Black Meringue

BM Says Relax

Planning a wedding is a stressful business. Thankfully, BM’s here to whisk you away from the heat with our guide to alternative therapies

Acupuncture

When it comes to relaxing or being pampered in preparation for the big day, acupuncture is not one of the first things that comes to mind, writes Jonathan Downs. But it has been used in China for centuries to treat all ills and remains one of the first remedies applied to a wide variety of conditions. The great thing about acupuncture is that, being a holistic therapy, it also has an effect on mood, confidence and general well-being as well as treating physical ailments.

Acupuncture is concerned with the flow of ‘chi’ (also spelt ‘qi’). Chi is the essential power that flows throughout the body, pulsing along meridian lines (which are much like canals or energy highways, each relating to a major organ system). Along these meridians are special points which can be treated to improve the flow of chi in and out of these organs and restore the overall natural balance.

An acupuncturist will spend considerable time discussing your symptoms and establishing how best to treat your condition. Lying you down on a comfy treatment bed, the therapist will often assess your chi pulses (we have far more than just one) and set to work. Using a special ruler and pen (don’t worry – it wipes off) they mark on your skin the various points they’re going to use. A lot of people shiver at the thought of needles, but if you’re thinking of your last flu jab you’ve nothing to worry about – there’s no comparison. The needles used in acupuncture are tiny, delicate filaments which don’t actually penetrate the skin in any way like the steel monsters wielded by doctors and nurses. These needles are only ever used once and are untouched by human hands before they are applied. The acupuncturist will gently press the meridian point to find the right spot and give it a light tap. You can feel any number of sensations: a slight pricking, an ache leading to a pleasant flood of warmth, a localised tingling, or even an overall ‘zing’, depending on which points the acupuncturist has treated. You will probably have several points treated in one session – once the therapist has attended to them, you simply lie back and let the chi do its work. Acupuncture has been used to treat addictions, anxiety, asthma, depression, hay fever, headaches, hypertension, insomnia, endometriosis, fertility problems, fibroids, period pain and PMS and is often used for pregnant women suffering from anxiety, tiredness, morning sickness, back pain and a host of other complaints.

After the first session, people tend to feel either a bit dozy and very relaxed, or the complete opposite – full of energy, bouncing around and ready to go. With this renewed chi flow running through the body your mood improves, your confidence increases, the aches and pains you might have had dwindle to nothing and you can feel ready to tackle the world – just the way nature intended.

For more information on acupuncture contact the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) W: www.acupuncture.org.uk.

T’ai chi (Wild Goose Qigong)

Before my first experience of t’ai chi, all I knew was that for one hour I was going to imitate the movements of a wild goose, writes Theone Wilson. I didn’t know quite what to expect, imagining a roomful of people waddling and squawking. In fact I couldn’t have been more wrong, as the form of t’ai chi known as Wild Goose Qigong is a very gentle form of exercise in which a series of flowing movements are performed to relax both mind and body.

Wild Goose Qigong is one of China’s most popular t'ai chi forms. It was developed in the Kunlun mountains in the west of China. Wild geese flew over the region every year, and the birds’ annual visit gave the impression that they were immortal – leading ancient Daoists to copy their movements, hoping it would have the same effect on themselves. Those who practise Wild Goose Qigong are promised not only relaxation but a wide variety of health benefits including improved urinary, digestive and respiratory systems and reduced symptoms of arthritis, diabetes and epilepsy.

Group sessions usually begin with a 15-minute warm-up. Although it’s considered gentle exercise, you can expect to have to concentrate quite hard as a beginner. Posture is very important and keeping the feet firmly rooted to the ground and the hips and shoulders aligned is difficult at first, but the body must be balanced to allow the chi (qi), or natural energy, to flow freely. This is reinforced by movements that connect with the acupuncture points and meridians or energy channels of the body.

After the warm-up there is a two-part main routine. The first 64 movements deal with illnesses or injuries that you may have developed as a result of everyday life; the second 64 deal with any problems you were born with or have inherited from your parents. The positions are graceful and calm, imitating a goose spreading its wings and swooping down to drink water, for example.

Due to the health benefits and the gentleness of the exercises, Wild Goose Qigong is a great way to unwind and will leave you feeling relaxed and energised in both mind and body.

For more information on t'ai chi contact the British T'ai Chi Union
W: www.taichiunion.com.

Past life regression

There are all sorts of theories on the existence of past lives and the ability to recall or even revisit them, writes Emily-Jane. One isthe idea of reincarnation: that previously we lived in another human body or life form before we inherited our present human body. A more scientific approach is that the memories of our ancestors are imprinted onto our DNA and that it’s possible to relive their experiences through ‘genetic memory’.

Whatever your take on this idea, it is thought that negative, traumatic or unresolved events in a past life can have a damaging effect on your present life. This might manifest as a phobia, negative thought patterns or destructive behaviour.

Past life regression (PLR) is similar to hypnotherapy. By inducing a relaxed state, the therapist is able to help the subject access their subconscious and explore suppressed memories, thoughts and ideas. Reliving past life events held in the subconscious lets the subject redress unresolved feelings and glean a better understanding of past life experiences, both good and bad, that can trigger responses and behavioural traits in this life. PLR is not a cure for emotional disquiet or concern, but it is a tool that can help some people reorganise their mental clutter – something there’s plenty of when planning a wedding!

Undergoing PLR is a relaxing and fascinating experience as long as you approach it with the correct frame of mind. It’s possibly ill-advised for people of a nervous disposition; it’s also important that you feel comfortable with your surroundings and trust the person regressing you. The technique generally involves ‘reliving’ significant aspects of your past life. This is done in stages, from early childhood to your ‘death’ – which isn’t painful or upsetting, but rather allows a unique overview of your previous life. Although you will remember every detail of your past life when you are brought out of hypnosis, the overriding feeling afterwards will more likely be a renewed clarity of perspective on this life.
For more information on PLR contact the Past Life Therapists Association
W: www.pastliferegression.co.uk.

Reiki

Unlike tai chi and acupuncture, Reiki originates in Japan, writes Rosie Fuller. It was discovered comparatively recently (in the 1920s) by Dr Mikao Usui after many years of study, research and meditation. The word Reiki means Universal Life Energy – an energy that is all around us – and it is this energy that a Reiki practitioner will capture at a treatment.

A Reiki session is very simple. You don’t need to take off any of your clothes (apart from your shoes) – you just lie on a couch or bed and relax. Each Reiki practitioner’s treatment will vary slightly, but they generally place their hands in various non-intrusive positions on the body, leaving them in each place for some minutes. Practitioners may also use a non-touching technique, where the hands are held a few centimetres from the body, or a combination of the two methods. The energy then flows through the practitioner’s hands into the patient. A full treatment usually lasts one to one-and-a-half hours.

Everyone reacts differently to Reiki. During my first treatment I could certainly feel myself relaxing – I could also feel energy flowing up through the body, from my feet (where the practitioner had started) towards my head. During a session the patient can call on the Reiki (by asking a question or focusing on something in their head) to work on anything they want it to. After the treatment I felt super-glued to the bed, almost, although many people feel light and floaty. The practitioner could pinpoint where any aches and pains I had were, as she said the Reiki was much more active around these areas.

Reiki can heal on many different levels: physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. It balances the emotions and can allow you to respond more calmly to nerve-wracking events, so it would be great for a stressed bride or groom-to-be. It can also be used safely by pregnant woman, babies and the elderly.

For more information on Reiki contact the UK Reiki Federation
W: www.reikifed.co.uk.

BM