Mind and body practices

Mind-body techniques strengthen how your mind and your body work together. Practitioners believe these must be in harmony for you to stay healthy. Examples of mind-body techniques include meditation, prayer, relaxation, yoga, music and animal-assisted therapy.

Manipulation and body-based practices use human touch to move or manipulate a specific part of your body. They include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation and massage.

Some traditions believe an invisible energy force flows through your body, and when this energy flow is blocked or out of balance, you can become sick. This energy has different names, such as chi, prana and life force. The goal of these therapies is to unblock or re-balance your energy force. Energy therapies include acupuncture, qi gong, healing touch and reiki.