Jin Shin Jyutsu Health & Fitness

Health & Fitness
Jin Shin Jyutsu

Alix Miller discovers this gentle art of harmonising the body’s energy

As one of life’s fidgets, lying still for any length of time is a challenge for me. If I’m not playing with my hair, I’m ripping skin from my long-suffering fingers or nibbling my nails. It’s no wonder I’m an insomniac and that my surplus of nervous energy often manifests itself as anxiety and panic attacks. So I had mixed feelings about a session of Jin Shin Jyutsu, which involves an hour of horizontal stillness.

I met Marguerite van Boetzelaer, one of the few UK practitioners of this ancient Japanese art, at London’s The Hale Clinic. In simple terms, Jin Shin Jyutsu is ‘a way of harmonising the body’s energies to achieve happiness, benevolence and longevity. It’s said to be a powerful tool in helping to overcome discomfort, disharmony and disease, be it physical, emotional or mental. It’s also non-invasive – practitioners place their fingertips, over clothes, on energy locks in the body to harmonise energy flow.

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THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE ON POSTURE

Daily Express

LEARN TO WALK TALL
Hollywood glamour girl Hilary Swank is certain that perfecting your posture will always add instant impact the moment you glide down a red carpet. The Oscar winner is a firm fan of the Alexander Technique, which teaches postural awareness. Lucy Miller finds out how it has given Hilary A-list poise to match her A-list status.
How does it work? How perfect is your posture? Are your shoulders somewhere up around your ears? Are you more likely to slouch than to sit up straight? Are you sure you are walking tall? Good posture can be difficult to attain. Over the years, bad habits cause muscles to tighten and poor posture becomes so ingrained that it’s often difficult to correct.

The Alexander Technique aims to unravel all the years of tense muscles and banish all the bad posture habits you’ve gradually accumulated. It focuses on the way you hold your body and puts you more in tune with the way you move so you can avoid putting it under unnecessary strain.

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LIZ ALVIS PUTS THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD TO THE TEST IN NATURAL HEALTH MAGAZINE

Body – Perfect Posture

Tried and Tested; Liz Alvis puts the Feldenkrais method to the test

I’m well aware that I slouch too much and that my posture leaves a lot to be desired. So I met with Feldenkrais method practitioner Marguerite van Boetzelaer m.s.t.a.t. to see if she could help me to walk tall.
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THE BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL ABOUT THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD TO COMBAT CHRONIC BACK PAIN 2008

Paul Little, professor of primary care research1, George Lewith, reader1, Fran Webley, overall trial coordinator and trial manager for Southampton site1, Maggie Evans, trial manager for Bristol site4, Angela Beattie, trial manager for Bristol site4, Karen Middleton, trial data manager1, Jane Barnett, research nurse1, Kathleen Ballard, teacher of the Alexander technique5, Frances Oxford, teacher of the Alexander technique5, Peter Smith, professor of statistics3, Lucy Yardley, professor of health psychology2, Sandra Hollinghurst, health economist4, Debbie Sharp, professor of primary care4
Author affiliations
Correspondence to: P Little psl3@soton.ac.uk
Accepted 26 May 2008
Abstract
Objective To determine the effectiveness of lessons in the Alexander technique, massage therapy, and advice from a doctor to take exercise (exercise prescription) along with nurse delivered behavioural counselling for patients with chronic or recurrent back pain.

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