The pain in my hip felt like someone was sticking me with small needles. With every twinge of pain, I was reminded of the miles that I put in training for a half-marathon, without sticking to a proper stretching and cool-down program (another conversation for another post). A Program Advisor at Canyon Ranch recommended I try acupuncture for the pain. While I respect the discipline, just the thought of a needle made all the color rush from my face, so my advisor recommended Acutonics instead. And what in the world is Acutonics? Well, I can tell you that it involves no needles and it works. I could actually feel my hip moving and the points of pain diminishing. I have done some research and here is what I learned about the world of Acutonics.

Acutonics is a non-invasive healing system that uses sound and vibration to balance and bring harmony to the human energy field. Are you with me on this one? Keep in mind that musical tones and sounds have been a part of the human experience forever, spanning all cultures. It has been integral to healing rituals for centuries. In Acutonics, the idea is that by applying sound vibrations to our bodies we will bring balance to our energy. By balancing our energy, we can achieve optimal health.

My Acutonics session began with the practitioner’s assessment of what was going on with my body and in my life. After explaining the pain in my hip and detailing the relationship I had built with my running shoes, she got out the special forks. Mind you, these are not the forks we use to twirl pasta. These are tuning forks that have been set to mirror the sounds of the Earth. She struck the forks on something she called an activator, then placed them near my lower back. I could feel the vibration moving down my leg. It was a tingling sensation at first but then I could feel my hip dropping. It was a crazy feeling – my hip was moving and I was not commanding it to do anything! I was definitely not in charge of this experience. By the end of the session, my pain lessened and I felt like I had some improved movement.

I can tell you that additional sessions are needed to get the best long-term results. And it’s still my job to stretch and cool down after a run. Whether you do Acutonics once or make it part of your routine, though, it’s a rejuvenating experience and a great reminder of the healing power we all possess when mind and body work together.