Inner Fire Works: Shiatsu Massage and Energy Healing

An Introduction: Inner Fire Works

What is good health? A conventional description of good health might include being free of disease, pain and various unpleasant symptoms that can be measured with scientific instruments. As society becomes more aware of the mind-body connection, many people are expanding this definition of good health to include freedom from emotional blockages and unwanted behavior patterns. These people realize that stressful situations in their lives can make them feel less than well, even if they don't get the flu or a headache or palpitations.

Paul and I feel that good health is even more than this. We define good health as being completely untroubled by disease, pain, symptoms, blockages and patterns... being just you, in peace, joy and harmony. Often, we experience this state of Being as children, and then gradually lose contact with it as we get older. And yet, some people experience the best health of their lives just before they die. Perhaps they still feel pain or stress or sadness, but they are untroubled by it. Their faces glow, radiating calm and acceptance, as if they are reliving a happy childhood memory or already half way to a brighter world.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the radiance of the face is considered an excellent measure of overall health. The Chinese call this appearance "shen." Paul and I call it "inner fire." At "Inner Fire Works," it is our goal to help you rediscover, nourish, and celebrate your own inner fire.

With many clients, we begin by offering Shiatsu treatments to relieve the pain and promote good circulation. Physical pain, tension, and loss of movement are often troublesome influences in people's lives, preventing them from enjoying life to the fullest, and therefore lessening their inner fire. But often we also assist clients by looking for the energetic causes of emotional blockages, or by sharing our views and experiences of life after and beyond death. Whether working at the physical, emotional, or spiritual level, we always work to respect the individual needs of each client. Everyone has his or her own path to follow.

Paul and I especially enjoy giving treatments together (what we call a samenbehandeling), because then we each get to focus on our own specialties. Paul works at a physical level, finding tense and painful spots in the body and applying pressure. I sit nearby and work with the emotions coming off the body and the intuitive images I receive. As I process and release these, I send back positive energy, often directing this to the aura or certain chakras or body parts. Paul and I find that when we work together, each of us can do more than we could if we were working alone.

Paul and I also encourage our clients to spend some time relaxing in our therapy hot tub and peaceful garden either before or after their treatment session. The jets of warm water, in addition to giving an overall relaxing effect, also work to improve circulation and relax tense muscles. With help from the hot tub, our treatments can work more deeply and have a longer effect.