For those not interested in bending their legs or having others touch their flesh, alternative healing can be found in art.

Mary McGuire, director of the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania in Lemont, sees art as a way to rid the body and mind of anxiety. The alliance, a non-profit organization that began in 1968, provides area art lovers with a means of tension relief and self expression.

"(Art) is a freeing kind of experience," said McGuire, adding that the alliance offers classes and workshops in different art forms ranging from sculpture to stained glass pieces. "A lot of people come here and say this is my therapy."

Walking around a brightly lit studio, teacher Amalia Shaltiel gives hints to her studnets who are gathered for a collage class. An artist with a back-ground in art therapy, Shaltiel also leads a workshop called "Art Dialogue With the Inner Self" which deals with psychotherapeutic art.

The workshop is offered monthly to get people to interact with their art and by doing so, they enrich themselves, Shaltiel said. The class members gather the first Saturday of every month to discuss works in progress and to create new art work. Shaltiel agrees art can relieve stress, but she contends the impact is far greater.

"Art and creativity are innate mechanisms . . . they can be very energizing, Shaltiel said.