My style of bodywork is informed by my background in kinesiology, massage therapy, and personal training, though I would say the most profound evolution to my bodywork practice happened after an emergency, life saving surgery in 2020. Left with deep internal scarring, the fabric of my fascia was permanently altered. Navigating through two years of chronic pain, I learned how to rebuild the relationship between my body and movement. 

 

Reconnecting with the body after injury (or really post any traumatic event) can be a slow, frustrating process in our adult years. As we age, our tissues tend to become less hydrated, flexible, and responsive. The way we move largely comes from reflexive neuromuscular, or mind-body, mapping in the spinal cord. Unless we consciously connect our brains to the tissues in their present state, the old mapping will not be updated, rendering the hardwired instructions for muscle positioning and recruitment less effective or completely inaccurate.

 

The foundation of my bodywork is promoting the connection between our mind and body in the present moment. Though this may sound simple in theory, in practice it can prove to be quite difficult and sometimes uncomfortable. Many of us live with chronic pain or are mentally overwhelmed, which leaves us operating with some degree of dissociation from the body. Dissociation is both a survival mechanism and tool that, when used appropriately, can serve to benefit us during specific events. However, unconscious prolonged or frequent dissociation typically does not serve us and, over time, it creates a chasm between the mind and body. In my practice, we will work toward bridging the gap between our mind and body by building our tolerance to remain present in the tissues. 

 

My bodywork techniques are structurally and fascially informed. The goal is to rehydrate the tissue by working directly on the fascia to create space and release restrictions. Stacking our heads over the shoulders, ribs above the hips, and feet below the pelvis provides us with the most energy-efficient posture. By releasing chronically shortened fascia and strengthening over-lengthened tissue, we allow for the structures of our body to find a more balanced alignment. When our tissues are at their normal resting length, we can create larger forces more efficiently. 

 

Though we may never find true symmetry or maintain a continuous state of presence in our bodies, we can work towards attuning our awareness for what the body needs. Oftentimes it means investing in movement that nourishes, appropriately challenges, and sustains our daily activities. Sometimes it means rest and relaxation. And at other times it can be as simple as just noticing what we are feeling at any given moment with curiosity and nonjudgement.