 I hope you are doing well and getting to enjoy the outdoors and lush green. I’m really enjoying all the baby (and not so baby) plants that have emerged over the last month. The rain is making them grow fast!! Despite loving this time of year, I know that it can be a particularly challenging time for many. In Chinese medicine, spring is connected to upward energy. The same type of energy that is needed to help the little baby sprouts push through the earth is also within you. Upward energy can get stuck in the neck, shoulders and head causing headaches. Allergies and increased stress could also be factors. If you have been experiencing more headaches lately you are not alone. Bodywork and herbs may be an avenue worth investigating for treatment.
As you probably know, headaches can have a wide range of causes. It is important to check in with your doctor if you are having new, severe or increasingly painful chronic headaches or migraines. It is possible that head pain can be a sign of something serious. With that said, I do have a fair amount of clients that come in with chronic headaches and/or migraines that feel better after getting regular bodywork. During a bodywork session, we can investigate physical tension and energetic blockages that might be playing a role in your headaches. When headaches are a symptom, I always check to see if there are any trigger points in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. Trigger points are knots in the tissue that refer pain to areas of the body. Many trigger points that can be found in the upper back, shoulders and neck can refer pain into the head. We can also work on any underlying imbalances that are connected to the headaches from a Chinese medicine or craniosacral perspective. This could include looking at areas of energetic blockage, organ system imbalances and areas where the craniosacral rhythm is not flowing smoothly. Using therapeutic massage, shiatsu and craniosacral techniques synergistically can be a really great way to address headaches from multiple angles. I may also make some herbal suggestions during your session for headache relief. Many herbs can help with headaches but each is specific to the type of headache and the area that you feel it in your head. We can investigate the options through pulse testing to find the specific herb that will be most helpful for you. Flower essences can also be helpful to work with any underlying emotional tension that may be a part of the pattern. Herbal suggestions can be included in your bodywork session or we can schedule a separate Herbal + Flower Essences consultation where we can have time to deeply investigate the underlying issues that may be contributing to your headaches including allergies, sleep, hormonal regulation, digestive issues, etc. Working with herbs and bodywork at the same time can be a great way to increase results and gain relief quicker during this high headache time of year or any time of year. I’ll love to be a part of your healing journey. With care, Amy
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 Happy New Year!
I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and Happy Happy New Year! I so appreciate you and have enjoyed our work together over the last year (years). It's a joy to me to be able to spend my work time supporting clients in connecting with their bodies and creating space for change and balance. I'm excited to continue offering massage + bodywork sessions in the new year and look forward to incorporating more herbalism into my practice. The past year has felt like a whirlwind of learning and exploring as I've moved through the Three Seasons of Herbal Wisdom program with Lise Wolff. In this 11 month program, we spent a lot of time outdoors observing, tasting, feeling, and connecting with the plant world. We learned about the energetic and scientific properties of each plant. We made different types of remedies for internal and topical use. We sat in on consultations and learned how to select specific remedies for clients. We did a lot and it has expanded my knowledge of local plants exponentially and helped me gain a lot of confidence in my skills as an herbalist. Now offering Herbal + Flower Essences Consultations I am so excited to start offering Herbal + Flower Essences Consultations as a stand alone appointment. These appointments are an opportunity to discuss in-depth your goals around working with herbs and for me to collect a comprehensive health history. We will test a selection of remedies to find the ones that suit you best and you will leave with some remedies to work with. These appointments can be scheduled via email (not online). There are a variety of concerns that we can work with using herbs. This can include but isn't limited to digestion, sleep, mood, chronic pain, and immune support. Initial Consultations are 60-90 minutes and are $60. Follow up Consultations are 30-60 minutes and $40. Remedies are not included in the appointment fee and cost varies based on the amount and size recommended. Please reach out if you are interested in scheduling. I appreciate you passing the word around if you know of anyone that might be interested. Looking forward to continuing our work in the new year!! Amy  I hope your transition to summer is going well and that you are faring okay through the poor air quality these past few days.
Happy Summer Solstice next week! I've been spending the spring tromping around outdoors learning about medicinal plants through my herbalism course and attempting to cultivate some medicinal plants in my backyard. It has been incredibly grounding to learn more about the plants and trees that surround me every day and build a relationship of reciprocity with them. It's also been so fun to start sharing my knowledge with clients, friends and family. I look forward to continuing to incorporate more herbalism into my practice. I've also been continuing to deepen my massage + bodywork knowledge and am so grateful for the time that I have in the treatment room with all of you. It's a gift to share space and connection with you. Thank you for trusting in me as a provider! In August, my rates will be going up a bit to reflect my experience and inflation. I truly believe that bodywork should remain accessible to folks. If this rate change creates a hardship please reach out. I do offer sliding scale opportunities and am happy to work with you so that you can continue to come in for care. Below are the new rates starting August 1st, 2023. 30 minutes: $60 60 minutes: $100 75 minutes: $120 90 minutes: $140 120 minutes: $180 4 packs of 60 minute sessions: $360 ($10 savings/session)  Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash It's finally starting to feel like spring!
Today I'm relishing in the sunshine and snow melt. This week's weather forecast is such a joy after the long winter we have had. I've been devoting my time this winter to hibernating and planting seeds for the year. I hope you have had some time for rest and reflection as well. The herbalism program that I started in January is so interesting and I can't wait to share more herb love as I learn. This winter has also included cutting back on social media and generally being on the computer. I plan on continuing this newsletter, but in a more organic fashion and possibly with less frequency. I would like to utilize this platform to continue sharing practice updates as well as interesting information about bodywork, self-care and herbalism. In September, I started offering more bodywork sessions each week and that is feeling really good. The time and connection with clients in the treatment room is my favorite part of being a bodywork therapist. I'm so grateful for all my clients that have met me in the new space and for the new clients that have found me there. Thank you for supporting my practice. More info filled newsletters to come, but for the moment I just wanted to say hi and happy spring. I hope you get some time to soak up the sun this week! Much love, Amy  Photo by Emma Freeman I recently had the honor of attending the Upledger Institute’s Craniosacral Level 2 workshop here in Minneapolis. It was a blast! It deepened my understanding of Craniosacral therapy and taught me more techniques to be utilized when working with clients. I want to spend this newsletter talking a bit more about Craniosacral therapy so that you can get a sense of whether it might be beneficial for you. I’m finding that it can be a missing link for some clients, especially those that work with chronic pain, stress and anxiety, headaches and jaw pain/TMJ disorder.
What is Craniosacral therapy? Craniosacral therapy focuses on the craniosacral system that comprises the membrane and cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Assessment of the rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid helps to find areas of restriction in the system and gentle techniques are used to release these restrictions. Releasing restrictions in the craniosacral system allows for a more robust and even rhythm which is correlated with increased vitality and less pain. The pressure with these techniques is very light. This does not mean that it is less beneficial. Craniosacral therapy can be done as a stand alone appointment or incorporated into your massage or shiatsu sessions. A little bit more about what I learned in this workshop In the workshop, I learned about Energy cysts which are areas of fascial restriction in the body that are formed due to trauma. Energy cysts can be problematic because they require the body to shift how it functions around this blocked off area. This can cause compensatory patterns in movement and/or pain. Energy cysts can be formed anywhere on the body and addressed in a couple different ways. I also learned some techniques that are done in the mouth to affect the facial bones. This can be super helpful for someone that has had an injury or surgery to the face or restrictive dental work like braces. I learned how to work with the structures in the mouth gently (with gloved hands) to release restrictions. The more l learn about all types of bodywork the more I deepen my understanding of how the body works as a whole. In all sessions, it’s important to me to work on the area of concern (where you are feeling pain or tension) as well as other areas in the body that may be affected or affecting this concern. As always I’m happy to chat more about Craniosacral therapy and bodywork in general.  Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash I’m ready for fall, are you?
For me, this summer has been a time of traveling, growth and change. It’s all been good and necessary, but it’s felt like a lot of doing. I’m looking forward to settling and reestablishing routine into my sphere in the coming months. My practice has fully transitioned to the new space at Ascent Acupuncture and I’ve had a couple weeks to begin settling it. Let me tell you, the new space feels really grounding and nourishing. I’m now offering appointments 4 days a week (instead of 3). This has allowed for more space in my schedule to take on new clients and for existing clients to be able to get in with shorter notice. If you are ever needing last minute care please reach out. I sometimes have cancellations and/or some flexibility. In the middle of October, I’m planning on attending another Craniosacral therapy training. I really appreciate this work and have found it especially helpful for clients that struggle with headaches, jaw pain and/or chronic pain in the head, neck, back and hips. If I haven’t explored Craniosacral therapy with you and you’re interested please ask me about it at your next session. You can also read this blog post with more information about what Craniosacral therapy is and what a session is like. I’m looking forward to learning more and continuing to incorporate this work into my practice. I’m also planning on starting a 11 month herbal studies program in January with Lise Wolff, an amazing local herbalist. More info to come about that. But before doing more doing, it seems important to take some time to rest, settle and reorganize. In Chinese Medicine, the fall is connected to the Metal element and the Lungs and Large Intestine organ systems. It can be a great time to give these systems a little extra support through the breath, elimination and structure. This can be considered physically and energetically. This is a wonderful time to clear out and reassess your goals, habits and belongings. To reestablish routine and structure around your life. It’s also a time to reconnect with your breath and your body. I have been finding it helpful to spend a little time each day to stop and notice how I am breathing in and breathing out. Letting thoughts pass through. Grief is also connected to the Lungs and the fall can be a time when grief is more present. Noticing this and tending to it can be powerful. I hope you are having a nice beginning to the fall season and I look forward to continuing to work with you.  Photo by corina ardeleanu on Unsplash In case, you haven't heard, there are some big changes happening to my business in September.
I'm moving locations! Starting September 1st, all massage + bodywork sessions with me will be held at Ascent Acupuncture located at 4100 Grand Ave South in Minneapolis. I’m excited to continue my practice in this beautiful space only a couple blocks away from the current Wellness Minneapolis location. In the new space, I will be expanding my hours from 3 to 4 days and plan on being there Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. My hope is that this will create more spaciousness in my schedule and increased ease in booking for you. Any packages or gift certificates with me will be transferred to the new location. I will no longer be able to honor any Wellness Minneapolis gift certificates that were purchased before August 2020. Appointments after September 1st, can be scheduled using this link or through my website. I encourage you to follow me on instagram. Please note that there is no receptionist on staff at Ascent Acupuncture. All questions and inquiries can be directed to me at [email protected]. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns about this transition. Feeling lots of gratitude for Wellness Minneapolis I feel really blessed to have been invited into Wellness Minneapolis 6 years ago by Jesse Haas and Dr. Barrett and to have had the opportunity to build my practice with a wonderful team of practitioners. I’m so grateful to all of you that have seen me at Wellness Minneapolis and gotten to share in the wonderful community that was cultivated there. If you are interested in learning more about the changes at Wellness Minneapolis and their decision to move out of the 4450 Nicollet location follow this link to read the heartfelt announcement from the owners. And finally, I look forward to continuing our work together at Ascent! Appreciate you so so much!  Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash For February's newsletter, I wanted to share a meditation for working with the energetic heart. This meditation is commonly taught, so you may have heard of it before. It's called the loving-kindness mediation aka metta meditation. It's relatively simple and doesn't need to be a large time commitment, but can be a profound tool for growing compassion for yourself and others. This article by Thich Nhat Hahn on Cultivating Compassion is a wonderful resource to learn more about the practice.
I have found the transformative nature of this meditation to be cumulative over time. I would suggest trying to commit to a daily practice for at least 40 days. One thing that I have found exciting in my own practice is how much I look forward to picking people to send extra love nuggets to each day. Here is a link to a video I made with my favorite variation of it. There are a lot of resources and scripts that can be found online. I have found it helpful to try out different variations before settling on what feels most meaningful for me. Happy meditating and sending you so much love, Amy  Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash I hope you are enjoying the additional daylight each day and that your holiday season went well. I’m a little late on the “Happy New Year” train, but I wanted to say it anyway. Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best in this next year and beyond.
I'm continuing to feel super grateful to be practicing, to be busy, and be able to provide some much needed support to clients during this time. I deeply believe that massage + bodywork can be a potent therapy for navigating tough times. Over the past year, I've been incorporating more Craniosacral and Myofascial work into my practice. I’m looking forward to deepening my understanding of these modalities and hopefully doing some more training in 2022. As always, I’m continuing to learn more about Chinese Medicine and herbalism and am stoked to read a couple books on these subjects that I got for Christmas. I'm starting to plan the newsletters for this next year. Is there anything that you have been wanting to know more about in terms of pain and stress management, benefits of massage + bodywork, at-home treatment/self-massage, and/or Chinese Medicine? I’d love to hear what you are interested in learning more about. Please reply to this email and let me know! Much love, Amy COVID reminder/update I'm continuing to mask and have clients remain masked during sessions. Their is an air purifier in the room and the table + room are being sanitized between clients. There is also extra time between clients to allow the air in the room to circulate. I do have a 24 hour cancellation policy, but do not charge anyone that has to cancel within 24 hours due to illness (including COVID symptoms or exposure). Please don't come to your appointment if you are: experiencing COVID symptoms, know that you have been exposed, or if you or someone you share a dwelling with is waiting for test results after a potential exposure. Also please don't come in if you are feeling sick, in general. It's not great to get bodywork when you are unwell. Your body needs time to focus on healing from what is making you feel unwell. I am always happy to discuss the situation before your appointment if you are unsure about whether you should come in. Feel free to email me at [email protected] Read about what to expect when you come in and COVID 19 procedures here.  Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexel Gift certificates are available if you are interested in gifting a massage + bodywork session to a friend or family member for the holidays. Gift certificates can also be a great way to show appreciation for coworkers, childcare workers, teachers and/or anyone that's been helping you out. Please email me directly to purchase. I will send you an invoice to be paid online and can mail the gift certificate to your or the recipient.
A couple homemade gift ideas Here are my favorite scented epsom salt and sugar scrub recipes. They are super easy to mix up and are such a treat. Great for anyone that doesn't need a lot of "things." Relaxing Epsom Salts 2 cups epsom salt 1 teaspoon carrier oil (almond, olive, grapeseed or jojoba) 15 drops of lavender essential oil Mix the ingredients in a large bowl until oils are evenly dispersed. Transfer to glass pint jar. Label and decorate jar. Instructions for use: add 1/2 cup to hot bath, swirl to dissolve. *lavender essential oil can be swapped out for other essential oils. Check out this article on which essential oils are safe for the bathtub and which aren't. Peppermint Body Scrub 3/4 cup sugar 6 Tablespoons carrier oil (almond, olive, grapeseed or jojoba) 10-14 drops of peppermint essential oil Mix ingredients until evenly dispersed. Transfer to 8 oz jar. Label and decorate jar. Instructions for use: scrub a small amount over skin in the shower. Rinse off. Be sure to wash hands well before touching face or eyes. I also wanted to shout out a couple local makers and service providers if you are looking for more ideas. Locally owned gift shops that feature handmade gifts and local artists: The Future Rock Paper Scissors Goods I Like You and I Like You Too Digs Jewelry: Jovy Rockey Larissa Loden Facials/Waxing: Deb at Lustre Skin Care Reiki: Lynn Salmon-Easter Bookstore: Moon Palace Books Ceramics: Cabinet of Curious Clay Please support local small businesses this year (and every year)! Happy Holidays from me to you! -Amy |
AuthorAmy Daws is a trained Therapeutic Massage, Shiatsu, Chi Nei Tsang and Craniosacral therapist. She is a nerd at heart and loves sharing what she is learning about with her clients. Archives
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