We here at East Meets West would like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to all of you who came out to help support Walden's Puddle.  Thanks to you we were able to raise almost $700!!!  We spent 2 days last week providing Chair Massage, Reiki, Reflexology & CranioSacral Therapy for $1/minute to bring awareness to the community about bodywork and how important it is in staying healthy.  We chose Walden's Puddle as beneficiary of the proceeds because of the wonderful services they provide our community.  Thanks again for your support!

Would you find it helpful to know a simple reflexology technique to assist in letting go of stress in the moment? Have you ever marveled at reflexology charts and wondered how your whole body could be represented in the feet?  These reflex points can be stimulated with your own fingers and thumbs to elicit health responses in minutes that seem like a miracle. Let me explain how it works and give you a reflexive minute solution to try.

In reflexology, we think of the body vertically divided in half with five zones running down the right side and five zones down the left side from the head to toes.  Each zone ends in the tip of one of our five toes on each side. What is interesting is that all organs and parts of the body in the same vertical zone will have reflex points in the feet in that same zone, with the toes corresponding to the head.  When we stimulate these reflex points, we send signals and pressure induced micro-currents through the nerve pathways in that zone that trigger the relaxation response, improve nerve supply and circulation, and help restore homeostasis. 

Here is a reflexive technique to relieve stress.

Take one of your feet into your lap.  Press your thumbs into bottom of your foot on the soft spot just below the ball of the foot in the center.  A way to find this spot is to squeeze the two sides of the foot together and a depression will appear right where that spot is located. On reflexology charts this spot is located in the center of the diaphragm reflex area and is known as a key reflex point for relaxation. As you press into this reflex point, breathe in. Then hold the reflex point and your breath for a brief second pause.  Now release the pressure gently as you exhale the breath.  Do at least 6 rounds on one foot and then switch to the other foot and repeat. This reflexology technique is best done slowly and peacefully.  Enjoy. 

Gaia Tossing is a Registered Certified Reflexologist, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Co-founder of East Meets West Holistic Education Center in Nashville, TN. She teaches Reflexology and Aromatherapy classes for the public and professionals and takes private appointments.  Please check the calendar at www.emwhec.com  for upcoming classes or call or email emwhec@gmail.com, 615-834-0080.

As the benefits of using essential oils in a massage therapy setting are becoming known and increasingly appreciated, it is highly valuable and important for massage professionals to understand effective application techniques.  One such technique is Raindrop, so named by its originator, D. Gary Young, because it involves the dropping of selected essential oils onto the spine.  Raindrop Technique also employs “finger feathering” and a reflexive technique called Vita Flex to induce electrical stimulation and assist delivering essential oils into the cells.  These techniques are quite different than traditional massage work and are well worth learning for their ability to facilitate desired outcomes in the art and science of aromatherapy. 

What is the purpose of Raindrop?  Raindrop Technique is used to support the body in bringing about physical and electrical balance.  Eight essential oils are used in a classic Raindrop application, although the facilitator may choose alternative oils based on each individual client.  They are:  Oregano, Thyme, Basil, Wintergreen, Marjoram, Cypress, Peppermint, and the Balancing Blend (Frankincense, Spruce, Blue Tansy).  There is a reason that these particular essential oils were originally chosen. Dr. Young theorized that one of the possible causes of scoliosis may be viruses housed along the spinal fluid causing inflammation and imbalance to the system.   If an environment that is hostile to viruses and bacteria could be created along the spine, perhaps it would be of benefit.  

To understand how or why essential oils might be able to help create this environment in the human body, a little more information on how essential oils work in the plants is needed.  Each plant is its own chemical factory, producing the chemicals it needs for protection against invasive fungi, parasites, and infections.  This is sent through the plant via a fluid that is its essential oil.  When plant material is distilled properly, a wide spectrum of the chemicals that exist naturally in the plant are preserved in the essential oil that is obtained for our benefit and use.  For example, compounds such as thymol found in Thyme Oil support cellular cleansing.  Monoterpenes such as found in Cypress support cellular communication.  The molecules of essential oil are so tiny that they are able to be absorbed quickly into the human tissue at a cellular level. 

In general, unless there are contraindications, Raindrop Technique calls for the essential oils to be applied “neat.”  That means they are used directly from the bottle without dilution.  This allows for the oils to penetrate the dermis layers very effectively.  To do this safely, the essential oils used must be verified and tested to be pure therapeutic grade, which means the oils must be from organically grown plants and cannot be adulterated in any way.  In the classic version of Raindrop, the oils are applied first to the spinal reflex points on the feet with a rolling finger technique.  Next, the same essential oils are applied to the spine on the back.  Just a few drops of pure therapeutic grade essential oils, 2-5 depending on the size of the back, are layered one at a time with a Native American light feathering technique up the spine.  Layering allows for each essential oil’s special attributes to build upon the other.  Taking advantage of the piezoelectric characteristic of our skin, a Vita Flex rolling thumb technique is employed to help generate micro current pathways of electricity for the essential oils.  A vegetable massage oil blend is then introduced in the last quarter of the session which helps to seal in the essential oils.

Continuing Education training is available to become a Certified Raindrop Practitioner.  During this training the massage therapist can learn to master the art and science of Raindrop and safely administer this beneficial technique to clients.

Gaia Gail Tossing, LM T, RCR, FCCI  is a Fully Certified Aromatherapy Instructor and Co-founder of East Meets West Holistic Education Center, LLC , 5814 Nolensville Pike, Suite 106, Nashville, TN 37211, where she teaches aromatherapy and reflexology and offers the CARE Raindrop Certification Program. www.emwhec.com  615-834-0080  emwhec@gmail.com  Personal web site: www.peaceonthehill.com

Danny Robbins began his martial arts career 28 years ago at the age of 13 when he began studying Shaolin Do. A Chinese martial art heavily based on the movements of animals. Being frail, fair skinned, and red haired he found in Shaolin the confidence he was looking for and also an escape from the occasional bully.  The Shaolin animal style taught him how to move in different ways. His interest soon turned to Tai Chi Chuan.

T'ai chi ch'uan often shortened to t'ai chi is a type of internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. It is practiced for a variety of personal reasons such as to improve movement, stimulate concentration, relief of anxiety, stress and is a good alternative exercise as it moves every muscle in the body.

By focusing the mind solely on the movements of the form, helps to bring about a state of mental quiet and clarity. Some people find it difficult to sit in meditation as many traditions call for to achieve a state of calmness. T'ai chi’s gentleness assists the body to reach a state of tranquility by focusing outward on the movement and breathing with the gentle flow. Tai chi concentrates on relieving the physical effects of stress on the body and mind. For those focused on t'ai chi's martial application, good physical fitness is an important step towards effective self-defense.

The focus and calmness cultivated by the meditative aspect of t'ai chi is seen as necessary in maintaining optimum health (in the sense of relieving stress and maintaining homeostasis) and in application of the form as a soft style martial art.

T'ai chi's martial aspect relies on sensitivity to the opponent's movements and center of gravity dictating appropriate responses. Effectively affecting or "capturing" the opponent's center of gravity immediately upon contact. In addition to the physical form, the focus is on how the energy of a strike affects the other person.

Danny continued his training with Master Joan Richert, the highest ranking female in the country. After acquiring his mastery, Danny began teaching for Master Richert on a full time basis in 1996 and in a short time was appointed head instructor of the St Matthews School which was a huge honor.

Danny will be teaching Tai Chi and Women’s self-defense at East Meets West Holistic Education Center, please see event listing for details.

These new prices went into effect on June 1, 2012.  Thank you to all of you who took advantage of our introductory class rates. 

Note: Price changes do not apply to C.A.R.E. classes as taught by Gaia Tossing, LMT, RCR, FCCI and/or Chopra Center Classes and TN Law and Ethics for LMTs as taught by Mary Glesige, LMT, Vedic Master certified by the Chopra Center.

Please check our calendar as there have been some recent changes.

Please note: Continuing education credits available for LMTs for most classes listed

3 Day Classes (CranioSacral Therapy, Lymphatic Therapy (LMTs), Yoga, Chakras & Laws of Nature)
Current Price $221                        Price After Increase $315              SAVINGS $105
                                                                                                                                  
2 Day Classes (Applied Aromatherapy, Basics of Reflexology, Reiki I, Reiki II, Illuminating the Light Body, Earth Element Massage (LMTs))
Current Price $160                        Price After Increase $240              SAVINGS $80
                                                                                                                           
1 Day Classes (Canine Massage, Qigong, Energy Therapies, Lymphatic, Communications, Spiritual Awareness)
Current Price $80                          Price After Increase $120              SAVINGS $40

5 Hour Class (Chair Massage)                                                      
Current Price $50                          Price After Increase $75               SAVINGS $25

3 Hour Introduction Classes (Reflexology, Aromatherapy  1 & 2, Energy Therapies, Chair Massage (LMTs), Lymphatic (LMTs), CranioSacral, Communications, Meditation)
Current Price $30                          Price After Increase $50               SAVINGS $20