Healing Therapies

Healing Therapies

Western Insomnia Treatment

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Yoga

The word ‘yoga’ means union… of mind, body and spirit… and that is what all of these practices bring to us: a unification and harmonization of all that we are.

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra translates as ‘yogic sleep’ - but it is not a practice that is meant to actually put you to sleep! As you will learn, sleep - or a lack thereof - is often a complex imbalance between the physical body and the mental functions. Yoga Nidra is a practice of deep physical relaxation while engaging the mind in such a way that facilitates a heightened awareness of the mind/body connection, bringing deep harmony between the two. Yoga Nidra brings us into a slightly altered brain-wave state… the border space between alpha (seen on EEG when awake) and theta (slower brain waves seen during the transition into Stage 1 of sleep).

Yoga Asana

Asana is the Sanskrit word for ‘posture’ and in the West it is this practice that we think of most when we hear the word ‘yoga.’ The beauty of the physical asana practice is that it can be modified to meet your specific needs. In our classes we will explore more general movements made approachable to all, offering simple modifications where necessary.

On the surface level, this practice leads to both strength and flexibility, and combined with a conscious breathing practice, it leads to a release of all the ‘happy brain chemicals’ - which is why people inevitably leave their yoga class feeling so good! But on a deeper level, the systematic progression of postures is designed to get the subtle energy system moving in very specific ways, creating a healthy, unobstructed flow of energy within… and in the Yogic sciences, this strong, clear flow of energy is what leads you on your personalized Nidra Sleep Pathway towards Sleep Wellness.

Meditation

Meditation can be a daunting practice, particularly if you’ve tried it and found it challenging. Part of our approach is to make these imperative practices accessible and less intimidating! One of the ways we do this is to integrate techniques that don’t always look like a traditional, ‘sit still with your eyes closed’ meditation practice, but which are still wonderfully effective.

Meditation essentially falls into two categories:

• Vipassana which translates into “insight” and in modern terms is often referred to as “mindfulness.” This stems primarily from the Buddhist tradition.

• Samatha which translates into “concentration” and stems primarily from the Yogic tradition.

Meditative “Breath Work” on a deeper level is actually about learning to regulate the subtle energy system within the body – known in Western medicine as the autonomic nervous system. In the ancient Yogic sciences Pranayama, the Sanskrit word for control of one’s life-force energy, utilizes the breath as the pathway to connect the the deep, inherent connection between mind and body. You will gain understanding of the key ways in which controlled breathing affects your own biologic processes and actually control the nervous system!

Modern science calls this a version of ‘brain-wave entrainment.’ Accessing this state on a regular basis is conducive to achieving calmness at bedtime and shepard you along your Nidra Sleep Pathway towards Sleep Wellness.

Acupuncture

Over centuries practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have used acupuncture healing therapies to help millions of people achieve natural healing by enhancing recuperative power and immunity, supporting physical and emotional health, and improving overall function and well-being. According to the theories of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), conditions such as insomnia are a sign of an imbalance in Qi (pronounced “chee”), the vital energy that animates the body and protects it from illness.

This imbalance can stem from a number of causes such as stress, anxiety, medications, depression, and chronic pain. To determine the underlying causes of your insomnia, our acupuncturist will take into account many factors, including your lifestyle and emotional and mental well-being. Our staff of acupuncturists will then work to restore the balance and flow of Qi by inserting fine, sterile needles at specific points along the body.

Your acupuncturist can get to the root of your sleep issues by taking into account all of the factors that may be contributing to your sleep disturbance. This ancient form of health care will treat your symptoms, improve your overall health and well-being, and facilitate your personalized Nidra Sleep Pathway towards Sleep Wellness.

Nutrition

Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.
- Hippocrates (460-377 BC)

When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.
- Ayurvedic proverb

“Food as medicine” has been a powerful approach used by healers of all cultures for thousands of years. What you choose to eat has profound effects on your overall health. Research shows that dietary habits influence disease risk with certain foods triggering chronic health conditions and others offering protective qualities.

Sleep patterns are controlled by hormones in your body, such as melatonin which regulates the body’s natural 24-hour circadian rhythm and the relaxing-mood hormone serotonin. Scientific studies have discovered certain foods can make you sleepy or promote better sleep by containing these hormones or the amino acids required for the body to manufacture these sleep hormones.

Optimizing food health aids our healers in assisting you along your personalized Nidra Sleep Pathway towards Sleep Wellness.

Sound Healing

Sound healing therapies covers a range of treatments, from music therapy to sound baths, and has been practiced for centuries in many cultures to use vibrations to achieve calm, balance, and restoration

Scientific studies have shown the amazing effects of sound on ameliorating anxiety, reducing pain, and facilitating Sleep Wellness. Music is proven to enhance subjective sleep quality in adults with insomnia symptoms and lullabies sung by a parent positively affect the vital signs of pre-mature infants. Listening to slow instrumental music, sleep stories or nature sounds can promote relaxation, as reflected in reduced cortisol levels and decreases in heart rate and respiratory rate. This is important as the prevailing “hyperarousal” Sleep Medicine theory states that insomnia involves increased levels of arousal.

The scientific study of the perception of sound, psychoacoustics, was started in 1973 when physician and biophysicist Dr. Gerald Oster demonstrated how sound’s effects on the brain’s control of mood and sleep patterns. It is well-known that music affects our autonomous nervous system which the body uses to counteract the ‘fight-or-flight’ reflex. Specific frequencies of sound can be used to generate neurotransmitters such as serotonin, the body’s natural mood stabilizer which reduces anxiety and depression.

These properties are utilized by our healing therapies to assist you on your personalized Nidra Sleep Pathway towards Sleep Wellness.