Holistic Services Description
First Responders spend much of their time in “fight or flight” mode which negatively impacts their autonomic nervous system and actually the whole body. This impact on the body lasts way into retirement years, and sometimes even increases during that time. This is thought to be the reason first responders have more medical problems, experience higher degrees of fatigue, increased levels of depression and anxiety, and a shorter life span than people in other professions. The high, repeated, intense levels of stress in addition to experiencing traumatic calls can cause a first responder to develop acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Energy work or holistic modalities assist in all these areas by addressing specific areas in the body that are impacted by the high levels of stress thus thought to then improve the overall health of the body mentally, physically, and emotionally. If these areas find relief it is our belief the first responder won’t get to the point of experiencing unmanageable depression, anxiety, ASD, or PTSD. When occupational stress is experienced through the body, holistic modalities clears the energy that contributes to these conditions rather than containing that same energy resulting with an accumulation. At the farthest extreme we hope to prove a decrease or elimination in suicidality. It is well-known the numbers of suicide in our first responders outweigh line of duty deaths.
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Acupuncture
A system of integrative medicine that involves prickling the skin with fine needles at specific points on the body. Acupuncture is used to alleviate pain, create and enhance energetic flow, improve recovery after surgery, and improve emotional conditions and general wellness.
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Aromatherapy
The use of essential oils to improve mood, change cognitive states, and can also be utilized as a supplemental medicine. Pure grade essential oils actually have healing properties that can be used to assist with mental, physical, and emotional ailments. During this study, if you select this service the practitioner will sit with you and use a holistic technique “muscle testing” to develop a specific regimen for you and provide an actual treatment during the appointment. Psycho-education will be done to give youinformation as to how these particular oils can specifically help you.
Reference: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/other/benefits-of-aromatherapy.html
Chakra Balancing
Chakras are the energy systems in a person’s body that get knocked out of alignment regularly. A prolonged and consistent imbalance in the chakras is said to cause mental, physical, and emotional disharmony which then can lead to medical problems. While having imbalanced chakras is unavoidable, you can learn how to balance these energy centers in your body through the use of a technique “muscle testing”. The process literally takes minutes and will leave you feeling calmer, happier, and experience more inner peace. Improvement in these areas will only assist with healing and wellbeing mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Reference:
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13433/warning-signs-your-chakras-are-out-of-balance.html
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4514/6-Simple-Ways-to-Balance-Your-Root-Chakra.html
EMDR
A holistic treatment for PTSD and other mental health conditions. There is a protocol that’s followed including bilateral stimulation of the brain in VERY simple methods by a trained EMDR and First Responder Specialist. This protocol has already been used with first responders by our trained providers for many years and has had superb outcomes. This therapy can be used to address a myriad of issues including performance anxiety which has been helpful to pass promotional exams, etc. as well as on the job triggers like the start of a shift, sounds of tones and radios that signal the body to be in a high state of awareness, readiness, and arousal. This hyperstate of arousal however is not necessary and can be counter-productive to overall performance and definitely health. EMDR has been very helpful in desensitizing these triggers thus providing much relief in responding.
Reference: https://www.verywellmind.com/emdr-meaning-and-treatment-2797295
Meditation
Leads to a sense of deep relaxation and feelings of peace. There are various ways to meditate, and many are hesitant to try meditation because they feel their mind has too much difficulty quieting down. First responders experience a “busy mind” on a daily basis because of the nature of their calls and having to respond in emergency situations. Meditation however, doesn’t have to be an hour long practice. ANY amount of minutes is going to be more beneficial than none. You can also focus on your breathing during meditation while playing relaxing music. This focus on your breathing will help quiet your mind. This practice can be done on a chair, in the seat of your unit/rig/emergency vehicle or on a yoga mat or in bed.
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The breathing that goes along with meditation can be carried into the field and during responding to a call which then will lead to less time spent in panic and hyper-alert mode for the autonomic nervous system. “Combat Breathing” (4x4x4) has been used in the military and by police officers who regulate their breathing so that their body can better respond physiologically during and after a call. It also helps you get control over your breathing which then positively impacts the rest of your bodily functions.
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"Muscle" Testing
A holistic technique created by Dr. George Goodheart in the 1960’s that allows the electrical system in the body to communicate imbalances so they can be corrected. Muscle testing can also be used to balance chakras, clarify disruptive emotions and processes in the body that are causing a problem. There are various methods of muscle testing, and the most important thing is for the person to find the one that appeals to them. Practitioners also have their own preferred method, but the information derived from this technique is the same.
Reference: https://youtu.be/2pD_KeWCFaQ
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Quantum Alignment
A Superpower modality that incorporates a powerful combination of several healing modalities. Individuals receiving Quantum Alignment leave feeling relaxed and with renewed energy. Many have reported experiencing a significant improvement in sleep and other conditions like depression and anxiety. Muscle testing, a holistic technique, is utilized to determine the best combination specifically for your body. It’s like getting a customized treatment specific for your body!
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Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" or not laying on hands as well. It is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
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The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."
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A treatment feels like a wonderfully relaxing energy that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that at the very least include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of energy healing and self-improvement that everyone can find helpful to varying degrees especially when done consistently. It is mean to work in conjunction with Western Medicine interventions and amplifies the effectiveness and benefits of those interventions.
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Sound Healing
We are vibrational beings. Simply put when we’re vibrating at a high frequency we experience well being, relaxation, inner peace, whole body health. When we’re vibrating at a low frequency, we experience the opposite. First responders are exposed to various kinds of extremely negative energy during the calls they respond to. You carry this energy with you long after a call ends. Sound healing during this study will be done with tuning forks, singing bowls, and a singing crystal glass triangle that will help get your body back into alignment so that your vibration is raised not only leading to relaxation but also increased healing mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic Massage - Using the label of therapeutic massage is a way to indicate that the purpose of the massage is meant to offer health benefits. You present to the therapist with a specific complaint, for instance, pain in your hip, tight shoulders, or a spasm in your lower back (or even all three). Through a mutual and collaborative exchange of information the Massage Therapist then applies massage techniques based on her training and expertise that are targeted to provide symptom relief and overall relaxation, improvement in health, and general wellbeing. Improvement in these areas is thought to also improve mental, physical, and emotional conditions.
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Wholistic Kinesiology
A holistic modality whereby specific areas in the body that are “imbalanced” are identified. These imbalances typically cause mental, physical, and emotional issues in the body. These disruptions can cause depression, anxiety, medical conditions etc. such as is the case in Adrenal Fatigue which is a common condition experienced by First Responders. Receiving Wholistic Kinesiology can assist with identifying these imbalances and using various methods or supplemental support to balance the adrenals.
Reference: Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
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Yoga
An ancient art linking postures and movements with breath. First Responders do maladaptive things with their breathing during calls and in the course of their work and personal lives. Yoga can be extremely helpful in helping the body relax when experiencing high levels of stress through the use of the breath work that comes with yoga practice. The yoga you’ll be exposed to in the course of this study is individual so that coaching can be more individualized. The yoga instructor will discuss options that will be tailored to meet your individual needs with the main goals of relaxation, inner peace, improvement in health, and stress reduction mentally, physically, and emotionally. Yoga can be done individually as well in order to target specific mental, physical, and emotional issues for the individual person to work on.
Reference: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-benefits-of-yoga