by Christine Chagaris There exists a group of dedicated folks whose overall mission is to provide a calm oasis amid the hustle and bustle of the Upper East Side. This does not involve any waving of magic wands, a sprinkling of fairy dust and presto, all stress is zapped! Rather, they are masters in their fields who methodically employ a variety of specialties ranging from meditation to Reiki that can be of tremendous benefit to those who seek them out. So, let’s begin the journey into the center of serenity and meet the practitioners of these various modalities. Melody Pfeiffer, Reiki Master The practice of Reiki involves the transfer of healing energy in order to improve one’s overall well being. The practice originated in Japan and was founded by Dr. Mikao Usui. The word itself is derived from the words Rei and Ki, which respectively mean “higher power” and “life force energy”. Melody Pfeiffer channels this energy as part of her practice. She has been a Reiki master for 10 years. Her calm, steady demeanor belies a quiet strength that is exuded when performing Reiki. She practices out of her Upper East Side Apartment, which emanates a Zen-like serenity with its almond-hued walls and homey fireplace. There are three levels of Reiki, all of which Melody can perform. “The first level involves touch, by which I channel cosmic energy to the person,” she explains. “The second level works on a mental aspect, and isn’t hands-on. This level helps to heal whatever negative is going on in a person’s mind. (Indeed, after Melody performed a level two Reiki session on me, I felt genuinely rejuvenated and brimming with positive energy.) Finally, Level 3 involves a Reiki master, as myself, initiating and teaching students to one day be able to practice it.” Her journey to becoming a Reiki master was born from personal loss. Her husband had been ill for a while before he passed away; during his illness, a friend of Melody’s from college who happened to practice Reiki introduced it to the couple to help them through the ordeal. “I think my Reiki practice is a gift from my husband in a way,” she says. “It started a whole spiritual path for me.” Reiki can have a transformational effect on a person’s overall well being and health. “Reiki’s approach is based on the belief that all disease originates in the mind,” says Melody. “The process helps people let go of the negative energy that can cause pain and illness. Reiki doesn’t aim to cure, which implies totally getting rid of something, but rather to heal, which involves more of a process in lessening pain, illness and negativity.” Melody’s aim for her practice resonates with good vibes. “I hope to spread positive energy with Reiki. In today’s difficult times, it’s essential to have cosmic support.”
David Pavese, exhale® mindbodyspa, Reiki Practitioner The exhale® mindbody spa on Madison is a haven for those who want to relax. A full-service spa, it is also where one can find peace of mind with a Reiki session performed by David Pavese. He has been practicing Reiki for six years and often integrates it with his bodywork and massage therapy on clients. His interest in Reiki came via one of his clients, a Reiki master whose class he took. “I was looking for another modality that could benefit my clients by regulating their energy in a positive way,” he says. He cites the example of a client who had pain resulting from a car accident. “She came on a regular basis, but we couldn’t break the pain cycle with Swedish massage,” David says. The client agreed to try Reiki, and that broke the pain “and helped to balance her energy,” he says. David believes that this balancing is a key component of Reiki, as well as a mind-body focus that the practice helps to effect on clients. “Everybody has the ability to harness their life-force energy, but they need to be attuned in order to do it,” he says. “Sometimes, if people are missing the “mind-body” connection to overall wellness, Reiki helps to focus them.”
Jessica Yunker, M.S., L.Ac and Elizabeth Shiah, L.Ac, Traditional Chinese Medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM) encompasses acupuncture, acupressure and bodywork, herbology and aromatherapy. These are the specialties of Jessica Yunker and Elizabeth Shiah. Both women are earnest and passionate when speaking about how their practice has helped many people. Jars of various medicinal herbs line the wall of their office, all intended as healing agents for various maladies. Both practitioners tout the importance of the mind-body connection to help patients get to a state of well being. “The mind and the body are all one and connected,” says Dr. Shiah. “For example, a person may exhibit patterns of symptoms for an illness that span the mental to emotional. With our methods, we can help the body heal itself. Our whole objective is to balance the body. Disease, discomfort and pain all come from something being out of whack.” It was because of a personal experience that Jessica Yunker embarked on her path to practicing TCM. “I had been in a car accident in college, and had bad back pain,” she explains. “I saw many doctors, and finally tried acupuncture and it helped.” Prior to deciding to practice the healing arts, she had been in the pre-med program at Columbia University. Both women understand that some folks may be wary of needles and thus averse to trying acupuncture. (Sheepishly, I had to admit during my interview that I am one of them.) The sterile needles are small and designed to effect no more pain than a small pinch, though of course everyone’s pain threshold is different. “Acupuncture helps to shift the energy in the body to create more of a balance so the body can heal itself,” says Jessica. Her experience working with acupuncture on cancer patients in an oncology ward has seemed to strengthen her belief that TCM can help alleviate the effects of disease and improves overall quality of life. Both Jessica and Elizabeth see a wide variety of patients, from those with physical issues (such as muscle problems) to those suffering from mental ailments. Their patients span the gamut; indeed, Elizabeth’s eldest patient is 93, Jessica’s is 88. “We believe that mind and body are integrated,” Jessica says. “We approach our practice from a spiritual point of view and believe that there are connections between mental and physical syndromes.” Adds Elizabeth: “The basis of Chinese medicine is that pathways span the entire body. Pain of any kind signifies a blockage, and we work to alleviate that blockage. Our greatest gratification is when a patient says ‘I feel better.”
Luis Villalon, Meditation The art of meditation no doubt conjures the images of quiet and peacefulness. These are certainly two qualities that are at a premium amid the busyness of city life. The Jan Hus Presbyterian Church on East 74th is home to classes given by the Chakrasambara Buddhist Center. This is where meditation practitioner Luis Villalon guides those looking for centeredness and peace of mind to do just that. Luis practices Kadampa Buddhism, which encompasses a meditation whereby “cultivating peaceful states of mind is the goal,” he says. “Kadampa Buddhism is basically a special presentation given by an Indian teacher who brought it from India to Tibet,” he says. “It presents everything that Buddha taught. All the meditations are in sequence.” Luis says that he was drawn to meditation as he had an interest in Buddhist philosophy. He has been practicing and teaching for about three years. He welcomes beginners to advanced meditators to his classes. His aim for students is for meditation to help abandon negative states of mind. Luis is also a firm believer that everything from disease, pain, anxiety and stress come from what are known as “delusions” in Buddhism, or unhappy states of mind. “I hope that meditation will help people to find a way to change their negative perspectives and instead respond to situations with a positive, peaceful state of mind.”
Yes, there is the opportunity to be well and live well amid the constant distractions and hum of city life. Whether it’s meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy or Reiki, there are a host of modalities to help improve one’s overall well being. These folks are just a few who can help you on your way. |
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