Bodyenergyshop Discount Coupon Code

Open a month at 216 S. Third St., here are some specifics of what they offer or hope to offer when they find the necessary experts: energy medicine, astrological and numerology readings, crystal therapy, natural health products, feng shui, fortune telling, yoga, affirmations, hand analysis (commonly known as palm readings), past life regressive therapy (for those who believe they've lived past lives) and Reiki, their specialty. Couples would start with coffee at Porpoura's and head south, stopping in order at the Plain Brown Wrapper, Widman's Candy and The Twelve Houses.

Lisa Howard and Lesley Armstrong won't be insulted if you call them hippies. They'll be thrilled.

"What hippies represent to me is peace and love and the acceptance and celebration of diversity," Howard said. "So, that's a compliment. But there's no nudity here."

"Here" is The Twelve Houses, a small downtown Grand Forks shop with a laundry list of offerings. The summary on its business card alone is a mouthful: Spiritual Healing Center, Gathering Place and Metaphysical Store.

Sounds hippie-esque, huh?

Open a month at 216 S. Third St., here are some specifics of what they offer or hope to offer when they find the necessary experts: energy medicine, astrological and numerology readings, crystal therapy, natural health products, feng shui, fortune telling, yoga, affirmations, hand analysis (commonly known as palm readings), past life regressive therapy (for those who believe they've lived past lives) and Reiki, their specialty.

Does this have the feel of Woodstock or what?

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. They're both trained in the technique, where hands are placed on the recipient to let the universe's energy flow through the body.

They double-teamed me in a condensed version of Reiki, which is basically a massage without the rubbing and oils. Like Howard said, there was no nudity involved, although the vibrations on my feet felt a bit kinky. The vibrations didn't come from a battery-operated device, but rather from the energy flow, they said. They also detected some solar plexus issues, which apparently go behind my vast waistline.

Most locals prefer Altru for their health care and an old-fashioned 60-minute Sunday morning service for their spirituality. These two middle-aged women offer alternatives in both areas.

"We allow others to open themselves up to other ideas," Armstrong said. "We can lead you down the trail to fun territory. The well runs real deep here."

In their minds, it's different strokes for different folks. And they're serving up a wide variety of strokes, with no judgment of what's right or wrong.

"If it brings comfort, it's good," Howard said. "I don't think you should pooh-pooh anything.

"It's all about the combination of mind, body and spirit."

Alternative healing has been the subject of some ridicule on comedy shows. For instance, long before he became a U.S. senator, Al Franken played a character on Saturday Night Live named Stuart Smalley, an affirmation therapist. His mantra was "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me."

Howard and Armstrong joined in laughing about Stuart Smiley. Their openness to alternatives is matched by their openness to those who believe some of their offerings may be hogwash.

"We accept all perspectives," Armstrong said. "We don't take anything personally."

They're serious about their business, but they're not serious about themselves. They laughed along when their mellowed-out Reiki recipient poked some fun.

And Howard repeated a conversation with a friend who suggested that South Third Street should market itself as a great place for a date. Couples would start with coffee at Porpoura's and head south, stopping in order at the Plain Brown Wrapper, Widman's Candy and The Twelve Houses.