Self-care has become increasingly popular in recent years, probably due to our high-stress lifestyles and the constant demands at work and home. Many of us are seeking ways to boost our mood and improve our health, such as acupuncture, massage, reflexology, yoga, therapy, and meditation. And while many of them work wonders, sometimes we’re looking for something more. So when I was given the opportunity to try out a new wellness treatment called biofield energy therapy, I jumped at the chance.
I personally practice yoga regularly, and I can feel how it, combined with meditation, improves my mood. I’ve also been to numerous therapists and, in my experience, that’s also helped. However, I still carry a lot of anxiety and unresolved PTSD issues, so when someone suggests a new healing modality, I’m open to it. According to Brainline, biofield therapy operates on the belief that diseases and other similar issues can be remedied by balancing the energy within our bodies. Moreover, similar energy work has been practiced in some form or another for thousands of years, with techniques like qi gong and, more recently, Reiki.
What the Process Was Like
A little skeptical but wanting to keep an open mind, I arrived at the Garden of the Gods’ Strata Integrated Wellness Spa on a Friday morning, excited to see how the experience would go. After meeting with their on-site naturopathic doctor for a brief consultation, I was brought over to see Charlene Wang, SIWS’ holistic registered dietician who’s also certified in healing touch and qi therapy. She asked if I’d ever done anything like this before, and if I was open to it (I hadn’t, and I was). Then we discussed some of my current issues, covering my mental and physical health. I mentioned my chronic back and hip pain, and some new (related) knee pain, which seemed to help her figure out what to do next.
After having me lay on my back on something similar to a massage table, Wang gave me two crystals, one to hold in each hand. The lights were dimmed and she had me cover my eyes. She also utilized aromatherapy and calming music in the background. In what was basically a body scan, Wang told me that she was checking to see how open my chakras were. As I focused my thoughts on each area, she instructed me to see the colors of the chakras in my mind. A strange buzz came over me toward the end that I can only describe as that feeling you get after you’ve been meditating for a long while, except it wasn’t that long of a process at all.
Wang told me most of my chakras were very open, but that I needed to work on my sacral and solar plexus chakras. As she explained more about them, a lot of it began to click (I have hormonal imbalance issues and digestive issues as well, and these chakras control both). I was already feeling relaxed, but as Wang laid her hands over my body, from my feet to my head, it was like I could feel the energy flow into me. By the end, I felt like I’d just had an amazing 12-hour nap, a lengthy massage, and a yoga workout all in one; it was even better than anticipated.
How I Felt Afterwards
One thing that took me by surprise was how off-balance I was toward the end. As I stepped off the bed, I felt like I was stepping off a boat and had been out to sea for hours. Wang explained that it was not an uncommon sensation to have and said to stay out of the sun and drink lots of water for the rest of the day. She advised against any strenuous activity and instead suggested I do a little more meditation. Because we were located adjacent to the Garden of the Gods Park (a beautiful natural red rock formation and park, viewed as a spiritual place for some Native Americans, and even a potential energy vortex), she mentioned it might be a good idea to even do some meditation there.
All in all, I would definitely repeat this form of energy work. It didn’t exactly change the entire course of my life (what could, really?), but it helped me relax for the rest of my weekend and certainly left me with an unexpected but pleasant buzz. I’m also now much more interested in learning about other energy work modalities, because hey, why not? Gotta stay open to whatever’s helpful in life.
Have you ever tried any form of energy work? We’d love to hear about it @BritandCo!
(Photo via Garden of the Gods)
