Healing is about resonance. When two things are in proximity and vibrating at different frequencies, there are three possible outcomes - the higher frequency will match the lower one; the lower frequency will match the higher one; or they will meet halfway. Touch is defined as the skilled contact of hands with the body, applied with intelligence, control and purpose. Touch has no movement. Touch is basic, simple and powerful. Practitioners of touch therapy ideally learn to hold a high vibration in their hands, and match the differing frequency levels of the healer and patient. With effective techniques, a practitioner can learn to hold an extraordinarily high vibration, influencing the person in need of healing to match the practitioner's vibration. When done correctly, the healer does not get drained; rather she feels emotionally uplifted as a result of the process.

How Touch Therapy Works

Running energy involves the use of specific breathing and body awareness exercises to raise one's vibration. This energy is called 'prana', chioki. When the body receives a high vibration, it responds in whatever way it chooses, in order to accelerate the healing process. In order to accomplish this, healing must first begin on a quantum, or subatomic level and work its way through the rest of the body. From the DNA to the molecules, cells, tissue, organs and even the position of bones - they all respond to the powerful vibration as expressed through the life-force energy that comes through the hands.

When muscles are overworked, waste products such as lactic acid can accumulate, causing soreness, stiffness, and even spasms. Touch therapy improves circulation, which increases blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to body tissues. It can also help in the elimination of waste products, speed healing after injury, and enhance recovery from disease. Massage can be used to promote general wellbeing and enhance self-esteem, while boosting the circulatory and immune systems to benefit blood pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion, and skin tone. It has been incorporated into many health systems, and different massage techniques have been developed and integrated into various complementary therapies.

There are various advantages of touch therapy, especially if done by the right person in the right manner. Touch therapy stimulates the nerves, blood vessels, glands, cell exchanges and other tissue processes. Blood and lymph vessels are emptied and fresh blood drawn into the parts. It leads to heat production of the muscles and increases the size and firmness of muscle tissue. Enlarged, stiffened and painful joints return to normal when the surrounding muscles are kneaded. Muscles are encouraged to relax when they are twisted, compressed, and manipulated. Shoulder pain, back pain or neck pain, all can be relieved in less than 10 minutes as each person has the ability to hold a resonance so high, that can allow bones to spontaneously glide back into alignment even with a light touch.

Types Of Touch Therapies

Passive touch : Lightly touching the part being focused upon with one or more fingers, the whole hand, or both hands. The weight of the passive touch is less than the weight of your hands and the hands shouldn't be moving.

Pressure touch : Pressure touch is the same as passive touch except that more than the weight of the hand is used.

Friction: In this technique, the hand (or part of it) is moved over the surface with varying amounts of pressure.

Kneading: Invovles grasping the tissues or compressing them against the underlying bony surfaces. There are many types of kneading that can be alternated for variety.

Fulling: This is a pinching movement that acts exclusively upon the skin and loose tissue underlying it. The skin is simultaneously compressed between the thumb and finger and lifted from the underlying bone or muscle, being released at the moment when the strain is greatest.

Petrissage: This is usually what people think of when you speak of 'kneading'. The tissue is grasped by the palmar surface of the hand opposing the closed fingers. The tissue is then lifted, twisted and released.

Wringing: This procedure is executed by grasping the limb with the two hands placed on opposite sides and then twisting the tissue so the two hands come together in the centre.

Palmar : This movement is executed either with the heel of the hand or the whole palmar surface. The hand is placed over the tissue with a considerable amount of pressure and then the hand turns to meet the resistance of the underlying tissue.

Fist: Used on the area between the shoulder blades and on the buttocks. It consists of compression of the deep tissues by the knuckles of the closed fist in conjunction with a slight rotation of the wrist.

Digital: In digital kneading, only the ends of the fingers or thumbs are employed. The tissues are rubbed and pressed against the underlying bony surfaces. It's very useful in massage of small areas such as the hand, and with intricate spaces such as along the spine.