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Cupping is a therapy that has been around for a long time. It has roots in Chinese medicine, with references to this therapy dating back almost two thousand years. In the past decade, cupping has received attention because numerous celebrities including Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and actress Gwyneth Paltrow have touted the benefits of cupping therapy. Some acupuncturists and massage therapists incorporate cupping into treatment. What is cupping and how does it work? Cupping is a therapy performed by a trained practitioner who places small glass cups on the body to create suction. Once suction is created, the practitioner gently slides the cups along tight muscles, loosening them and encouraging blood flow. In a way, cupping is the inverse of typical massage strokes that apply pressure downward on a muscle. It uses negative pressure and pulls the muscles upward, to disrupt the tight muscle pattern. Cupping generally feels more gentle than a deep tissue massage, however, according to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, it is thought to affect tissues 4 inches deep. Additionally, cupping often follows the lines of acupuncture meridians, releasing stagnation, resulting in better energy flow and a calm nervous system. Cupping is usually performed on the back. There is a mild side effect. The suction from the cups create red rings that take a few days to fade. If you're headed to the beach or planning to wear an open back cocktail dress, you may want to consider putting your cupping therapy off until after. Otherwise, go ahead and experience how cupping can bring much needed relief to your tight muscles. 
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The CDC defines a concussion as “a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.” Research has shown that the incidence of concussions has increased by 70% in the past decade, especially among individuals under the age of 20. Some people recover quickly. Others experience post-concussion syndrome, which means that recovery can take weeks, months, or longer. We don’t know which children or teenagers will recover quickly and which will be most at risk of struggling in later life.
What are the long-term consequences of concussions? A single concussion that an individual experiences can have a lasting impact, and multiple head injuries increase the probability of problems later in life. The long-term consequences of head injuries include lasting impact on mental health, cognitive functioning, and physical functioning throughout adulthood. Possible symptoms include:
How can biodynamic craniosacral therapy (BCST) help? BCST can help to relieve the effects of head injuries suffered from various impact traumas ranging from falls to car accidents to sports injuries. Sessions help clients to slow their body rhythms and settle toward stillness. This settling allows the body to relax and reorganize physically and emotionally. Connecting with specific parts of the body can help to release blockages, increase blood flow, and allow natural mobility. How many sessions do I need? It is reasonable to anticipate that regular BCST sessions over several months would provide the most relief and improvement. While BCST takes time, it can provide deep and lasting support for reorganization and healing after a concussion. Thai yoga massage is a unique form of bodywork that began to evolve in Thailand over 1000 years ago. Thai massage, like other forms of Eastern healing practices, focuses on restoring balance and circulation to the major energy pathways, known as sen lines in Thai tradition. The practitioner applies massage and acupressure techniques while engaging the recipient in various yoga postures. Thai yoga massage is a perfect blend of massage and yoga. Maximum benefit is achieved by relaxing and allowing the practitioner to do the work, moving your body into restorative yoga positions while using massage to bring you into a calm and balanced state. Thai massage is performed on a mat on the floor or on a massage table. Both client and practitioner dress in something comfortable for movement.
Stress. Anxiety. We all feel it. Some days more than others. Do you have lingering feelings of worry and overwhelm? Wouldn’t it be great if we could recover more quickly from stress? If you’d like to know how, it’s time to get to know your vagus nerve.
Your vagus nerve starts at your brain stem and travels through seven major organs. It sends information from those organs to your brain about how your body is feeling. The vagus nerve is a critical part of your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for calming your body. If you have high vagal tone, your body can relax faster after a stressful experience. If you struggle to recover from stressful situations, it’s possible you have low vagal tone. WHY IS VAGAL TONE IMPORTANT? Strengthening the tone of your vagus nerve can support your body in dealing with traumatic and stressful experiences by regulating your nervous system responses to challenges. A healthy vagus nerve can help in decreasing symptoms of anxiety. In order for your body to function optimally and for your to feel your best, it’s important that your vagus nerve is properly stimulated and nourished. IMPROVING VAGAL TONE There are many ways to strengthen your vagal tone on your own. For example, you can… 1.Take a facial ice bath 2.Gargle 3.Sing, hum, and chant 4.Practice 5.Practice 6.Exercise 7.Meditate Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) can also significantly impact your vagal tone, help regulate your nervous system, and bring your whole being into a place of deep relaxation. Like tuning a piano that has been out of tune for a while, regular BCST sessions can help your body reset and strengthen vagal tone so that the next time your experience stress, you can recover more quickly and continue with your day. Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) is a gentle, non-invasive, hands-on therapy that can bring balance to places of imbalance in the body, calm the nervous system, and connect with the body's innate ability to heal. During the session, the client is completely clothed while the practitioner performs a variety of gentle holds. The practitioner's role is to remain centered and still while sensing and "listening" to the client's craniosacral pulse and tidal rhythms and holding space for those rhythms to move into a deep sense of inner stillness and balance. The biodynamic approach is a whole-body approach that involves helping clients reestablish their own balanced rhythm. This allows the body's own regenerative powers to heal and support on-going maintenance of health. Healing comes from within the client, rather than from the practitioner. BCST allows space and stillness for issues to simply be and have room to reorganize and shift naturally.  |
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