Category: Body Talk

Breath is life!

How are you breathing today? Really, check it out. Notice how your lungs are feeling as you breathe in and out. Check in with your body and belly as you read these words. How does your body feel when you breathe? Tight, relaxed, open, stressed, soft, flexible, tender? Do you notice any place in the belly where breath does not seem to move?

There are many ways to notice and nurture our bodies, though the lungs do the best nurturing that I know. Scan your body briefly for that place which always holds tension. For many people it is the shoulders, for others the hips or lower back, maybe for you it is your feet. Choose one spot to focus your attention on right now. As you focus on this spot, take a moment to breathe in and send this breath into the spot you have chosen. Let yourself go into this for a few cycles of breath. Exhale the tension you notice away from the body out on the breath. Let this flow continue until the area softens and then do one or two more cleansing deep full breath cycles.

Taking care of ourselves is often the last priority and yet, our breath is always with us to take care of our bodies. Remember the next time you are feeling stressed, your lungs and breath are within your capacity to assist in transformation of the current situation.

Many Blessings,
Sarah-Elizabeth

Pregnancy is an amazing journey. To feel life growing within your body is beyond description. Each day, each week, each month there are changes that take place within the growing belly. New life unfolds one moment at a time. And then there are all those symptoms that come along with pregnancy: achy back, swollen body, turned out hips. What is a woman to do? Seek relief with prenatal massage!

During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes a tremendous amount of hormonal changes to accommodate the growing baby.  Changes include loosening ligaments throughout the body, gaining weight as the baby grows and emotional shifts. First time mothers may have anxiety about the journey ahead. Second time mothers are chasing around after the first baby/toddler/child and do not always take time for themselves through their pregnancy. Prenatal massage allows a mother to take care of herself for an hour, setting down all the burdens she carries.

Prenatal massage is a gift for both mother and child. The hour away allows mother and growing baby to step away from their busy lives to connect, relax and rejuvenate for the journey ahead. Muscle tension releases throughout her body under the hand of a skilled massage therapist. She returns home with knowledge of comfortable positions for relaxation and sleep during her pregnancy. Better sleep, less discomfort and connection with her self and the baby are all part of the outcomes of a single session of prenatal massage.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage include:

First Trimester
Relieve headaches
Help alleviate morning sickness
Reduce fatigue

Second Trimester
Alleviate backaches
Relieve leg and hip pains
Increases relaxation for better sleep

Third Trimester
Reduce swelling/edema
Relieve pain
Enhance sleep
Prepare pelvic muscles for birth process

Tooting my own horn: My gentle presence is a gift for both mother and baby. I create a soothing environment for the mother-to-be and her growing baby. Guided breath work allows the pregnant mother to connect with her own body and relax with confidence into the changes going on within. My prenatal clients have reported back that they sleep more comfortably following their session, back pain was reduced and labor was a manageable experience.

If you, your friend or loved one is pregnant, give the gift of prenatal massage! Contact me at the link below to schedule an appointment. Gift certificates are available as a baby shower gift!

In Peace and Gratitude,
Sarah-Elizabeth

Our bodies have memories. The cells in our bodies have memories. The molecules in our bodies have memories. Scan your body in this moment for a prominent scar. Let the scar share with you it’s story. Can you feel the memory of the event that put the scar in your body? Actions that lead up to that moment, feelings around what happened, smells, sights, tastes, the people who were there may flood back into your present awareness. Take a breath in and let it out. You have not moved from your chair and yet the thinking about that scar brings a wave of emotions and thoughts.

MY SCAR, on my right leg, just to the side of my knee is from a dog, trapped in a cage raising her two puppies. She lived on a chain in that cage, free to roam outside the enclosure about 10 feet. Male dogs had come to her when she was in heat. Of the five puppies born, two survived. I remember feeling so sorry for her as I watched her with those puppies. My camera clicked a couple of pictures and she bolted out of her bed, growling from deep in her throat. I ran (adrenaline rush) as fast as I could, but not fast enough to avoid being bit. The chain pulled her back or she might have bit my leg to shreds. The emotions of that moment are entwined in the scar itself. Fear, sorrow, empathy for the dog, helplessness, heart pounding, constricted breath are all here for me as I write. Pause a moment to BREATHE now! Let the story go.

The nature of scar tissue is to hold the body in place as a wound heals. When deep scars, long scars, surgical scars or emotional scars are created in the body, restrictions are set in place. Scars in fascia (connective tissue) between muscle and layers of skin or between one organ and another can bring pain because the fluidity of the body is compromised.  Scar tissue restricts motion to allow healing and keeps on restricting motion even after healing is complete.

Emotions can cause scars to form in the body as well. As we “feed” ourselves emotions, particularly as children, the emotions of  frustration, separation, abandonment, fear, lack or anger, the body restricts itself in order to create safety. Can you feel a pattern of “duck and cover” in your body? How about “holding your own” or “suck it up?” How did you protect yourself from negative emotions as a child? What physical positions did you take on to protect yourself? These physical positions may have emotional scars attached, including memories of how it felt to be in that position and/orwhat was happening when you moved in that way or recollections of the people/place you were in that physical position.

When we allow ourselves the space to notice these scars either physically or emotionally, we begin to release on a variety of levels the injury and our attachment to the protective behavior. Layers of the physical body, emotional body, spiritual body and etheric body are layered like a series of grids one atop the other. As one of these bodies is released, the others also release.

When the physical body is touched, all other energetic systems are also effected. Guiding energy to release OUT OF THE BODY I find is key to healing and release of the attachment of the scar. As this energy is directed out through the palm of your hand, bottom of the foot or crown of the head, the energy is no longer able to bounce around inside the systems of the body. The body becomes frees itself from pain, restriction and emotional bonds.

In Gratitude and Peace,
Sarah-Elizabeth

PS: Are you ready to release the memories of the scars your body has endured, contact me to schedule an appointment. I can assist your body to release the tensions in all levels of your being. The result is balance, clarity and freedom for the journey ahead.

One day a client called to say she could not make it to her appointment the following day as she was feverish, coughing and aching all over. We rescheduled for the next week and I asked if she had a bathtub in her home. “Yes, we do,” she croaked.

“It sounds like you could really use some pain relief sooner than later. I suggest you use some epsom salt in a hot bath to relax your muscles,” I said.

“Wow! I never thought of putting myself in an epsom salt bath. We use epsom salts all the time with our horses here on the farm,” she replied, excited at the prospects. “Epsom salts help the horses when the come up lame or have leg pain.”

It was my turn to be excited. For a few years, I’d been suggesting a bath with epsom salts, magnesium sulfate, as a follow up treatment for my clients at home. Here was an application of this practice being used with animals. Since that day, I have had a number of clients who work with farm animals, such as sheep and goats, confirm that they use epsom salts for pain relief.

Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant. When my body went into pre-term labor, the MD prescribed a Mag Sulfate drip to stop contractions. As the drip began to enter my blood stream, my body relaxed and the contractions stopped, just as predicted. Turns out soaking in Magnesium Sulfate has a similar effect. The body muscles, tendons and connective tissues absorb the magnesium and relax.

So here’s a question: Have you been out doing your spring raking? Mowing the lawn or planting your garden? I know my body has enjoyed many of these activities between rain storms these past few weeks. Digging in the earth, planning for summer’s harvest is a favorite activity once the snow has melted in the Springtime Sunshine!

Find relief from the aches and pains in a hot bath with EPSOM SALTS. Soaking your body will alleviate the pain in your legs and knees, back, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers. When this is not enough, call your favorite massage therapist who will assist in unwinding the aches and pains so you can garden on into the summer!

Contact me to set up an appointment to release your body from their aches and pains!

Many Blessings,
Sarah-Elizabeth

What are you reaching for today? What gift  do your hands hold today? Are your hands feeling creative, restive or quiet? Are your hands swollen with arthritis or tension from being over used? Are they “talking to you” via sharp pain or layers of discomfort? It may be time for a physical and energetic clearing of the hands so you are able to release from your body that which is being held in your life.

Hands connect us to one another. They are the link that draws us together, friend and stranger alike seek to connect with a hand shake. In Chinese medicine, the hands are end points of energy meridians that connect to various other parts of the body. When these end points are blocked by pain or lack of mobility, the physical body may also be effected. Gentle attention to muscles, tendons and bones of the hand may create deep relaxation throughout the body.

On a physical note, the finger joints have tendons that hold the bones together. These tendons have a tendency to get stuck or shortened over time. In my practice of hand massage, the tendons surrounding each joint of each finger are addressed. Each finger joint is gently mobilized, improving the range of motion and circulation throughout the finger and hand. The wrists and forearms are also given gentle stretches to release the tension in the muscles which control finger movement.

Following a session, your hands will feel light as a feather! Movement will be more fluid and less painful. Overall the body will feel more relaxed and stay more relaxed for days, even weeks ahead.

After a hand massage in my office, a recent client said, “Oh, wow! My pinky finger can touch my palm! That hasn’t happened in a while.”

Contact me to set up an appointment to release your hands from the bonds that bind them!

Many Blessings,
Sarah-Elizabeth

The throat and neck area is our center of expression. Each moment we choose to speak sends a wave of energy out of our bodies communicating with those around us. Emotions are vibrated out of the body as well. Joy may express in song or laughter. Sadness is expressed in crying, wailing, while choking back tears creates tightness in the throat. When anger is present in the body, the voice may get hoarse or in extreme cases manifest laryngitis.

How is your throat feeling right now? Take a moment to check in with your throat and neck. Breathe in and notice the movement in your throat. Exploring what you find with curiosity and wonder. Softness may indicate all is right with how you communicate with the world. Tension, tightness or neck pain may indicate you are holding your emotions in, blocking communication of ideas, thoughts and feelings. Have you bitten your tongue or bitten back your words lately? Holding in your ideas and thoughts backs the energy of expression into the throat area.

To clear the throat chakra you might choose to begin with creating a sound with your voice. Simply say or sing “Aaaah” brings vibration to the vocal cords and begins to loosen the thoughts and ideas stuck in the throat. Play with the tone of the sound you are making. Sing high, sing low. Sing nonsense syllables such as “Ba ba ba ba” or “Ma ma ma ma” or “Ta ta ta ta.” Notice how the sound is blocked and released creating a wave of vibration.

Taking care of the throat chakra in this gentle way, brings vibration and joy to the body. You invite the possibility of clear communication into your being.

Have a wonderful day!

Has your jaw been bothering you lately? What is gnawing at you this spring? Did you chew a piece of gum too long? Have you been clenching your teeth at night while you are sleeping? Take an inventory of your thoughts around speaking (energy out of the body) and food (energy into the body). Gaining clarity around aspects of our interactions with the world will assist in clearing the holding pattern in our jaw.

The jaw offers a look at the control we have over what we say and how we speak. When we hold back our words or let fly emotions, the jaw can manifest pain or tension, which can lead to headache and neck ache if let go too long. How are you speaking to those around you? Are you biting back your words or clenching the jaw as you speak? Gently look at the answers your jaw has for you in this moment. Speaking your Truth may be scary or unsafe. Finding a voice to speak without holding back, is one aspect of letting go of the tightness in the jaw. When you uncover the feelings, the ideas you are holding back and begin to share these words, the tension will begin to drain from your jaw.

The jaw is a link to our intake of food, energy to sustain our physical bodies. What are you eating that totally, completely nurtures the physical body? What type of energy do you find yourself exchanging with those people around you? Food that nurtures the body can be one of the keys to unlocking the jaw. Soft foods that slide down the throat, warming and soothing the vocal cords may be good choices at this time. You may also wish to make choices towards foods that nurture your body, rather than the sugars, salt, carbs that may be addictive habits in your life at this time.

Self help Tip: Are you ready to release your jaw from it’s grip on your body? Try gently placing your fingertips along the lower jawline. Press up gently towards the ears with your fingers, allowing the jaw to settle back into it’s joint. Mull over one of the questions above that seemed to trigger something in you. As the jaw settles into it’s socket,  gently reverse the process, pulling the jaw away from the ear. You may feel the jaw scoot forwards slightly when it is fully released. No need to open the jaw, this releases the tension around the joint near the ear allowing it to soften. Take a breath when you are finished and exhale what’s left of the tension in the jaw. Let go of the thoughts you held. Aaaaahhhhh! Pause a moment to enjoy this opening.

When you are having days or weeks of trouble with clenching your jaw and find no relief from the pain in your jaw, call to schedule a bodywork session that focuses on the mouth, throat, mandible and maxilla (lower and upper jaw bones.)  There are a number of CranioSacral Techniques that gently release the jaw, temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) and bring balance and understanding to the muscle tissue surrounding the jaw.

In Gratitude and Peace,
Sarah-Elizabeth

When did you last listen to your breath?

Pause a moment to listen right now. As you read this, take a breath in, noticing, only noticing how your breath moves into and out of your body. As you focus on your breath, what do you notice? How does it feel to expand your breath into your belly? What does it feel like to press the air out of your belly and lungs? Do you feel the need to hold your breath in… or out? Notice… notice… notice…

Breath is a gift that brings us the life giving Oxygen.  Breath connects us to the cycle of life! The lungs bring Oxygen into the body and release Carbon Dioxide out of our bodies. This exchange happens without the control our conscious mind. We breathe while sleeping, eating, running, playing, reading, writing, no matter what our daily activities are the breath is always there supporting our physical being.

Taking a few moments each day to check in with your breath, opens the door to noticing and nurturing your physical body. The practice of breathing in love and out peace connects one’s energetic bodies to the breath, breathing life into the emotional and etheric bodies.

Recently I heard a discussion with Dr. Judith Kravitz, http://www.transformationalbreathing.com/judith.aspx, an expert in breath work. As Dr. Kravitz shared that various types of breathing indicate how the body is holding of flowing energetically. As with our palms and feet, the lungs reflect the health and well being throughout our body. My monkey mind is playing with this idea of breathing fully, deeply into every part of my being. Noticing the tension in my belly allows me to make a choice to sit with myself as I breathe. Clearing energy from areas where the flow is blocked, softens the physical body and releases the energetic bodies.

When you are having difficulty breathing in your life, seek assistance in the process of unfolding your breath. I’d be glad to help you in a bodywork session, focusing on the breath and it’s nurturing, nourishing qualities it brings to your body, mind and Spirit. Releasing the physical body restrictions around the breath allows the body to receive subsequent breaths more fully.

In Gratitude and Peace,
Sarah-Elizabeth
603 365-0852
relax(at)Sarah-Elizabeth(dot)org
www(dot)Sarah-Elizabeth(dot)org