Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Ishta Spinal Touch?
Ishta Spinal Touch is a philosophy and practice which seeks to help keep
the bones of the skull, spine and pelvis in their proper relationship with
each other, in order to allow the body to express its maximum potential.
What do you mean by maximum potential?
Each individual human being has their own unique blend of potentials
pre-programmed by genetic heritage long before birth. These include such
factors as the capacity to see and hear, the capacity for eye to hand
coordination, the capacity to think clearly, to remember, to reason, to organise
thoughts, to solve problems, the capacity to resist disease and recover from
injuries, the capacity for balanced emotional response, for humour, for love.
These are but a few examples of the many potentials and capacities inherent
within the individual. While nobody can know the outer-most limits of these
potentials, it is easy to see how failure to express them fully would make
us less than we could be.
What have the bones of the skull, spine and pelvis got to do with expressing
potential?
These bones protect the central nervous system, which is the body's control
pathway to organs, glands and other body parts. It has been shown that tiny
misalignments of these bones, which we call derrangements, can interfere
with normal nervous impulses to and from the brain, and thereby disrupt the
harmonious interaction of body parts. Because some of the disturbed glands
and organs manufacture body chemicals the totality of the biochemistry is
thus disturbed. This disturbance in the balance of the body's chemistry affects
every physical, mental and emotional aspect of life and interferes with the
expression of full potential.
Are you saying that internal changes in body chemistry, caused by derrangements,
can affect such mental factors as mood or memory or creative ability?
Of course. We have only to think of the physical, emotional and mental changes
that can result from alcohol, drugs and medicines to realise how important
body chemistry is to all functions. When body chemistry is disturbed either
by adding chemicals from the outside, or by changing what the body manufactures
from the inside, the result always affects every aspect of life.
Is Ishta Spinal Touch a form of chiropractic or osteopathy?
Absolutely not! There are no bony manipulations involved at all. Ishta Spinal
Touch solely uses a unique muscle relaxation technique to reduce derangements.
How does Ishta Spinal Touch correct these derrangements?
To be absolutely accurate, we must point out that Ishta Spinal Touch does
not really correct the derrangements. The body has its own spinal muscles
to do that. Unfortunately, the spinal muscles are often too busy doing something
else. It is this "something else" that Ishta Spinal Touch addresses, allowing
the muscles to do the job they are supposed to do.
Does it hurt?
No it is very gentle and relaxing. Often people fall asleep while it is being
done.
Is Ishta Spinal Touch safe?
Yes. There are no contra-indications to receiving the treatment. There are,
however, some times when caution is required. Practitioners are well trained
to know when intervention from another health professional is required.
How do I know if I have derrangements?
Unfortunately, most of the time you don't. It is true that some derrangements
may produce pain or muscle spasm, but most do not. The only way to be sure
is to have an assessment by a trained and certified Ishta Spinal Touch
practitioner.
How does an Ishta Spinal Touch practitioner know what to do?
They are trained in assessing you for postural distortion by standing
you in front of a plumb line, and by other means. Even untrained
people (a spouse or parent, for example) can often see the distortion
when compared against a vertical and horizontal reference point.
The exact form that this distortion takes determines how the alignment
technique is applied.
What can an Ishta Spinal Touch alignment do for my posture?
Let's take a look at an example. In the following photographs the
green lines are where the person should be, the pink lines denote
where they actually are.
Before an alignment from the back.
We can see that this person is leaning over to one side and that
her hips, shoulders and the back of her head are not level. Having
horizontal shoulders and hips support the internal organs properly.
Also there is a pronounced "winging" of the right shoulder blade.
Before an alignment from the side.
We see that the ear and the centre of the hips are much further
forward than they should be. This may affect the functioning of
the diaphragm and can compromise her breathing. This has led to
an increased curve in her lower back in an attempt to compensate.
There is also too much curve in her neck, which compresses the base
of her skull. This may lead to poor blood supply and drainage to
and from her head.
After the alignment from the back.
We can see that after the alignment this person is much more upright, side
to side, and her hips, shoulders and the back of her head are much more level
than before. This allows her to bear her weight on her feet in a much more
balanced way.
After the alignment from the side.
We can see that the forward lean has reduced and the forward head
carriage almost completely gone. This is important as for every
inch of forward head carriage the neck muscles have to work 10 times
harder. There is also less of a curve in her lower back making it
more stable. Also the curve in her neck has improved.
What particular physical, mental or emotion conditions respond to Ishta Spinal
Touch?
None! Ishta Spinal Touch is not a treatment for any condition or an attempt
to cure any disease.
It is true, of course, that one of the potentials which could be reduced
by a derrangement is the body's potential for health.
What we can say is that Ishta Spinal Touch is particularly safe and gentle
and has helped people with:-
Ankylosing Spondylitis, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Back Pain, Balance
Problems, Breathing Impairment, Depression, Digestive Problems,
Fatigue, Foot Problems, Frozen Shoulders, Headaches, Insomnia, Jaw
Problems, Joint Pain, Knee Problems, Kyphosis, Learning and Behavioural
Difficulties, Lordosis, Low Energy, Menstrual Problems, Migraines,
Multiple Sclerosis, Neck Pain, Pins and Needles, Poor Posture, Problems
during and after Pregnancy, Recurrent Infections, Repetitive Strain
Injuries, Scoliosis, Sciatica, Sinus Problems, Sports Injuries,
Stress Management, Tension, Visual Disturbances, Wellness Care,
Whiplash Injuries and more.
Ishta Spinal Touch is primarily concerned with creating a healthy, balanced
state on all levels. It therefore has the potential to help people with almost
any condition.
In our view a body which has derrangements could never be as healthy as it
could be under the same circumstances, but without having the derrangements.
Whatever potential one has for resisting disease or recovering from disease
or injury will obviously be better expressed without derrangements.
But it is important to realise that all people are better off without
derrangements, under all circumstances, without regard to whether they are
sick or well. If you want to know the best treatments for any disease ask
your GP. If you want to stay free of derrangements just because that's the
best way to be all that you could be, have Ishta Spinal Touch regularly.
What causes derrangements?
Almost any fall or accident could cause derrangements. So could poor posture,
physical or emotional stress, malnutrition, dehydration, surgery, physical
exertion, or any one of a dozen other things. In fact, almost everyone gets
derrangements at some time or other, often in childhood. Unless these
derrangements are corrected, we spend our entire life being less than we
could be.
Have some Ishta Spinal Touch today.
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