by SharonHartnett | Aug 9, 2015 | Structural Integration
Low Back Pain is a Common Problem
In the current AMTA Massage Therapy Journal, it states that, “Generally speaking about 80 percent of the adults ages 30-60 in the United States have reported suffering from lower back pain at some time in their lives. According to the National Institutes of Health, its is a leading contributor to missed work days and job-related disability.”
On a positive note, low back pain can often be alleviated if dealt with proactively or in the early stages.
low back pain relieved with massage
Some of the best things you can do is to improve your posture. Here are a few ideas:
- While I have studied and practice various modalities of body and healing work, I find the best results for performance enhancement and pain relief such as with low back pain with Rolfing types of Work called Structural Integration (SI). Structural Integration works with both dysfunctional patterns in the fascia and gravity to bring the body back into healthy alignment. During the ten sessions, I work with different areas of the body, until I help the client find their structural integrity so that they can move in better balance, more length, and with more vitality through life. However, if someone is have an acute low back pain issue, we can often see great pain relief in just one session.
- One of the best things you can do for posture is to exercise. Yoga, Pilates and other types of sport can build and strengthen core connection and flexibility. However, it’s important to know that you want to go for symmetry and length in the body as a target.
- If you are working seated most of the day, take a few moments every 1/2 hour or so and stand and stretch.
- While you sit, imagine doing so with a tall straight, but flexible spine. Imagine a sting pulling the top of your head up.
- Keep your feet on the floor when you sit.
- When you stand allow your shoulders to pull back but relaxed.
- Keep your knees soft.
- Tuck your lower anterior ribs in.
- Practice pelvic tilts.
- Lie on your back with knees up and explore your feet connection from the balls of your foot to the heel. Body awareness!
- When you sleep on your side, put a pillow between your legs.
- Sleeping on your side is better than sleeping on your belly for low back pain.
- Doing the Cat-Cow and Cobra Yoga exercise daily can be great for low back pain too!
- General Massage can help with muscle aches, tenderness or spasms. Also with stiffness and lack of mobility.
Low Back pain can be helped by becoming proactive in your life. However, if the pain is extreme-make sure you don’t ignore it.
Call your physician for an appointment:
The majority of herniated disc problems occur between L4 and L5. If you are feeling any tingling, numbness or weakness, this may be more than a soft tissue issue. While massage is usually still very helpful, you may want to contact your doctor and let him/her know that you are experiencing these symptoms.
Sharon Hartnett CST, SI, LMT
Columbus, Ohio (614) 653-8111
by SharonHartnett | Aug 5, 2015 | craniosacral, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K
Help my headache go away!
Headaches show up for a variety of reasons… What’s important for you to know is that there are some things that can be very helpful for headache relief, and one of those things is Craniosacral Massage Therapy.
Help your headache with Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy for Headache Relief!
With Craniosacral Therapy, the therapist first tunes into the whole body by listening to the Craniosacral rhythm and palpating the fascial restrictions and tension. Through the practiced light touch of Craniosacral Therapy, one feels supports and follows the internal body wisdom to help the fascia soften… lengthen, often following with the body feeling more energized. With the intention of helping to sooth the headache, the next thing a seasoned therapist will do after listening to the entire body is to go to the diaphragms and release the tight layers. Since the body’s fascia is continuous, it’s important to make sure that other sources away from the head are freed up too.
When that is accomplished, one of the best techniques to release pain in the head is to Release the Cranial Base. This technique feels wonderfully therapeutic and often clients breathe a sigh of release when this is done:
1.The first aspect of this technique is to position the fingertips gently into the soft tissue posterior to the atlas (C1) as the tension melts away.
2.Next, the fingertips form a platform with straight fingers that aim towards the ceiling and then towards the eyes. This may be a little sore due to tightness, but to most people, it is the kind of feeling that feels quite good. Eventually the head will drop down into the hands and the atlas floats freely.
3.Part three of the Occipital Base Release aims to release the occiput from the atlas. This is accomplished by tractioning the occiput superiorly, while making sure that C1 stays stable.
4.To make this release even better, the hands continue to hold the head while fingertips spread the condyles laterally which effectively open restrictions along the cranial base and around the foramen magnum.
5.The final touch includes a gentle release of the dural tube with a delicate traction.
This whole process of working with the Cranial Base allows better flow through the Cranial Vault. It relieves pressure from along the major nerves. In addition to this wonderful new opening, a Stillpoint would be included. It also helps to alleviate pain and strengthen the nervous system’s balance. The Upledger Institute sells a Stillpoint Red Tool that I highly recommend for clients to buy for in between sessions. With about 10 minutes per day, there should be a significant improvement with headache pains.
Check into the Stillpoint Inducer at this link to help you maintain a Pain Free life: Stillpoint inducer
FAQ Page
Sharon Hartnett CST-D
Worthington, Ohio|Serving the Columbus Area
614 653-8111
To find out more about Craniosacral Therapy, check out my main page.
by SharonHartnett | Aug 1, 2015 | Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, Massage, Structural Integration
Foot Pain: As we get older, we pick up certain habitual patterns that contribute to how we feel and move.
Personally I have had issues with my right foot for years from a childhood sprain and twisting. The best I felt was about 20 years ago after going through a Rolfing 10 series. After we finished, I remember feeling so great and actually standing taller that I decided to study Structural Integration (SI) myself. For years now, I have been doing SI work and I have seen miraculous changes with my clients. But since I have integrated Craniosacral Therapy, some Feldenkrais that I learned and a few basic tools into my daily practice and table work, I have shared these concepts in order to help others. I like to see people get better!
So here is what helps me and my clients:
- Structural Integration helps the whole body come into alignment. Myofascial relationships shift and work more efficiently with gravity.
- Craniosacral Therapy (CST) relieves dysfunctional issues in the cranium and brain, and also with the fascia. In addition, it helps to enhance fluidity around the joints and in the tissues and to support a nervous system that helps clients to feel balanced and more vitalized.
- The below tools have helped me too and give me a sense of self-empowerment to change.
The roller, red ball and Yamuna foot fitness tools can be used daily to break up old patterns in the feet. But this goes way beyond just the foot. As the tension there begins to melt, the tissues going up the leg and trunk change too. You will start to feel your hips changing and your posture relaxing. Use your daily practice as medicine, and I invite you to go out on a limb and find some good bodyworkers to facilitate.
Good-Bye to Foot Pain!
Blessed day and blessed feet to you!
Sharon Hartnett LMT, CST, SI & Brennan Healing Practitioner
(614) 653-8111
Columbus, Ohio
www.massageincolumbusohio.com
by SharonHartnett | Jul 24, 2015 | Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K
Cranial Sacral Therapy is correctly spelled “Craniosacral Therapy”.
I am writing this short blog entry so if you are looking for Craniosacral Therapy Massage, you’ll be able to find me.
Certified through the Upledger Institute, I have advanced skills in helping clients with conditions such as:
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Dyslexia
- Migraines
- Scoliosis
- In need of Somatic Emotional Release
- Brain Trauma
- Concussions
- Enhanced Sports Performance
- Wellbeing
- Developmental Challenges
Craniosacral Columbus Ohio
Located in Upper Arlington and at my home office in Johnstown, Ohio, you can find me working through the week and on Sunday evenings.
For more information,
Contact: Sharon Hartnett LMT, CST, SI and Brennan Healing Science Practitioner
(614) 653-8111
www.massageincolumbusohio.com
by SharonHartnett | Jul 11, 2015 | Energy Healing, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, mind body & spirit
Reiki is probably the most well known Energy Healing method in the US.
The reason for this is that Reiki is fairly easy to get an attunement for each of the first two levels with a week-end class. No previous experience with energy healing is necessary. Over 1 million people in the USA have received this ability transferred from Master Reiki teacher to student, so that they use Reiki on themselves or others as a healing modality. Practitioners of Reiki often feel a deep sense of relaxation and healing. The work is subtle and nourishing.
While I personally enjoy Reiki Treatments, I have found that there are many other schools of energy therapy out there that are quite supportive to the healing process as well. After researching, I decided to attend the Barbara Brennan School of Healing. It is a 4 year college program based in Florida founded on the work of Dr. Barbara Brennan, author of the books, “Hands of Light” and “Light Emerging”. It was there that I studied and eventually taught this amazing transformational work. Because I could see the benefits of Energy Therapy as well as working a program to help the Awakening process, I then studied the advance course for an additional 4 years. I soaked all of it in so that I could share these techniques with others. Brennan Healing Science® is a comprehensive program that teaches students to become compassionate healers to serve others on their path. And now- I like to incorporate this healing modality into my Craniosacral Therapy and Structural Integration sessions. It is a gentle hands-on healing process that has helped thousands of people across the world.
Reiki Energy Healing
In addition to Reiki, Brennan Healing Science®, while I was living in Florida, my friend Joann Rahl, introduced me to the https://www.seraphimblueprint.com. At first I didn’t think that is would be much with all my other training. But I still went, and was pleasantly surprised. It felt wonderful to sit in and receive the energetic initiations. I felt new frequencies opened up that I have added to my healing work through intention.
While this has been my path in studying and implementing energy healing, there are many other schools that are second generation, and are very appropriate to healing what is going on now here on earth.
I will say, that my experience has shown me over and over that we are energy being, with human energy fields. When we can align our auric fields, we can find deeper balance and move through life more effortlessly.
If you have an interest in Energy Healing, please go out and investigate. There is something waiting to help you open up the door.
Blessings,
Sharon Hartnett LMT, SI, CST, Brennan Healing Science®
(614) 653-8111
www.massageincolumbusohio.com
