Bodywork to Soothe Your Mind
by Eric Doctors
Weddings are supposed to be one the happiest times of our lives. We look forward to the celebration of life and love, and afterwards we look back on the wedding as a key marker in our lives.
Making that dream a reality can be a challenge. Brides spend so many hours planning, preparing and paying attention to countless details associated with the event. Many couples struggle with the desire to please everyone on their list and still create a wedding that works for them. The question is how to enjoy the path toward the wedding and maintain your health throughout the process.
Setting Your Intention and Laying the Foundation
A wedding is more like a marathon than a sprint. There are many natural healers that can create a plan to support you and leave your skin with a healthy glow. Some of the best help comes from healers that specialize in naturopathy and ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurvedic practitioners employ East Indian medical knowledge and offer a broad range of healing treatments such as oil massages, cleansing programs, etc. They evaluate an individual’s wellness based on their metabolic type and focus on bringing the body’s systems into balance. The practitioner will perform a comprehensive evaluation, recommend dietary and lifestyle adjustments and provide therapeutic teas and body oils.
Naturopathic practitioners are trained in natural medicine and are licensed doctors in many states, not including Illinois. They take a comprehensive approach using many techniques, including: oriental medicine, herbal medicine, energy medicine, and western medicine. Naturopaths look at the entire system and suggest diet, nutrition and lifestyle adjustments. They recommend vitamins, herbal remedies, detoxes, and bodywork treatments such as massage, acupuncture and reflexology as ongoing support.
Staying Cool, Calm and Collected
Now that you’re on a new organic diet and practicing yoga everyday, what will keep you on an even keel as you get closer to the wedding day?
Massage is always a great indulgence. It also helps you stay healthy and refreshed by keeping your muscles loose and relaxed. When people are under stress they often feel exhausted and sluggish. Massage acts as a muscle rejuvenator and is also great if you twist your back trying on a hundred wedding dresses.
Reflexology is an amazing foot massage that can also be performed on the hands. This technique has been used for centuries to treat the entire body. It’s great if you don’t like taking off all your clothes, but want the beneficial effects of a full body session.
Acupuncture is often used to encourage weight loss and to treat chronic conditions such as headaches, pain, and smoking addiction
Acupuncture provides excellent support for all those dietary and nutritional plans you made with the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic practitioners. The tiny needles, and they are tiny, are used to open blocked energy in the body, bringing healing and balance to the entire system. Acupuncture is often used to encourage weight loss and to treat chronic conditions such as headaches, pain, and smoking addiction.
Reiki healing works on all aspects of the human energy field to clear blocked energy and bring balance, clarity and ease. The practitioner uses their hands to gently guide universal healing energy where it is needed most. It can have a dramatic effect on stress, headaches, emotional/physical connections, and general relaxation.
Keeping it Fun
A great way to make a commitment to a healthy wedding is to incorporate healthy activities into the big event. Here are a few ideas:
- Book your wedding shower at a day spa! Treat your guests to massages and facials as they dine on fancy hors d’oeuvres and champagne.
- Schedule a reflexology and an energy healing session for you and your fiancé a day or two before the wedding. It’s a good way to de-stress and reconnect with your partner before the fun begins.
- Consider adding organic, vegetarian courses to your wedding menu or other pre-wedding events. Eat well and take care of your loved ones at the same time.
There are so many resources available to ease you through this transition. Any of these treatments will help you maintain serenity while you’re flying through the thick of the storm.
Take care!
For more information on natural medicine and holistic approaches, check out these useful websites:
- Naturopathy - www.naturopathic.org
- Ayurveda - www.ayurvedicbalance.com
- Oriental Medicine and acupuncture - www.acupuncture.com
- Massage - www.amtamassage.org
- Reflexology - www.aboutreflexology.com
- Reiki - www.reiki.org
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