With today\u2019s increasing costs, growing risks and the side effects associated with traditional medicine, consumers are looking for safer, more affordable healthcare options; options, which provide individuals more control over their wellness choices.<\/span><\/p>\n There has been a rising trend toward complimentary and integrative therapies over the past several years. Perhaps one of the main reasons for this trend is the patient\/client-centered approach taken by most integrative practitioners. The uniqueness of the individual is considered in a comprehensive and holistic way. Employing the idea that chronic dis-ease in the body is created over time and is fueled by lifestyle, environment, trauma, and how one deals with and adapts to daily stress.<\/span><\/p>\n Below are seven integrative therapy choices that are making their way into mainstream healthcare and proving to be viable and effective treatment options.<\/span><\/p>\n Chronic back, joint and muscle pain is a daily fact of life for far too many in today\u2019s fast paced work-a-day world. The causes range from environmental and lifestyle factors such as poor posture, sports injury, repetitive motion, lack of rest, and an unhealthy diet, to medical conditions such as autoimmune disease, (e.g. Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Sclerosis), Arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases, depression, cancer, as well as pain causing side effects from medications including statins which are prescribed to millions of patients globally, to lower cholesterol levels.<\/span><\/p>\n Neuromuscular therapy, sometimes referred to as neuromuscular massage, myofascial release or trigger point therapy, addresses the neurological systems effect on the muscular and skeletal systems. The therapist uses soft tissue, (skin and muscle) manipulation, and firm specific pressure applied using the knuckles, thumbs and elbows.<\/span><\/p>\n NMT assessments and examinations primarily address:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Ischemia (tight tissue with reduced blood flow)<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Myofascial trigger points (hypersensitive points within muscles that give rise to referred phenomena, including pain)<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Neural entrapment (pressure on nerves by muscles and other soft tissue),<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Nerve compression (pressure on nerves by osseous and other bonelike tissue, such as cartilage or discs)<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Postural assessment (assessment of the position of the body as a whole)<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Dysfunctional gait patterns (manner of movement while walking)<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Perpetuating factors (hydration, nutrition, breathing patterns, and psychological stress)<\/span><\/p>\n NMT applies a synergistic philosophy, meaning that it looks at the client from a holistic point of view. The therapist works on the premise that pain and dysfunction is caused by a combination of these three groups, biochemical, biomechanical and psychosocial being out of balance. When the focus is concentrated on all three groups, significant relief is experienced.<\/span><\/p>\n NMT has been consistently proven effective for those living with chronic pain and is often successful in reducing or eliminating long-term chronic pain. Particular techniques can be used for acute injury as well as rehabilitation care following surgery. NMT is often used as part of training protocol for athletes to improve performance and to prevent and treat sport specific injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n I have been a licensed Neuromuscular Therapist since 2000, and have seen very few therapies as effective and life changing as NMT. When used appropriately, It\u2019s safe and effective for people of all ages, with all types of pain and physical restrictions. For example; athletes returning back to their sport fully recovered just 4-6 weeks following knee surgery, or severe tendon\/ligament damage. A 90-year-old man, who could barely walk with the aid of a walker, with-in 4 weeks of beginning NMT attended his granddaughter\u2019s soccer game, walking from the car park carrying his own chair. There are many more similar stories; I believe you get the point -it works!<\/span><\/p>\n It seems that the old clich\u00e9\u2019 \u201cLaughter is the best medicine\u201d turns out to be true.<\/span><\/p>\n According to laughteryoga.org, Laughter Yoga has been scientifically proven to provide the following benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> 6% reduction in blood pressure<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> 28% drop in stress level<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Good Mood and More Laughter: Laughter Yoga helps to change your mood within minutes by releasing certain chemicals from your brain cells called endorphins. You will remain cheerful and in a good mood throughout the day and will laugh more than you normally do.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Healthy Exercise to Beat Stress: Laughter Yoga is like an aerobic exercise (cardio workout) which brings more oxygen to the body and brain thereby making one feel more energetic and relaxed.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Health Benefits: Laughter Yoga reduces the stress and strengthens the immune system. You will not fall sick easily and if you have some chronic health conditions, you will heal faster.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Quality of Life: Laughter is a positive energy, which helps people to connect with other people quickly and improves relationships. If you laugh more, you will attract many friends.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Positive Attitude in Challenging Times: Everyone can laugh when life is good, but how does one laugh when faced with challenges? Laughter helps to create a positive mental state to deal with negative situations and negative people. It gives hope and optimism to cope with difficult times.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>100 Laughter Yoga Exercises Video<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Dr Madan Kataria created laughter Yoga in in Mumbai India, in 1995. During his time as a researcher, he had come across a number of evidentiary resources, which supported the idea that laughter was particularly beneficial in promoting physical and mental health. Dr. Kataria, in his quest to find a way to incorporate laughter into the treatment protocol of patients as well as find ways for average people to use it to counteract the stress of modern day living, developed the technique that is now called Laughter Yoga.<\/span><\/p>\n Incorporating Yogic breathing with exercises designed to stimulate laughter, Dr Kataria and his wife, Madhuri, have included role-play as well as gibberish in the Laughter Yoga classes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I have attended a few of these classes in Abu Dhabi, and found them not only to be fun, but also more of a \u201cworkout\u201d than I would have imagined. The exercises are not strenuous, but non-stop laughing for 45-60 minutes can work up quite a sweat, and burn a number of calories. I certainly feel it in my stomach muscles the next day. After the classes, I am so light and relaxed, usually for the rest of the day\/evening. One hour of laughter can neutralize an entire day of tension. HaHaHa HoHoHo HeHeHe!!!<\/span><\/p>\n Laughter Yoga is available at Change Works AD Our Laughter Specialists; Kasey Conrad, Kathryn Armstrong, and Naser Al Riyami are available for Individual, Group or Corporate Sessions.<\/span><\/p>\n Most of us are aware that sound can have a profound effect on us, for example hearing a police siren behind you while driving, a stranger\u2019s baby crying, your baby crying, (there\u2019s a difference, right), soft music, waves crashing onto the shore, these sounds stimulate specific emotions. Our emotions have influence over our physical and psychological well being at a cellular level.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve all heard the term good vibrations. Our bodies are made up of approximately 80% water, taking this into consideration, we can imagine dropping a pebble into a still pond and witnessing the ripples moving out from the center, until the entire pond is in motion. This is how sound massage works. Tibetan singing bowls and sometimes gongs, are placed on or near the fully dressed body, then struck with a felt mallet, creating vibrations that reach every cell carried through the water in the body. This subtle vibration quickly brings relaxation and stress relief.<\/span><\/p>\n The vibration of the bowls can be focused to a particularly tense or painful area by placing the bowl directly on that point, the vibration moves through the area moving and rearranging stagnant energy, thus relieving the pain.<\/span><\/p>\n Sound massage is based on ancient healing therapies, dating back nearly 5000 years, whose premise is that humans were created out of sound. The rich deep tones of the bowls promote a feeling of being \u201cin-Tune\u201d, and this brings balance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>The Sound of Zen – Sound Massage<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Sound massage can be effective for the following:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Increased energy<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Pain relief<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Stress relief<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Meditation<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Creating balance<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Mental clarity<\/span><\/p>\n This video gives a lovely demonstration of a Sound Massage session, watch, listen and enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n When looking for holistic integrative medicine, <\/span>Ayurveda<\/span><\/a> ticks mind, body, and spirit boxes, arguably more thoroughly than any other, and is believed to be the oldest system of medicine on Earth. Ayurveda is made up of the Sanskrit words ayur, meaning life and veda, meaning science, literally meaning the science of life. Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in India since before written records were kept, and is still today, the primary healthcare system of most Indian people.<\/span><\/p>\n Ayurveda stresses balance in all areas of life. Be prepared when you visit an Ayurvedic physician, as you will be asked a lot of very personal questions, (including questions about bathroom habits and frequency), all of which allow the doctor to identify possible causes for symptoms of imbalance and potential treatment options.<\/span><\/p>\n Ayurvedic doctors use concepts based on the body\u2019s unique constitution, (prakriti), the life force, (dosha), a combination of Vata, (air and space), Pitta (fire and water), or Kapha, (Earth and water), and the connectedness of being one with the universe to create an individualized treatment plan for everyone. Treatments consider the whole person, incorporating prescriptions for herbal compounds, yoga, specific massage techniques, meditation, exercise, and lifestyle and diet recommendations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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