Lexington Woman (Vol V, 2009)– From Bombay, India to Lexington, SC: Hima Dalal of Vital Energy,
By Elaine Samples.
If you are an avid reader of Lexington woman or a person who frequents our fashion shows and other events around town, the name Hima Dalal probably registers some recognition. We featured Hima in a previous edition of her work with fibromyalgia patients, have discussed her work with breast cancer patients and other various forms of cancer. When I met Hima two years ago, it was obvious that she was passionate about her work. She told me of her plans for a new facility and wellness center and over the last two years, I have had the opportunity to watch as she achieved that dream.
Hima graduated as an occupational therapist in 1980 in Bombay, India. It has always been her desire to help people with various types of physical problems. As a child, she was not only interested in conventional medicine, but in alternative forms such as yoga and acupuncture. ‘I was always leaning toward spiritual healing as well,’ says Hima. Growing up in India gave her extended exposure to different types of therapy and techniques to aid the body in the healing process. Taking what she knew from conventional therapy methods and marrying those with Reki, emotional healing, psychological healing, and her own compassionate spirit, gave her an opportunity to see beautiful results.
In 1981 Hima moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to join her family and worked at different facilities in the Cleveland area. She pioneered a program for breast cancer patients to receive rehab before breast reconstruction. She was involved for several years treating breast cancer patients and became a spokesperson for breast cancer recovery for the Ohio region. If another facility had a difficulty or a problem they need help with, they relied upon Hima. She worked closely with the medical staff at Case Western Reserve University Hospital who came from Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and helped more than 2000 females go through that process. She was also involved at the Ohio cancer center where they helped patients from all over the world, as a part of cancer rehabilitation. Hima used the biofeedback relaxation techniques and physical rehabilitations and operated a support group for those patients. While in Cleveland, Hima also pioneered a back rehanb program for acute and chronic pain patients and women who worked in factories and overused their joints, where they could educate themselves about how the back works and how to relax, along with the various forms of therapy and how to listen to your body and its limits.
In 1995, her family decided to go back to India. At that time, she was able to realize a dream of hers through founding an overall wellness clinic, which included a fitness center, weight loss center, outpatient rehab center, and sports rehabilitation. Her clientele was a blend of children who participated on the national Olympic team, several schools who came for general fitness and sports fitness, soccer players, various sports teams, cricket, ATP ITF tennis tournament players, and the general house wife. A total wellness approach, Hima and her staff were able to use different modalities, relaxation techniques, and personal fitness along with therapy, laser traction, and all of the latest technology, in addition to the 5000 year old spiritual healing practices. The center had a television show, a regular newspaper question/answer session, and a radio talk show. They were able to use the various media avenues to educate people in smaller towns in India (i.e., the proper time to visit a doctor, other times during which a therapist is appropriate, and still others when home remedies were sufficient).
In 2002, her family went to Columbia, which was very different from the active lifestyle they had enjoyed in Bombay. After an adjustment period of a few months, they were able to embrace the slower pace and begin to really enjoy the people along the way. Says Hima, “We have just been growing from that point. I started my private practice with one patient that I treated from home. Word of moth referrals were vital. I treated a patient who had been in a car accident ten or twelve years ago in Charleston, crushing almost every bone in one sode of her body. We were able to break through the scar tissue after six or seven sessions, and then began with aqua therapy to make her strong. She told a friend, who told another, and it grew from there…We now have a building that provides a complete wellness center, Reki massage, occupational therapy, fitness, physical therapy and the hydro works pool that includes an underwater treadmill. It has been a blessing that offers wonderful results.”
Helping all ages, Hima’s youngest patient is now months old. Her practice has been very successful at treating diagnosis of fibromyalgia, arthritis, rotator cuff repair, postural issues in children and adults, migraines, using hydrotherapy to help with the sensory deficit of autistic children and begin treating breast cancer patients as soon as the breast is removed. Hima is skilled at myofascial release, cranio-sacral therapy which addresses chronic and acute pain, women’s issues, birthing injuries, etc.
Hima also uses hydrotherapy with an underwater treadmill and power hose treatment to help with sensory deficit of autistic children. Her treatment scope varies from treating sports injuries to geriatric patient on an underwater treadmill to treating breast cancer patient as soon as they had breast removal surgery.
When asked what she loves about practicing in Lexington, Hima responded, “People here are very warm, they have welcomed us so well, and hold us so close to their heart. They appreciate us….this is my destiny.”
