What to Expect

The purpose of this page is to let you know what to expect when we get together for a session.  Much of "how I operate" is a function of my underlying principals.  You can read more about them in the Total Health Section and the Energy Healing Section.  That information is much more important than the information below.  I used to believe that the information on those two sections was more than anyone would ever want to know.  The information on this page has come about in response to many questions.

After deciding that you would like to come to me, the first step is very simple.  Contact me.  Either by telephone - 310-392-9395, fax - 310-396-9846, or email jowest@mediaone.net.   I encourage questions.

In order to work with you, I need to meet with you personally.  This means you need to be in Southern California when I am there, which is most of the time, or in Louisville, KY when I am there.  If you are not or cannot be in one of those places, you are still welcome to contact me.

I accept clients by personal interview.  Based on that, I do not accept every prospective client, and not every prospective client accepts me.   It's OK.  To get a profile of people who typically do well with me, go to my "I Can Fix This" page.  Some people hold on to their boundaries and issues too tightly, and defend themselves against me.  I cannot heal people who see me as an "attacker".   Therefore, I do not heal every person who comes to me.  Neither do doctors.  My cure percentage is MUCH higher than a regular doctor, and my prevention percentage is astronomically higher.

Energy is not bound by physical space, so there are some things I can do for you over distance.  There are things I can tell from photographs.  If you are coming from a long distance, it's not a bad idea to send some photos in advance.  But at least one actual person-to-person meeting is necessary in order to "get the ball rolling". 

General Session Notes

I really have no "typical" session format.  Every person is different, and even with the same person, needs and energy change from visit to visit.  But there are some general things to expect.  

It is crucial that you are comfortable and confident with me.  I create an as-relaxing-as-possible atmosphere, and  relaxation is certainly the goal.  But for the first visit, relaxation is not always a natural occurrence.  This is a reason I spend plenty of time telling you exactly what to expect. That "what is he going to do next" feeling is stressful.  I'm here to get rid of your stress, not cause it.  Relaxation is not something you can force, so sometimes we don't get the phenomenal results on the first visit.

This session is not maintenance.  Clients have told me that their chiropractor has healed them.  When I ask how, they say, "I get an adjustment then I feel great for a week.  When I feel bad again, I go back for an adjustment and feel great again."  This is supposed to go on forever I guess.  This is not healing.  It is maintenance.  When you come here, it may take one session or many, but when you're healed, you're well.  

A Word About Massage

I recommend regular massages to everyone.   It is one of the best things you can do for yourself.  If you want a good full body massage, go get one.  But that's not what I do.  There are many professionals out there who do it very well.  Unfortunately, there are many so-called professionals who do it poorly.  If you need a good recommendation, contact me.  Depending on your area, I might know.  Anyway, in this society, we seal ourselves off from personal contact.  It is good to touch and be touched.

The Session Format

Plan on about 2 - 3 hours.  On a first visit, plan to spend a little extra time at the beginning for conversation and orientation.  Think of questions . . . any questions.   The only stupid questions are those not asked.

Then, you'll lie down on a massage table.  I use a standard massage table, similar to the bench in a doctor's office, but more comfortable.  My work involves hands-on physical manipulation.  Although the process varies from person to person and session to session, I employ a combination of deep tissue work (like Rolfing, Hellerwork), Shiatsu (acupressure), Swedish massage, Stretching and joint work, and hands-off energy work (like Reiki, Healing Touch).  I have studied all of these things, and am very good at all of them . . . but I believe that health does not have brand names, and my work is not about my methodology, but your health. 

You remain covered while we work.  It is best of you are unclothed, but you will be under a sheet.  If you feel vulnerable or uncomfortable with this, it is fine to wear a huge floppy shirt and gym shorts, especially for the first visits.  Usually I have loaners available.  It is not my intention to look at you or expose you.  I need access to skin, however, and do not work over clothing.  If you are uncomfortable with touch, and with being touched, do not come to me.

Sometimes the deep work is uncomfortable or painful.  There is no difference between the body, mind emotions, and spirit.  I heal your emotions through deep body work.  I heal the body through hands-off energy work.  Why do these paradoxes exist?  Well, it's long and complicated, so I won't go into it here.  But don't let me off the hook.  I'll be glad to discuss it with you.

Stop always means stop, and no always means no.  Ouch doesn't mean anything.  You are my full partner in this.  The good news is that ultimately you have control.  The bad news is that you're on the hook.  You must take responsibility for your comfort level.  I assume you are completely happy and comfortable with me unless you tell me explicitly that you are not.  I will never do any thing to you that you do not want done, but you have to tell me.  This is the principal of "Implied Consent", and it is in full force when we work.  Do not expect me to read your mind. 

I function primarily by "energetic contact".  This means that the primary sense I use is not vision, even though I see the aura, nor physical touch, even though I feel the energy through touch.  Imagine that I have magnets in my hands.  Imagine that the place on you where my hands need to be have magnets as well, and they pull my hands over.  In China, the healing arts were the assigned to the blind, as the Chinese felt that vision implanted a bias in the healer.  I use both my eyes and my hands, but they are both secondary to the energetic touch.  

I work on the whole body.  Even if the complaint is in your neck, I will work on your legs, too.  If you read my Energy Healing pages, you will understand why.  There is no such thing as a sore neck or a sore finger.  There is only a sore "self".  If any one part of you is sick, all of you is sick.

I will be working at three levels; very deep like the Rolfers and Shiatsu-ers, at the surface level, like massage therapists, and above the skin surface at the aura level, like the Rieki-ers.  During this process you will feel energy moving on four levels; the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.  The aura has seven layers that are all experiencing energy movement, though you may not be aware of that.  Exactly what mix of deep, surface, and aura work I apply, as well as the amount of time on/around each body part, varies from person to person and session to session.  I follow what we will call my intuition.  In an energetic way, we will be having a conversation.  

Sometimes I hum, sing, chant, whatever.  You might think I'm weird, but you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover that this too moves energy,  Sound, like breath, light, and other forms of energy, has a pulse and a frequency.  If we are doing well, we will both be very awake and alert, but will  "sink" to a very relaxed, meditative state.  I encourage this.  Even though I do some deep work that is uncomfortable, you will still very likely remain in this relaxed state.  It is not a requirement, but it is best to "go with it" and not resist.  Normally, you will not go to sleep, but will go into a very aware, relaxed, "super-conscious" place.   

Every cell in your body contains some of the brain's memory material.  As each cell relaxes and lets go of tension, your body memory records it, and can reproduce this relaxation without having to go through a mental process.  

All the while, the session will remain interactive.  We will have conversation at times, and at times I will read you.  This is when we'll discover things that have shaped you, and what we can do to re-shape you.

If there is a particular pain or symptom troubling you when you arrive, it will usually be gone completely by the time you leave.  Miraculous is not always sensational, but sometimes it is.  Sometimes, you manifest the complete healing early in the first session.  That is always neat, and I advise you to expect it . . .  and look for it.  Oftentimes, it takes a few visits, but you'll notice it positive improvements each time.

After the Session

You may be a little wobbly at first.  We have changed your relationship to gravity, and there will be an adjustment period of a few minutes.  After you leave, you will still be aware of energy movement for a few days.  If there is a particular pain or discomfort you were experiencing, it will continue to diminish.  The energy is still moving at an accelerated pace for a few days.  You will feel lighter, like the pull of gravity has decreased.

After a few days, some of the effects of the session may fade, but the not to the original point.  Your new baseline will be higher than the old one.  After a couple of weeks, we will probably want to do another session, with the same general format, which will leave you another "notch" improved.

You may experience “Healing Crisis”, or “Post-session Remorse”.   This happens very rarely, but it happens, as all of your toxic "stuff" continues to exit.   This means it's possible that you'll feel worse for a day or two before you feel better.  Some people have manifested itchy or blotchy skin, mild headaches, and mild flu-like symptoms.  Some people have the blues for a couple of days.  

My smart clients continue to visit me after they are healed, on a much more seldom basis.  This is advisable, not to "maintain the healing" but just to move energy.  Many of my clients were never sick at all, they just want to continue to be healthy by moving energy in a proactive manner. 

Many people experience one or more of the following for a few days after a session:

     All of these things are healthy.

If you are pleased, please spread the word!

Your good will and positive energy are important to me.  If you pray, pray for me.  My work in this area depends upon your positive feedback to me, to God, and to people that you recommend to me.  If someone referred me to you, please let me know who that person is.  May peace, love, and understanding prevail on earth and in our hearts.