El Vineis

New Year's goals often come from good intentions, but do not always take into account the support needed for specific blocks. Especially if the goal is to correct a long-standing pattern, there are valid reasons why that hasn't happened yet. The first step is to recognize what is behind the negative pattern. Resistance can come from false beliefs, connections to traumatic experiences, and various other blocks. Some of them are conscious, but many are held in the body and have lost that conscious connection. That can be frustrating, but it also gives us a way to access the issue. Bodywork can be used to bring up the issue so that it can be addressed, not only on a conscious level, but also on a subconscious level. So yes, keep trying to stick to your goal, one day at a time, but also consider attacking the issue from other angles.

Reiki is a subset of energy work, involving the channeling of Reiki, or Universal Energy. Being Reiki-attuned means you have taken steps to channel this specific energy in healing. Reiki is intelligent and only does what is good for the person. Intuitive healing uses the intuition to direct energy, also with the intention of promoting the highest good of the client. This is a more broad term. Often, the tools used are ones that the individual practitioner has developed in order to deal with certain issues. For example, I would use my energetic toolbox and intentions to remove an energetic weapon and dispose of it, and also channel Reiki to heal and fill the area with good energy and seal the aura. No two practitioners are the same, although many use similar tools.

One of the first things I do in a massage therapy session is a postural assessment. This is easy to do at home in front of a mirror. You will need the biggest mirror you can find and a phone with a camera and a timer setting. First, stand naturally. Position your camera, and take a timed picture on your phone to show what that looks like from the front, from both sides, and from the back. Don't start criticizing; just study it neutrally. Then try correcting your posture in front of a mirror. What you're looking for is what is called "stacking." Start by standing with your legs shoulder-width apart. Face your middle toes forward. Check your ankles for rolling in or out, and get them centered on your feet. Stack your knees directly over your ankles, your hips over your knees and ankles. Imagine your pelvis is a giant soup bowl, and you don't want it to spill forward or backward. Roll your pelvis forward and back until you come to a neutral position. Stack your shoulders over your hips. Check your back in the mirror. Bring your shoulderblades together and roll your shoulders out to give your chest space. Stack your ribcage over your hips. Recheck your shoulders over your hips, and then roll your chin up and down until you find a neutral. Bring your chin back, without tipping it up, until your ears are over your shoulders. Notice how this posture feels. This will give you a good idea as to what muscles are overcompensating, and what exercises would be good to do. If you have pain when stacking through your spine, pursue massage and/or chiropractic care to decompress it. Chiropractics correct bone position, and massage releases tension and tonifies muscles to help it hold. I hope this answer helps.