FAQs

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Your work is kind of expensive, isn't it?

It's so easy to look at a number and think "that's way too much", but I invite you to consider the costs associated with not dealing with your stress. We know that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. and science has shown over and over again that stress is a leading contributor to heart disease. Reducing your stress can be helpful then in reducing your risk for heart disease and of course a myriad of other diseases which over time, and especially as we age, limit our abilities, shorten our lifespan and cost us a lot more than money (which can also be substantial!).

When we think of aging, I think most us wish to live a long, healthy life where we can be active with and in our children's and grandchildren's lives. In fact, most of us would consider these goals priceless. At some point, we need to make the hard choices and commit to taking care of our health and ourselves, commit to healing and do the work. I'm here to help you!

Is there a payment plan available?

I believe that everyone should have access to hands on bodywork and I don't want finances to stand in the way of your health. I am able to set up automatic payments on a bi-weekly or monthly schedule.

Why do I have to commit to 3 or 6 sessions? I only see a massage therapist when I feel I need it;

what's different with this work?

The bodywork I provide is different than a Swedish massage (your typical massage) in that I am working more intimately with your nervous system via myofascial, visceral, craniosacral, neuromeningeal and dermoneuromodulation techniques. I look for specific physiologic responses that indicate your nervous system is discharging energy and completing feedback loops. Your body 'tells' me when it has had enough work and I honor your body's messages. In between sessions (I recommend 7-10 days), your body is resetting and adjusting to the changes it made during the previous session. I typically see the best results when we work together a minimum of 3 times - this allows for enough change that you notice a difference and allows your nervous system to integrate that change. Following the first 3 sessions, I invite your body to a longer reset time (2-4 weeks) and then, if you're interested, we can continue with another 3 sessions.

I noticed some uncomfortable feelings in my body following our session? Is this normal? I didn't like it. What can I do about it?

It is 100% normal to notice some changes in your emotional state with bodywork of any kind. Perhaps you've heard the phrase "your issues are in your tissues". Have you ever had an encounter with someone who was angry and belligerent and wouldn't listen and leave that encounter with a headache? Have you ever had a quarrel with your spouse and notice that over the next few days your low back hurts? Have you ever worried about the health of a loved one and noticed that your shoulders are up to your ears and your neck hurts?

We can't separate our feelings from our body; in fact, our body state informs our emotions. We tend to cut ourselves off at the neck, ignoring our body and keeping all attention in and around the head. When we open up the connection between the body and the mind, we may notice that our mind is overwhelmed with information from the body. Suddenly, we notice everything! The fear from that car accident 20 years ago, that time that kid in school called us names, the pain from slipping on the ice, the annoyance at our boss...the list goes on and on. In a perfect world, we would deal with these issues as they arise. When we can't or don't know how to deal with these issues, the emotion from the issue doesn't just go away - it just gets stuffed down inside of us. Anger in the liver. Fear in the kidneys. Grief in the lungs. Not to mention the myriad of musculoskeletal pains and tightness we feel daily.

This complex trauma sensitive work I do with your body helps to discharge some of the emotion and energy of these daily stressors without having to talk about, re-live or even think about the specific event that caused the issue in the first place. We literally clear space in your nervous system.

Interesting?! But I'm not sure!

I get it! Healing is hard! We often enter into bodywork just because it feels so good, not realizing the profound changes it can create in our life. If we choose to work together, I will support you and your commitment to change. I will also hold you to your commitment. I encourage you to consider adding BodyMind Coaching into the healing equation once you have experienced the effects of my Intuitive Bodywork. The combination is unmatched in helping you create the life you deserve to live! And that's why I ONLY work with women who are committed to themselves.

Do you work on men?

I ONLY see male clients with a referral from a current female client. I do offer massage and Specialty Bodywork for specific conditions for men and women who are committed to doing the work of healing with patience and an open mind.

How would I benefit from Abdominal Massage?

Abdominal Bodywork/Massage has numerous health benefits including relaxation, improved digestive function and decreased menstrual symptoms. Trust me, there is absolutely nothing that is as profoundly relaxing as abdominal work!

Abdominal work can help with many issues that we just take for granted as women - cramps, constipation, bloating, pain with ovulation, heartburn, low back pain, pelvic pain...the list goes on.

If you have tried changes to diet and continue to have constipation, diarrhea or digestive pain, Abdominal Massage and Visceral Manipulation can 're-set' your digestive system and help your digestion work better and help you feel better.

And if you've been pregnant, you may find following birth, whether it's vaginal or by c-section, that your digestion has changed from pre-pregnancy. This can often be due to the intestines and other organs not settling back into correct positions after being displaced by a growing baby. The gentle work of abdominal massage and visceral manipulation can help your organs return to their optimal position and improve organ functioning.

Following abdominal surgeries, you may develop pain, bowel, bladder or gynecological issue(s) due to abdominal adhesion formation. Abdominal adhesions are fibrous bands that can form between abdominal tissues and internal organs and/or the abdominal wall. When adhesions form, organ movement is inhibited, organ function may be affected and pain and movement restrictions may occur as the musculoskeletal system adapts to protect the vital organs.

I highly recommend a series of manual therapy sessions following any type of abdominal surgery, including c-sections, to promote healthy healing and prevent adhesions from forming.

If you suffer from pre-menstrual or menstrual cramps, Abdominal Massage can help to loosen musculoskeletal and nervous system restrictions that may be contributing to your pain. Before going on hormonal birth control for cramps, I highly recommend my comprehensive assessment that includes breathing, movement, posture and organ mobility evaluation.

Learn more here.

Abdominal Massage can also be used to help increase a woman's ability to conceive. The work I do is similar to Arvigo® Mayan Abdominal Massage, though I am not certified with them. Click here to read more about my Fertility Support Therapy Program.

As a Specialty Bodywork, Abdominal Bodywork is offered with a minimum commitment of three (3) sessions.

Who wants their stomach worked on?? It seems weird!

I get it! I hated having my stomach worked on until I had my stomach worked on!! It is so, so relaxing! And did you know that the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and GABA are made in the gut? So, abdominal work can improve brain health!

Anybody who suffers with

constipation

diarrhea

menstrual cramps

irregular periods

abdominal or pelvic pain

stress

will benefit from abdominal massage to improve regularity and health.

Do you do abdominal work on men?

Because this work is so powerful for everybody's health, I am happy to see your husband/partner.

I have an IUD, can you do abdominal work on me?

I am unable to provide pelvic organ manual therapy if you have an implanted device. I can, however, see you for abdominal visceral work. Please be sure to notify me if you have an IUD.

I'm not sure I understand the difference between what is Physical Therapy and what is just Bodywork?

It's a little confusing, to be sure!

The main differences between seeing me for Physical Therapy and seeing me for Bodywork is the amount of limitation you are experiencing in your life because of your issue and how you want to pay for my work.

If your problem, headaches, GI issues, hip pain, pelvic pain, etc., is limiting your abilities in any way, you are likely a PT candidate. If you can't do the things you used to be able to do because of your issue or your participation in daily activities, work or recreational tasks is limited because of your issue, you are a likely PT candidate.

If your issue is annoying or is exacerbated by stressful situations, you likely would not qualify for PT coverage.

If you would like to use your Out of Network Insurance benefits and you qualify for PT, I can see you for PT.

If you're not concerned about using your out of network benefits, you can see me for Bodywork any time.

If you're still unsure, call or text me at 320.314.YOGA and I will return your text within 72 hours!