subject: 5 subtle energy healing practices you can learn and use to balance your Chi TODAY [print this page] 5 subtle energy healing practices you can learn and use to balance your Chi TODAY
If you would have asked me seven years ago, where I saw myself in five years, my answer might have been simply-Dead. Those days were some of the darkest that I have ever had to face. Keep in mind I am NOT talking about depression, or some crazy life threatening illness. I was always exhausted and felt like I needed more sleep than the six to eight hours I was getting every night. My body was weak most days, and headaches were pretty common. I cannot even begin to tell you how often I talked about desperately needing a vacation! Most of my friends and family would tell me I was stuck in a rut, and that a "getaway" would do wonders for me.
Well, last summer I finally took that long overdue vacation, to the beautiful island of Thailand. That getaway may have been the best decision that I have ever made. Sure, the beach was picturesque and the sky was a special shade of blue, one I had never seen before, but that was not what made it the best decision ever. On my third day there I went to this quaint little island, right on the boardwalk overlooking a very tranquil sea. It was there that I met this very funny, but very wise old man, selling pamphlets from a broken down shopping cart. He only had one type of pamphlet, and it was called balance your chi, balance your life. He was selling this 8-page pamphlet for two US dollars, a huge bargain I thought. The wrinkly man told me I looked very stressed and tired, which I took as an insult seeing as I was on VACATION! He handed me a pamphlet and said "no charge." Floored by the old man's generosity, I decided to buy the pamphlet, to read when I got back to the hotel later that night. This fateful meeting would lead to my being introduced to the absolutely wonderful world of Chi.
The dictionary defines chi as The vital force believed in Taoism and other Chinese thought to be inherent in all things. The unimpeded circulation of chi and a balance of its negative and positive forms in the body are held to be essential to good health in traditional Chinese medicine. Chi is at its very core, the balance of energy in our lives. Chi is also responsible for many aspects of our lives, such as the way we feel from day to day, energy levels, and even headaches may be caused by unbalanced chi. The more I read about chi, the more knowledge I picked up regarding energy healing practices.
Acupuncture is the most popular form of chi, and while it is used in the western world, acupuncture has been used in the east for thousands of years!
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) which means Universal Life Energy in Japanese, is a technique that involves actual 'hands on' spiritual healing.
Chi Gong is an ancient Chinese system for balancing subtle energy.Chi Gong masters train for many years to become proficient at this technique.
Jin Shin Jyutsu employs twenty-six "safety energy locks" along energy pathways that feed life into our bodies.
Therapeutic Touch is commonly used by nurses, and is even taught in nursing school. This practice involves the smoothing out of the body's energy, without the need for actual touching.
That little chi pamphlet was able to do for me what caffeine and aspirin, were unable to do. These days my energy levels are much improved, and I wake up every day infinitely more rested than before I began practicing chi. The world of chi is absolutely fascinating, and I really enjoy discovering different ways of relaxing and balancing my body's natural energy levels. So, if you are often exhausted, no matter how much you sleep, and if you get many headaches, then you should look into the art of chi. The first book I purchased when I got back from Thailand was both motivational, and life-changing.
