Dissipating or neutralizing attachments, negative emotions, anxieties and destructive thought processes that lead to negative physiological reactions and negative behaviour patterns (such as compulsion), all have to be removed in an attempt to help elicit self healing. Relaxation is surprisingly difficult to achieve for people who are not naturally relaxed. Lying down is easy, but a great deal of tension still remains if the mind is constantly busy. True relaxation requires a profound shift in many physiological systems - a release of muscle tension and holding patterns, a deep surrendering of the body's supports, a slow and regular breath - the mind barely ticking over.

Developing self-awareness and making connections is the key. Differing therapeutic methods can be useful:-

YOGA - combining the breath with a deeper awareness of structure and posture, yoga can bring the body into a better state of equilibrium and alignment. Freeing the body from the muscular grip that burdens many of us in this busy modern world can be remarkably profound - engaging with the pull of gravity and the wave of the breath to enliven the body and release the spine - breath is life, and used appropriately/subtly, it can be extremely powerful. By inviting the body to rediscover its own innate wisdom and natural balance, we can find freedom, flexibility and vitality.

QIGONG - an ancient system of meditational movements which cultivate and harmonize Qi in the body. It increases awareness and control of Qi, encouraging its free flow throughout the body and its organs - wonderful for circulation. Using many different forms of posture, breathing and visualization, it helps to maintain health, vigour, energy and peace - immensely beneficial as it incorporates many influences: Taoist and Buddhist philosophy, theories of self defence/martial arts, study of animal movements, natural science etc. Meditation can form an essential part of any therapy.

COUNSELLING - much can be achieved with counselling. Encouraging people to understand their thoughts, feelings and actions, in order to consciously work at changing old behavioural patterns, can only be a good thing. So much relates to child hood experiences and their effect this has on adulthood - gaining a richer understanding of human relationships is, often, incomprehensible - so much so, it takes great courage for an individual to experience the freedom that autonomy brings, to accept intimacy and directly encounter other people, to take a stand in an unpopular cause, to choose authenticity over approval, to accept responsibility for your own choices, to be the unique person you really are. Counselling has had a significant impact on long-term survival of cancer patients, and has been effective in helping irritable bowel syndrome, once thought of as purely physical conditions.

FELDENKRAIS - this method links health and vitality of the nervous system to habits and patterns which reveal themselves in movement, enabling one to learn more intelligent ways of moving - 'Awareness Through Movement' - based on the natural movements of babies, it incorporates the way the head, eye, pelvis, spine and limbs move, in relation to each other - very gentle. It was devised by Moshe Feldenkrais, a Russian born Israeli engineer, atomic physicist and Judo black belt. A serious knee injury stimulated his interest in human movement, developing his method through studying anatomy, physiology and neurophysiology.

During childhood we form a wide vocabulary of movements which we learn through our natural development.
As we grow older the work we choose to do, our environment or injury, can affect us. To cope with such demands we form habitual patterns, relying on a much more limited range of movement to which we adapt unconsciously. The Feldenkrais Method helps to rediscover what may have been lost. It helps to maintain good health by improving flexibility and co-ordination, easing back pain, shoulder and neck tension, joint pain etc.

Lessons may be designed around a specific function, such as rolling or sitting. It can benefit people with RSI, sports injuries, arthritis and rheumatism, lending itself to more specialist requirements: learning and stroke related disabilities, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis. It can also benefit musicians, athletes, dancers and actors, leading to an improvement and understanding in awareness, mobility and structure on every level. The nervous system actually chooses more efficient and effortless options of movement, hence the changes can often come as a surprise.

The process of re-balancing may include:-
discipline with time management, eating regular meals with a nutritive diet, decreasing stimulants (caffeine & alcohol), increasing water & fruit juices, reducing spicy food & dairy products, but most importantly: providing time & space for self.