What is energy healing?

Energy healing is a term that generally describes healing modalities that use energy and/or operate on the human energetic system. Many ancient traditions had deep understandings of energy as a fundamental part of the human anatomy, and developed sophisticated treatments using energy and treating the bioenergetic field. These include traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture which work with balance and flow of the energy within the body, as well as techniques for energy movement such as qi gong; ancient Indian traditions that have an understanding of energy lines in the body (nadis) and major energy centers (chakras). Other cultures with understandings of energy healing including shamanic, Tibetan, Japanese.  In conventional Western medicine, simple examples include use of heat energy, for example the application of heated pads to relax tight muscles. Other examples are pacemakers, which send electrical pulses to help heart beat at a normal rate and rhythm.

What types of energy healing do you offer?

We offer Inner Alignment, Reiki, Sound Healing, and Intuitive Healing.

What is Inner Alignment?

Inner Alignment is an energy healing that clears and aligns the energy along the spine as well as along multidimensional planes, promoting physical, emotional and spiritual integrity and vitality. It can open the seven main chakras along the spine as well as other chakras above and below the body, facilitating connection to both earth and spiritual energies. It can balance energy polarities that exist in the human system such as right/left, heat/cold, activity/stillness, mind/heart. This can lead to greater grounding and balance, sometimes producing a visible effect on the body structure such as better posture and greater symmetry on the right and left sides, as well as enhancing awareness, clarity, confidence, and revitalization of energy levels and flows. It is not strictly aimed as a treatment for a particular condition, though it can have therapeutic effects; rather it is aimed to be an energetic reset to realign you to your unique blueprint of your natural, whole self. The treatment is performed fully clothed, with hands above the body, and a light touch on the shoulders and hips (no touch by request). Each treatment includes a “before and after” assessment of your chakras, physical alignment and your sense of well-being. Inner Alignment is most commonly experienced as a deep relaxation state, but clients may also feel strong energy flows and activation during different parts of the healing. Many people report feeling a significant internal shift from an Inner Alignment, as well as external shifts in their relationships and life journey. Most people only need one Inner Alignment in their lifetime, unless they have experienced severe trauma in the past (in which case they may benefit from 2-3 sessions) or they undergo a new trauma after the treatment. The Inner Alignment is not religious, but opening your energetic channels can help your spiritual practice come alive and flower in a new way.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan, based on revitalizing the “life force energy” that flows through us and causes us to be alive; if one’s “life force energy” is low or obstructed, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high and flows freely, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing, as well as grounding, and balance. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing that everyone can use. While there are no guarantees for a specific result, there are many reports of reiki helping a wide variety of illnesses and maladies. Reiki also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery. Reiki is administered primarily through the hands with a light touch or held above the body (fully clothed and avoiding any private or sensitive areas). Reiki is most commonly experienced as a gentle, relaxing glow of energy in which the client is in a very relaxed but conscious state, though a deep energy clearing can feel very powerful. Reiki is not a religion and has no dogma; it can be a complement to yoga and other spiritual and wellness practices.

What is Sound Healing?

Sound is an energy, and applying a healing resonance to the body or the body’s bioenergetic field can help calm and regulate the system. Disruptions and imbalance in the body and biofield have irregular, erratic or distorted vibrational frequencies; these can be reset when exposed to frequencies of finely calibrated tuning forks with clean, even sine waves.

What is Intuitive Healing?

In intuitive healing, the practitioner uses intuition for assessment or treatment. For instance, a practitioner may feel with the hands where energy is blocked, see with the inner eye where the body may be out of balance, or internally hear a message that may be helpful. Treatments can be directed to varied aspects of your system, such as the energy body, the emotional body, or to you in a different time period such as childhood.

How long is a session, and what happens during a session?

The first session always has an initial discussion and intake. In a single modality treatment, this is usually about 10 minutes. In a full (multi-modality) session, this is takes about 20 minutes because we also do an assessment of physical alignment, the chakras, and your sense of well-being, and discuss options for the treatment.

The treatment itself can take 35 to 45 minutes in a single-modality session, and 45-60 minutes in a full session. The treatments are performed fully clothed, usually on a massage table. It can be performed while seated on a chair if you prefer. For Inner Alignment, it is normally administered lying on your back. For Reiki, it is normally administered first lying on the back, and later on the stomach. There can be a light touch — the practitioner put one or two hands lightly on the body, avoiding private or sensitive areas — or, holds the hands above the body without touching. Many people go into a very relaxed state, but remain conscious, and some people go to sleep. Some people feel sensations (such as pulsing, heat, or vibrations), experience physical movement (such as twitching, shaking, or rocking), feel emotions (ex. sadness, grief) or remember memories. Some people do not experience any of these things. It depends on the type of energy healing you are receiving and what your system needs at the time.

After the treatment there is a rest period of at least 10 minutes. This rest period is important both because the healing continues, and starts to integrate into your system.

At end of the session, there will be time for some discussion and questions, and some exercises to make sure you are awake and feel safe to drive, walk or bike. In a full session, we will do the same assessments of physical alignment, chakras, and sense of well-being.

How can I prepare for an energy healing session?

Wear comfortable clothes, and bring layers if you tend to get cold. If you have a special pillow or an eye pillow, or something else special to you that you’d like to use, please bring that. If bring a face mask if you would like. Your practitioner will wear a face mask, unless you feel it is not necessary.

What care should I take after the session?

Energy healing moves a lot of energy in your system, and it is common to feel relaxed, tired, or lightheaded. It is not uncommon to feel emotional because stored emotions may have been released in the healing and moving out of your system.

Be sure to rest and feel grounded before you drive. We will do some grounding exercises to make sure you are fully awake before you leave. At the Noe Valley Studio, there will be tea and snacks, and if there are no appointments after you, you are welcome to rest in the healing space for some extra time. Integral Yoga SF has a small lobby where you can sit, as well as an outdoor garden. Subud Palo has an outdoor garden. You can also rest in your car before you drive.

After you get home, take it easy for the rest of the day (maybe for a few days afterwards), drink water, and eat light foods. The healing will be continuing and integrating into your system. Be nice to yourself because energy healing can cause emotional release, which is healing but you may feel some sadness or pain as the stuck emotions come out. This should go away in a day or two.

The initial session will start with a discussion and assessment of about 15 minutes.

For a single modality treatment, this will be followed by a treatment of 35 to 45 minutes.

First we will begin with an assessment, including an assessment of your grounding and balance and symmetry, a chakra assessment. Then we do a healing session. After the session you will have some to rest, and then we will do the same assessments to see if there has been any changes. Then we will have some tea and snacks and discuss, and do some grounding exercises to make sure you are ready to drive. Afterwards you will receive a written report of the two before/after assessments, notes from the discussion on the healing, as well as recommendations and resources to keep your energy clear.

What do I need to do during the session?

The treatments do not require you to concentrate, forcibly relax, or “do” anything (unless you want to). They also do not require you to “believe” anything ~ though some techniques have spiritual roots, none are religious or require you to accept a particular dogma.