chakra meditation is one of the easiest to learn as well as remember.
One thing that many people are unaware of is that chakra meditation is a form of meditation that focuses on certain parts of the body; such as your head, heart or any major organs. In fact, there are seven chakras located throughout everyone’s body (which are the perineum, swadhisthana, navel, heart, throat, eyebrows or forehead, and the top of the head). The main chakra is located just at the base of the spine, which is also known as the coccyx; and it is close to our body and allowing us to master it. Also, our health and security are both linked to the chakra.
Most often when people are taught chakra meditation, they are taught that chakra is an energy that is in the center of the body which is located right at the center of the nervous system; which is at the beginning of the spinal column and goes throughout the entire body to the top of the head. In fact, many people believe that it is the biophysical energy of a person’s body.
Just like any other type of meditation, when practicing chakra meditation, there are several things that you should follow or learn; especially if you are a beginner at meditating and learning on your own. Some of the things that you should first learn before beginning chakra meditation is that it can be done while sitting or lying down, you should adjust all your clothing as well as your body, you should have your eyes closed, when breathing keep your breath relaxed, slow and deepened (but you do not want to control it), find the spinal passage and bring awareness to it, focus on the general area of where the chakras are, before finishing the breath sound, chant “Om” 3 times.
Even though with meditation there are supposed to be no bad side effects, with chakra meditation there is. In fact, a couple of the side effects are excessive mental energy; especially if one does not have enough physical activities. Another problem that many beginners have problems with is getting an emotional imbalance which cause mood (personality) and behavioral problems.
If you are thinking about trying chakra meditation, it is best to go to a professional for advice and some lessons; as you will want to be as healthy as possible!