Review: From my Hands and Heart – a treatise of hope for healing

On my recent trip to California, I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Kate Mackinnon CST-D. Kate recently published a remarkable book titled From My Hands and Heart – Achieving Health and Balance with Cranialsacral Therapy. Kate was kind enough to give me a signed copy of it. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. I read the book 3 times in the span of about 48 hours. This is my review of her remarkable work. I hope that you’ll consider purchasing a copy for yourself today.

Once in a rare while, a book comes along that creates the possibility of profound, life-altering change in the reader. From My Hands and Heart – Achieving Health and Balance with Craniosacral Therapy by Kate Mackinnon is such a book. In it, Kate chronicles her journey with Craniosacral Therapy (CST) – first as a skeptical recipient – and then it follows her transition from CST student to gifted practitioner and teacher of this powerful hands-on treatment.

The story is told through a series of case-studies and real-world examples from Kate’s clients. She writes with a clarity and precision of an accomplished journalist and makes even the most arcane aspects of anatomy, physiology and the theory behind CST easy to understand for the layperson. For those not familiar with this form of bodywork, Kate describes CST in detail and explains how it works at both the physical and energetic level. She goes on to help the reader understand what to expect during a CST session and how to find a qualified practitioner. She also gives the reader step-by-step instructions on how to incorporate CST self-healing techniques into their lives.

Kate is obviously a gifted practitioner of her art. But what separates her and CST from other forms of bodywork is her intuitive ability to “follow her hands” and to listen to what the tissues and the body underneath them says. Her ability to listen with her hands, to “blend and meld” with the underlying tissue, combined with her detailed knowledge of anatomy and physiology (she is also a trained physical therapist) allows her to help her clients tap into their own native wisdom. This helps to create an awakening of the body’s ability to heal itself.

People come from all over the world to receive Kate’s mindful ministrations and healing. They typically come with specific medical issues, and she chronicles many of these cases in this book. But these same clients leave with a deeper understanding of themselves and the root causes of their afflictions. The result is a feeling of empowerment and the client is now able to take charge of her own life and health and well-being.

Kate has treated clients with a wide range of conditions – from traumatic brain injury to emotional distress, disorders of the immune system, asthma and more. She has treated mothers and children and even animals. But, she does not provide a laundry list of conditions that can be cured. In fact, she goes out of her way to say that she is skeptical of any treatment modality that claims to cure anything. One of the important tenets passed down by Dr. John Upledger, the “father” and founder of CST is to know one’s limits and to “willingly refer clients to other professionals when appropriate.” Nevertheless, the scope of conditions that can be helped with CST is very wide. Many of Kate’s clients have come to her when conventional treatments have failed or no longer work.

This book offers a roadmap of hope for people who want to take control of their own health by harnessing their body’s self-correcting and healing mechanisms. There is something in this book for everyone who has an interest in achieving optimal health and well-being. For those not familiar with this form of bodywork, it is undoubtedly one of the easiest to understand descriptions of CST ever written. For those who are in the healthcare profession, it can serve as a reminder that the body knows how to heal itself. The role of the practitioner is to follow its direction and provide support.

Read this book. It could change your life.

Learn more about Kate Mackinnon and her practice.

Purchase a copy of her book.

Follow Kate on Twitter.

“Like” Kate on Facebook.

Essential Oils for Menstrual Cramps

Many of my clients suffer from menstrual cramps. When they see me, I use a variety of essential oils to help them. Some of the oils I use are Geranium, Clary Sage, Lavender, Cypress, Peppermint and Marjoram. I will usually combine Clary Sage and Cypress or Peppermint and gently apply the oils through a very gentle abdominal massage. After I apply the oils, I then apply a hot compress which helps push the oils into the system.

You can do this yourself. To treat with a hot compress, I would recommend applying coconut oil or another carrier oil to your abdomen and then apply the essential oils. Next, get a warm towel. You can use warm tap water to get the towel warm. Just wring it out and lay the towel on the abdomen and cover with a dry towel. I like to cover people with a comfy blanket on top of all that and suggest leaving the hot compress on for 15 minutes. This should bring great relief.

Feel free to experiment with the list of essential oils I’ve provided above. I recommend that women who regularly experience menstrual cramps begin this treatment each month a few days before your period.

Footprints for Health – Incorporating Reflexology into Your Life

You walk on them all day, but did you know your feet do more than carry you from one place to the next? They also have a unique connection to balanced health and well-being. In a form of bodywork known as reflexology, the feet are said to contain reflex areas that mirror and connect to all parts of the body–and pressure on these points can actually influence your state of health.

What is Reflexology?
The roots of reflexology draw, in part, from the ancient healing art of foot massage, practiced the world over, from Asian and Egyptian civilizations to tribal communities of the Americas. Early archaeological digs have revealed statues of Buddha in China and Japan, and Vishnu (a Hindu god) in India, depicting markings of specific areas on the feet. But it has only been within the last century that this work has established a foothold, so to speak, in Western practice.

As we know it today, reflexology is viewed primarily as a stress reduction or relaxation technique. Using the thumb, finger, and hand, gentle pressure is applied to reflex areas of the feet in order to decrease stress and bring the body into equilibrium. While some reflexologists also apply treatment to the hands and ears, the foot–with its greater quantity of sensitive nerve endings–is considered the most amenable to this approach.

Although simplistic in application, the effects of the treatment can be profound. Through activation of nerve receptors in the hands and feet, new messages flood into the body system, changing its tempo and tone. In essence, the foot or hand becomes a conduit for sharing information throughout the body. Function in the connecting area is improved and, at the same time, the body experiences overall relaxation and benefits to the circulation and elimination systems. When the body’s systems are at optimal functioning, self-healing is enhanced.

In this sense, reflexology is not a medical treatment for specific symptoms or diseases, but rather a way to facilitate the body’s inherent healing power. Therefore, it stands to reason that paying attention to your feet can also be a great preventive measure and one easily incorporated into a daily routine.

How and why reflexology works the way it does is still up for debate. Some say it involves communication through the nervous system; other theories point to opening blockages of chi, or vital energy, in the body. Regardless, scientific studies have documented its benefit for a variety of ailments, ranging from acute disorders to chronic diseases. The majority of reflexology research has come from China where the technique is commonly used in hospitals and homes for both health maintenance, and as adjunct to medical care. Some of the positive findings include reduction of pain, improvement in circulation, release of tension, and improved effectiveness of medication, as well as benefits for diabetes and headaches.

Fancy Footwork
Kevin Kunz, author of several reflexology books and codirector of the Reflexology Research Project, emphasizes the importance of making reflexology a part of your life. Consistency is key if you expect results, and foot homework is a low-cost, efficient way to extend the benefits of weekly sessions with your reflexologist. The techniques can be practiced even while you’re busy doing something else. You can purchase devices such as foot rollers for use under the desk, but even inexpensive homemade devices will do, Kunz says. “You can put a golf ball in a sock, tie it up, and you have a roller. Anything to cause stimulation has a beneficial effect.”

Reflexology is also a safe and effective technique for infants and children, soothing their emotions and promoting sleep. Naturally available and noninvasive, this approach can enhance communication between parent and child and aid in developing the child’s physical awareness.

Feedback and Stimulation
According to Kunz, lack of stimulation for the feet is a major problem in our society. We box our feet in shoes and forbid them to traipse the natural environment. Some American feet never even see sunlight, much less travel naked on a forest floor. “The feet carry the body, in more ways than one,” Kunz says. “Constant feedback from the feet is needed in order for the body to make the proper responses.” There is no challenge for the foot in walking on flat surfaces. Feet crave stimulation, and they were built for a variety of surfaces.

The Japanese, as well as Europeans, have addressed this basic need by creating health pathways to stimulate every part of the foot. “This comes from taki fumi,” Kunz says, “to step upon bamboo. Here we call them stroll pathways. The idea is that you stroll along, and as you do, you are strengthening the system. It’s great exercise and gives you more endurance.” In Asia, pathways frequently feature cobblestones for stimulation, but a sandy beach or rocky hiking trail can provide variation underfoot.

Whatever path you choose, get off the pavement, free your feet, and let them do their thing. “Over thousands of years,” Kunz says, “every culture has discovered it in some shape or form. The foot is it.”

Source: reflexologyinstitute.com viaLAURA on Pinterest

Announcing donation-based services – a paradigm shift

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been seven years since I started my massage therapy and wellness practice. I left an influential and well-paying corporate job with a global Fortune 50 company to become a massage therapist. I wanted to do something that had deeper meaning and above all, I wanted to help people. It’s been an amazing seven years.

Like many solo practitioners, there have been many challenges. The recession and economy have forced people to make difficult choices. Many people have had to make tough choices and have cut-back on self-care services such as massage therapy and bodywork. At a time when people need self-care more than ever, economics force many to cut back.

Despite all of that, I’ve developed a very successful practice. But, I think I can do more. My entire purpose for become a massage therapist and coach was so that I could find a deeper meaning in life and hopefully find my purpose. That has been a work in progress and I have come to realize that it is a process that will always evolve. When I started massage therapy school, I expected to focus entirely on sports massage and work with athletes. I had no experience with energy work and even thought the notion of it was absurd. All of that changed as I discovered polarity therapy, Reiki and the various forms of Asian massage and bodywork – all of which are based on the idea that body, mind and spirit are connected and that we are connected as beings to an energetic universe.

As I said, I think I can do more. And while my practice is filled with women who can afford to pay for my services, I want to reach those who feel they cannot. So, here is my announcement:

From this day forward, I will provide my services on a donation-basis. You can pay whatever you feel you can afford. I do not care what you earn, and I know that everyone’s financial situation is different. All I care about is that you commit to treatment and to working with me. In order to really deal with some of your health and chronic pain issues, you may need to come in weekly for several weeks or for several months. I only ask that you commit to your health and that includes committing to whatever you can comfortably afford to pay.

Can’t afford to pay at all? No problem. I’ll be happy to exchange services with you. I have needs ranging from administrative services, graphic design, and just help in getting the word out about my approach to my practice. Money should not be a barrier to your well-being. In tribal and aboriginal cultures, all members of the tribe had access to the medicine man or shaman. Let’s put our heads together. Work with me and I will work with you.

I realize that there may be some risk involved in this. But, I believe that people will do the right thing. And I think that making my services available to all, without consideration of payment is the right decision for me. And to accommodate what I hope will be an increase in the number of hours during which I will see clients, I am also announcing that my practice will have morning hours on Wednesdays and Fridays. You can view my schedule and availability here.

When you book an appointment with me now, you will not see a price for any of my services. You may pay whatever you feel comfortable paying. Check it out, and book a session with me today. There is nothing standing in the way of your healing now.

A Simple Exercise to Balance Your Energy

Your body is naturally hard-wired to react to threats in a way that is meant to protect you (think of encountering lions, tigers and bears, oh my!). But your body and your mind may pay the price if your “fight-or-flight” reaction – a natural protective mechanism – is constantly “on.”

Stress today comes from different sources than that of our ancient ancestors. It may come from fighting traffic during the daily rush hour, the rush of getting yourself, your family off to work and school everyday, from pressures related to job and career and managing your workload, and from worry about making ends meet in this difficult economy. And while these daily stresses may not be immediately life-threatening, if left unchecked and uncontrolled, if you allow your body’s natural stress mechanism to be left continuously in the “on” position, you will begin to pay a price over the long haul.

When your body perceives a threat, and is under stress, it releases a combination of nerve and hormonal signals that prompts your adrenal glands, located atop your kidneys to release a surge in hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. According to an article from the Mayo Clinic, here’s what happens when these hormones are released:

Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies.

Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes.

Fortunately, your body’s stress response is usually self-regulating. As the perceived threat goes away, blood pressure returns to normal, adrenal glands stop producing cortisol and adrenaline and your body returns to normal functions.

The problem occurs when levels of stress are constantly present in our lives, even at low levels. When this happens, the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and the other stress hormones begins to create health problems. Such problems include:

o Hypertension
o Heart disease
o Sleep problems
o Over eating, which can lead to weight gain
o Skin problems, rashes, eczema etc.
o Short-term memory loss

So, how do we cope with the stress that is a part of our daily lives? As the woman and primary care-giver in most families, you have to put yourself first. As I am fond of telling my clients, “If you are going to constantly write checks off of your wellness account, we have to put some deposits into the bank from time-to-time!”

It’s all about achieving balance in your life, finding the time you need to maintain your optimum health, while at the same time caring for your loved ones. Some of the things you can do include:

Exercise – finding 30-minutes a day, at least 3-4 times a week doing an activity you enjoy. Walking is a great form of exercise. Remember, exercise isn’t punishment! As human beings, we are meant to move, to walk, to run, to stretch, to jump, to throw. Incorporate simple, joyful activity into your life

Get plenty of sleep – this is one lifestyle factor that you can directly control, not just for yourself, but for your family. Turn off that TV early, and set a goal to get 7-8 hours of rest every night. Your body needs this time to recharge and re-energize

Find time to meditate or use other relaxation techniques – I lead a very busy life, but I’ve mastered the art of the “5-minute meditation!” Ideally, I will find more time each day, but I have also found that taking short, little meditation breaks, as short as 3-5 minutes, really help me become calmer, more grounded, balanced, and focused. Just find a quiet spot, turn off outside distractions like the TV or radio, focus on your breathing, and let your mind find that calm, quiet space it needs

Surround yourself with friends – there are few greater joys in life than good friends. Surround yourself with them and they will help you find comfort

Counseling – Talk therapy really works. If you find that you cannot manage the pressures of your life on your own, please do not be afraid to go out and find a professional that can help you. Start with your doctor and get a referral. If she can’t help, here is a good resource for you.

Finally, here is a simple energy medicine techniques that I think you will find helpful.

Connecting the Central and Governing Meridians

This is a technique that strengthens the Central Median, which will help you stabilize your body’s energy systems, and will help you to center and ground yourself.

1) Stand with your arms loose at your sides, feet comfortably apart
2) Breathe in through your nose, and then out through the mouth several times until you begin to feel a sense of calm taking over your body
3) Place the middle finger of one hand between your eyebrows and the bridge of your nose (this is the point of your third-eye chakra)
4) Place the middle finger of your other hand in your navel
5) Gently press each finger into your skin, pull it gently upward and hold for about 20-30 seconds while continuing to breathe deeply through your nose and out through your mouth.

You can repeat this technique 2-3 times or until you feel a sense of balance and grounding.

Sharing a recipe – Apple Cinnamon Muffins

I love social media because it helps me to connect with people all over the world. Today, I’m sharing a fun recipe from a Facebook friend, Marisa Chadbourne. Marisa is a fellow massage therapist and she is in private practice on Long Island, NY. If you live near Marisa, please consider booking a session with her. Here’s a link to her website. And please follow her on Twitter and “like” her on Facebook!

Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

2 cups gluten free flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup agave sweetener or honey
1/2 cup sunflower oil
1/2 cup milk or dairy alternative such as unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup applesauce
1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped into 1/2-inch dice

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease or line muffin pan. In a medium bowl combine gluten free flour, baking soda, cinnamon, & salt. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, agave, oil, milk, & vanilla extract & stir into flour mixture just to combine. Stir in applesauce. Scoop batter into muffin pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Remembering our beautiful boy, Kossi (Jan 10, 2001 – Feb 22, 2013)

For those of you who know me personally, you will probably know that we had to euthanize our 12 year old yellow lab Kossi today. This post is in his memory.

We let our Kossi go today. After a 3-year fight with canine lymphoma, Kossi finally won. He successfully completed 2 series of chemotherapy treatments and this week his blood tests indicated that everything was back to normal. But sadly, he fell to a condition called laryngeal paralysis, a condition that made it very difficult for him to breathe – a condition that presented life-threatening symptoms for which there is no viable treatment, given his current state of health and age.

It has been a very difficult week as his condition worsened. The danger was that his larynx could close completely. It could collapse and he would not be able to breathe at all. This would be a true medical emergency. After all he has been through, that is certainly not the way we wanted him to go out. We talked to a surgeon this week about performing a procedure that might be able to help, but given the risks we decided that we just couldn’t put him through that. We did not want him to suffer. So, we made the difficult decision to let him go.

Kossi was a remarkable dog. We have had many dogs, and we will continue to have dogs in our home for as long as we are able to care for them. But, Kossi was the best dog ever. He has earned that title and he will carry that emblem with him forever and always. He had an incredible spirit, a streak of stubbornness balanced with a desire to please, and a joy for playing with his ball. He loved to play fetch and was obsessed with balls of all shapes and sizes. I remember our first walk with him. It was over 10 years ago, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. We walked him on the path alongside the basketball court and soccer field near the Herndon Community Center. There were kids playing catch, a soccer game and a basketball game all going on simultaneously. He saw balls being thrown and bouncing everywhere on that first walk with us. His eyes got huge when he saw balls flying through the air. He actually looked up at me and I could tell that he was thinking; “Now THIS is heaven.”

Kossi has been a very, very sick dog for nearly three years. But he always rose to the occasion. He always accepted his treatment. He never growled when poked or prodded. He endured blood tests and intravenous chemotherapy and more. He always greeted the technicians and doctors at the Hope Center with a wag of his tail. And he obediently went off with them, knowing he would be poked and prodded some more. He loved his acupuncture treatments, because they were done in the comfort of his home, in his living room, in familiar surroundings. He would settle in to those treatments and would often fall asleep while Jody held him. Unfortunately, we reached a point this week where there could be no more treatments because there was nothing more to do.

They say that a dog will tell you when it is his time. And for the past year, I often looked for those signs. I asked Kossi, “Are you ready to go?” And of course he could not answer. But recently, I noticed that he no longer wanted to go into the Hope Center. When we went in for tests or treatments, all he wanted to do was go home. And over the past week, when we took him for walks, all he really wanted to do was to turn around and to go home. He’s home now. And it was his time.

I cannot imagine what it will be like to wake up tomorrow and not have him there with us. I cannot imagine not walking him. Not feeding him. Not making food for him. Not playing ball with him. Eventually, all we will have are his pictures and their memories. But, we know that he is no longer in pain. We know that we no longer have to worry about him. All that we have to do is to keep him in our heart and love him forever. And with a dog like Kossi, that is a very easy thing to do.

Dogs are our best teachers. We humans think of ourselves as being so superior. But we’re not. We may be at the top of the food chain, but we’re nowhere near the top of the developmental chain. Dogs and animals really know how to live in the moment. Humans can only aspire to that. Dogs only know unconditional love, and humans put too many conditions on love. Dogs love simplicity. Humans make things complicated. Dogs love to play fetch, but humans think it is too trivial. At the end of the day, dogs really love a good belly rub. And humans just think that is way too invasive. Ah, we have so much to learn and I will try to learn from you Kossi. You have been one of my greatest teachers.

Jody and I want to thank our friends from all over the United States and across the world who have held a good thought and who have sent Kossi loving, healing energy. He received Reiki from all over the planet! You blanketed him with love, and I am convinced that this loving energy was just as important to his healing as the cutting edge medical treatment he received. And there are not enough kind words that I can write to thank the doctors and staff of The Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, VA. They apply medicine with such personal care and heartfelt love. Every staff member there in the Oncology Department is an angel on Earth.

Rest easy buddy. Love you sweet boy! Sleep well my friend. You are our best dog. You are our best boy. You are our Kossi boy. And we will always love you.

An affirmation for self-healing

I start every session with my clients with this self-healing affirmation:

Give yourself permission to be here today.
Give yourself permission to be cared for.
Give yourself permission to be nurtured.
Give yourself permission to be loved.

Give yourself the gift of massage and schedule your next appointment with me today.

Taking time to put yourself first

I’d like to share another meditation that I use regularly in my practice with clients. It’s called “Put Yourself First,” and once again it comes from an excellent book, “Daily Meditations for Calming Your Anxious Mind,” by Jeffrey Brantley, MD and Wendy Millstine, NC.

I tell my clients all the time, if you plan to continually write checks on your “giving account,” you need to make some deposits into it from time-to-time. Taking care of everyone else’s needs before your own can be exhausting. And, over time, frustration and even resentment can build up which can result in chronic stress and anxiety. So, with that in mind, I would like to share the following meditation that I use in my practice with clients. It’s called “Put Yourself First.” Putting yourself first is not a selfish act for a caregiver. In fact, it is just the opposite. If you are going to constantly give, you must learn to receive. You must learn how to love and care for yourself in order to be there for others.

Find a quiet place, and take a moment to sit in silence. It is just you, your chair, and your breath. Allow yourself to sink into the chair and get comfortable. Let the chair do the work, and let it support you.

Take a slow, deep breath. Let the breath fill your belly and enter your lungs. If you feel any tension or pain, focus the breath on that spot(s). Allow the breath to come in, and gently take away the tension, the pain, the anxiety.

You may hear voices in your head; they are the many “to do’s” on your list. Don’t try to hush those voices – “do this, don’t forget to do that.” Instead, just allow these thoughts to swim through your mind and eventually spiral out. They are just your thoughts, worries, to-do lists, and reminders. They will be there for you later. For now, you are giving yourself permission to be alone in this quiet space. Give yourself permission to receive, knowing that in doing so, you are honoring your right to let the stillness infuse your mind and your body.

Pay attention to any feelings that may arise when you are busy taking care of everyone else. You may feel resentful that others do not consider your feelings and often expect you to do everything. You may feel discouraged that your needs wind up at the bottom of the list.

You are an excellent caretaker of others, so let’s consider how you can take better care of yourself. Say aloud, or internally to yourself, “I am learning to recognize how I put aside my needs in order to take care of others and how this affects me and my anxiety. When I put myself first, I am taking responsibility for caring for myself the very best that I can. When I love myself and acknowledge the importance of my own needs, I am putting my needs on an equal footing with the needs of others.

Continue to breath and allow the stillness to wash over you.

When you are ready, get up from your chair and go back into the world, prepared to put yourself first.

Regular bodywork and massage is another way to “put yourself first.” Why don’t you take a moment and book your session with me now.

Recipe – Red Curry, Coconut and Ginger-Infused Steamed Clams

I have not posted a recipe in quite awhile. So, when I found this recipe online from Savory Sweet Life, I thought I should share. Enjoy!

Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Total time: 10 mins
Serves: 2-4

An Asian style steamed clam recipe featuring red curry, coconut milk, garlic, and ginger. Very flavorful and the right amount of spice.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
3 teaspoons red curry paste
2 teaspoons fish sauce
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup coconut milk (I like Chaokoh brand)
2 pounds of clams (Littlenecks or Manilla), rinsed and cleaned
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
optional 1 small lime cut into wedges

Instructions

Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat.
Add the garlic and ginger. Cook for 2-3 minutes until garlic is fragrant but not burned.
Add the red curry paste and the fish sauce.
Stir the paste until it has thinned out with the butter.
Pour the chicken broth and coconut milk into the pot. Stir the broth mixture for a couple seconds until well mixed.
Add the clams and cooked covered for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until clams have opened. Discard any clams that are still closed.
Add the parsley and give the pot a quick stir. Transfer clams and broth to a large serving bowl and squeeze a tablespoon of fresh lime juice over the dish.
Serve additional lime wedges on the site.