April 2012

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April, 2012

Good vibes. Some of us use this term in an offhanded way when referring to the good feeling we get from others but for many, the term ‘positive energy’ is an apt description of how they view the world and us as part of it.

Many belief systems across the world and across the ages have maintained that simply by virtue of being a living thing on our planet, we share in and are part of a universal energy. Within the human form the presence of life energy has been called everything from our soul or spirit, to chi, qi or prana.

The belief that the abundant and unfettered fl ow of this energy is vital to our good health is also held widely and many types of approaches have developed to deal with the reduced or impaired fl ow of this force. The most widely recognized system on which many modalities are based is very likely chakra, an ancient paradigm that originated in the Hindu tradition. There are a few minor variations of chakra but overall they are depicted as either wheel or fl ower-like vortices that attract and through which energy fl ows. Seven chakras are found in alignment from the base of the spine to

the top of the head and affect the vital organs in each area. Each chakra is also tied to the emotional and spiritual health of the individual.

Other modalities such as reiki and therapeutic touch have developed in the last century and are considered non-denominational. Faith healing, while operating on the same principles, is absolutely associated with the power of (a)God, regardless of the specifi c religion or church.

Reiki practiceBecause it is more widely known, this article will go into reiki in further detail but there are many forms of ‘energy therapy’. The term Reiki comes from two Japanese words: rei – meaning universal, God, source, creator, etc. and ki – meaning energy and stands for universal life force energy. The practice of reiki was developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Dr. Mikao Usui. Since that time, it has spread from teacher to students and from practitioner to client across the ocean to Europe and the US and Canada.

Rev. Kristel Kernaghan of Divine Clarity Spiritual Centre

is a Winnipeg intuitive healer who practices many modalities including reiki. She explains further. “If someone has a decreased life force, their energy is low and they’re more susceptible to depression, illness, having anxiety, attracting and manifesting energy blocks which then can turn into dis-ease. A common turn of phrase is ‘people store their issues in their tissues.’ As a reiki practitioner, one is trained in being able to tap into that energy to fi ll the person.”

A practitioner may place their hands along the body from the head to the feet as they feel out the energy fl ow, but there is no massage or emphasis on prolonged touch. There are practitioners who do not physically place their hands on the subject at all as they feel the energy well enough in proximity. Some practitioners may suggest wearing something comfortable but it is always performed fully clothed.

“The benefi ts are unlimited,” says Kernaghan. “Beyond relaxation and reduction of stress, many of my clients have reported reduced pain

(continued on page 2)

by virtue of being a living thing

on our planet, we share in and

are part of a universal energy

GOOD VIBES (continued from page 1)

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from their fi rst session.” She also claims that many reported substantial improvement with a variety of health concerns and even grave illness.

While reiki can act as a powerful and positive compliment to medical procedures you may wish to discuss how it can fi t into a whole wellness plan with all of your caregivers as it may not be recommended as the only or primary form of treatment.

There are various approaches for reiki training but few fi rm and universal tenets aside from ‘reiki can do no harm’. Energy can’t be manipulated to induce a negative reaction. Many practitioners also believe that while they can increase the level of energy in a person, the energy will intuitively go where it is most needed. Once a student has learned the underlying theory under the tutelage of a reiki master, that master will pass on the ‘attunement’ for the student to be able to then practice reiki as well.

Finding a practitionerThere are national and international reiki organizations that attempt to standardize the practice through levels of instruction and accreditation and while they can be great resources for information about reiki practices, membership is not mandatory and there is absolutely no regulatory arm to these groups. Few local practitioners belong to the Canadian Reiki Association and the best way to connect with a reputable and sincere practitioner is through recommendations and to meet them for a short face-to-face interview. If you have any doubts as to the right match between yourself and the practitioner, simply keep looking.

This article dealt with reiki at a very simplistic level and there are many good resources available both through internet sites such as www.reiki.org, www.reiki.ca as well as our local Winnipeg public libraries. As a further resource, I suggest a particularly well-researched consumer awareness article found on-line at http://www.aquarianonline.com/Wellness/EthicalHealing.html by Gail Matheson and published in the Aquarian in 2001.

Winnipeg WellNews does not endorse or present these practices as fact or proof of their effectiveness but aims to provide an introduction to this branch of spirituality and self-awareness. Our beliefs, just as those of our friends and neighbors, are intensely personal and should be respected as we each make our way through life’s journey. ■

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by Annabel Scott, owner, Pilates Manitoba Inc.

Stott Pilates straddles the exercise world and the medical rehab world. People know pilates as a challenging workout but few realize its brilliance and effectiveness lies in the fact that it can be used to treat many types of joint, back and neck pain. Stott Pilates is an enhanced version of the original program developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates and is designed to make all movement effortless and pain-free and to help people recover from injury by enhancing fl exibility, strengthening joints and building muscle without adding bulk.

Often, back and joint pain seems to come out of nowhere but most likely it’s the result of years of your body compensating for an injury or weakness. Eventually, this ability to compensate will reach its limit, resulting in pain or new injury. Like a visit to your chiropractor, Pilates is about stability and re-alignment but with the emphasis on restoring strength and movement

so that weak muscles don’t allow things to simply fall back into old, ingrained habits. The term for this type of therapy is neuro-muscular-skeletal re-patterning and is particularly apt as the body is taught new, pain- free patterns in movement.

Stott Pilates is based on the 5 Basic Principles of Anatomical Neutral; breathing, pelvic placement, rib cage placement, scapular (shoulder) movement, and head & cervical spine placement. They form a network of stabilizers wired into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system meaning that you

wouldn’t think about the work they do as part of your normal day-to-day activities. Strengthening these muscles takes focus and concentration so it’s no wonder Pilates has been called the ‘thinking person’s workout’. The idea is not to tune out but to tune in to the proper breathing and movements to exercise those otherwise neglected stabilization muscles.

Through Stott Pilates, your breathing and thinking become clearer because you have coordinated and centered your mind-body connection and your abs are pulling properly on your diaphragm. Your nervous system becomes calm and centered.

Many Pilates exercises are performed on a mat. Because some clients begin with pain or limited movement, we have special mats and stability chairs as well as other fun props so you don’t have to get up and down off the fl oor. Pilates is also done on three major pieces of equipment: the Reformer, the Cadillac, and the Stability Chair. The brilliance of these machines is that their spring-loaded features honour the Law of Oppositional Force, which is the physics of human movement. The springs create a closed chair workout and constant neurological and physical feedback to the brain-body connection. As well, the springs counter-balance you so that they support you and sustain the re-patterning aspect.

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Pilates is a reasonably priced solution and since you can do the mat and chair workout at home, you are not reliant on outside facilitators. Pilates Manitoba has all levels of group mat and group equipment Pilates in both the class and private, personal training setting. We have lots of special population programming such as Osteo Pilates, Golf Pilates, Plus Size Pilates, Weights & Pilates, and “Life Coach Meets Pilates Coach” mind-body therapy. Call us to register or come and visit the studio! We’d welcome the opportunity to work with you. ■

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News & Events

W I N N I P E G

The information in this publication is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. We encourage our readers to always conduct their own research into any treatments or programs and to consult with a medical professional prior to the start of same.Winnipeg WellNews is published monthly with 2,000 print copies per zone distributed through waiting rooms at most walk-in medical centers, dentists, chiropractors, alternative health practitioners, natural food and nutritional supplement stores as well as fi tness and exercise facilities...wherever health and wellness matters. Printing and design by Contemporary Printing Services Inc.

CONTACT US! You can reach the Publisher — Mireille Theriault — at [email protected], by calling 887-2999, or leaving your comments and questions on our discussion board at www.winnipegpwellnews.ca

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Across Canada and of course right here in Winnipeg, the last full week of April is Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week. Even though many of us have thought about organ donation, not nearly enough of us follow through with the two most important parts: 1 – identifying our intent to be a donor and 2 – talking about our wishes with family members.

In addition to the paper wallet cards those of us with a driver’s license are familiar with, starting April 23, Manitobans will be able to go online to register their wish to give at www.signupforlife.ca, Manitoba’s intent to donate Registry.

Considering the scenario in which a donation may arise, this second point is so very important when it comes to saving your loved ones from having to make a very diffi cult decision under the stress of grief. You can take comfort now knowing that your decision to be a donor and giving your family the opportunity to honour that decision can help comfort them and may ease the mourning process.

Despite public education campaigns, there are still old ideas about organ donation that exist like “Doctors won’t work as hard to save my life!” Aside from being just plain wrong, the truth is that the number of actual donors has dropped not because we aren’t a giving bunch, but because more lives are saved in emergency rooms than ever before! Only when a person is 100% confi rmed as having no brain activity – brain dead with no chance of revival – is the option for their gift considered.

In the spirit of Organ and Tissue Donor Week and in dedication to those who have died waiting for their turn to live, I’d like to reward you just for being able to answer this question: “How many Canadians are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant?”

You’ll fi nd the answer by visiting Transplant Manitoba - www.transplantmanitoba.ca. Then fi ll out the contest form at www.winnipegwellnews.ca or leave a message at 887-2999 with your name and phone number along with the answer to that question by midnight, April 30th and I’ll enter you in a draw for a free therapeutic massage with Winnipeg Total Health valued at $100. Win or not, you’ll feel a whole lot better knowing the truth about organ donation.

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