Photo credit: Dustin Humes on Unsplash

With the heat wave a couple weeks ago, the summer solstice and today's steaminess, I'm feeling the effects of the Fire element hard and fast this summer. That means that my Heart organ system is feeling it too. I'm thinking that you might be feeling this as well. In this month's newsletter, I'm going to take the opportunity to talk a little bit about the Fire Element, the Heart organ system and share with you some of my favorite Heart love tools.

In Chinese Medicine, summer is associated with the Fire Element. This means that the qualities of the Fire Element are most pronounced. It is also the time of year to spend extra attention tending to the ways that this element presents itself in your own body. In general, imbalances in an element or the organ systems associated with it tend to be more pronounced in the season of that element.

Other associations with the Fire Element:

• Organ system: Heart/Small Intestine
• Color: red
• Flavor: bitter
• Sound: laughing
• Climate: heat
• Balanced emotion: joy and happiness
• Unbalanced emotions: hatred, resentment and cruelty

The Heart said to be the "Emperor" and houses the Shen or Mind. It is deeply connected to the psychological aspects of all the other organ systems. In this way, the Heart has a lot to do with relating to others and feeling deep connections.

With COVID19 restrictions loosening and the case numbers going down, the opportunity to make up for lost connecting time is here. That coupled with the usual Minnesota summer energy, there is a lot of outward movement happening. This can feel really good and also intense for some of us. This is where tending to our Hearts comes in. For me, there is a delicate balance between connecting and taking breaks. Finding this balance can be a great self-care tool. Some other ways that you can connect with and support your Heart this summer (and always) are:

• Cultivate joy practices. One of my favorite joy practices is to go on walks with an attention for the plants and flowers that are growing and blooming around me.
• Laugh.
• Eat more red food. strawberries, cherries, watermelon.
• Befriend a rose quartz. Keep in in your pocket and hold it close.
• Incorporate rose (the flower) in your self-care routine. This could mean using rose body oil, drinking rose bud tea and/or spritzing rose hydrosol on your face.
• Check in with you heart frequently. Take a couple minutes to really feel into the space around your heart and give it a little space with your in breath and a little hug with your out breath.
• Practice Loving-Kindness Meditation. There are so many versions. Try out a couple and see which you like best.

I hope you found this helpful and enjoy trying out some of these Heart love tools. If you already have a Heart love toolbox I'd love to hear what is in it.

In the midst of the pandemic, I have been taking some private lessons to learn more about Craniosacral Therapy (CST). I was drawn to this modality because it is very gentle and can be helpful for creating shifts in chronically tight areas of the body around the head, spine and sacrum. I've been integrating CST techniques into sessions with clients who are experiencing headaches, neck/shoulder tension, digestive concerns and low back/hip pain. The feedback has been very positive! Clients seem to find these techniques as an invitation for deep rest and have experienced less pain/tension after the session. I'd love to explore these techniques with you in your next massage, shiatsu or Chi Nei Tsang (abdominal massage) session, if you are interested. Craniosacral Therapy is now also being offered as a stand alone appointment type where we can spend a full 60 minutes working in this gentle and profound way.

What is Craniosacral Therapy (CST)?
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle bodywork therapy that focuses on releasing restrictions in the soft tissue around the central nervous system. The techniques center around the head, spine, sacrum and the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds these structures. By tuning into the craniosacral rhythm, the therapist can assess where restrictions may be occurring and use gentle manipulation to ease restrictions and allow for an optimum craniosacral rhythm which supports overall vitality.
 Craniosacral Therapy can address many complex nervous system dysfunctions including concussions, traumatic brain injuries, scoliosis, PTSD, etc. As a new therapist to this modality, I feel comfortable addressing these complaints/disorders:

• headaches and migraines
• chronic neck and back pain
• TMJ disorder
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue syndrome

What is a CST session like?
During a Craniosacral Therapy session, you will be laying face up on the massage table fully clothed. I will first assess your craniosacral rhythm  by lightly placing my hands on certain areas of the body to “listen” to the rhythm. This gives me an idea of the quality of your rhythm as well as where any restrictions in the soft tissue might be. I will then use gentle techniques on the head, sacrum, or along the spine to release areas of restriction as well as increase movement and ease of flow of the cerebrospinal fluid.  The amount of pressure is usually no more than the weight of a nickel. You may feel physical or energetic shifts as we work. You may also experience an increased sense of wellbeing and vitality.  Many of my clients have stated that they feel a deep sense of calm, relaxation and balance after CST sessions.
 
 ***I recommend scheduling a 60 minute session if you would like to do a full CST session. Techniques can also be incorporated into a longer session 75 + minute massage, shiatsu or Chi Nei Tsang (abdominal massage) session if you are interested in getting a taste of what CST feels like and how it can help you with your session goals.

Photo credit:  Emma Freeman

The daffodils are blooming, which means it's time for my yearly PSA on supporting the Wood element through spring. I like to highlight this each year, because spring is a season that can be especially challenging for folks. There is a lot of upward and outward energy. This can feel great after the quiet of winter, but also pretty intense. For me, focusing on harnessing and moving my Wood energy helps me to enjoy the beauty of the season.

What is the Wood element?

According to Chinese Medicine, springtime is associated with the Wood element and the Liver and Gallbladder organ systems. The Liver organ system is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi in the body and connected to the sinews and tendons, the menstrual cycle, and digestion. The balanced emotions associated with it are generosity and kindness. The unbalanced emotions are frustration and anger. The Liver also plays a big role in creativity, developing new ideas, and planning. The Gallbladder organ system stores and secretes bile and controls the sinews. It is key in decision making, moving the creative energy of the Liver into fruition and affects the dreams.

Why are the Liver and Gallbladder organ systems so important?

Disharmony in the Liver and Gallbladder organ systems are very common in our culture and tend to become more pronounced in the spring. One of the most common Liver disharmonies is Liver Qi stagnation. This means that the Qi (energy) of the Liver organ system is stuck and not moving smoothly. If the Liver Qi is not moving smoothly the Qi of the whole body is affected along with other major functions in the body like digestion and menstruation.

Stress, anxiety, and feelings of not living out your life's purpose can all play a role in the Qi of the Liver becoming stagnant over time. Symptoms of Liver Qi stagnation include neck and shoulder pain, eye problems (floaters, bloodshot eyes, blurry vision), headaches, feelings of anger, frustration and irritability, fullness in the upper abdomen, pain along the ribs, depressions, signing, PMS, breast distention and tenderness, and other menstrual irregularities. If you are prone to these symptoms it would be beneficial to focus on keeping your Liver Qi energy flowing smoothly throughout the whole year, but especially during the spring.

What are my favorite ways to support the Wood element and the Liver and Gallbadder organ systems?

• Movement: The kind of movement is less important than the fact that you are moving your body. Walking, running, swimming, biking, dancing, and yoga/qi gong are all great ways to get your qi moving. Here is a video of a qi gong routine focused on nourishing the Wood element by one of my favorite teachers, Mimi Kuo Deemer.
• Shaking and Bouncing: Two lesser known types of movement that are particularly great this time of year are shaking and bouncing. Here is a quick 6 minute video that I made.
• Eat more green foods and other food ideas: Green is the color associated with the Wood element. Sauteeing up some broccoli, kale or other dark green veggies is a great ways to support the Wood element. Incorporating pungent and sour flavors can specifically help move Liver Qi. Munching on the dandelions that grow in your yard are a great way to get rid of them, stimulate digestion and cleanse the liver.
• Make a vision board: This is a great way to hone in on your dreams and aspirations in a creative way. You can use magazines, stickers, draw or paint to visualize what you want your future to look like. Hang it up on the fridge as a reminder of where you want to be heading and start making a plan to get there.
• Breathwork: This is an excellent technique for moving stuck energy in the body. My favorite breathwork techniques for moving out the unbalanced emotions of the Liver (anger and frustration) are kapalabati (skull shining breath) and simhasana (lion's breath). 
• Stretch your neck and shoulders: If you are prone to neck and shoulder tension or headaches this is a great time to up your stretching game. This video is a short 15 minute yoga routine focused on the neck and shoulders. Chest opening stretches are also an excellent way to relieve tension in the neck and shoulders. Here is a link to some slow and deep stretches to open the chest and base of skull that I made.
• And lastly, get some massage and bodywork: One of the most fundamental benefits of massage and bodywork is that it "moves stuff around." This is great for Liver Qi stagnation and general stagnation is the body. Manual manipulation of your tissue increases blood flow and circulation and moves lymph. It can also release areas that are holding around pain, tension or trauma. Shiatsu specifically focuses on the moving qi through the energy pathways (meridians) in the body. This can be a great if you feel like you need a deep energetic rebalancing and really want to focus on moving that Liver Qi. Abdominal massage is also wonderful because it focuses directly on the organs.

I hope these ideas help you feel more supported this spring.

Amy

Photo by Amelie & Niklas Ohlrogge on Unsplash

As we round the one year mark of pandemic life, I find myself reflecting on my dedication to promoting relaxation for my clients. For me, relaxation is the key to an effective treatment no matter what the primary goal of the session. In this blog, I'll give a brief overview of how bodywork promotes relaxation through the nervous system and why that is important for your overall health.

During a bodywork session, therapeutic touch directly on your skin or through clothing is used to send signals to your autonomic nervous system through the peripheral nerves. Your autonomic nervous system then communicates with it's two branches, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, to calm the former and activate the latter.

This is important because many of us live in bodies where the sympathetic nervous system is on overdrive. This system is designed to be activated during emergent situations, but not everyday. When it is overactivated, you may find yourself in a constant state of fight, flight or freeze. This can lead to increased levels of cortisol and other stress hormones which can cause inflammation and pain. Other symptoms of an overactive sympathetic nervous system may include high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, weight gain and decreased memory and concentration.

By activating the parasympathetic nervous system through touch, these affects of chronic stress are decreased. Your body can focus on conserving and storing resources for everyday processes such as digestion, elimination, restful sleep, and maintaining an even heart and breath rate. Decreased stress hormones such as cortisol can lower inflammation and pain in the body. In this way, bodywork can have a profound effect on your whole body.

Being relaxed during a session also allows for deeper work to be received and assimilated into the body so that you have less pain and feel more energetically balanced. After your bodywork session, the benefits can be perpetuated by giving yourself some time after your appointment to take a walk, do some light stretch and rest before you move back into work or a stressful home environment. ​

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​I bought these tulips on Tuesday as a pick me up during this cold spell and a reminder that winter is not forever. I wanted to share them with you in case you are in need of the same reminder. Winter is not forever. In fact, spring is on the way and I have been noticing the shift of seasons in my body despite this week being really cold here in Minnesota. To me, it feels like something is slowly growing and expanding inside of me. Do you feel that too?

In case you need more evidence that spring is on the way, today marks the first day of the Lunar New Year, a 15 day festival celebrated by Chinese and many other Asian cultures as the beginning of spring and the new year. The festival starts on the first new moon and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar. In Chinese Medicine, this is the time of year when the winter Water element energy starts to move into spring Wood element energy. That means that right now is a great time to start harnessing that Wood element energy through your practices.

Wood element energy is expansiveness and creative. This makes the spring season a great time to start new projects, develop new habits and get creative. The Wood element is also associated with the color green, sour tasting foods and the Liver and Gallbladder organ systems. Because Wood element energy can be strong and expansive it can also cause discomfort in the body. This usually manifests as headaches, neck and shoulder pain, feelings of stuckness and depression.

A simple way to work with Wood energy is to get your body moving. Shaking, bouncing and tapping are all great ways to move stuck energy in a short amount of time. Here is a short video on shaking and bouncing that I made. I would also highly recommend dancing for moving stuck energy. All dancing will work, but I really enjoyed the class I took at Pony Sweat recently per a friend's recommendation. It moved the funk right out of me and moved the joy in. The classes are self-described as a "fiercely noncompetitive dance aerobics celebration" and can be done live or you can rent a recorded class to do on your own time. I really appreciated that the instructor encouraged the participants to listen to their bodies and only do what felt good. Also the music was great! Just thought I would share in case you were looking for some new ways to move your body.

​7ish years ago, I started my journey to becoming a therapist by enrolling at Centerpoint Massage and Shiatsu School & Clinic with a vague notion of wanting to support others in the healing process that massage had so magically provided for me. I'm not going to lie, I had no idea what I was getting into. 7ish years later, this vague notion has become a reality and developed into something quite beautiful.

The last 4 years have been spend building a private practice at Wellness Minneapolis with a team of badass owners, practioners and support staff that have taught me so much about running a business, holistic health, collaboration and teamwork. I am so grateful to be a part of the team and the Kingfield neighborhood.

I am also so so grateful for my clients, family and friends that have supported me through this learning process by being interested in trying out new techniques and modalities, herbal adventures, mediation and self-care suggestions. This year has been tough for all of us and forced a high level of adapting. Hands on healing seem incredibly important right now and I am blessed to be a part of many people's healing journeys. I believe that community, support, compassion and deep healing will get us through this and I look forward to continuing to work with all of you.

Much love,
Amy

​As the weather starts to cool down and summer moves into fall we are entering the Earth Element time of the year.  One major function of the Earth Element is digestion and assimilation of foods and fluids. This function can also be extended to the digestion and assimilation of thoughts and activities.

In thinking about the Earth Element, I've been reflecting on my own means of nourishment and feeling the need to soak up a little extra this season. Are you feeling that way too? I'd like to invite you to make a list of what foods and activities make you feel deeply nourished and spend a little extra time each day soaking up the nourishment.

Here are a couple ideas from my list: bone broth, vegetables (all of them), meditation, getting extra sunshine, gardening, hugs, sleep, connecting with friends/family and reading. 

Much love,
Amy

I’ve decided to “continue to pause” before reopening for in-person bodywork sessions. Massage therapy has been slated to reopen on June 1st by Governor Walz, but the consensus of many local bodywork therapists and my intuition is that this is just too soon. I assure you that I am taking your health (and my own) very seriously, and also working hard to find a way to provide bodywork services in the most ethical and safe way. One of the reasons that I started practicing massage was because of the profound effects that it had on my mental, physical and emotional body. I wanted to spread that love to others.  Bodywork can be an integral therapy to support people through this time and the element of touch is important as we are more isolated than ever. 
 
Before reopening, I will be working diligently to get a preparedness plan in place, collect supplies (many are on backorder),  and sifting through options on how to restructure operations to build in time for extensive cleaning between clients and pre-appointment screening. There are going to be a lot of changes, but my dedication to providing therapeutic sessions focused on your health goals will not change.
 
Mind-Body Self-Care Consults (more info about these sessions below) will continue to be offered. I have also made a library of free videos of self care tips for physical pain and tension and to reduce stress. You can find all of the videos here. If you need in-person support reach out and I can refer you to a therapist that is open for sessions.
 
My next benchmark for reopening is in the end of June-early July. I will keep you posted on the exact date. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I’m really looking forward to getting back in the treatment room and working with you! 
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