Hypnosis has been a recognized therapeutic tool for the treatment of the human mind for hundreds of years.  However, at one point in time, hypnotists were often considered to be sorcerers and seers.  Some very well meaning, pioneers of hypnotherapy well scrutinized, shunned, and even occasionally imprisoned because of their practice of interacting with the subconscious minds of their clients/patients.  A lot has changed over the years, and now professional Hypnotherapy is a much more recognized therapeutic modality and profession.  The training required involves a licensed school of Hypnotherapy, and involves multiple levels of training such as basic, intermediate, and advanced levels of education and certification.  Most professional Hypnotherapists are trained and certified at the advanced level of practice.  Advanced training requires hundreds of hours of classroom time, many hours and sessions of internships, and frequent testing.  Only those persons who successfully pass all training, testing, and internships will be certified.  Continuing education hours are required each year in order to renew the certification. 

 
The National Guild of Hypnotists is the oldest organized regulating and certifying body.  Their organization dates back to the early 1950’s.  There is also the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association, which is also very reputable, and generally require the same professional standards for credentialing as does the National Guild of Hypnotists.

A brief overview of hypnosis:  The conscious mind is the state of our mind when we are fully awake.  This is termed the beta brain wave activity.  The point of achieving successful hypnotherapy is to suppress the conscious mind to a level of consciousness that allows the subconscious mind to become much more alert and attentive.  For instance, the measured activity of the brain is termed as beta: wide awake;  alpha: drowsy, slightly sleepy, comfortable; theta: which is the desired level of consciousness for therapeutic hypnotherapy which involves significant sleepiness, day-dreaming, a “drifting” of thoughts, and broken thought patterns.  At this point of the theta level, the subconscious mind becomes 300 times more susceptible to positive suggestions.  300 times!  Finally, the delta level, which involves deep sleep, however the subconscious mind is still very alert, attentive, and responsive at this point. 

Once the client has been gently and slowly relaxed in order to slow and lengthen the brain waves representing electrical activity, then the professional Hypnotherapist makes direct and positive suggestions to the client.  This could be called the “meat” of the session, the time that the subconscious mind is communicated with and programmed with positive suggestions and ideas.  It is important that all clients be gently and fully returned to full consciousness prior to the termination of their session.  They are often quite drowsy, tired, peaceful, and express memory loss of the actual session.

Modern day professional Hypnotherapy has proven time and again to be a very legitimate and therapeutic psychological tool.  Smoking cessation, weight loss, confidence building, anxiety and PTSD disorders, insomnia, sustained grief, academic enhancement, sports enhancement, and sexual enhancement are but a sample of the many conditions which are often successfully treated with professional Hypnotherapy.   For the client, the overall hypnosis experience, if properly performed, is one of gentle peace and positive feelings.  It is an absolute that any and all professional Hypnotherapy sessions be grounded in positive suggestions.  It is true that the human mind must be treated carefully and with the utmost respect.

Typically, during a hypnotherapy session, the Hypnotist will play background music, instrumental only, which is actually played at the timing of 60 beats per minute.  As some of us may already know, 60 beats per minute is considered the normal heart rate per minute of the average human adult.  A comfortable chair or couch is used.  A quiet environment is very important.  Candles and incense may add additional external sensory stimulation.  Some clients require only one intense session, while others may require multiple sessions.  Clients seeking weight loss treatment typically require numerous sessions.  Sometimes 4 to 10 sessions may be required in order for the client to reach their goal(s).  Typically, all professional Hypnotherapy sessions are audio recorded.  A copy of this tape or CD is given to the client to take home with them, and they are instructed to listen to the recording every day (or night) for at least two full weeks.  This is a very important “reinforcement” tool that highly recommended.

I have enjoyed writing about hypnosis and hypnotherapy.  In the near future, I would like to dwell deeper into the depths of and diversity of hypnotherapy.  I would particularly like to discuss past life regressions.  By this, I mean guiding a client, while under hypnosis, back to an earlier time in their life.  There is also previous life regression, for many persons who believe that they have lived before in another life. 

For now, may peace be with you, and may your thoughts be positive and kind.  My word for the day:  All Actions Begin With a Thought . . .

Yours Truly,

Will Gilbreath, BS,Cht,RN,LP

Pathways Hypnosis at Shambhala   

Disclaimer:

Hypnotherapy services are not a replacement for psychological evaluation or treatment. Any continuing mental illness after hypnosis by a clinical hypnotherapist should be treated by a psychologist licensed by the State Of Texas

Happy Mid January to each of you.  Here we are mid way through this month already.  I am trusting that each of you are committed to being about the business of leading healthier lives for 2012.

One of the ways to lead a healthy life is to have balanced Chakras.
It is my pleasure to give a brief description of what Chakras are for those of you who may be hearing this word for the first time.
Chakras were first recorded in Hindu texts in the Sanskrit language.  Tantric and Yoga disciplines have used the chakra system since before the time of Buddha.  Balancing or restoring harmony within the body’s chakras are the foundation of many energy healing modalities.  Chakras are energy centers in the mid line of our physical bodies. The word Chakra means “Wheel”.  I think of them as a gyroscope.
There are seven major Chakras.  The seven Chakras each serve as a center of concentration related to the entire holistic person.  Meaning each one is responsible for the harmony of our spiritual, physical, emotional and mental energies. When wellness practitioners talk about healing, treating or providing therapies to the holistic person, it includes our spiritual, physical, emotional and mental energies. Many practitioners refer to the discipline of treating holistically as the Mind, Body, and Spirit connection.
Since ancient times, around the world it has been common practice to treat each of these areas when a person was ill.  This practice is just coming into its own here in the U.S.  Many health practitioners have begun to realize that you can’t treat an illness only in the physical realm. Our mind is not isolated from the body and our Spirit is not isolated from our mind.  Often when we are ill, or unbalanced in one area it bleeds over to the other two areas.  We have to look at the ENTIRE person.

Each Chakra has very specific duties when it comes to maintaining a balance between all of our holistic energies, including being responsible for the various organ systems and immune systems in our body. There are 7 distinct colors that represent each chakra.
Over the next several blog posts I will work through each chakra.  It is important to note that the use of, and even the existence of Chakras does not line up with western evidence based medicine. I am trusting that one day technology will catch up and we will be able to record evidence of chakras.   I am going to start with the root chakra.

Root Chakra – You want me to ground my WHAT???”

The root Chakra is also known as the First Chakra, or the Base Chakra. The root Chakra is found at the base of your spine which is known anatomically as the coccyx bone.  The primary color that represents the Root Chakra is red.  The secondary color is black.  It is in the Root Chakra that survival instinct resides.  This chakra is also responsible for giving you adding pep to your step.  Vitality for life flows through the Root Chakra.
The Root Chakra is responsible for the health of the adrenal glands, kidneys, spinal column and leg bones.  Foods to keep the Root Chakra energized are proteins, any red food, and various veggies. The redder the better.  The scent of cedar and clove are good to use as aroma therapies that cater to a healthy root chakra.  I have put clove oil in a light diffuser to fill my mediation room with the scent when I know that I am in need to restore harmony to my root chakra.  Cedar scented wood blocks or candles also provide comforting aroma therapy for this chakra.
The most important aspect of the Root Chakra, at least in my opinion is the grounding ability that flows through it to my spiritual and emotional elements.  If I feel that my thoughts are racing, or that I can’t get a grip on prioritizing the most immediate needs for the day, I just spend a few minutes focusing on my root chakra.
One of my passions in life is my hobby in ceramics.  I am a potter. I have enjoyed this hobby for three years. I love getting my hands in the clay and making ceramics for my family and friends to enjoy.  A few months ago I discovered the element of the root chakra is earth.  It made perfect sense to me that working in clay is such a grounding, relaxing experience. Just a few minutes on the pottery wheel is worth an hour of meditation for me. It is also satisfying as I make accessories that add to the peaceful, focused atmosphere that I believe is a priority for my home.
Last semester I made ceramic luminaries that represent each chakra symbol.  When I need to spend time balancing my root chakra, I will light a candle within the root chakra luminary, I spray the room with clove oil and I sit very still, imagining the wheel of my root chakra spinning in perfect balance, just as a gyroscope does.  I have an affirmation that I say to myself.  I found it a few years ago when I was looking up chakra symbols for my very first pottery project.

“As I focus on this red light that radiates from my base chakra, I know that I am of good health and sound mind. I stand in my strength and in my truth. I forgive myself for neglecting my body in the past. I now love every part of my body; every cell is filled with energy and power. I no longer judge my beautiful self and I accept my greatness with all that I am. I now choose to have thoughts that add to my life, thoughts of love, compassion, harmony and peace. I sleep in peace, I awaken in bliss and I enjoy living! I lovingly acknowledge, accept and appreciate.”

There are many affirmations on the internet. If saying an affirmation is too much for you, the Mantra that correlates to the Root Chakra is the sound OM.  Saying it slowly, over and over will bring stillness to your presence of mind.  As with any discipline, this is a habit that can be built upon and practice DOES make perfect.
I am a 3rd semester nursing student.  I often feel the pressure of exam stress, project deadlines and clinical rotations, not to mention the responsibilities I have at home.  So many times throughout this journey I have felt as if my to-do list was a mile long and each task deserved to be at the top of the list.  It is vital for my health, and well being, (not to mention my loved ones who will bear the brunt of me being out of balance), that I take a few moments to ground myself each day.
If I am away from home and not able to spend time concentrating over the root luminary, I simply go for a walk.  I walk slow, breathing in and out deeply.  It does not take very long before I feel my energy being restored. Focus and clarity of priorities has been made clear, and I can get on with my day in such a way that goes beyond merely surviving. Walking in nature is a restorative use of time that will quickly re-center our being and allow us to think with clarity.
It is important for us to fuel our bodies with good nutritious food in order to maintain head to toe well being.  Everything depends on the fuel we provide for our bodies.  What we eat is evidence of how much we love and respect our bodies. The more we live what we believe, the more our chakra energies will be in balance. However planning a healthy meal can be so time consuming that many of us will opt to just stop and pick up something quick an easy on the way home from work.
Honoring the desire that many of you have to eat food that is healthier for you, Anna Love, the dietitian at Shambhala Wellness, is offering a valuable service.  Meal planning delivered right to your email.  This plan includes your shopping list. For more info go to https://www.lovetolivewell.com/

I welcome your comments and shared experiences with the Root Chakra.
It is my desire that we all join in a more grounded life experience.

By Melanie Whyte

In this day and age most of us are aware of yoga as a physical discipline.   This type of yoga is most often seen at our community recreation centers, or the membership gymnasium.  I must confess, ever since 2008, I attempted the rec center’s version of yoga.  I would head off to the center, yoga mat in my sweaty palms.  As I entered the gym, right away I would allow myself to be intimidated by the 20 something wisp of a girl, whose perky body and chirpy voice were reminiscent of high school pep rallies.  Calling us to order, I expected to start the session with, “READY?  OKAY!”
I would strategically find my place in the group on the back row, hopefully in the corner and ALWAYS attempting to stand next to a woman who was as big or bigger then moi.  After an hour or so of bending, twisting, stretching, groaning and puffing, I would leave the session feeling defeated, vowing to return ONLY after I had lost 100 or so pounds.

I practiced this personal form of torture a couple of times a year until this past summer in 2011.  In July of 2011, I made a pact with several of my closest girlfriends.  I committed to take baby steps toward the healthy life I had always envisioned for myself.  A life I longed for and yet, somehow would always make excuses for putting off living.  This time the commitment meant so much more because of the accountability of my girlfriends.  One of my baby step commitments was to find a place where I could practice Yoga as I felt in my heart it was suppose to be practiced.  I was looking for the spiritual dimension to Yoga.  Plus I needed a safe place where I felt secure enough to overcome my hang-ups about my body image.  A place where there was not a big plate glass window with a constant parade of people walking back and forth in front of that window.

I want to take a moment and share with you how I came to discover that Shambhala Wellness was the perfect place for me to practice Yoga.
I have discovered a gift these last few years of my life.  When I desire something, whither it is a big desire or even the littlest desire, I write it down on my wish list in very specific terms.  Then every day I read my desire out loud.  As I am reading, I am envisioning the desire to be in the here and now.  I see this desire as something that has already happened.  I even drum up the emotions that come with getting my wish.  I imagine what it will feel like, smell like, taste like, and look like.  I think about the color, texture, I fill in as many details as I can. The most important factor to concentrate on, are my emotions and how I will feel once this desire becomes a reality for me.  Once I have completed this little exercise all that is left to do is wait, because without fail it is just a matter of time and my wish list will be manifested into a reality.  This was just the case with looking for a place where I could practice the true art of Yoga.

About one week after putting together my wish list for a place to practice Yoga, I received an email from Shambhala Wellness Center announcing the addition of a therapeutic yoga class that would be meeting once a week for one month.  Now I had known that Shambhala Wellness had different types of yoga classes on a continual basis, however due to my prejudice of the rec center style of yoga, and my own discomfort with my body image, I had never explored any of those classes with my friend Johanna, the owner and founder of Shambhala Wellness.

I knew this email was my invitation from the Universe, giving me a front row opportunity to take one more baby step towards the healthy life style I had dreamed about.  I sent an email to Johanna, letting her know to expect me in the new class.

In the next few weeks before the class began I researched yoga.  I wanted to know just what to expect out of a yoga class.  I discovered an amazing commonality between the word Yoga which is rooted in Sanskrit and the word Yoke which is rooted in Latin.  Sanskrit is an ancient language that has greatly influenced the modern languages of the Indian subcontinent used in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Sanskrit is the primary liturgy language used in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.  Sanskrit is used in these religions much as Latin and Greek are used in Christianity.   This is where I found the exciting bond between the two words.   Both words mean to unify, to make one.  Both words in their original definition mean to realize unity consciousness.

It was through the practice of yoga that for the first time in my life I could truly tell you that I found rest for my soul.  I realized a paradox of effortless, effort, most especially in nursing school.  It happened because as I let go, I connected with the unity consciousness, or unity oneness that is defined in both words Yoga and Yoke.

There are many types of Yoga. At the core of each type, is simply the practice of meditation in motion.  Yoga integrates body, mind, heart and spirit into an experiential reality. Yoga crosses the boundaries of mental and emotional bodies through the physical body which promotes healing, adds therapeutic value, and enhances the spiritual impact of yoga.  My desire, (wish list time), was to reach relaxation, tranquility and stillness through the practice of yoga.  These three factors were huge to me for two reasons.  First was the commitment I had made to my friends as well as myself to embrace a healthier life.  The second reason was because I am a nursing student.  At the start of each semester I vow to myself to stay above the fray of the frantic activity that comes from not coping with stress in a healthy way.  It was and continues to be my desire, (wish list time), to find healthy ways to cope with the stress of nursing school.  I discovered through research that through the practice of authentic yoga, harmony is restored due to connecting with the higher source which is within each of us.  This source restores unity consciousness within each of us by releasing blocked channels in our emotional, mental and physical bodies.

Dr. Deepak Chopra states that “As we move towards consciousness through the practice of authentic yoga, we will spontaneously link to the source of healing power, strength and courage.”   If we stay in an unconscious state our bodies are continually facing the flight or fight syndrome where merely surviving is our way of life.  Many of us know what this feels like.  If you have ever started your day, thinking to yourself…”If I can just make it through this day…..”  That is living on the most basic level of merely surviving.  I don’t know about you, but I want to live a life that relishes the moments of my day.  I want to do all that I am meant to do in this life, living up to my utmost highest human potential, not just merely getting through the day.

The day of my first yoga class, I could hardly think about anything else.  I knew this was a divinely appointed time for me.  I headed out with a brand new yoga mat and my palms were dry.  I was excited because I knew I was stepping out, embracing the life of my dreams, taking this little baby step by enrolling in the therapeutic yoga class. I walked into a room that had a beautiful hardwood floor.  Soft, tranquil music was playing in the sound system.  Several candles were lit around the room, lending a quite, tranquil setting.  There was an overwhelming atmosphere of respect and love.  I knew I had found my yoga home at Shambhala Wellness Center.   I would love to tell you that I soared like an eagle through the class and was not uncomfortable at all with my body image.  If I did, that would be a lie.  What I can tell you is that my effort was rewarded with a new found confidence that grew with each class.   The yoga class I attended at Shambhala Wellness made a difference in my school semester, as well as my weight loss journey.  I left each yoga session feeling calm and centered in such a way I knew my well being did not hinge on the number of pounds I lost, or the grade on each exam.  My well being came from the very center of my consciousness. I was taking responsibility for my own emotional well being.  My emotional health was no longer controlled by the ever changing circumstances around me.  This feeling of well being left me in such a relaxed state that my learning was enhanced and the weight just seemed to melt off of me.

By the time the Yoga class started I had already lost about 20 pounds from healthy eating.   Here we are some 5 months later and I have lost a total of 40 pounds and 42 inches.  My waist line has 5 inches to go and I will no longer be in the High Risk Category for the dreaded life style preventable dis-eases such as Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Heart Dis-ease.

The holidays have been a testing time for me.  In the last month I have not lost a pound, however I have not gained any either and that is something to celebrate.  I am going to celebrate my success by continuing with Yoga at Shambhala Wellness in  2012.

Johanna is passionate about equipping those of us who are ready to turn the corner and embrace a healthy life style, physically and spiritually.  She is so committed that starting tomorrow, Monday January 2^nd, for one week only; Johanna is offering Yoga classes that are FREE all week long.
Yoga Schedule:
Monday 6-7 PM: New, Kimberly will be teaching Adventure’s Yoga. Tuesday 5:30-6:30 PM: Kundalini Yoga by Jenny
Wednesday 7:00 PM Guided Meditation by Johanna (every other week)
Thursday 6:30- 7:30 PM: Beginners yoga by Shae

Then on Sunday January 22^nd from 4:00pm – 5:30pm Shae will be teaching Restorative Yoga.  The cost is $30 for this class.
The physical address of Shambhala Wellness is:

Shambhala Wellness
215 E University Drive
Denton TX 76209
Phone: 940-380-8728
www.shambhalawellness.com
Johanna@shambhalawellness.com

I Hope to see you at one of these classes. Let us know if you plan to attend, as space is limited. You may contact Johanna at the above email address. I am sure that one or more of these Yoga classes will be the perfect fit for you.  I plan on taking advantage of this educational opportunity.

I am trusting that 2012 will be the start of a healthier new you.
Happy New Year!!!

By Melanie Whyte

Several years ago, I knew only one thing to be certain.  I knew I wanted to be a nurse.  I had never heard of the word “holistic healing”.  The words alternative healing and complementary modalities were not in my vocabulary either.  I just knew in my heart of hearts there had to be a better way to go about healing then merely chasing a symptom with a pill, and never getting to the root of the illness.

I had come to this opinion from my experience from having a chronically ill child.  My son’s illness was Asthma. Through the years of his illness we merely treated the symptoms.  All the while his lungs grew more and more scarred with each passing Asthma attack.  This was back before the internet existed.  The age of information had not arrived for the lay person.  I followed doctor’s orders, which was status quo, never questioning what I was told, and yet feeling fear and dread in my heart that I was losing my son to symptoms that I did not understand.  My son passed away from status asthmaticus in the fall of 2002.

It was his passing that started me on the journey to find a better way than the status quo of treating symptoms.  I soon came to find that I did not want to treat illness as much as I wanted to promote wellness.

I wanted to be about the business of empowering individuals to find healing within themselves.   I wanted to do all that was within my power to make sure no mother had to go through what I had gone through.  I had no idea where to start on this journey.  Much like Dorothy looking for the Emerald city, I needed people to point me to the yellow brick road in order to begin my journey.  And as with Dorothy, the guides showed up for my journey at just the right time.

I first heard of Reiki several years ago in the holistic nursing magazine, “Healing Touch”.  The notion that you could touch someone and heal them was a biblical concept to me due to my upbringing in the Southern Baptist church; however I had never witnessed this put into practice.   In my world faith healers were filed away to biblical times and not relevant for modern times.

I read the article in this nursing journal and found my curiosity was sparked to discover more.  In fact this healing modality resonated so strongly with me, the hairs on my arms were standing up.   As is often the case in our lives, once a truth is brought into our awareness it is not long before we are given the means to affirm this truth for ourselves in practical ways.  Before I knew it, there were several people who came across my path that were Reiki Masters.  I was elated that I had become acquainted with individuals who could point me in the right direction.

Through my new friends, I learned that Reiki is based on the theory that unseen life force energy flows through each of us.  When our energy is low, or off balance, we become easily stressed, which makes our immune systems less effective and put us at risk for illness.  When our energy is high, or balanced, we are content, and peaceful. Our immune systems offer a strong defense and we are not prone to illness.

Reiki or hands-on healing is administered by the practice of laying on hands in order to restore our bodies’ depleted energy.  Many different cultures and faiths throughout history have practiced this technique in order to restore not only a person’s physical but also spiritual health.   For us, here in the west, the most prominent example would be in the Christian scriptures.  Jesus practiced this healing art, as was demonstrated many times when he and his Apostles would lay hands on the sick in order to heal them.   Most people who practice Reiki would agree that the power of touch is simply a catalyst which triggers the client’s own healing abilities.

Reiki has been used to reduce stress and pain levels, as well as relieve the symptoms of many illnesses such as, headaches, stomach upsets, back problems,  gynecological disorders and yes, even Asthma.

Reiki has become so popular here in the U.S. that many hospitals are adding Reiki to their list of patient services.   As a result physicians, nurses, and support staff are becoming trained as Reiki practitioners.  It is important to note that Reiki should never be used as a replacement for medical treatment.  Reiki is a powerful complimentary therapy, to be used alongside conventional medicine.
In the fall of 2010, I started in my first semester of nursing school.  By this time I had had the opportunity to take part in several Reiki healing circles.  In class one day we had an assigned reading project about alternative healing practices.  I was thrilled beyond thrilled that my very own text book listed Reiki as a respected healing modality that was being used in Health practitioners offices and hospitals across the nation.

In the spring of 2011,   I received a Reiki level one attunement from Johanna, at Shambhala Wellness.  During this process Johanna showed me how to create an “open” channel for the universal life energy.  I call this energy the great divine. I felt this energy flow through me from my head and go all throughout my body.

This summer Johanna will guide me in the process of obtaining a level two.  I hope to be a Reiki Master by this time next year.  As I go though each level I will blog about it here at www.Shambhalawellness.com.

I welcome any positive comments  from our readers experiences with Reiki.

To learn more about Reiki practicing and or experiencing in Denton Texas, contact Johanna, by visiting ShambhalaWellness.com.

By Melanie Whyte

Johanna Oosterwijk began her career as a Nurse Practitioner in her homeland of the Netherlands.  She was associated for many years with the Red Cross in a community hospital.  Due to her husband’s business they moved to the U.S. in the early 80’s.  Johanna intended to have her degree in nursing translated from the Netherlands to be able to practice medicine here in the states.  However a series of life changing events would chart a different path for Johanna.  These events would ultimately lead to the founding of Shambhala Wellness Center.  This is her story.

It was 1982, Johanna had recently moved to the U.S. She was a young wife and mother of three precious little girls when she was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer.  She was in the process of moving her professional license from the Netherlands to the U.S.
The interruption of cancer put all of her plans on hold for several years.

She was in her early 30’s at the time of this diagnosis. Johanna describes this period in her life as the darkest time she has ever lived through.  She remembers the isolation she experienced as a result of the radioactive iodine treatment.  For this treatment she would have to be isolated from her family for three days at a time.  She was completely cut off from everyone.  Even the nurses who were treating her could only come in her room for brief periods of time and they were covered from head to toe in protective gear due to the radioactive materials that Johanna was taking into her system.
After her therapy was completed Johanna remembers just living one day at a time, which became one week at a time, which then turned into one month at a time and eventually one year at a time. The milestone of being cancer free for the first year was remarkable for Johanna and her family.

Cancer survivors are well aware of that voice in the back of their head which whispers doubts and fears of remaining cancer free. It was in the midst of these whispers that Johanna made a commitment to herself.  She was going to live long enough for her youngest daughter to remember her.  That was her goal, plain and simple.

During her husband’s job related travels he came across magazines that were dedicated to the topic of wellness and holistic practices for wellness.  He was compelled to get the magazines into Johanna’s hands.  It is a good thing he did because those articles would be the instrument which led Johanna onto her path of self empowerment.

Johanna read an article about Reiki which sparked her curiosity.  She decided this was where her journey must begin.  She found a local Reiki practitioner and through her sessions learned for the first time that her body was holding on to past childhood trauma.  One such trauma was a memory of her parent’s home burning down.   She came to realize very quickly that she could release this trauma.  The transformation was so radical that she knew becoming a Reiki Master was the thing she must do.  She completed this new goal within 5 months.  This started a cascade of becoming certified in various energy healing modalities.

The next modality she added to her tool box was Polarity.  This was soon followed by becoming certified in Hypnotherapy at the Heart Song Hypnotherapy center in Dallas.  Johanna was at a conference for Hypnotherapy in Los Angeles when she discovered the next modality that would be added to her growing skill set.
While traveling to this conference she had eaten spoiled food, which gave her food poisoning that required treatment before leaving for the conference.  This treatment delayed her plans by a few hours.

When she arrived at the conference she had missed the start time of the first session.  While waiting for the next session to begin Johanna saw a woman who had computer equipment set up and different charts and graphs being displayed.  Johanna asked the woman what this was all about and the woman explained the principle behind Quantum Biofeedback.  She asked Johanna if she would like a demonstration.  Johanna readily agreed and to her amazement the very first thing the computer keyed in on was food poisoning.  That was all it took to convince Johanna this was the next step for her to take in helping other people achieve wellness in their lives.  Johanna went on to become certified in Quantum Biofeedback technology in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Because the Quantum Biofeedback technology gives feedback on each organ system in our body, Johanna felt it was necessary to take her formal education one step farther.  She spent the next four years becoming a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) through Trinity School of Natural Health in Warsaw Indiana.  She completed her course requirements in 2008.

From the time Johanna was certified as a Reiki Master to her completion of formal education as a Naturopathic Doctor, Johanna had used her own home to see clients.  Using her home was certainly convenient; however two very big drawbacks came as a result of seeing clients in her home. She was bringing negative energy into her home on a regular basis via the clients she was treating, and this practice of seeing clients in her home had left her stuck and isolated. Feeling very cut off from the rest of the world. Due this stuck feeling she became depressed.  She described it to me as being all dressed up and nowhere to go.
She had all the training and credentials she had ever dreamed of and yet, had no practical place to practice her skills and most of all no place to be of service on a larger scale.

One of the things Johanna had learned to do through the years was network.  She reached out to a program that was offered by Anthony Robbins which led her to HypnoCoaching.  The program taught her how to help herself.  It gave her the skills to determine what she wanted to do in order to fulfill her definition of success. And helped her clarify what steps she needed to take in order to move forward.  Johanna found this technique so rewarding that she became certified as a HypnoCoach.

Johanna told me that being a HypnoCoach is one of the most rewarding modalities she has ever practiced. She receives the most personal satisfaction of being a conduit for her clients as they learn what they want out of life and how to empower themselves to achieve their heart’s desires.

It was HypnoCoaching that was used as the catalysts to bring Johanna to the building that now inhabits the heart of Shambhala Wellness Center.  Johanna came to clarify for herself that in order to be of better service to humanity, she needed a place to go every day to see clients.  This would also get her out of her stuck and isolated mode.

The building that is home for Shambhala Wellness was purchased by Johanna in 2009.  Johanna and her husband started renovation and opened for business in March of 2010 with 3 other health care practitioners, two chiropractors and one licensed massage therapist.
18 months later and there are several more health care providers who have joined her at Shambhala, including a licensed dietitian, a licensed professional counselor, an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner.

When I asked Johanna why she chose the name Shambhala, she explained that the name came to her when traveling with her husband in Tibet. Which by the way, is one of Johanna’s favorite places in the world.  Shambhala means “a place of peace, tranquility and Happiness”. I can speak for myself and say that I feel the essence of peace and tranquility whenever I cross the threshold of Shambhala Wellness Center.

I asked Johanna what is her vision for the future of Shambhala Wellness Center.  She said that they are in the process of building additional space which will house either a physician, and or a nurse practitioner who embraces holistic and integrative healing modalities.

Johanna looks back at the time of being diagnosed with Thyroid cancer as a gift.  She said she felt on an intuitive level that Thyroid cancer developed because she never knew what it meant to speak up for herself.  Through her personal journey towards healing herself, Johanna discovered her passion of learning to empower others to do the same.  That is the greatest gift of all.

By Melanie Whyte