Breema Health Article

Definition

Breema is both a hands-on and self-movement system that activates the body's self-corrective reflexes to create a balanced state of energy.

Origins

Breema originated in a mountain village in the Near East and was established in the United States with the founding in 1980 of the Breema Center in Oakland, California. Jon Schreiber, D.C., a graduate of the Palmer College of Chiropractic, has been the director since then. He incorporates Breema into his clinical practice because of its ability to vitalize and heal the body. He has been teaching and writing about the Breema system for over 20 years. As of 2000, Breema classes and workshops have been offered in many European countries, as well as in Canada and the United States.

Benefits

According to the Breema Center, the primary benefit of Breema is bringing individuals to a level at which they feel nurtured rather than drained by their relationship to their body, surroundings, people, feelings, and other aspects of life. Breema's nurturing atmosphere allows the mind, body, and feelings to become present, receptive, and vital. Secondary benefits that stem from this nurturing include:

• renewed vitality
• increased mental clarity and focus
• relief of tension
• increased flexibility
• mental and emotional balance and harmony
• gentle musculoskeletal realignment
• reduced stress
• improved nervous system function
• improved circulation and digestion

Description

Breema has three important components. They are bodywork, Self-Breema exercises, and the nine universal principles of Breema.

Bodywork

Since Breema regards the body as an energy system, the bodywork is intended "to enhance the flow of life energy and bring one to the present." A person receiving a Breema treatment is fully clothed and works with the instructor or practitioner lying down or seated on a padded floor. The bodywork is a harmonious choreography of supported movements, gradual leaning, gentle stretching and bending, holding postures, "nurturing brushes," and rhythmic tapping. Breema treatments are tailored to each recipient at each visit; there is no standard program or sequence. Treatment sessions can last from about 30 minutes to an hour.