Making Space for Change

Having strengthened my support networks in March and April, it became apparent that I needed to detoxify and declutter, both my body & my home.

I began using nutritional supplements to clean up my circulation, as well as switching to a more alkaline-forming diet. I then decided to clear out old stuff from my home. I looked at things that reminded me of negative times or people and started to pack them up and take things to the local charity shop. The emotional impact was huge! It was much tougher and more exhausting than I could have imagined!

Now I have more space than I know what to do with! I feel clean, refreshed, relaxed and excited at the new possibilites ahead of me. I wonder what good things will come into my life, now that I have the space, time and energy to meet and nurture those things.     Corrina.

Networking

After five months absence from my blog, it’s a relief to be back! I left my ‘day job’ as a part-time admin clerk on Wednesday 18th March and am now full time in my own business. I’ve had a lovely morning meeting three other self-employed women for coffee and came away sharply aware of my need for contact with people. The buzz word for this is networking and seems to be the way forward in life and business today. My clients and students come via direct contact, client referrals or the internet – all forms of networking. So does this work for you too? I would be interested to learn about other peoples experiences of networking, whether for business or pleasure.

First TFH Assessment Day

We had our first Touch For Health Assessment Day at Pathway Balancing on Sunday 19th October 2008. All four students passed their written and practical examinations and have signed up for the Advanced Training Course starting on Sunday 26th November 2008. We had five visitors on the day, plus the assessor. Four of our guests were given a free Touch For Health balance as part of the student’s exams. Although I was a nervous wreck for alot of the time, I really enjoyed the day. There was a great atmosphere! Our next TFH Assessment  Day is planned for Sunday 4th October 2009.

Connections and Disconnections

In August, I mailed out my bi-annual newsletter to my current client base. It included an article about the importance of developing supportive relationships – both having and giving support.

One of my favourite TV programmes at the moment is ‘The Secret Millionaire’ on Channel 4. Recently one of the under-cover millionaires volunteered to work with homeless people in London. He wanted to know what had happened to them to make them homeless. He discovered that their experiences weren’t that different from anyone elses – getting divorced, losing a job, having an arguement with their parents, getting into debt etc. The millionaire concluded that the only difference between those that became homeless and those that came through more successfully, was having a support network of familly, friends or organisation, such as a church. A powerfull testimony to the importance of creating and maintaining connections with other people, in mutually caring relationships.

The other side of this coin is the matter of ending or minimising contact with people who are not caring or supportive. The subject of letting go is often a popular one in therapeutic or spiritual circles. Christians advise “let go and let God”. Buddhists advise letting go of the illusion of the material world. Letting go can be very tough, especially if you don’t have much to hold onto in the first place.

One of my clients was reflecting on the people she knew who would not do anything to help themselves to have a better life. They seemed to plod along in a mediocre life, fearfull and mistrustful of anything new, hard for them to understand or costing them money. As a therapist I find this paticularly sad, knowing there are so many opportunities for help in our world today. One of the hardest things to do is to stand back and let someone be as they are, when you see them going down into deeper debt, ill health or damaging relationships.

Connections and disconnections are an essential part of growth and development. I believe we are destined to move from our familly of origin into our spiritual familly, as we mature into the fullness of who we were created to be. At this gibbous moon phase, it is the time of overcoming the shadow of that which prevents us coming to fullness of potential. Letting go of relationships that are perhaps disrespectful, manipulative, bullying, draining or belittleing, can be much easier if you have new ones that are respectful, open, valueing, empowering and appreciative. Seek out genuine good friends, a warm hearted therapist, a spirit filled church or an encourageing group with a similar interest. Sometimes we need to overcome the shadow of past relationships, in the light of newer and healthier ones.

Corrina

Regular self nurturing

The theme that emerged at Pathway Balancing this month was the need for regular self care and nurturing. One of the kinesiology students practised Touch For Health on her friend, every day for three days. The transformation of her friend was stunning! I’d forgotten how amazing this therapy can be. 

Transformation is the theme of the Channel 4 program ‘10 Years Younger’. A team of professionals give someone a drastic make-over in order to reduce their appearance by at least 10 years. To me it’s not so much the age of the person that’s relevant as their state of neglect! Some women look 70+ while still only in their 40’s. Many are smokers who never exercise or watch their diet. Most don’t use suncreams, moisturisers or have a professional haircut. Holistic health isn’t even mentioned.

The effects of a few months of pampering and professional care and advice, show just what can be achieved if we look after ourselves. The program always reassures me it’s worth our time, money and effort to take care of our health and appearance throughout life.

Seeing these programmes, and watching the effects of energy balancing on clients and students, has inspired me to increase the amount of treatments I have for myself. I wondered initially if I was spending too much money on therapy, but then I saw a new client who had suffered drastic health problems as a result of stress and self-neglect. It reminded me that in some cases, the results of poor health choices can be irreversible. For me, I cannot afford to neglect regular self nurturing. Good professional care and advice, plus the best quality products, are now a high priority.

Corrina

Safety in Therapy

The first subject at last week’s Touch For Health 3 training day was safety. I wanted the students to understand the importance of their own and their clients safety in working together. It is only within a safe environment and safe relationship that effective therapy can take place.

I believe clear self-awareness to be vital in assessing your safety in working therapeutically. It’s important to have a strong sense of safe places and times to anchor yourself. Some of the places for students included; their home, the training room and people in it on the day, a spiritual connection for guidance and focusing on the present moment.

It may seem strange, but a client falling ill may be a sign that they now feel safe. In the animal world, it’s after the hounds have passed on their way that the fox or hare can slump with relief into a safe hiding place, panting, shaking and finally falling asleep. Only once the danger has passed can the body relax and go into it’s healing and recovery mode.

A common pattern in stressed people, is the weekend headache or holiday ‘flu. In therapy work, as the client trusts the therapist, overcomes their original problem and establishes a more nurturing way of life, they can finally let go for a while and allow their body to do it’s work. Tension, stagnation and harmful organisms can be cleared from the body. This process can be more effective, comfortable and speedy if supported by herbal formulae or professional grade supplements, along with a time of rest and reflection.

Once the illness has been safely passed through, the person can begin life again with renewed strength and a better sense of priorities.

Corrina

Being Healthy

What does it mean to be a healthy person, living a healthy lifestyle? No more headaches or catching the office colds? No more visits to the doctor or pharmacy counter? No more loans or credit card balances? Never feeling depressed, angry or fearful? Perhaps.

I believe that being healthy is about making choices – and I do mean making choices. A healthly life style isn’t about “what if……….”, “Just imagine…….” I will when…………”. Making  means ‘to bring into being by shaping, changing or combining materials, ideas, etc. To draw up, establish or form. To cause to exist, bring about or produce.’ So we have to actively create a healthly life and do something to improve our health and energy levels. This activity is an ongoing process, daily, monthly, year by year.

When we experience physical symptoms that are uncomfortable or even painful we need to listen and respond accordingly. In the short-term, that might mean taking medication and drinking plenty of water. Longer-term, perhaps a day of rest each week or shorter working hours would be the solution.

In managing our finances, life doesn’t move in straight lines for very long, so we need flexibilty. Saving 5% of your income each week gives peace of mind about future unexpected expenses. Building up a good credit rating enables you to access the best funds and investment opportunities when you are ready to grow your business, move house or treat yourself to something you love.

Emotions are real, physical and powerful. You ignore them at your peril. Energy states, in emotional form, need to be acknowledged and allowed to move. A healthy adult can own and direct each emotion in the right way at the right time. It’s OK to switch off all your phones and just go to bed for the day, if you feel depressed. It’s OK to cry when someone has hurt you. It’s OK to write someone a clear, well-stated angry letter when they’ve treated you unjustly.

Children don’t have the same capacity to stand back from their emotions and deal with them effectively. The child in us can be engulfed in the feeings and believe “This is the end…….” “That’s how it’s going to be from now on………..” “I’ll NEVER be able to………”

With any form of heath challenge, remember “This too shall pass”. And the healthly choice is to DO something about your life.

God Bless, Corrina.

 

Dealing with Anger

Anger is a natural healthy response to a perceived threat, either to you or to that which you hold dear. Problems only arise with anger if it isn’t dealt with in a healthy manner.

Anger is powerful – think volcano, earthquake, whirlwind, tidal wave. Imagine similar forces arising in your own body when something happens to enrage you, anger you, frustrate or annoy you. Unleashing such forces could be damaging to the people or environment around you. However, the energy it takes to hold back these erupting forces can be deeply destructive to health and well being too.

Holding back anger is exhausting, especially if you have been doing this for a long time, maybe for years. Some of the symptoms that may result from pent-up anger are; migraines, cold sores, stiff or painful muscles and joints, a grey complexion, spots and rashes, insomnia, restlessness, and bowel problems. People who never allow themselves to express anger are often tired, irritable or even depressed.

It can be difficult to change this pattern if there is an underlying fear of the consequences of your anger coming out. What if you lost your job or your friends? In an abusive relationship, would they actually hit you, throw you out of your home, divorce you or cut off their financial support, if you spoke up in anger?  So how do you deal with anger safely and effectively?

The first step is to build your resources and strengths. At Pathway Balancing this can be achieved through either craniosacral therapy or kinesiology. Craniosacral therapy enables the body to soften its emotional armouring – the tension and hardness that builds up through holding back or defending yourself, in the face of anger. Kinesiology uses Touch For Health reflex points to allow circulation of all the body’s energies to improve and balance out.

The next step is to devise a healthy strategy for dealing with the anger you are facing. This might include talking things through with your practitioner, taking remedies such as the Bach Flower formulas or setting specific goals to change things for the future.

Finally, you need to take action and turn that energy into a force for healing, change, productivity and new beginnings. Many new and wonderful changes being to occur once anger is released and expressed as personal power, perhaps as ‘righteous anger’.

Some of the changes resulting from dealing with anger using Pathway Balancing have been: getting up earlier in the morning; less desire for unhealthy foods, drinks, or TV programs; earning and saving more money; freedom from oppressive relationships; new fulfilment in everyday work; feeling confident and more relaxed.

Healthy anger is about choices. That natural power that arises within you can be used to: walk away; look someone in the eye and calmly, compassionately tell them you are angry and hurt; hold your ground when intimidated; transform your home, your appearance; even to ultimately create a whole new, better way of life!

Dealing with anger effectively is one of the most powerful choices you can make for your life today.

Corrina.    

 

Hello world!

Welcome to the new Pathway Balancing Blog. This is a place where the newest developments in Pathway Balancing can be shared with visitors, clients and students.

This month saw the start of a new group of four foundation level students beginning the Touch For Health (TFH) course. TFH 1 introduces the skills of muscle-testing and balancing energy, using contact points on the body, that form the basis of kinesiology. On the second day of training I gave a demonstration to show how energy shifts to different muscles in the body when a person establishes a goal for their therapy session.  

Setting goals for your life literally changes your physical energies. Your body is focussed and aligned with your mental energies. As a result you will move forward with greater precision and success. Having energy balancing in a kinesiology session prepares you for carrying out the activities to realise your goals.