Spring Equinox: diving deeper

Spring is just around the corner! Can you believe it? I want to dive a little deeper into the significance of the spring equinox and how you can utilize this powerful time of the year to support your mind, body, and spirit. The Spring Equinox marks the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere, where the sun is positioned directly over the equator, resulting in nearly equal lengths of time in both day and night. Its our first 12 hour day! This gives meaning to the word equinox (equal in latin). During this time, the energy that is most active according to ancient Chinese Medicine is the energy of the wood element organs; the liver & gallbladder.  While winter is a time for us to enjoy respite, allow things to die (literally and figuratively), and become more introspective while we germinate new ideas and desires for the coming months ahead - the spring equinox is a great time to simply recognize that the season is now upon us where those ideas & desires we have been germinating can start coming to life. Do you see the parallel in nature?  Doesn’t it feel good to recognize that and live in tune with it? It feels so….natural. It feels so….effortless. The way life should be.

So, a good analogy to describe the consciousness of the liver/gallbladder complex is the “general". The energy these organs harness provides direction, gives orders, and helps maintain clear organization and planning of every other system. When I say every other system, this includes the systems of the physical body, but also the mental, esoteric, and spiritual bodies. Remember, we’re talking about ourselves as a WHOLE. This is why we tend to spring clean, plan ahead, start thinking about trips, do some shopping, etc, this time of year. It's an innate intelligence that we possess whether we realize it or not. Have you ever heard the phrase “That person has some gall?!”. Now you know where that came from.  Ok, so when the consciousness of the “general” gets clouded, direction becomes unclear, and the organizational flow of these organs becomes gunked up, a person can experienced a myriad of different signs and symptoms. These signs and symotoms are simply trying to get your attention, and say “hey, theres something going on here I need you to pay attention to. Slow down, notice me, give me some love.” So let’s do that. Let’s create the space in our lives to tend to ourselves. After all, if you don’t have your health, what do you have? If you find yourself feeling indecisive, frustrated, and uncertain, you are not alone. It's a common theme this time of year for any existing imbalances here to manifest themselves. You may also experience constipation, hemorrhoids, brain fog, skin breakouts, nausea, or seasonal allergies.

 Whether your experiencing any of these symptoms or not, here are some simple ways you can recognize the spring equinox and give your Qi a boost: 

1. Incorporate sour & bitter foods like grapefruit, lemon, dandelion greens, mustard greens and parsley.

2. Make a fresh batch of celery juice.

3. Go for a bike ride and get that blood moving!

4. Do some nice stretching to soothe the joints, ligaments, and muscles.

   In Chinese Medicine, the “wood element” that the liver and gallbladder organs are categorized under, actually refers to bamboo. It’s strong, but flexible, it’s deeply rooted, stable, and sees the end goal, but it’s able to go with the flow. It’s so beneficial to keep this concept in mind as you move your body, stretch your muscles, and create space for this energy to flow between within your tissues.

   In my own life, I’ve found that incorporating these practices simply to recognize my connection with the earth, the seasons, and God/Source/Spirit (whatever that is for you) in all of it, has truly created the space in my body for healing to take place. I feel clearer, more stable, and less like i’m being blown around in the spring winds. My digestion has improved, my sleep has improved, and my skin has improved. I hope these insights serve you well, and I hope you take to heart how beautiful our innate connection to the natural world around us is, and how much it can enrich your life and health to slow down, and recognize it. Happy Spring Equinox!

What is BodyTalk?

Ok, you’ve heard me go on and on about BodyTalk, and maybe you’re asking yourself, what is it? Let’s go on a little journey together and let me explain to you what it is….

Bodytalk is a revolutionary healthcare system that blends modern science with wisdom from age-old healing traditions. BodyTalk is a safe, non invasive form of healthcare that relies on your body’s own healing capabilities. It was developed by Dr John Veltheim in the 1990’s, a Chiropractor, Acupuncturist & Diagnostician who combined the wisdom of Eastern and Western medicine to create this system, after many years of practice and personal application. You can click here, to visit the IBA’s website and learn even more about its history. When I found BodyTalk (check out that super fun story in my previous blog post!) I was thrilled, because I’ve always felt drawn to eastern medicine philosophy, and I also love to figure out the science of why things work. In fact, when I was a child, I had my own “work bench” in my Dads shop where I would take things apart, figure out how they worked, and put them back together! If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably a curious soul, like me!

Now the first thing I want to address is the approach our modern medical system takes, and why it’s not working for us. Our modern medical system is based in what we call a Cartesian model of medicine. According to this Cartesian model of medicine, if something is complex, we take it apart, figure out how every individual piece works and “fix it” with drugs, surgery, or physical manipulation. We then put it back together, and assume everything will be a-ok. Sort of like taking apart a watch to repair it. This is why we have so many different types of specialists. Now the problem with this, is that we are not robots. If we were robots, this structure would work beautifully. However, the unseen parts of what make us unique, are left out of the equation.

I want to make it very clear that I do value modern medicine and all it has offer us, especially emergency care. However, I like to use a more holistic approach for my preventative health. I believe there is great value in a combined approach, which is why I love Bodytalk. It’s an excellent compliment to whatever else you’re already doing to support yourself. It’s non-invasive, and totally safe to receive while taking medication and undergoing any other treatments recommended by your physician.

Ok, now let’s get into the basis of the BodyTalk System. BodyTalk takes a whole person approach, rather than solely focusing on a single symptom, and aiming to band-aid that symptom, or simply “fix that part”. As practitioners, we look at physical, emotional, energetic, and environmental factors that could be contributing to overall dis-ease. What made that part break to begin with? The science behind this is called the Dynamic Systems Model, and its based in Quantum Physics. According to this model, each cell, organ, and system of the body rely on each-other for their own individual functioning. So basically, we look at the body not as a bunch of separate parts, but rather, a bunch of parts that rely on each other to make up the whole person. Sometimes, there’s a disconnect between them, and thats what we are addressing in a session.

BodyTalk sessions are tailored to the individual needs of each client. We understand that no two people will heal the same way. We are dynamic and unique individuals, each with different histories and stories to tell, all of which contribute to our overall health. This is why the practitioner acts as a facilitator, guiding the clients innate healing process, rather than imposing the same treatments for each person.

Your body speaks, and has a story to tell, are you willing to listen? 

BodyTalk recognizes the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. It understands that physical ailments are often connected to emotional, mental, and spiritual imbalances. This is a revolution in whole-istic healthcare. It is NOT attached to any particular religion or dogma, and is safe and suitable for anyone no matter their beliefs, gender, age, or condition. During a BodyTalk Session, I will use neuromuscular biofeedback (muscle checking) to determine which factors could be contributing to your current symptoms. Once we gather this information, we apply very simple, gentle, and non-invasive techniques to initiate the body's own healing response. Yes, it’s that easy. BodyTalk provides proven results based in cutting edge concepts of modern energy medicine. Its benefits include safety, simplicity, and immediacy.

BodyTalk is effective for things like:

Chronic Pain, fatigue, digestive disorders, insomnia, hormonal imbalance, emotional distress, anxiety & depression, blood pressure imbalance, blood sugar imbalance, lyme & its co-infections, skin conditions, parasites, auto-immune conditions & so much more!

Clients see long-lasting ongoing improvements with their health, rather than short term relief from symptoms. 

Even if you are not one who struggles with chronic illness, but you just want more balance in your everyday life, more stress resilience, or assistance processing normal human challenges and life lessons that we all go through, BodyTalk is for you! One of the beautiful things about this work is that it increases your self-awareness, confirms what you already know intuitively, empowers you to take your health into your own hands, and gives you the tools to do so. Now, more than ever, is the time to be your own doctor. BodyTalk is an excellent tool to build confidence in your bodies own healing abilities. We hear the phrase “you body can heal itself” thrown around quite a bit these days, with alternative therapies on the rise. If you want to experience that in your own life, and know it to be true on a very deep level, then you’re in the right place.

I hope this gives you an idea of what BodyTalk actually is, I know it’s a lot to take in, and understand. It’s different than what we’ve been conditioned to believe about healthcare, and how the body works. It took me a couple of years to really integrate this information and be able to share it with you in a constructive way. With that being said, don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any other questions, or book a free Q&A call with me to chat.

Diving Right In

TW: Suicide

Suicide Awareness Month

For my first blog post, I am DIVING RIGHT IN to the nitty gritty of why I do what I do. Or at least, a very large part of what made me who I am today. 15 years ago I learned about the value of human life, the depth of loss, true friendships, connection, and the impact of our words and actions.

15 years ago, 21 of my friends slept on my bedroom floor the night I lost him. Collective grief, support, and connection like I have never experienced. That has left an imprint on my heart just as big as the loss of a great man, my Dad. I will never forget that day, and all of you that sat with me that night. I know he would be proud of all of us.

I have spent my entire adult life exploring the mind body connection, spirituality, and simply the essence of human beings to create some context around this loss. Someone so wholesome, kind, and GOOD taking their own life.

I spent years going to church services 4x per week laying flat on my face at the altar, I went to college and studied theology, then I spent the last 10 years diving into energy medicine, ancient philosophy, anatomy, physiology, and the mind-body complex.

My greatest take away from exploring all of these things is LOVE. Experiencing it in my own heart, and allowing myself to feel allll the good, painful, wonderful things that come with being a human, and cultivating the ability to share it. It’s messy! While you CAN look to outside sources to guide you, the real solution to your problems is in your own heart. That’s where God/Spirit'/Whatever you want to call it, lives.

I don’t have the answers, and I don't know that I was ever looking for answers, maybe just some clarity or context, but something I have definitely learned is that a persons choice to end their time on planet earth is a sacred one known only to them, and to God.

I have also learned that his choice, has gifted thousands of people through MY hands.

It is my deepest privilege to serve and love other people suffering from chronic pain and illness with my massage, and BodyTalk Practice.

He is my why.

The mind-body connection plays a greater role in our mental health than we have been led on to believe. Your mental health is not separate from whats going on in your body. There are answers, there IS hope, and there IS another way. Even in the midst of your suffering.

This is why I value The BodyTalk System, it bridges this gap that conventional methods seem to leave out.

It's not a panacea, but it makes a damn big impact and has gotten me through some very difficult times.

We are all unique individuals with different histories, backgrounds, traumas, emotions and environmental stressors. These things do affect our physical health and the symptoms we experience. If they didn't, we would be robots.

BodyTalk takes that into consideration and looks at the WHOLE person.

Since losing him, I have lost 6 other loved ones to suicide. One of my best friends, an inherited little brother, an ex boyfriend, and three close friends of the family.

We HAVE to speak up about this, and be willing to hold space for the people we love. Being heard in a space of safety is healing for every one of us.

Ultimately, you can’t stop someone from making this choice. But you CAN love them right where theyre at, in the present moment. It will echo in eternity. The rest is out of your hands.

Here's to you, Pop's. Thanks for helping me help other people, I'd prefer if you were here with me, but even in your absence, you have taught me SO MUCH.