Alternative therapies

Through their daily life activities as well as through personal experimentation in the light of the Integral Yoga practiced in Auroville, the residents go through life's stresses and changes in an as-conscious-as-possible manner. Hence, quite a variety of non-conventional therapies have been developed throughout the years to assist the Aurovilians in case of need.

The following is a list (in alphabetical order) of therapies, massages and classes given in Auroville. The majority of these are available in the Quiet Healing Centre, but in other places within the township they are practiced as well.

ACUPUNCTURE

Several Aurovilians practice acupuncture symptomatically when required, but mostly traditional acupuncture is practiced by application of specific methods according to various 'energetic laws': yin and yang, the five elements, the eight principles, the six energetic layers. The intent is to harmonise and balance the 'chi' in the different systems and organs, and in this way regulate body-mind health. Alleviating, dissolving the pain, curing functional ailments, are the results of acupuncture treatments often associated with other therapeutics, because acupuncture is only one branch of Chinese medicine's eight branches.

AQUA BALANCING

Aqua balancing (also sometimes called "Wattsu" from water + shiatsu) is a relatively new form of body work. Done in a shallow tank, in warm water, the therapist (standing) cradles and manipulates the patient (floating) through a series of gentle movements and stretches, inducing (frequently) a profoundly blissful state of relaxation of body and mind. This state greatly facilitates the releasing of blockages, both physical and emotional, which are both cause and effect of much ill health.

ART (DRAWING) THERAPY

This a non-verbal therapy in which one works with images, colours, and forms to communicate with the unconscious physical, emotional and mental intelligence. With the therapist's assistance, the process is structured to meet the participant's personal needs, enabling one to recognise one's own healing energies and to foster physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. All that and it's fun too! (One gets to keep the drawing created at each session).

ASHTANGA YOGA

Ashtanga Yoga is a dynamic form of yoga, where a series of asanas (yoga postures) is practiced in a set sequence. At the heart of Ashtanga Yoga is vinyasa. Vinyasa means 'breath synchronised movement'. It is the breath that links asana to asana in a precise order in this discipline of yoga. By synchronising movement with breathing and practising mula and uddiyana bandhas (locks), an intense internal heat is produced in the body. This heat purifies muscles and organs, expelling unwanted toxins. The breath regulates the vinyasa and ensures efficient circulation of blood. The result is a light, strong body.

AURA READING

An intuitive session where various issues concerning a person are read in the Aura, the energy field around a person that contains imprints of deep impressions from his/her life, effecting one's health and vision on life. In contact with the person's intuitive levels, things can be looked at in a new perspective, and new vision and clarity be obtained. The session takes about 2 till 3 hours.

BACH FLOWERS

Work with Bach flowers, an essence of flowers to heal mental and emotional dysfunctional and disturbing patterns.

BIO-MAGNETIC THERAPY

This is a technique of working with the energy around the various bodies, physical, vital, mental and spiritual. It draws from a number of techniques and enables the client to be more balanced, to have energy blockages dissolved, to receive some healing energy. It also energises one's incarnate being so that it will have more control over one's life rather than the persona or ego. This technique has developed over a number of years but first emerged here in Auroville in 1986 while I was working on a client using Polarity.

BIO RESONANCE (with biocom machine)

All of the body's cells emit electromagnetic vibrations. During illness or injury these vibrations become disharmonious. The biocom machine 'reads' these vibrations, after which it generates corresponding harmonious vibrations that are then transmitted to the body.
The biocom system contains computerised programmes for specific symptoms, organs and meridians. The therapist extensively tests the person beforehand to make an energetic diagnosis and determine which therapy programmes are appropriate.

>> more (AV Today Dec '01)

CHIROPODY

Chiropody is concerned with the ailments of the feet including (but not limited to) warts, ingrown toenails, corns, fungus, etc.

COUNSELING

Psychological counseling relates to our difficulties, dilemmas, challenges, confusion, frustration and errors in terms that allow for observation analysis and the encouragement that stimulates a true connection with oneself. Through this connection with our centre we come to understand our freely chosen goals and the means by which we strive to realise them.

DANCE THERAPY

Life is a dance, either meaningfully and pleasurably whole and healthy in body-heart-mind and world, or painfully fragmented and obstructed within and around us.
Dance therapy allows us to experience and develop freshness in concentration, in action and interaction that gives us a focus while being alone and together. In each one of us there is a happy and an unhappy dancer. We flow and grow as the integrated and dis-integrated creators of the story that we are, and of the moment that is life here-and-now, dancing.

FOOT REFLEXOLOGY

Different zones of the feet correspond with various organs, nerves and glands. In this therapy, gentle pressure applied to these zones stimulates the individual's own healing energies in the corresponding area, helping the affected part to heal itself.

HATHA YOGA

In these classes we learn the technique of the basic classical Hatha Yoga postures in combination with directed breathing. Using a firm and dynamic approach, we learn to mold our body and create greater flexibility and awareness while stimulating and harmonising organs, glands and nerves. Quieting the mind through conscious breathing and focusing on the body's structural possibilities, we progressively imbue the body to fresh energy and precise form.

HOMEOPATHY

A renowned system of medicine that views disease as the manifestation of an imbalance within the vital force and employs remedies delivered in (materially) infinitesimal doses to stimulate the patient's own immune mechanisms in order to gently restore health. The focus is on the patient as a unique individual and the medicine used is his or her individual remedy - not the remedy of the disease. It is delivered in the absolute minimum dose needed.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE BATH

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2 O2) is a naturally occurring compound. For example, it is found in the raindrops that come down during a thunderstorm. It also occurs in human breast milk. Hydrogen peroxide's ability to liberate oxygen makes it a powerful germicide: less well known is its efficacy in promoting circulation, relieving pain and boosting the immune system.
After a (0.3%) hydrogen peroxide bath one typically feels relaxed with increased energy. The peroxide enters the body through the skin and does its beneficial work primarily in the connective tissues where waste products from the past have accumulated. The H2 O2 oxidises the material which can then be excreted from the body.

METAMORPHOSIS THERAPY

Also called Prenatal Therapy, it is an extremely gentle massage of feet, hands and head that can allow feelings that were transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and the early years of life to surface in the patient's awareness in order to be re-lived, processed and released.

MUD THERAPY (Fango)

This therapy involves the application of hot mudpacks to various areas of the body. A particular type of mud is used, cleared and prepared in a particular way. The benefits of this treatment include deep cleansing of the skin, stimulation of the nerves, detoxification of tissues, joints and organs. It is especially helpful in reducing inflammation and pain in muscle and joints.

PAST LIFE THERAPY

This technique can be valuable in assisting the individual towards an understanding of the influences that helped shape the present incarnation, and also guidance towards taking the next step.

PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC DIAGNOSIS AND COUNSELING

Therapists analyse the causes of specific conditions and recommend exercises, movement and therapy that counterbalances debilitating physical habits, illnesses or accidents and the negative conditions they generate. Classical as well as modern physiotherapeutic approaches are employed to suit the specific situation and needs of the patient.

POLARITY THERAPY

Polarity therapy is a powerful healing approach that processes imbalances, blockages and distortions simultaneously on the material, energetic, emotional and mental levels. The technique combines deep massage, light soothing touch, stimulation and re-direction of subtle energies through the meridians plus the chakric and auric fields along with movement therapy, verbal counseling and regenerative trance. Polarity therapy is effective in releasing both acute and chronic conditions in our material frame, and in the depths of our feeling and thinking selves. The technique was developed in the 1930's in the United States, and is based on a broad integration of both Western and Eastern healing traditions.

PRANAEROBICS

This a method of developing a heightened bodily awareness by combining dance technique, yoga postural concentration, mudra (meditative alignments of subtle energy) and pranayama (breath control). Through these modes of concentration we utilise the ayurvedic approach to the five elements: earth-water-fire-air-ether and the cabalistic contemplation of the twelve body regions that correspond to the twelve astrological attributes of the zodiac. Our experience shows us that we can re-create our perception of ourselves and of the world, and this can be done with a freedom that is both playfully structured and spontaneously manifesting. This is accomplished by blending the precision that is in the material body with the intricacies of the energy fields inside and around it.

PRANIC HEALING / CRYSTAL HEALING

This is a technique which uses 'prana' or vital energy to remove disharmonious energy from the patient's aura and chakras and to transfer fresh vital energy to the affected areas of the body. Pranic healing is also effective in the treatment of emotional and mental ailments and, when applied regularly, acts preventively. The healing work does not require physical contact and is done directly on the energy field. Crystals, especially various precious and semi precious gemstones, have the ability to focus characteristic energies, and are sometimes used in conjunction with pranic healing.

REIKI

A hands on energy treatment to balance and deeply clean and relax. A very soft type of treatment that brings someone deeply in contact with him/herself.

SAMALIN

This is an ancient far-east method of skeletal manipulation, similar in some ways to osteopathy or to chiropractic treatments. This method uses acupressure to provide a local anaesthesia allowing direct manipulations to be performed while not giving much pain to the client and also helping the body to relax and not fight the corrections.

SELF-HEALING AND CELLULAR CONSCIOUSNESS

All healing is ultimately self-healing; whatever external therapy be used, at a certain point the body itself has to decide to become well. Based on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's discovery of the consciousness that is secretly present in our cells, and how it can be developed and oriented towards health, this approach to self-healing and health maintenance is a complete and comprehensive way to relate to one's body in everyday life, during health problems and also as a complement to other healing methods.

TRANSFORMATION GAME

An interactive game that can be played solo or with a maximum of 4 persons. In a playful manner, the game gives an opportunity to focus on what we would like to change in our lives, how to use our potential and how to clear our habits of blocking our development and growth.

VIPASSANA

Vipassana's technique is focussed on the body and on purifying the consciousness without relying on the verbalising part of the mind (in which lies a great deal of the falsehood of mentality, being as it is locked in duality, incapable of truly comprehending Oneness).

WATSU

See Aqua Balancing.

MASSAGES

AYURVEDIC MASSAGE

This method works primarily to stimulate, relax and balance the whole body-mind continuum, alleviating complaints such as muscle pain, headaches and digestive disorders, structural problems such as sciatica, and spinal difficulties such as shoulder and neck pain. Treatment involves the copious use of special oils and a thorough and rhythmic process of tracing, kneading, stretching and twisting manipulations.

DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE

Deep tissue massage works through the vegetative nervous system to influence the internal organs, the circulation, respiration and general muscle tone. It is effective in treating many chronic conditions and works deeply on an emotional level as well.

LYMPH DRAINAGE

Lymph drainage works via a very soft rhythmic touch that acts directly on the lymphatic system. It specifically removes edema - a swelling which occurs due to over accumulation of fluids in body tissue, thereby detoxifying the internal milieu in its entirety.

RELAXING MASSAGE

A gentle approach using fragrant oils in which the spine, feet, arms and shoulders are massaged in order to induce deep relaxation, and relief from mental and physical stress. This technique improves blood circulation, boosts the immune response and the endocrine, muscular, digestive and lymphatic functions.

SHIATSU

Shiatsu is a meditative massage technique based on the ancient Taoist knowledge of Yin/Yang and the five elements.
A Shiatsu massage relaxes body and mind and invigorates and harmonises the body's own energies. It releases tension, alleviates stiffness, improves respiration and circulation, and has a general toning effect on the nervous and muscular/skeletal systems.

UNDERWATER MASSAGE

Strong jets of water are employed to massage the entire body while the patient remains immersed in a pleasantly temperate bath. The technique induces deep relaxation of all the muscles and lowering of the blood pressure and is ideal for the treatment of muscular cramps, spasms and all conditions of tension and stress.

PSYCHOANALYSIS

It suits Auroville to have psychoanalysis on board. Psychoanalysis is a firmly founded method - within the limits of its capacity - to help in cases where help is needed to recover joy, recover satisfaction by involvement and progress. It is also a mode of realisation in that it gives to understand - systematically and in great detail - how the psychic process works and why we suffer, and make suffer, if that process gets bogged down and too twisted, not the least by its own structural complications.
In want of joy, and in phases of blockage, we experience how delicate and vulnerable we are and how demanding life is in its complex confrontations. Whatever the art to enlarge and enrich life, and to overcome one's acquired limitations, it cannot be done without the recognition of one's painful failures. Psychoanalysis is a way to dissolve the spell of those past failures in order to set free new options for one's future.

Please note that Auroville can offer no guarantees regarding the medical knowledge, abilities, personal integrity or behaviour of Aurovilians or others offering therapies within the community, nor of the effectiveness of the therapies offered, and so anyone seeking their help has to be advised that they do so at their own risk.
The therapists come from many backgrounds and there is a growing awareness that an 'umbrella group' is needed, which would keep a list of those it feels it can recommend. Currently several therapists are meeting to work out the various parameters.

Contact: webmaster@auroville.org.in