by SharonHartnett | Jul 2, 2015 | Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K
One of the most difficult symptoms of fibromyalgia is lack of sleep. Clients I see often share complaints of insomnia and not feeling rested in the morning.
Are you one of these people disturbed by pain during the night?
insomnia with fibromyalgia
Often frequent brain arousal interrupts the restorative properties of sleep with Fibromyalgia. So the best thing you can do is make yourself comfortable and as stress free as possible before going to sleep.
Some of the things you can do to set up an easier night are:
- Meditation
- Take a Warm Bath
- Stop Using Electronics a few hours before bedtime.
- Keep the Room Dark
- Make Sure Your Room is Quiet
- Keep the room on the cooler side, but the temperature should be comfortable.
One of the things that I like to introduce is Craniosacral Therapy (CST) to people who experience the challenges of Fibromyalgia symptoms. Often when I have clients on the table, they find themselves so relaxed that I often hear a bit of snoring. The Central Nervous System is able to come into better balanced as the tissues surrounding the brain and the spinal cord relax. Clients who experience CST have also told me that they tend to sleep better at night. Their bodies recuperate and they feel fresher for the next day. If you are suffering from fibromyalgia and hoping to find a deeper night’s rest, why not try a few sessions of Craniosacral Therapy to see if it can help you?
Sharon Hartnett LMT, CST, SI, BHSP
(614) 653-8111
Lighten Up Therapies in Columbus, Ohio
www.massageincolumbusohio.com
www.upledger.com
by SharonHartnett | Jun 10, 2015 | Craniosacral Therapy, Massage, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K
There are a number of different kinds of headaches that affect millions of people.
If you are one of those people who often gets headaches, your days may becoming difficult to face. It’s probably time to start researching your symptoms and take some positive actions to resolve your pain!
Headache Relief
Common symptoms of headaches you may experience are:
Muscle Aches
Pain
Difficulty resting and sleeping
Paleness
Difficulties Concentrating
Nausea
Blurred Vision
What could you do to help be proactive against headaches?
- Apply Warm and Cold Compresses.
- Check your diet and notice if there are any trigger foods.
- Take a warm shower.
- Meditate
- Stretch
- Rest your eyes periodically throughout the day
- Apply some essential peppermint oil on a cotton ball and inhale
- See your physician
A Professional Can Help You Too!
Craniosacral Therapy is deeply relaxing and it is very helpful in relieving fascial stress patterns that may contribute to headaches. The work actively engages the nervous system and helps tension to melt around the head in a way that brings about peacefulness and rejuvenation.
Often, for people experiencing profound pain, the tissues are taut and closely wrapped up adhering on both superficial and deep levels in the body. Certain structures within the head and body may be jammed up. Working with a seasoned Professional Craniosacral Therapist will most likely be very beneficial in releasing these patterns and allowing more freedom and movement in the body.
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 | Jun 10, 2015 | Craniosacral Therapy, Massage, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, mind body & spirit, Structural Integration, thought for the day
Carpal Tunnel Treatment in Columbus: A Holistic Approach
When clients come to me in Columbus looking for carpal tunnel treatment, most have already been told the same thing: the problem is a pinched nerve in the wrist that causes pain, tingling and numbness. That is true on one level. The median nerve runs through a narrow passage in the wrist, and when it is compressed, the hand lets you know. But in my years of hands-on work, I have found that the wrist is rarely the whole story. Shoulder and neck posture, tight fascia along the arm, and a ribcage that has lost its ease are often the main contributors. A holistic approach is usually needed if the problem does not go away on its own.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Common Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Pain in the wrist, palm or fingers, sometimes traveling up the arm
- Tingling or “pins and needles,” especially in the thumb, index and middle fingers
- Numbness that wakes you at night or shows up when you drive or hold a phone
- Weakness or dropping things
- Stiffness and swelling in the hand or wrist
Why the Wrist Is Only Part of the Story
The median nerve does not begin at the wrist. It starts in the neck, passes under the collarbone, through the shoulder, and down the arm before it ever reaches the carpal tunnel. Anywhere along that path, tight muscles or restricted fascia can irritate it. Hours at a keyboard, a rounded shoulder posture, an old injury, or simply holding tension in the neck can all add up. Repetitive movements are a big contributor, but so is the way the whole upper body is organized around those movements.
This is why rubbing the wrist or wearing a brace sometimes helps only a little. If the restriction is higher up, the nerve stays under pressure.
How I Work With Carpal Tunnel Symptoms
In my Worthington office, I look at the whole chain: the neck, the shoulder girdle and scapula, the ribcage, the upper arm, the forearm and finally the wrist and hand. Using Craniosacral Therapy and structural integration, I work gently with the fascia to help the tissue soften and the nerve find more room. Nothing is forced. The work is slow and listening, and many people are surprised at how much their wrist changes when their neck and shoulder let go.
Clients who stay with the work for a few sessions often notice a reduction in tingling and night-time numbness, and more ease in daily tasks. Results vary from person to person, and I will always tell you honestly what I am finding.
What You Can Do Right Away
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a gradual process. The smartest thing you can do is face it straight on when symptoms first appear. Rest the hand, stop or change the activities that aggravate it, and pay attention to how you sit and hold your shoulders. Mild cases sometimes resolve on their own in a couple of weeks. Working with a physical therapist and a licensed bodyworker can support that process and help the nervous system settle. If you also carry tension in your neck, my post on neck pain relief is a good place to start.
Please see your doctor if you have constant numbness, muscle wasting at the base of the thumb, or symptoms that are getting worse quickly. Bodywork is a complement to medical care, not a replacement for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can craniosacral therapy help carpal tunnel syndrome?
It can help many people, especially when neck, shoulder or fascial tension is adding to the pressure on the nerve. It is gentle, non-invasive, and works well alongside physical therapy or medical care.
How many sessions does carpal tunnel treatment take?
Many clients feel a change within the first two or three sessions. Longer-standing cases usually take more. We will talk about what you are noticing after each visit and adjust from there.
Is this a treatment for carpal tunnel surgery recovery?
Gentle bodywork can be a good support after surgery once your surgeon clears you for it, helping the scar tissue and surrounding fascia move freely again.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can take you out of work. Listen to your body when you notice the early signs. Being proactive is always easier than being reactive. If you would like to talk about carpal tunnel treatment in Columbus, call or text me for a free 15-minute phone consultation.
Sharon Hartnett CST-D
Worthington, Ohio | Serving the Columbus Area
(614) 653-8111
craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com
by SharonHartnett | Jun 6, 2015 | Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, Craniosacral Therapy, Massage, mind body & spirit, Structural Integration
Does anyone know how to resolve TMJ and Clenching Problems?
I would really like to tell you that there is an easy fix for the pain in your jaw, but that isn’t always true. While some cases go away by themselves over time, others continue to get worst.
TMJ
TMJ is a disorder that can cause stress and pain to the temporomandibular joint and surrounding soft tissue.
With more that 15% of adults living with fascial pain, earaches and ringing, jaw pain and headaches, it may behoove the person suffering from this condition to try various methods to get the help they need. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms while opening, closing or moving your mouth, or while sleeping or awakening in the morning, you may be in need of some support to restore and rebalance the positioning of the head, neck and mouth in relationship to healthy postural alignment throughout the body:
- difficulty opening and closing the mouth.
- jaw pain while yawning or chewing.
- pain or ringing in the ear area.
- hearing and/or feeling popping or clicking sounds.
- headaches.
- tenderness around the teeth and gum areas.
- teeth grinding
- jaws get stuck or locked.
- any swelling in the face
These are all common symptoms of what is know as TMD (Temporal Mandibular Disorders).
With a background focused mostly in Structural Integration and Craniosacral Therapy, I have found 5 things that seem to help clients improve and resolve this condition.:
- Myofascial Structural Therapy to improve how the head rests over the body.
- Craniosacral Therapy to improve movement within the sutures and to create balance in the cranium.
- Stretching and Movement Exercises. Not only are neck exercises crucial for improving neck posture, but also the pelvis needs to be freed up and symmetry between the legs established in order to help self-correct TMD. Some great options would be yoga, Feldenkrais, Continuum, gyro tonics and free dancing.
- See a dentist for a bite appliance. However, from a bodyworker perspective, I suggest one for the lower teeth rather than the top which is usually recommended. Wearing any type of appliance on the top that restricts movement of the maxilla only inhibits healthy movement of the cerebrospinal fluid.
- Meditation to reduce stress. The Central Nervous System Stress can play a big factor in mouth disorders by creating tension in the musculature. Letting go of stressful beliefs through inquiry (www.the work.com) or something like breathing exercises or a walk through nature can be very helpful.
- Explore options with your pillow. If you sleep on your back, you don’t need one. However, if you sleep mostly on your side, there are some nice posturepedic options available.
- SomatoEmotional Release helps clients to feel deeply into their bodies and let go of unhealthy energy patterns of stress.
Three things to avoid: Chewing gum and holding your cellphone in your neck. Stop slouching and find length in your spine while reading or sitting at a computer.
If you are in the local Columbus Ohio area, or would like a free 15 minute phone consultation, please feel contact me.
Sharon Hartnett CST, LMT, SI
(614) 653-8111
www.massageincolumbusohio.com
by SharonHartnett | Jun 4, 2015 | Energy Healing
Have you heard of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing?
If not, you have missed out on this generations’s wave of Energy Healing that has been incorporated into so many new healing practices across the globe. The School’s many graduates are working in many countries bringing about positive transformation and healing. This may show up as an individual’s journey, using techniques in the workplace, working with clients in a practice, through teaching others, to writing books and influencing others on a large scale. Whatever the case, this school has changed the face of the world in which we live. This work has opened our minds and hearts to a new vision.
The Barbara Brennan School became most popular in the 1990’s. Pioneered by Dr. Barbara Ann Brennan, the schools foundations were initiated by a group of well trained teachers taught under this gifted healer. She would guide them and share her meditations and guidance to bring more awareness to the Human Energy Field and how to heal. For many years she did School Healings and Channeled “Seeds of Spirit”. Thousands of healers have received instruction and have taken this transformational energy healing work out into the world to do good.
Energy Healing in Columbus Ohio
Healing through the Human Energy Field
Barbara Brennan
Her “Hands of Light” book sold in the millions. Students flocked to her school with different hopes, but with a common intention to heal and bring healing to world.
In the late 1990’s I was one of the many who finally made it to the doorstep of the school up in New York. It was an exciting time because I had finally found a teaching that made sense to me. The four dimensions that are still taught in the book are based on a variety of old teachings and were brought into a cohesive text that is easily teachable for those ready to learn and to grow. Over my first four years there, I read that book and other materials over and over as the skills were taught. My life experiences opened up and my conscious perspective on life shifted dramatically. I learned to perceive the energy field through my vision, sensing and empathy. Sometimes, my experiences of Higher Sense Perception expanded to hearing sounds, music, and guidance. Finally, this reaching beyond with knowing became a natural part of my daily life. One might think that this was a special thing, but I looked around and could see the rest of my peers becoming more present and awake too. It was and adventure to be at the Barbara Brennan school with all my fellow visionaries. We had all come together with a purpose and a plan of some sort to bring meaning into our lives and make an impact on the world.
After four years under my belt, I decided to go back and study two more years in the advance work, and another two years to do Supervision. The energy of the school and the profound changes within the community and how it touched others urged me forward. In my own healing practice, the focus of my work changed depending on where I was focused in the moment. Most recently, my gears have shifted from the energy work to the Awakening Skills mixed with Craniosacral Therapy. Most importantly, all the wonderful tools I learned about characterology, holding a healing response, chelations, hara, and Core Start taught me how to help others to align with fulfilling their optimal health and manifesting true change. I found that one of the best ways to feel good about oneself is to be able to find meaning in relationship. In the healer-client relationship, one always centers first. But thereafter, the focus is on the client and moving out of the way to allow the work to unfold. The mystery of the energy work removes blocks and allows the field to renew and re-energize. Clients often get up at the end of a session and know that something important has happened. It’s a joy to be part of the process of helping others.
Since the turn of the millennium, many schools have popped up that are also quite good at teaching energy dynamics. But there is a special place for me in my heart where I studied and taught on the Faculty at the Barbara Brennan School of Healing. It was there that a community of ongoing people have and are still creating a healing thread that impacts the earth in so many ways. With each person’s individual gift, something incredible and fantastic happens. Even now, as I supervise students, I am aware of the movement the soul that happens there. I am gladdened by the way this is passed forward.
Even though I have studied many courses/trainings since, I still like to recommend the Barbara Brennan School to people who are interested in learning a thorough curriculum of healing and transformation. There is no other place like this that I have ever seen or witnessed.
I have been so blessed for my teachers and friends that I met there too. The Sacred Vessel of the Barbara Brennan School is a place where you will rediscover Who You Are and how to move toward living in your full potential.
If you have any questions about the school or this work, please contact me any time, Sharon Hartnett LMT (614) 653-8111
www.massageincolumbusohio.com
