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BODY, MIND & SOUL:
From Reflexology to Reiki and More...

By Trudy Marshall

As people increasingly become frustrated with traditional medicine, many
are looking for an alternative method of healing.  Too often traditional
medicine only treats the symptoms instead of looking at the cause and
beginning treatment at the source of the illness.

Fran Bruce, owner and operator of Body, Mind and Soul, prefers to work
towards healing the "whole" self.   Currently located on Warren Avenue in
downtown Saginaw until June 24th, when the business will move to 933
Gratiot Avenue, you can readily detect the office by its signature 'purple
awning'.

The weary spirit seems to have found its haven upon entering the shop.  As
the subtle aroma of incense gently fills the senses and the quiet music
plays in the background it feels as if all the stresses of the world are
slowly lifting off of one's shoulders, quietly replaced by a sense of
calmness and serenity.

Fran warmly welcomes each person who enters her little corner of the world
and quickly one realizes they have found that place that everyone needs to
come to in order to find a little bit of themselves.

Erin Kilborn was one of those people.  One afternoon her car broke down in
the parking lot of Body, Mind & Soul.  It never occurred to Erin when she
entered the store that afternoon that she would begin a new chapter in her
life.  Soon, Erin would become one of the Fran's students; not only in life
but also in her Reiki classes.

One can often find some of Fran's many students hanging out in the shop
answering phones or offering a Reiki session to those who are curious to
discover what Reiki can do for them.  Indeed, it seems these students have
found a haven inside of the little shop with the purple awning.

Fran offers several services for body, mind and soul, including massage,
reflexology and Reiki.

While most are familiar with both reflexology and massage, Reiki is
something most are not familiar with. It has been around for at least two
hundred years, discovered in Japan near the end of the 1800's by a Japanese
Christian educator Dr. Mikao Usui.

Undertaking an extensive study of healing phenomena's of the world's
greatest spiritual leaders, it is claimed that through study, research and
meditation Dr. Usui created a system of healing based on ancient Buddhist
and Hindu teachings.

In the 1970's, Reiki began to make its way into the western world of healing.
Reiki is considered energy work.  Often the body and mind will find that
its energy is out of balance, so Reiki helps put that balance back in line.

As Fran describes Reiki to her students: "It's like having two magnets, one
is positive, one is negative.  Those two magnets will work against one
another."  Reiki puts that back into balance so instead of working against
one another the energy works to balance out the physical and emotional body.

The Japanese symbols that make up the word Reiki are usually translated in
the West as "universal Life Energy", which is an excellent way of
describing Reiki.

While Reiki is difficult to describe, its effects are quite easy to detail
and to feel.  While nobody is claiming that Reiki or any other form of
energy work should replace a visit to your family doctor, it may possibly
help you avoid needing some of those visits.

Reiki is a wonderful form of de-stressing.  Fran tells her clients, "I
can't promise anything other than it is a wonderful way to de-stress."  One
must ask themselves how many times have they become ill simply from stress
or running their body or spirit just a little to hard for a little too long?

Sickness is not caused by the spread of germs alone or a gene that is
predisposed to cancer.  It has been proven repeatedly that one's state of
mind plays a tremendous part in determining if one will find themselves in
a doctor's office or not and just how likely that person is to fully
recover.

If one can keep their spirit healthy, they have a better chance at also
keeping their body healthy.    Look around you.  Do you know somebody who
is unhealthy and very likely old long before his or her time?  How has this
person lived their life?  Are they happy?  Do they take time out from work
and other obligations for themselves or to enjoy the simple things in life?

The answer to all of the above questions is likely no.  While the body is
an amazing thing, it will fight back if you don't take care of it.
De-stressing is one of the best ways of taking care of yourself.

Many spend a fortune on vitamins and other supplements to improve their
body or simply as a form of preventative medicine, often not knowing
exactly what they are putting into their body.  Many supplements are often
a synthetic form of what you think you are taking and often like a generic
prescription, not as effective as the real thing.  Like a prescription,
many supplements can have unpleasant or even harmful side effects.  Is this
really a natural way of preventative medicine?

While many vitamins and supplements can help improve your physical well
being, exactly how well will they work if after swallowing a handful of
vitamins with a cup of coffee or a soda one runs out the door to work and
never considers what they are doing to their health for the rest of the day?

Many emotional illnesses that are effected by the mind such as depression
and bi-polar disorder and ADHD are often showing reduced symptoms and
increased well being simply by reducing stress.

Today, more medication is given to patients for depression than anytime in
past history.  The number of those being treated for depression has risen
from 37 percent in 1987 to 75 percent in 1997 and the number seems to
increase everyday.  Is there a better way to treat such things?

While, it is not recommended that one replace their traditional doctor with
massage, reflexology or Reiki therapy, it certainly could reduce your need
to visit a doctor.
Fran explains how she thinks about energy healing and her wonderful ways of
de-stressing.
"When your body is sick people will go to the doctor, when you have a
toothache, almost nobody will tolerate that pain for very long before going
to a dentist.  People need to learn to run to the universe to heal their
spirit."

Body Mind and Soul is a perfect place to begin running to the universe.
While the possibility of de-stressing and feeling better will bring you to
this peaceful little corner of the world, Fran and her students will be the
reason you will find yourself taking time out of your busy schedule to come
back time and time again.

Body Mind and Soul offers a great deal more than just Massage, reflexology
and Reiki.  There is also ear candling, another very old form of treatment
for ear and sinus problems that is finding its place in today's society.

If you are looking for smudging materials, gem stones, books or a good cup
of herbal tea, you can find all of these things right inside this little
building with the vibrant owner.
Currently Body Mind And Soul can be found on Warren Avenue across from the
Castle Museum, just look for the purple awning, Tuesday through Saturday
anytime between 10 AM and 6 PM, or visit her new location opening June 24
at 933 Gratiot Avenue right there on the corner of Gratiot and Bullock.

If you have further questions give Fran a call.  The number for the Warren
Avenue Store is 989-752-8884 or starting June 24 at the new location:
989-797-2222.
The store on Warren Avenue will see it's last client on June 19 and the new
store will welcome its new family on June 24.

Drop in and give Fran a warm welcome. In the meantime discover exactly what
your Body Mind And Soul has needed.  Stop in for a massage or a relaxing
cup of tea, as it will be time well spent.

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