Holistic Health Fair gets bigger

THE Barbados Reiki Association’s Holistic Health Fair was bigger and one with a different flair.

Vice President of the Barbados Reiki Association, Sharon Hurley-Hall, spoke about the growth of the event and the inclusion of other practices, which fit in with the services of its members. Hurley-Hall explained that this was the fair’s fifth year at Harrison College and with about 38 booths on display, it expanded beyond the school hall to the bell tower.

Over the 20-year span that the event has been held, the Vice President said that they have broadened out to more complementary health and more holistic practices. The event originated as an open day to introduce people to Reiki.

Speaking about the early history of the Barbados Reiki Association, Hurley-Hall said that Reiki practitioners have been on the island since the late 1980s. She added the association was started in 1995 after a larger group of practitioners came together. The Vice President said at the fair, the association had different kinds of massage therapy, tui na (a kind of acupuncture), energy therapies, quantum touch, an art therapy-type workshop and natural skin and nail care. In the courtyard, there were also several vendors providing healthy foods, desserts and natural fruit juices and crafts.

In addition to the many booths offering massage therapy and other services, there were a number of talks and demos delivered by speakers and demonstrators, including Francine Cadogan who spoke about Galactic Activation, Leon Greaves showcasing line dancing and Christina King who explored the topic of ‘Holistic Therapy and Traditional Medicine’.

Reiki is defined as “a healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing process of the patient’s body”. As the body heals, it restores physical and emotional well-being of that individual.