Energy is everything, and for celebrity energy practitioner John Amaral, helping people reconnect with it is the whole point.
The Energy Flow Formula creator, known for his one-of-a-kind “touch,” has helped A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow, Prince Harry, and Julianne Hough heal from the inside out through a blend of bodywork and energy practices.
With more than 30 years of experience and a background in chiropractic care, Amaral uses his signature method that combines breathing exercises, focused movement, mindfulness, and meditation to address everything from chronic pain and injuries to anxiety and depression.
“I work with patterns of tension that are held and stored in the body as well as physiological energy and subtle energy,” he explains. “One is measurable with instruments, and the other isn’t. I’m bridging the two together in a way that’s unique.”
But before someone even enters his private Los Angeles, California studio, Amaral does a deep dive into their health and wellness history, going all the way back to when they were born, while also discussing any major life stressors and what’s currently happening in their world.
“When we don’t resolve physical, mental, emotional, psychological, or chemical tensions, they become patterns stored somewhere in the body,” the author notes. “This impacts our nervous system and our ability to stay relaxed or regulated.”
Then comes the session itself.
Clients are welcomed into a peaceful room filled with plants, crystals, and calming music, and instructed to lay down on a massage table in comfortable clothing without shoes, belts, or jewelry.
“People come to me when they feel worn down, overwhelmed, stuck in the past, or stuck in the future,” he shares. “It could be relationship stress, a creative slump, preparing for a professional sports game, or getting ready for a musical tour. Overall, it’s those who are looking to open their hearts and minds.”
Unlike traditional bodywork, Amaral’s process requires minimal touch. The educator gently focuses on specific points, like the tailbone and neck, as he uses verbal coaching, snapping techniques, and energy sprays as he makes intentional hand motions and movements around the body.
And yes, sometimes the experience can look and seem a bit mystical.
“We have the capability to sense things that aren’t touching us,” he notes. “If you’ve locked eyes with someone across a room and felt chemistry, or sensed you were being watched, nothing physically touched you, but your body still reacted. It can feel like magic.”
There’s also no “right” way to respond, because everybody is truly different. While Hough’s experience was famously described as “The Exorcist-like,” after going viral in 2020, he says reactions vary.
“It depends on how much energy is stored, the way it is stored, and the person’s style of processing. Some people have been in fight-or-flight mode for a long time and holding onto adrenaline and tightening their bodies. When that releases, the body can shake and vibrate.”
Others experience the complete opposite.
“If you’ve been in freeze mode, it can look like you’re melting or thawing out. You will feel heavy on the table, but also lighter, elevated, and more buoyant at the same time,” the bodyworker tells ET.
Beyond physical sensations, it’s possible to see colors or images, hear tones, laugh, cry, meditate, or drift into what he calls a flow state.
“You might have a physical symptom that goes away, but there’s also a spark and aliveness that comes back. When everything works more coherently, you feel open, free, and aware. The outer chaos of the world becomes less disruptive.”
Between meetings, Amaral encourages staying connected through simple practices like yoga, Pilates, martial arts, free-form dancing, stretching, walking, breathwork, hydration, and healthy eating.
“Doing something that helps you tune into your body and reduce stress helps you listen to your inner yes. Over time, you will feel more courageous to live authentically and own who you are.”
For those who can’t make it in for a one-on-one appointment just yet, Amaral offers a free 7-day Ready, Set, Flow digital challenge, somatic energy training, one-day events, weekend retreats, and a body-centered leadership program with live webinars and extensive video content.
While sage, palo santo, bells, crystals, bowls, chanting, drumming, and salt scrubs are all valid ways to support your journey, Amaral believes the most powerful tool is awareness.
“Notice and rate your energy, engagement, and creativity on a scale of 1 to 10,” he suggests. “When you track your relationships, physical body, and emotional state, you are able to see what contributes to your life and what doesn’t.”
The ultimate goal: “Your inner voice will get stronger and louder than everything outside, and you will get healthier because you’re making decisions for yourself. Knowing yourself better is what healing is all about.”
