Hi I have probably written this in the wrong section and i am way late posting this..i wrote a note and have been tidying and found it again!:)anyway ..i did a course last year(aroma) and when we had all finished a couple of the girls were talking about what they were going on to do and whether other therapies were being taken up.i suggested to one that she might like to do Indian Head Massage,she said that she was'nt sure as she thought that it would conflict with her Christian beliefs,as ihm embraced the spiritual side. what are your thoughts please.:)
did Jesus not heal?
What a fascinating, amusing and thought-provoking debate.
Last year I approached a few local churches during 'Autumn Fayre Season' offering to provide therapy taster sessions. For ease, simplicity and sheer practicality I mentioned IHM in the first instance. Well, in the chilly silence that followed I was sure I could hear strains of the Omen soundtrack tootling down the phone line. Honestly, I was flabbergastered at the sense of unease, mistrust and hostility conveyed in the curt rejections.
I was hurt and un-nerved by this, and my confidence and optimism were crushed for some time. I'd had cheerful hopes of offering a similar service to church coffee mornings etc too, but haven't gone anywhere near since.
This discussion has at least reassured me in a rather sad way that my rejection wasn't as personal as it felt at the time. I smile wryly about it now, but really - what a pitiful shame. Where are the open mind and hearts......?
CC
XX
I remember several years ago talking to a couple of friends about Reiki, one of them laughed and said they had a relative that got someone to come over to give Reiki to their dead cat, :rolleyes: the other one (who is a staunch Catholic) said that it was "evil and magic and shouldn't be messed with". :rolleyes: My partner reckons that was a joke, I'm not so sure. Another mate I was saying about Reiki to said "oh, that's weird" :rolleyes: So I learnt very quickly not to take any comments personally & agree to disagree with regards to Reiki or any other treatments. 😀 Maybe I'm just an evil weird magician that gives Reiki to dead cats. ( I wonder how would that affect my cat allergy....:D :eek:)
Never had any negative comments about IHM or any of the other treatments I do.
When people rejects ideas, they are just indicating just how shrunken their consciousness has become. The nomal response to such people most people experience is disbelief, shock etc but it actually deserves compassion. Compassion because the Unbound, Infinite Self has managed to get bound by so many beliefs and ideaologies. The universal is mistakenly being perceived as mine and thine.
There will come a time when their consciousness will expand too. It is only a matter of time. If not now, sometime later in eternity.
I'd never heard of anyone "losing some of his love for the Lord" just because someone muttered inaudibly!
No offence to anyone here with genuinely-held convictions but this sort of thing is bonkers. And as for that comment earlier about emptying your mind and letting the devil in! You might as well say don't open the church doors in case the devil gets in.
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This illustrates an important point, which is that some of these fundamentalists apparently live in a constant state of FEAR and imagined vulnerability. Which is the opposite of what I'd expect from a true spirituality, which ought surely to enhance confidence. Unreasonable fear is normally based on ignorance. In this case, those condemning alt/comp therapies have not studied the said therapies. and if they really think the Bible condemns such therapies, then they've not studied the Bible either.
It always astonishes me how little some fundamentalists really know about the Bible, despite claiming to base their lives on it. I've read it from cover to cover, and I can assure you that it doesn't mention reiki, ihm, acupuncture, or any other type of alt/comp therapy.
Deep tissue massage training
Hi Froggy
I am a Christian and would like to train to become a deep tissue massage therapist but I'm having difficulty finding a course that doesn't include the other "new age" aspects. Any advice would be welcome?
I went for a deep tissue massage last year and reiki was performed without my knowledge, from the moment I entered the room It was like something within me just didn't agree with the atmosphere - I felt like I was not meant to be there but I ignore it and stayed ....at the end during conversation with the therapist, i said i sensed something different....he mentioned I was stressed but the reiki will help! ( I meant different in the atmosphere not my body) i was not aware of reiki before this.....I did some research into its background and prayed..... during my quiet with Jesus. I just knew it was not what he wanted. (He is the only energy/healer i want to call upon) That's the best thing about being a Christian it's not a set of rules its a relationship with Jesus, a friendship ...:if you cant find an answer in the bible, you can just pray about it
I honestly believe the therapist had good intentions and just thought he was helping but the fact is it was without my permission. I do understand why some therapists/people don't understand, .... As a Christian I have committed myself to Jesus and everything he is - I believe this is why I knew I was in he wrong place as soon as I walked in the room...
I have not had a massage since .... Now I just want to learn and be qualified so in my free time I can provide an honest service to others.
Hi SJ28
Admittedly, some massage therapists do "new agey" things but a lot of massage therapists of the deep tissue/sports scene laugh at such "mumbo jumbo". Don't let your previous experience put you off massage. YOU need to tell your therapist what you need - a physical massage. The THERAPIST needs to understand that they have to be more neutral in their practice and not to dump therapies/philosophies onto the client that wasn't asked for. This is more a question of professionalism.
As for training in massage, you need to ask the tutor/school what they teach. Most qualification courses in body massage wouldn't generally cover subjects like "chakras" and "energy", but the principal and/or tutor should be able to tell you this up front. Courses like IHM and Hot Stone Massage have teachings about "energy" so may be you should avoid them! Sports Massage training that covers deep tissue techniques be more useful for your needs, as it's based on scientific anatomy and physiology, without a chakra, meridian or auric level ever mentioned!!
RP
Hi Froggy
I am a Christian and would like to train to become a deep tissue massage therapist but I'm having difficulty finding a course that doesn't include the other "new age" aspects. Any advice would be welcome?
I went for a deep tissue massage last year and reiki was performed without my knowledge,
First I would like to say I fell that is unethical. As a reiki healer I always get consent from my clients before I do anything.
Secondly I have given reiki to a very committed christian. His opening comment was 'Is this faith based because I don't want to do anything that would be against my faith. I showed him I was wearing a cross, I explained that reiki practitioners are welcomed in the Raphael Guild and he was persuaded. His comment after a 15 minute taster was one word.....Wow!!
Thirdly I work as part of the team of complementary therapists at a local hospice and the other reiki practitioner is a VERY committed christian. She told me she did blanch a little when she realised one of her fellow student was wicca......
There is nothing incompatible between reiki and christianity. Clearly you were with the wrong therapist, and it may be that reiki is NOT a therapy for you - but there is nothing incompatible with your faith per se.
I believe it is wrong to inflict my belief system on my clients and would never do so. I also believe all roads honestly followed lead to God. My background is Christian although I am no longer a regular church goer