Feeling Stressed Out?

Feeling Stressed Out?

Feeling stressed out by life?

Everyone feels stressed out at least occasionally. Through all of life’s cycles, growth opportunities pop up presenting us with challenges that push against our boundaries. This can make us feel uncomfortable or stressed out. Fortunately, many of us have had positive influences that have  taught us how to navigate through rather difficult times efficiently.  But when we don’t know how to cope well any longer,  then what?  Is it possible to take these stresses and turn them around to make ourselves better?

We have to remember that if we change our perspectives about our difficulties,  the rest of the energy supporting the stress will shift too.
Craiosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy relieves stress.

Remember that:

  • Overload is just about how we perceive a certain situation.
  • The way our bodies habitually respond to stress can be re-organized into a healthier response.
  • We are in charge of how we interact with the world in which we live.

Anything that you believe poses a threat to your way of being can cause stress.  So how does your mind, body and spirit let go of any ideas of danger?

  1. Being mindful of your own experience is a good place to begin. By bringing attention to both your internal and external environment, you will begin to see what ignites stress. Some of the physiological signs might be: slower digestion, heart rate rises, muscles contract, breathing quickens, and it may be difficult to sleep.  While you are experiencing the thought and the energy behind the stress, be curious and observant.  This is a good way to practice meditation.
  2. Receiving massage and bodywork has been shown to reduce stress, including modalities such as Craniosacral Therapy, Trigger Point, Structural Integration and the light moving touch of Swedish as well.  Feeling deeply into the body re-educates how we think and helps us re-route into a more relaxed and calm state of being.
  3. Body centered psychotherapies can be very helpful as well.  For example, Hakomi is based on peaceful methods of bringing awareness to your experience and trying on different perspectives.  This can give you new ways to view life down to the cellular level. This therapy is different than typical talk therapy as the main focus is bringing attention to the body to open the doorway to your consciousness.
  4. Physical Exercise pumps up your endorphins. Stress melts away. A good workout helps you to feel healthier and feel more alive.
  5. Deep breathing can help slower the heart rate and decrease your blood pressure.  A commitment to yoga practice will certainly give you opportunities to experience stress relief.
  6. Aromatherapy with oils from Young Living Oils or Doterra can help you to relax in a nice bath or with a foot massage before you go to sleep.  The intention of using the oils for health and good self-care can be very helpful if you are feeling anxious or imbalanced.
  7. Finding a good chiropractor who works with stability as well as flexibility can do wonders in helping you feel better aligned.  When the spine is healthy, life looks a lot more positive!
  8. Byron Katie has come up with 4 questions that will help you change your life.  Her worksheets are free online and you can view her on Youtube.  Check out www.thework.com.
  9. Gentle movement exercises like Felderkrais or Continuum will awaken your deeper sense of centeredness.
  10. Eckhart Tolle is known for bringing out focus “Into the Now”.  His teachings can help one to let go of suffering and stress by recognizing our tendencies to live in the past and future rather than being Present.

Remember that If stress is interfering with your life’s purpose and health, it’s time to do something different that will help you resource your internal skills to help you move through life with more ease.  There are practices you can do alone, in a class, or with the help of a professional.  The more serious the issue with anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD it is best to find the right professional with good experience and references.

Let your stress pass right through by taking good care of you.

Sharon Hartnett LMT, CST, SI

(740) 966-5153

Facilitating with Craniosacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, Structural Integration, Reiki, The Work, Brennan Healing and more.   See www.massageincolumbusohio.com for more information.

 

 

 

Sports Related Knee Injury

Sports Related Knee Injury

Knee injury is one of the most common sports related reasons that bring patients to the doctors office.

knee injury

knee injury

 

Be proactive if you feel any pain, notice popping sounds, see any swelling or can’t walk properly.  It is important that you don’t put off getting the proper treatment for knee injury if you want to avoid long-term negative repercussions.  If you are fortunate, with your physician’s recommendation, you can apply basic first aid, and take some Ibuprofen and everything will heal nicely.  However, you don’t have to stop there.  Structural Integration with its fascial massage can be very helpful in alleviating any stress around the knee, the quads, and the hamstrings.  This can be done for minor ailments, or once your doctor recommends if surgery if needed.  The body is miraculous at healing itself.  However, the new tissue that is laid is not going to give you the same mobility you once had in many cases unless the fascia is spread, balanced and lengthens, allowing for more natural alignment.

If you are interested in playing sports and performing to your optimal level,  Structural Integration can be very helpful in supporting you to relate movement to your activities with higher performance.

Working with the fascia can be done starting with the superficial layers to help ease the pain around the joint.   As the work is deepened, it unlocks habitual patterns, and also those that resulted from the injuries.  Often clients feel the positive effects from doing a series of session more than with other types of basic massage.  That is because the adhesions and rotations, once they are released, stay that way,  allowing for more freedom and flexibility.

If you have had a knee injury and are looking for a therapy that can make a difference, call Sharon Hartnett LMT at 740 966-5153 in  Columbus, Ohio.  

www.massageincolumbusohio.com

 

 

 

Structural Integration:Deeper into the Body

Structural Integration:Deeper into the Body

Structural Integration by Ida Rolf,  is not the most mild type of bodywork.

 It’s not meant to be…

Growth

Evolution

 

The ten sessions are intended to help clients to find better alignment in relationship to gravity.  Not only in standing or quiet poses, but also in movement. The idea is to help people find more fluidity, flexibility and range of motion through effective touch and thorough manipulation.  

One thing that is important to address, is that this type of work often gets labeled as being uncomfortable. With Ida Rolf’s work-  in most cases, as pain is sometimes encountered and touched, clients will feel things that have been avoided.  It’s natural for people to compensate when they have injuries or emotional patterns holding them out of alignment. As such, as things open, deeper sensations do occur. However, if a professional and respectful dialogue is kept, the session can weather the storm with proper care and efficient contact. With healthy touch, the work can go slowly at the client’s rate and comfort level. During and after the sessions, clients will often be surprised at how they can feel grounded into their bodies and the earth both energetically and physically in a whole new way.

One of the biggest considerations when deciding if Structural Integration is right for you, is to ask yourself if you are looking for a pleasurable massage session or a more long-term and holistic approach.  Some clients enjoy light touch effleurage massage.  It can feel warm, invigorating and healing.  On the opposite side of the spectrum though, the Ida Rolf Structural Integration type of work focuses on the ability to work deeper without working harder.  A good Structural Integration Therapist will apply pressure to touch into the different levels of the fascial web to help you unwind and lengthen dysfunctional patterns. The fascia softens and hydrates allowing time to awaken and integrate.

Without question, at Lighten Up Therapies, our goal is to help you to achieve your goals for your health and wellbeing.  

If you would like a free 15 minute telephone consultation with Sharon Hartnett LMT,  please give her a call at: (740) 966-5153

http://www.massageincolumbusohio.com/structural-integration/

Feeling Tight? Structural Integration…

Feeling Tight? Structural Integration…

Feeling tight doesn’t necessarily come from muscular signals.

In fact,  most massage therapists and bodyworkers who are experienced with years of practice will tell you that most of contraction comes from feeling connective tissue that is tight, adhered or twisted in the body.  The connective tissue, being the material that holds everything together through its wrapping web, supports all the muscles, bones, and viscera down to the cellular level.  It  is responsible for length and freedom in the body or on the other side of the fence- containment and inflexibility.  Feeling tight is a signal that your body needs attention.  When aligned with healthier functioning in regards to gravity,  Structural Integration can improve the quality of life quite a bit.

The connective tissue, called fascia, when in its optimal condition, is key to helping you to live a healthy life style as well as supporting a more centered, easily functioning way of Being.

Rolfing

Tight? Free your body into a more flowing, better organized structure.

Structural Integration, whose foundation is based on the work of Dr. Ida Rolf, is founded on a 10 series where a massage therapist will work with the whole body based on a formula of moving from superficial sleeve work down into the deeper core as each session progresses.  The approach is unique in each session with the recipe, and also determined by how your body speaks to the practitioner. 

The work can be done with a lighter touch, or a more deep penetrating version of Structural Integration.

What I have found through the years, it that for the best results, the bodyworker needs to listen to the body, but also to the verbal dialogue if something feels uncomfortable.  Sometimes patterns need to be rustled a bit, and at other times, the body release much more when it loses its need to defend or fight against the intrusion.  In the long run, the best work is something that can be integrated, and that means the giver and receiver are in a peaceful relationship during the session.

There are a few well known schools for Structural Integration.  As the work evolves, new techniques and different approaches develop.  If you are looking for the best local SI practitioner, you can look up schools such as the Rolf Institute or the Guild, but what is most important is that you resonate with the practitioner who will hold space for you release and open up to your fullest potential.  Interview-  get your questions answered.  After all, this is something that can change your life for the better when lying down into the right hands!

For a free 15 minute phone consultation, call Sharon Hartnett LMT  614 372-6598.

Columbus, Ohio

 

Breath

Breath

Allow Structural Integration to help you to find your breath and breathe freely again.

Breathing is actually more than bringing air into the lungs and then expelling it out. While breath is the primary life force in sustaining life,  it is also a natural massager of the most internal areas of your body.  When you breath in, the strong diaphragm moves and the ribcage and everything within is in a state of constant expanding and contracting.   Gases and circulation are being engaged.  Fluids are rushing through the veins and arteries. The wave of movement can actually reach down to the tips of your toes which you can experience if you take the time to be mindful of breath and its’ far reaching capacity to nourish life. The body is a miracle and unlabored smooth breath can keep you healthy.

Positives of Healthy Breath-  sleeping better, reducing the effects of high blood pressure, when there are good levels of oxygen in the system-cancer finds it more difficult to live, anxiety and depression can be relieved with fuller deeper breathing.  The heart is supported when there is less tension with the ribcage. People who practice yoga and breathing techniques feel more connected between the mind body & spirit to name a few.

One of the best things you can do to open up the breath is receive work that lengthens and softens the surrounding fascia around the ribcage and and by releasing any restrictions nearby. Gentle and more detailed work with the  connective tissue under and on the ribs allows more movement and freedom and relief  is often experienced.  Often ribs get stuck or moved our of alignment and when freed up,  global pain in all parts of the body can diminish dramatically too.  With just one session of Structural Integration or diaphragm releases, you should feel more centered, healthier and flexible.

 

Structural Integration's benefits

Freedom Within

 

To find out more benefits of finding your breath, check out Dr. Weil’s recommendation for mindful breath: 

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three-breathing-exercises.html

Sharon Hartnett LMT

Columbus Ohio

www.massageincolumbusohio.com

Trusting the Wisdom Within With Craniosacral

Trusting the Wisdom Within With Craniosacral

One of the greatest things about Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is that this modality is all about trusting your own body’s wisdom to heal.

Yes it is important to find a Craniosacral Therapist who is knowledgeable and has good experience with your issues.  However- the best session will be all about having faith in the process.

During a Craniosacral Session,  the first thing your practitioner will do is listen to your body to find out where there might be dysfunctional patterns that lead to pain and other ailments.  This is done by starting at the feet and moving up to the head in order to check for amplitude, symmetry and other qualities of the craniosacral rhythm throughout the body.  Once the primary lesion is discovered, it is easy to go to that area and start the session for healing.  The rest is about following the body’s response to the work.

During evaluation and thereafter, Craniosacral Therapy touch is gentle and non-invasive. There are very few contra-indications with CST, yet the effects are far reaching and profound in your healing process.  The primary benefits that you will first feel are relief of pain, more flexibility and often more vitality.  By working primarily with the Central Nervous System as the focus, a Craniosacral Therapist can dialogue with every other body system to support the integration of full body functioning.  Often clients are unexpectingly surprised that there can be so much change in attitude, feeling and sensation after just a few session.

 

Craniosacral Therapy Columbus Ohio

Craniosacral Therapy as taught by the Upledger Institute

If you would like to find out more about Craniosacral,  please contact Sharon Hartnett for a free 15 minute telephone consultation:  (614) 372-6598.  

Craniosacral Therapy is a self-discovery process of remembering your own light!  It’s always present.

Website:  www.massageincolumbusohio.com

 

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