Prenatal Bodywork for Natural Induction

Among the natural and holistic approaches to induction, there are a variety of methods that can facilitate and support the process of labor and delivery. Using clary sage essential oil is one strategy, in addition to CranioSacral Therapy (CST), acupressure, acupuncture, and soft tissue work. While it may be difficult to avoid "traditional" Western induction in all cases, the aforementioned alternative methods are generally less invasive and traumatic for the baby. For instance, traditional induction can sometimes cause the muscles to contract too much, causing the baby's shoulder to get stuck on the way out. 

Some specific means of naturally encouraging labor and delivery include rubbing clary sage oil on the bottoms of the feet or along spine, applying the oil to certain acupressure points, applying a drop underneath the nose, soaking a piece of cotton with a couple drops of the oil and inhaling, diffusing into a room, or misting some of the oil onto your pillow at night. All of these uses of clary sage oil are much more gentle at jump-starting labor when compared to use of chemicals like pitocin. Additional means of gentle induction include sexual activity, nipple stimulation, and application of rose oil. Some drink castor oil for encouraging labor, but this might not be the most desirable method. Other essential oils that may relax the body and promote uterine contractions include geranium, jasmine, lavender, peppermint, and ylang ylang. 

Bodywork sessions to help induce labor naturally should be scheduled 38-40 weeks. Ideally, the birth partner should also attend the session in order to learn and apply acupressure points while CranioSacral Therapy is simultaneously applied. If an induction is necessary, acupressure and neck/shoulder massages can be useful for promoting rest and relaxation, to reduce the pitocin dosage needed, and to make contractions more effective. Additionally, acupressure can promote milk production.

For more information on DIY techniques to help induce labor safely and naturally, visit Gail Tully's Spinning Babies website.

Bodywork for Head Injuries

While we generally think of football as the sport that causes the most head injuries, did you know that cycling is actually the leading sport to cause head injuries? It's true, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 25% of sports-related head injuries are caused by cycling accidents. Then, football and baseball were tied at 14% each. What was the least common cause of sports-related head injuries you ask? Lucky for us in Minnesota this time of year, winter sports and fitness only account for 5% each. If anything, this research shows the urgency for always wearing a helmet when you bike. But, it also leads us to conclude that head injuries can occur from a variety of activities. CranioSacral Therapy (CST), as discussed above, may also be a safe and effective way to promote healing for head injuries, as it decompresses the bones. Following an impact, the cranial bones can get jammed up against one another, as the cranial bones are not fused together, but rather consist of several movable parts that fit together. When jammed up after an impact, imbalances in the spinal fluid can result, which then lead to other complications and health concerns in the body, such as headaches, vision problems, depression, etc. CST gently releases the cranial bones, promoting a faster recovery, mitigating trauma, and bringing the body back into balance so you can get back into the game in a reasonable amount of time.

Superstition Mountains Wellness Retreat

The wellness retreat this month will take place out of state (Arizona, to be precise) in the end of January, from Tuesday, the 19th through Friday, the 22th. Need a break from the cold and the snow? Anyone is welcome to join me, as long as you can get yourself to Arizona and back. We will spend two full days staying in a campground off the Apache Trail in the beautiful Superstition Mountains of Arizona.

CranioSacral Therapy for Infants

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is not just for adults. It is also safe and effective for use on babies and children. In fact, it can be particularly helpful to calm infants, and assist with nursing. CranioSacral works to correct any compression that may have resulted during the birthing process by gentle physical touch of the practitioner that optimizes the alignment of the baby's palate, spine, and skull so that the baby can properly latch when nursing. In addition to nursing, CST also promotes healthy sleeping and pooping! 

While we don't know for sure if CST works for all babies, it is safe and gentle enough that it is worth a try. Furthermore, given my recent additional training in Upledger Somato-Emotional, (a particular type of CST), I am now very highly skilled at oral protocol with children, infants, and adults.

Learn more about CST for infants, and specifically for help breastfeeding facilitation here and here.

Self Care in the New Year

As we ring in 2016, please do not forget the importance of self care. Of course, self care can mean different things for different people, but if massage fits in with your plan for self care, remember that regularly scheduled massage is best. Ideally, massages should be scheduled once a month. This also works out in your favor, as you get a discount when you schedule your sessions in bulk. Consider committing to a regular day every month, such as the third Thursday, or third Saturday, or whenever works best for you. You can then go online and schedule that day for the next six months. 

Regular massages will help bring your body back into balance. This is crucial, given that there are multiple macro-level stressors present at this time including terrorism, economic changes, global warming, etc. These stressors will affect your ability to sleep and relax, which is when your body can heal. Massage also reinforces the immune system and flushes excess chemicals out of the body, which will not only protect you from bacterial infections, but also from cancer, and other environmental toxins you may be exposed to.

CranioSacral Therapy for Depression and Anxiety

How can CranioSacral Therapy (CST) treat depression and anxiety? First, sometimes depression or anxiety symptoms can result simply from physical compression in the dural tube, or the membrane that surrounds the brain, spine, and nervous system. We can then misinterpret these symptoms as a result of being overworked, or having a chemical imbalance, when in reality the depression and anxiety may be caused by that minor compression in the body. These compressions are often the result of injuries, trauma, or grief we have experienced that gets stored in the body.

CST will restore the length of the dural tube, which can then restore your motivation to move and exercise. Exercise being another key way to ameliorate symptoms of depression and anxiety, consider this a "double whammy." CST will also calm the nervous system, strengthen and promote resiliency in the body and mind, as well as increase relaxation, grounding, and more restful sleep. Still curious? Read more about how CST treats depression and anxiety here

Happiness (and Chocolate) for Self-Care

Can a dessert like this one pictured at left be considered self-care? Sure! However, one should indulge mindfully, and be sure not to guilt oneself for indulging. Rather, ask yourself what 'recharges your battery' so to speak, and savor whatever that may be with gratitude. This is one tip from Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project.

A chocolate truffle is provided for your enjoyment after your massage session as a way for you to practice mindfulness as you indulge your senses in the rich and complex aromas and flavors that blend with the chocolate. Maybe the smell brings back a particular fond memory, or perhaps the soft inside of the truffle reminds you of the silkiness of a warm white sand beach on the soles of your feet. In this way, paying attention to your own experience and reactions as you indulge can increase the degree of joy you take from the things you already find pleasurable. It will even increase the joy you take from things that are not so pleasurable. To read more on how mindful eating can increase happiness, click here.

July Wellness Retreat

Last month’s trip to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park found me at backpack campsite #3 for 3 days of incredible blue skies. As I sat on the shore with a cup of jasmine tea,  I noticed a delicate dragonfly flitting over the water from scrubby tree branches to massive rocks. It was only when I leaned back  to catch sun on my face that I realized the sky directly above me was filled with masses of the creatures. As if at an agility competition, they circled and spiraled among the massive trees where the forest met the stones pushed up by Lake Superior every winter. As I watched their antics, a family of 7 loons swam across the little bay, just a few feet from my dogs sunning themselves at my feet. So much of our experience is shaped by perception, isn’t it? We can be crabby about the traffic (and road construction) or happy and grateful that the “check engine” light is off. We choose where we direct our attention.

At any moment we can turn our attitude around just like the sticky, hot baby, suffering in the humid Minnesota summer. Fill the pool with cool refreshing water, climb in and watch the smiles.    
Schedule your next massage to follow a swimming session at Schedulicity.com or Blooma.com. And sleep like a baby again.  

Bodywork for Balancing Lower Abdomen and Jaw Structures

Did you know that the lower abdomen and the jaw are linked energetically and physically? Not only are they similar in anatomical form and structure (both are horizontal diaphragms made mostly of soft tissue, they are also both creative centers (one for the reproductive tasks it manages and the other for creating narrative through language and sound). Furthermore, as mentioned in the CranioSacral article above, tightness in the the throat can translate to tightness in the cervix. 
For women who are trying to conceive or who are expecting, this is why jaw and throat tension can sometimes lead to reproductive complications. Prenatal bodywork will help to release restrictions in these regions (craniosacral jaw release technique pictured at right) and re-balance both energy centers. In addition to prenatal bodywork, you can release tension and open up your jaw structure on your own by yawning, laughing, or screaming. To read more about techniques massage and CranioSacral  therapists use to release fascial tissues in the pelvic floor and the occipital cranial base, and how the issues in the two areas can transfer, read this blog post.

Benefits of Therapeutic Grade Peppermint Oil

Peppermint essential oil is what I most commonly apply in my massage practice. Why, you ask? Because it is a highly effective analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-tumor, anti-spasmodic, astringent, expectorant and stimulant. It is also a great oil to have on hand during the summer months, as it is a cooling to the body when applied topically and will also repel insects, as well as soothe spider and mosquito bites.
Speaking of repelling insects, here is one of many recipes for homemade insect repellent.
    * 2 ounces distilled or boiled water
*     1.5 ounces witch hazel, rubbing alcohol or vodka
*     30 drops citronella essential oil
*     25 drops peppermint essential oil
*     15 drops tea tree essential oil
*     1 teaspoon of jojoba, almond, or olive oil* (optional, if you add this, add only 1 ounce of vodka or witch hazel)

Looking for a good brand of therapeutic grade essential oils? Check out Veriditas, which can be purchased at your neighborhood co-op, or Cure Oils, which can be ordered online.

Massage for Tennis Players

Any frequent tennis players out there are most likely familiar with at least one of the following: shoulder muscles issues, tennis elbow, issues with external rotator muscles of the hip, lower back pain, knee pain, or tight calves. Sound familiar? Please don't hesitate to ask for specific work on these areas at your next massage appointment. Receiving massage can help prevent and reduce the extent of tennis-related injuries. Massage will also increase circulation, thereby facilitating the removal of lactic acid and other metabolic waste that can inflame these areas. Additionally, strengthening the muscles that surround an injured area can relieve stress on the tendons. 

Your session will start prone (lying face down) and switch to supine (lying face upwards). In addition to focusing on the muscles used in tennis, we will do some proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching (or PNF stretches) using assisted stretches and resistance stretches designed to enhance your range of motion and rehabilitate any complications from past injuries. Peppermint oil will also be applied (unless you request otherwise) due to its many incredible properties listed below. Read more in The Role of Massage Therapy in Tennis Medicine.

CranioSacral Therapy for Trauma and Abuse Survivors

For survivors of domestic and sexual violence, there are almost always after-effects of the abuse that get stored in the body and can impact a person for years. CranioSacral Therapy is one way to help resolve stored trauma in the body by clearing away energy cysts that may be disrupting or restricting the flow of one's craniosacral fluids. For example, often times the need to keep the abuse a secret will manifest in physical tightness in the jaw and throat. Likewise, as the jaw structure often echoes patterns in the lower abdomen (see 'Bodywork for Balancing Lower Abdomen and Jaw Structures' below), there will also be tension in the lower abdomen, which the light, gentle touch of CranioSacral can help to release. It is important to remember that trauma will not disappear entirely from our bodies and consciousness, but rather that the associated memories and physiological states lose their debilitating power over us. To learn more about how CranioSacral can facilitate the healing process for survivors of abuse and violence, read this article.

Constructive Rest for Self-Care

Ever feel like you need to hit the reset button on your state of mind? When you feel stretched thin or just need a break in your day, take a towel, yoga mat, or blanket to a favorite place in nature. Whether you go to the beach, the Minnehaha Falls, or simply your own back deck, use the constructive rest position (as pictured at right) or corpse pose for 5 minutes just relaxing. For the next 5 minutes, focus your attention on the space between your skin cells, imagine them gently opening as in this exploding cranium video. Doing this will reset your nervous system from sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest) by flushing cortisol (or stress hormones) out of your system and allowing you to feel more relaxed. Do this at least once a day for best results. Maybe it's during your lunch break, after you return home from work, or maybe at both opportunities!

Walking meditation

Walking meditation always inspires me. A very recent trip to the Superior Hiking Trail took me up Carlton Peak, with it's magnificent vistas of Lake Superior on one side and the BWCAW on the other side. As hawks circled above, I breathed in the fragrance of pine, cedar and cypress. Healing occurs when we spend time in nature whether it is in the wild areas of Minnesota or something as simple as my own little back yard, full of Black Eyed Susan and Milkweed. As I rock my granddaughter we watch the bees, butterflies and their cohorts doing what they do best. Summer waits for no one, but, if we are paying attention, we can slow ourselves down enough to savor the flavors and fragrances; and to hear the sweetness of the birdsong a little more clearly. Feeling the heaviness of this 6 month old beauty in my arms as she drifts in and out of dreamland, I recognize that there is only now, the present moment.
Sometimes we lay on my deck watching the movement of the trees, birds and clouds. Occasionally eagles will soar through our tiny piece of the sky. It is truly heaven on earth.

I encourage you to be gentle, with yourself first, and those around you when you have an opportunity. This may take some practice, but it is a skill worth developing, like compassion, mercy, and cleaning your start up disc. And I suggest that you nurture yourself, so that those around you will learn from your example. Invest in your wellness and everyone around you shares in the returns of your investment. I look forward to seeing you soon!

April Truffle Flavor

Locally produced, handmade chocolate truffles available for your post-massage enjoyment this month is cardamom, courtesy of Tour de Chocolat. Benefits of cardamom include promotion of detoxification, lower blood pressure, prevention of blood clots, and prevention and relief of cold and flu symptoms. Interested in purchasing your own batch of truffles? Visit Tour de Chocolat's Etsy. Or look for them at Rustica Bakery at Calhoun Village, Kowalski's on Hennepin (at the cheesemonger's), Sugar Sugar, the ever so cute candy boutique at 38th and Grand (Mpls), Lake Street Wine and Cheese and, of course, on sale at Orchestra Hall in 2 packs.

April Wellness Retreat

In need of a quick wilderness getaway that's not too far from home? Join me for a 24-hour wellness retreat, from Monday April 27th - Tuesday the 28th at Lake Maria State Park. A cabin has been reserved for those who prefer the comforts of sleeping on a mattress, having a roof overhead, and heat from a wood stove. However, this means no dogs are allowed. Just an hour northwest of the cities, this will be the perfect opportunity to unplug from technology, surround yourself in the woods, do some hiking and birdwatching, practice yoga, tai chi, meditation, or to simply relax. If interested, text me at 612-205-4453 or email juliehmueller@earthlink.net

How Racism Impacts Pregnancy Outcomes

Why are pre-term births, low birthweight, and infant death more common for women of color than for white women? Studies have shown that the cumulative effects of racism experienced over the course of one's lifetime may be the greatest risk factor for women of color who become pregnant. The chronic release of stress hormones caused by everyday exposure to racism can create wear and tear on the body's organs and systems, and can also trigger premature labor. Prenatal massage and CranioSacral Therapy may be one effective approach for reversing these impacts on the body, and decreasing risks for birth outcomes. Watch this 4 minute video to learn more, or read this brief article.

Massage for Runners

Running in the spring feels great, doesn't it? You no longer need to worry about slipping on ice, and the pleasant temperatures are more conducive to going longer distances. Not to mention that running stimulates the lymphatic system, another way the body naturally purifies itself. If you are currently easing into a jogging routine, or training for, say, the Twin Cities Marathon, it may be the perfect time to get a massage. Massage for runners will concentrate on the legs, and consist of assisted stretches for the hamstrings, quads, and piriformis (external rotators). Ideally, runners should receive monthly or weekly massages in order to prevent injuries and to relieve any tightness before it becomes problematic. At the very least, consider getting a massage the evening or following morning after your hardest training block, in order to maximize time for your body to recover before the next run. And don't forget to drink plenty of water after your massage so as to flush out all the toxins that get released from the muscles during massage. Read more about the benefits of massage for runners here.

Benefits of Therapeutic Grade Rosemary Oil

While we are on the subjects of brain and liver health, Rosemary essential oil is your go-to oil for the brain and liver, as well as for your skin, hair/scalp, mouth, and throat and lungs. Here are just a few of the many uses for therapeutic grade Rosemary oil. ▪ Diffuse in a room or simply take a whiff to improve mental clarity and memory. ▪ Apply one drop over the liver and kidneys, or to reflex points on the feet to promote detoxification. ▪ Swish around in the mouth to freshen the breath and kill bacteria. ▪ Apply over chest for bronchial infections, or add to boiling water and inhale the steam. ▪ For hair and scalp health, dilute with coconut or olive oil and massage directly into the scalp to fight dandruff and promote hair growth. For other uses, you may visit these links: 50+ Uses For Rosemary Essential Oil Rosemary Essential Oil Gives Me Clarity!

CranioSacral Therapy for Brain Health

When we think of detoxification, we may not think of the brain immediately, but your noggin has its own system of flushing out excess waste and toxins. Yes, the 'glymphatic system' is a recently identified system in the brain similar to the lymphatic system, that pumps cerebrospinal fluid all around the brain in a fast, pressurized rhythm in order to wash away excess waste. Researchers are already looking into how this discovery may connect with Alzheimer's disease, as a healthy glymphatic flow helps to eliminate excess amyloid β, a protein in the brain that builds up and clogs the spaces between brain cells of those suffering from Alzheimer's. Therefore, means of stimulating glymphatic circulation could have powerful implications for those afflicted with Alzheimer's or other diseases of the brain, brain injuries, or as a preventative measure. So how does this relate to CranioSacral Therapy? This recent discovery of the glymphatic system confirms Dr. John Upledger's hypothesis developed in the early 1980s regarding the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and CranioSacral Therapy. As such, CranioSacral Therapy is one promising way to unblock restrictions in the circulation of cerebrospinal fluids throughout the brain and spinal cord, and thereby eliminate toxins that may have built up in these structures. Read more about CranioSacral and the glymphatic system here.