THOSE of us who are lucky enough to take holidays return feeling renewed, with a greater sense of perspective on our lives. But as we fall back in to the autumn grind of schedules, schools, work and stress, we may lose that feeling of well being ally too quickly. And as we move towards shorter, darker days many of us naturally feel slightly depressed.
Summer is the "up" time of the year. Fine weather and bright sunny days lift everyone's mood; holidays rejuvenate; long summer evenings encourage relaxation. The question is, is it possible to hold on to that feel good feeling through the grey days of winter?
Yes, say the experts. The key is in not spending the long winter evenings slumped in front of the TV or in the pub but using them to nurture your body, mind and spirit. Complementary therapies (also dubbed alternative or holistic) are gaining increasing respect as healing tools. But you don't need to be ill or depressed to avail of their enriching benefits.
To increase their sense of well being and inner peace, more people are using a variety of "alternative" techniques, such as meditation, hypnosis, healing and even African drums.
"People leave their houses in the morning reasonably calm," says John Kenny, who teaches African hand drumming. "By the time they've queued for a bus in the rain, or battled with traffic, been shouted at by the boss or the public a few times, and coped with the various things that invariably go wrong, their concentration begins to falter.
"This goes on during their day and if they don't do anything to let off the steam that has built up, they become jittery too jittery to focus on anything. And if this goes on and on, they become neurotic.
"The physical act of drumming is in itself a tremendous release. Playing with the hands is totally different to playing with sticks. The hand vibrates because it is one with the instrument. But concentrating on the timing is also very much part of the therapeutic" effect of drumming.
"Learning drums requires concentration of a very different kind to that which is the norm for most people in their work or daily lives - beat counting of the rhythms, mostly 4/4 timing. This kind of concentration focuses the mind, calms it, so that clearer thinking emerges.
"People recognise this effect: the most usual comment I hear from those at my classes is how a drumming session `clears the head'. Once you've learned the technique, drumming out rhythms during times of stress can also be an outlet. And of course, apart from everything else, it's tremendous fun." The African drums course runs at The Healing House, O'Connell Ave, Dublin 1, for 10 weeks from Sept 19th. Tel: (01) 8306413.
Focusing is a little known technique which operates on the premise that the body has an intelligence as well as the brain. "The body has its own language through which it wants to talk," says focusing instructor, Larry Cummins. "The way you let it talk to you is by caring for what the body is telling you, holding the feelings, listening to its wisdom. The technique by which you do that is called focusing."
Focusing taps into what is called a body sense" or "felt sense", something that often cannot be put into words. "We commonly refer to this as a gut feeling or a hunch, says Larry Cummins. "If we can learn how to tap into that felt sense and pay attention to how the body carries it, the body will process it for us." For further details about focusing phone him at (01) 8338 985.
There are many forms of massage, all of which relax, soothe and heal the body. Massage increases blood circulation so that a particular area of the body is helped to repair itself. It also soothes nerve endings, relieves painful muscles, improves lymphatic drainage and rebalances the Swedish massage is an invigorating pummelling, used to increase blood circulation, reduce fluid retention and smooth out lumpy tissue. Aromatherapy is the ancient art of using essential oils extracted from aromatic trees and plants and an aromatherapist will use a blend of particular oils to encourage healing and relaxation, reduce body waste products and induce a feeling of general well being. Ki massage and healing massage are similar in technique and purpose.
Reflexology is a specialised foot massage, again based on an ancient therapy. The foot is said to have an invisible map, with each part of the foot corresponding to a different part of the body. It is said to stimulate the body to clear itself of a build up of toxins and to leave the way clear for it to heal itself.
Your local Golden Pages will carry details of aromatherapist's and reflexologists near you. Alternatively, you might like to try these therapies on a get away from it all weekend. Scents of Autumn offers reflexology and aromatherapies along with guided walks in the stress free zone of Inishbofin as an all in package at the family owned Doonmore Hotel with its turf fires, home cooking and awe inspiring views. Further details from Margaret Munay in Inishboffin (095) 4804 or Bernie Dwyer in Dublin (01) 8324169.
Another massage variation is Indian Head Massage, a 1,000 year old technique which releases tension in the area of head, neck and shoulders and as muscles unknot in this part of the body where stress is so commonly carried, other parts of the body respond. Telephone Ingrid Flanagan at (01) 961764.
Beethoven said he left his music "to heal the world"; the ancient Greeks believed the soul was enticed into the body by music and Jung believed that music "should be an essential part of every analysis". Music has always been linked to the deeper self.
Therese Timoney, for many years a concert violinist and leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and now a Louise Hay certified healer, runs a workshop called The Joy of Sound. "Music can hit the right spot like nothing else," she says. "For example, if you have somebody who is grieving but who cannot find the words to express their feelings, by using the right piece of music combined with deep relaxation they can release their emotions, maybe have a good cry and afterwards, once they have released the bottled up tension, begin to explore their grief. For further details of The Joy of Sound, telephone Therese Timoney at (01) 4936492.
Jean McCarthy was a bank manager and, in her own words, "a bit of a workaholic" when she began to ask herself `What's this all about?' "I heard about healing and became interested and gradually got more and more involved," she says.
Now she is a full time healer who also teaches other people about the joys and benefits of healing.
"Healing operates at lots of different levels," she says. "For some it's just a form of relaxation, a way of letting go of stress and achieving a sense of peace. For others it focuses on deeper emotional issues or physical illness." Her Self Healing Group meets every Tuesday. Each session is complete myself and people can leave and join as they wish, without having to sign on for a course.
The evening begins with relaxation and meditation and moves on to giving and receiving healing by laying on of hands. "We also do creative visualisation, colour and sound therapy," says Jean. "It's a very gentle, nurturing evening, aimed at finding harmony and balance. It shows people how they can do a lot for themselves." For details, telephone Jean McCarthy at (01) 2823840.
Tai Chi is now the most health orientated of what were the martial arts, says Charles Thackaberry of the Tai Chi Chuan Association. The technique, which is thousands of years old, was recently shown to reduce blood pressure and ease stress. "Primarily T'ai Chi develops self awareness, says Charles Thackaberry. "It also has a relaxation function, a strengthening function and it induces balance. It is an active training ground for the philosophy of yin and yang, bringing the contrasting aspects of the self into harmony.
T'ai Chi is a slow moving form of exercise, where postures are held and breathing techniques are paramount. The level at which it is practised can vary. Beginners start in a "high frame", moving lower his muscles adapt and technique is improved.
T'ai Chi classes are running this autumn at St Andrew's Resource Centre, Dublin, tel: (01) 6771930; at Wexford Arts Centre, tel. Rita Keane at (053) 38039 and in Cork, tel: Ann Mcllraith at (022) 42290 or consult your local Golden Pages.