Kinesiology
Kinesiology is a truly holistic therapy, working with the inter-relationship of body and mind (and spirit) to create and maintain health, wellbeing and vitality. It is widely recognised for being able to identify and alleviate the underlying causes of health problems that are difficult to find by any other means.
Kinesiology treats the whole person, combining modern methods of muscle testing (muscle monitoring) and energy balancing with traditional concepts of Chinese Medicine to communicate directly with your body.
It's a hands on therapy, (carried out fully clothed), which can reveal and correct, for example, nutritional imbalances and intolerances, toxic build up, postural misalignments, sensitivities to environmental factors and even negative thought patterns.
Health problems usually arise when the system has been overloaded as a result of stress of one kind or another. Kinesiology assessment uses muscle testing to identify areas of stress and blocked or disrupted energy and corrects these with gentle yet powerful energy balancing corrections.
The ability of a muscle to hold its position against light pressure indicates a balanced state of energy within the body. By contrast a muscle which is unable to hold its position against light pressure and switches off, indicates an imbalance somewhere in the body's energy system.
A series of muscle tests is used to assess a range of factors including e.g. body chemistry (e.g. allergic/intolerant reactions, nutrition, brain activity, co-ordination), emotional states, body structure (e.g. posture, muscle condition, beliefs) and much more.
When a stress or imbalance has been identified by a switched off muscle response then the most effective correction or treatment will change the muscle response to be switched on. The specific correction will be determined by the feedback from your body via the muscle testing (monitoring).
Corrections and treatments include; massage or light touch on specific reflex and lymphatic points; balancing acupuncture meridian points; deep stress release; muscular release / activiation and postural balancing, chakra balancing, flower essences, lifestyle changes and nutritional support.
Rebalancing the body and mind is a re-education process so that our bodies can re-learn to function in a harmonious and healthy way.
History of Kinesiology
Kinesiology (pronounced kin-easy-ology) comes from the Greek word kinesis which means motion. In Western Medicine "kinetics" was linked with "-ology" (the study of), leading to the definition "the study of muscles and their range of movement". This is the literal meaning of the word kinesiology, and the way it is generally used within standard Western Medicine today. However, an alternative meaning has grown over the years.
The founder of kinesiology, an American chiropractor, George Goodheart discovered in the mid 60's a link between muscles and the meridians of the acupuncture system (meridians are energy pathways in the body that connect with organs and glands). Through using muscle testing, he was able to assess the state of various organs and glands throughout the body. He also established that there are reflex points, on the body and head, which could affect muscle function, improve posture and body function.
He developed this new science with a group of chiropractors, and one of these, John Thie, adapted the material and created a system called 'Touch For Health', a system that has spread world wide and is used by lay people and health professionals alike. Numerous branches of kinesiology and professional training programmes have evolved from these beginnings.
The blossoming of kinesiology, in such a short time, into so many different forms is perhaps testament to the fact that it works, and produces such effective changes for clients. It is also a therapy that creates a passion in its practitioners and it is they who constantly expand its frontiers and explore all possible applications.
Typical Treatment:
Your first consultation will incorporate questions regarding your current symptoms, your medical history, diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns, life style and emotional state.
A session is carried out with you lying fully clothed on a treatment couch, (or if this is not possible you can sit or even stand) enabling the practitioner to test certain muscles. The kinesiologist will move your limbs into required positions and gently apply pressure to check the muscle responses. This will enable the practitioner to build up a picture of your body systems and how they are affected by various stresses and imbalances in your life. The process and the results will be explained and the imbalances corrected.
What happens during a session is referred to as 'balancing', as the aim of the session is to aid your body to return to its natural state of balance – in anatomy and physiology the term is 'homeostasis'. Some techniques used to achieve this might include movements to assist in clearing blockages and improve neural functioning, holding emotional stress relief points whilst running through old or present issues, massaging lymphatic points or muscles to help waste products move on and release tensions, stimulating the flow of electromagnetic energy with gentle hand movements and many other varied techniques.
After a balance, people usually experience improvements which surprise them - they can often see, hear and think more clearly, they may feel more optimistic and have more energy, aches and pains disappear and friends will often comment on how good they are looking.
Kinesiology helps you discover what your body needs to heal itself. This can lead to increased energy and vitality, prevention of illness, relief of pain and tension, improved posture and co-ordination, release of emotional stress, discovery of individual nutritional needs and sensitivities and enhanced brain function.
People normally find the experience enjoyable and relaxing and leave feeling not only more optimistic and positive, but also in better shape than before the session. To reinforce the work done, self help may be recommended eg. exercises, diet alteration, supplement advice, reflex points to rub / stimulate etc.
Kinesiology is appropriate for use with every type of person, from the very young to the very old, from the very unwell to the very healthy, from the athlete to the dyslexic child, from the opera singer to the post-operative patient!
Benefits
Receiving a balance, can lead to many benefits, such as:
• Increased energy and vitality
• Prevention of illness
• Relief of Physical pain and tension
• Improved posture and co-ordination
• Release of emotional stress
• Management of emotion and stress
• Discovery of individual nutritional needs and sensitivities
• Enhanced brain function
Kindly provided by the Kinesiology Federation
Kinesiology Links:
Kinesiology Federation - a professional organisation based in the UK representing kinesiology practitioners, instructors and schools.
Association of Systematic Kinesiology - the accreditng body for courses, schools and tutors.
