It’s no surprise that many of us are dealing with stress regularly. While stress isn’t always bad, it can take its toll if we don’t learn how to manage negative stresses that come into our daily lives — whether it’s in the form of irate and irrational customers, an employee not arriving on time or simply not having enough time to get things you want done during these months leading up to the ever-important holiday season.
Our business is often seen by others as retail therapy. A place to visit when we’re seeking something special for friends, loved ones, or as a treat for ourselves. Wholesalers love to share unique products with their customers. But where are we supposed to turn to when we need some support in the health and well-being space?
Energy and other forms of alternative therapies can be incredibly powerful if we take the time to consider how to best incorporate them into our lives. Rather than consider them a “treat” when we have time, why not intentionally add them into your life as you would any other important item you want to prioritize, like eating healthy or exercising?
Reiki
Most of us think of Reiki (pronounced ray-key) as a form of energy healing. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Reiki is an energy healing technique that promotes relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety through gentle touch. Reiki practitioners use their hands to deliver energy to your body, improving the flow and balance of your energy to support healing.”
One study published in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care in 2019 showed that Reiki treatment can help create feelings of peace, relaxation, security and wellness.
Sound Bowls
Many types of energy healing techniques allow you to bring your body and mind to a calm state without having to do anything but receive the experience. In addition to Reiki, sound therapy is another option.
“Sound healing or therapy is the use of sound frequencies to affect the brain and the autonomic nervous system — calming the “fight and flight” response and resulting in relaxation, healing and individual enrichment,” explains Joanne Dusatko, a sound healing and therapy practitioner and founder of Illinois-based Sound Healing Remedies.
The practice uses the vibrations from the instruments, whether it’s singing bowls, bells, tuning forks, gongs, or other items, to help relax the mind and body. Dusatko believes sound therapy is effective because our bodies are 70% water and water is an excellent conductor of sound. Also, everything is in a state of vibration including our bodies. Like Reiki, all you need to do is approach the experience with curiosity and an open mind. Lie down and simply let the sounds produced by the practitioner wash over you.
Acupuncture
If you’ve never experienced acupuncture, you might picture the image of thin needles around someone’s forehead and wonder if those needles hurt.
The practice is done by penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles which are then activated through gentle and specific movements of the practitioner’s hands or with electrical stimulation, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
“Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system,” the information shared on the Johns Hopkins Medicine page on integrative medicine continues. “This, in turn, releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.”
It’s used to treat everything from major medical issues including asthma and osteoarthritis but equally compelling is the practice can help those suffering from emotional issues such as anxiety, depression and insomnia.
It’s best to consult a healthcare practitioner to discuss these treatments before scheduling one to make sure nothing in your health history might prove problematic. For example, it is not recommended to participate in sound bath therapy if you’re pregnant as no instruments should be placed on the body. Or, if it’s advised, be sure to find an experienced and conscientious facilitator.
Author: Megy Karydes
Megy Karydes is a Chicago-based writer. Her new book, 50 Ways to More Calm, Less Stress: Scientifically Proven Ways to Relieve Anxiety and Boost Your Mental Health Using Your Five Senses, will be available January 2024. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter to receive more self care tips at
Website: https://www.megykarydes.com
