FAQ – Anna Taneburgo B.S.W.,M.Ed.,R.S.W.

Answers to frequently asked questions…

*What is energy healing?*
Energy flows through us and animates our bodies. This energy also extends outside of the physical body, creating low frequency electromagnetic fields around us. An energy practitioner can detect these fields, as well as the energy flows in the body. Stagnation in this energy flow often reflects our physical, mental and emotional state. So when this vital energy is stimulated, you can feel an overall boost to your well-being. What does it involve? While you remain clothed and lying comfortably on a massage table, Anna places her hands gently on appropriate parts of your body to stimulate your energy flow. Possible sensations include: warmth, deep relaxation, a sensation of floating, feelings of love and joy, seeing images or colours, and occasionally restful, sound sleep. Painful emotions that have been buried in your body can also arise. With the help of dialogue, they can be fully expressed and released, leaving you feeling lighter and more whole. As you clear your body’s emotional burden, you can begin to access intuition, or deeper knowing, to guide your actions towards a more fulfilling life. After a few sessions, some people also begin to experience peaceful spiritual states. Energy work can also relieve pain, reduce stress and anxiety, increase energy and improve sleep. In a survey of staff at an area hospital, energy work relieved pain by 27% and reduced stress by 36% – after only one 15 minute session!

What is energy healing?

Energy flows through us and animates our bodies. This energy also extends outside of the physical body, creating low frequency electromagnetic fields around us. An energy practitioner can detect these fields, as well as the energy flows in the body. Stagnation in this energy flow often reflects our physical, mental and emotional state. So when this vital energy is stimulated, you can feel an overall boost to your well-being.

What does it involve? While you remain clothed and lying comfortably on a massage table, Anna places her hands gently on appropriate parts of your body to stimulate your energy flow. Possible sensations include: warmth, deep relaxation, a sensation of floating, feelings of love and joy, seeing images or colours, and occasionally restful, sound sleep.

Painful emotions that have been buried in your body can also arise. With the help of dialogue, they can be fully expressed and released, leaving you feeling lighter and more whole. As you clear your body’s emotional burden, you can begin to access intuition, or deeper knowing, to guide your actions towards a more fulfilling life. After a few sessions, some people also begin to experience peaceful spiritual states. Energy work can also relieve pain, reduce stress and anxiety, increase energy and improve sleep. In a survey of staff at an area hospital, energy work relieved pain by 27% and reduced stress by 36% – after only one 15 minute session!

*What is mindfulness and why is it important in healing?*
Our minds are usually busy – when we’re not reliving the past, we’re planning the future, or we’re judging what’s happening in the present. Rarely are we fully present to the moment. Sitting with yourself and watching your mind for even one minute will quickly prove this. Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening moment to moment, without getting lost in your thoughts, or emotionally hijacked by them. You can experience your body’s sensations and witness the contents of your mind, fully aware of how you are reacting to whatever internal or external stressor arises. It’s like sitting in a movie theatre and watching the action on the screen, instead of believing that you’re in the movie. From this spacious vantage point, wisdom and compassion naturally arise. Life becomes easier and more joyful. In the words of the author and teacher, Eckhart Tolle, you come to experience “the power of now”. *So why is it important in healing?* When we have stored painful experiences in our body, we tend to resist feeling the pain by keeping our minds and bodies busy. On the healing table, the mind is invited to rest, so that the body can ‘speak’. Issues that have been buried in our tissues finally have a chance to be acknowledged, understood, and ultimately released. The irony is that doing this is rarely as painful as we imagine it to be, and that burying our wounds actually causes more pain in the long run. Most of us find that It is only by moving through pain that we can release it and go on to live more happy and peaceful lives.

What is mindfulness and why is it important in healing?

Our minds are usually busy – when we’re not reliving the past, we’re planning the future, or we’re judging what’s happening in the present. Rarely are we fully present to the moment. Sitting with yourself and watching your mind for even one minute will quickly prove this.
Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening moment to moment, without getting lost in your thoughts, or emotionally hijacked by them. You can experience your body’s sensations and witness the contents of your mind, fully aware of how you are reacting to whatever internal or external stressor arises. It’s like sitting in a movie theatre and watching the action on the screen, instead of believing that you’re in the movie. From this spacious vantage point, wisdom and compassion naturally arise. Life becomes easier and more joyful. In the words of the author and teacher, Eckhart Tolle, you come to experience “the power of now”.

So why is it important in healing? When we have stored painful experiences in our body, we tend to resist feeling the pain by keeping our minds and bodies busy. On the healing table, the mind is invited to rest, so that the body can ‘speak’. Issues that have been buried in our tissues finally have a chance to be acknowledged, understood, and ultimately released. The irony is that doing this is rarely as painful as we imagine it to be, and that burying our wounds actually causes more pain in the long run. Most of us find that It is only by moving through pain that we can release it and go on to live more happy and peaceful lives.

What is mindfulness-based counselling?
Mindfulness-based counselling involves exploration through dialogue as the energy healing unfolds. Through moment-to-moment mindful awareness, you become transparent to yourself in real time. But instead of judging your inner experience, you simply notice it, with equanimity, or matter-of-fact acceptance. Amazingly, dropping the resistance to things we don’t like about ourselves actually opens the door to healing. It’s as if we get ourselves out of the way, so that our deeper wisdom can come into play. You’re continually invited to notice what is happening in each moment. When you are fully present to the sensations of your body, the activity of your mind and the arising of your emotions, you begin to “release the issues in your tissues”. The effect of paying attention in this loving way can be profound: your body feels energized and refreshed, your mind becomes calm and clear, you feel peaceful, and you are better able to perceive inner wisdom. Imagine the effect of another person’s pure unconditional presence when you are suffering. Then imagine turning that same presence towards yourself. You may find that just being seen, heard and understood in this way can promote deep healing.

What is mindfulness-based counselling?

Mindfulness-based counselling involves exploration through dialogue as the energy healing unfolds. Through moment-to-moment mindful awareness, you become transparent to yourself in real time. But instead of judging your inner experience, you simply notice it, with equanimity, or matter-of-fact acceptance. Amazingly, dropping the resistance to things we don’t like about ourselves actually opens the door to healing. It’s as if we get ourselves out of the way, so that our deeper wisdom can come into play. You’re continually invited to notice what is happening in each moment. When you are fully present to the sensations of your body, the activity of your mind and the arising of your emotions, you begin to “release the issues in your tissues”. The effect of paying attention in this loving way can be profound: your body feels energized and refreshed, your mind becomes calm and clear, you feel peaceful, and you are better able to perceive inner wisdom.

Imagine the effect of another person’s pure unconditional presence when you are suffering. Then imagine turning that same presence towards yourself. You may find that just being seen, heard and understood in this way can promote deep healing.

*What can I expect after a session?*
You will likely feel more at peace after a session. It’s helpful to give yourself some space and time to fully integrate the changes that your ‘bodymind’ has undergone. Taking a walk or bath will help. At the very least, take time to savour your feelings of well-being and reflect on your newfound insights. It’s valuable to avoid highly stressful situations for the rest of the day, as your being may be more sensitive.

What can I expect after a session?

You will likely feel more at peace after a session. It’s helpful to give yourself some space and time to fully integrate the changes that your ‘bodymind’ has undergone. Taking a walk or bath will help. At the very least, take time to savour your feelings of well-being and reflect on your newfound insights. It’s valuable to avoid highly stressful situations for the rest of the day, as your being may be more sensitive.

*How will I know if the sessions are helping?*
Very simply: if you start feeling like you are living your life, and not the life others have expected of you. Someone once said, “If you’re not going to be you, who will be?” A potent thought!

*How often should I come?*
It’s important to recognize that it took you some time to get to where you are now, so it will take awhile to get to where you want to be. Coming on a regular basis, at whatever pace feels appropriate to you, is better than coming only once or on a sporadic basis.

*What else can I do to support my well-being?*
If you reflect on all aspects of your being that need to be nurtured, this will guide you. You have a body – what does it need to feel cared for? You have a mind – what does it need to feel clear and focussed? You have a heart – what does it need to feel alive? A deeply fulfilling life requires your loving attention to all aspects of yourself.