msafiri habariinspiration familiar with Tai Chi will recognise the slow, fluid movements. Clients report coming away feeling calmer and lighter. Neuro- Linguistic Programming ( NLP) NLP is the practice of understanding how people organise their thinking, feeling, language and behaviour. The technique is based on the premise that if we change how we think we can simply change what we think. We are all constantly running programmes in our heads – these ingrained thought- patterns are often distorted, even though they determine our views, attitudes and behaviour. The theory behind NLP is that it enables us to re- programme our minds and overcome the thought patterns and behaviour holding us back. Although dismissed by some parts of the scientific community, advocates strongly argue that it can help us to understand the behaviour patterns and views of others by helping them to stand in their shoes and gain a different perspective. Craniosacral Therapy This gentle, increasingly popular therapy works with the body's natural capacity for self- repair to treat conditions such as stress, neck and back pain, autism, arthritis and insomnia. Craniosacral Therapy was developed by American osteopath Dr William Sutherland in the early 1900s. Sutherland discovered that movements of the bones in the head revealed different aspects – and problems – to do with the body and emotions. FURTHER INFORMATION Q NLP in South Africa: NLPSA www. nlpsa. com Q Craniosacral Therapy Association of the UK www. craniosacral. co. uk Q Emotional Freedom Technique for Dummies by Helena Fone process we tap on certain energy meridians." The scientific jury is out on the conclusive benefits: critics say the theory is pseudo-scientific, while at least two studies have shown positive outcomes. Seiki Seiki ( meaning ' treatment of life energy') may sound like the better known therapy ' Reiki' – but in fact the two are quite distinct. Developed by Akinobu Kishi, a Japanese Shiatsu Master, Seiki is a form of Japanese Energy and Movement practice that works with intuition and the breath. It is a gentle, breath- orientated form of movement, tapping into individuals' intuition, designed to promote awareness of the current moment. Clients may be talked through a series of exercises including Katsugen ( spontaneous expression and movement), Gyoki ( Chi energy awareness) and some simple chants. Those Emotional Freedom Techniques ( EFT) The theory behind EFT is that negative emotions alter the body's energy field. Sometimes called ' psychological acupuncture', EFT is an energy meridian therapy discovered by Gary Graig. Graig worked with Vietnam war veterans and discovered that spending time tapping on their energy meridians could help them to re- learn their automatic stress responses. Chris Smith, UK hypnotherapist and coach, says EFT has a success rate of around 95%: " We get in touch with people's fear and take them back to imagining being in the situation that is the source of their anxiety. During the S tress is one of the great modern epidemics. In some parts of the world it is estimated that 60 to 90% of visits to a doctor are related to stress. Rocketing fuel prices, political upheaval, rising inflation and bleak economic outlooks all contribute to today's pressures. The ancient human stress response secretes powerful hormones that prepare us for action – typically, either fight or flight. Symptoms include physical tension, low vitality levels, insomnia, and a feeling of imbalance. In some cases, severe stress and anxiety can lead to time off work and clinical depression. Yet while stress levels are rocketing, our understanding of how we can cope with this condition is also growing fast. Scientists have recently discovered, for example, that a good old- fashioned hug can reduce stress levels in chimps! And the good news is that there is plenty we can do to unwind and there are a host of treatments, traditional and innovative, that can help us de- stress. 45 STRESS- BUSTING Lucia Cockcroft guides us through the best and the latest techniques for dealing with stress beginners'guide to...