Freeing Our Bodies from Stress and Trauma
Freeing Our Bodies of Stress and Trauma
This weekend Jeremy and I will be speaking at the Be Healthy Utah Natural Wellness Conference. We wanted to create this blog post so that attendees as well as others can have the information we talk about at their fingertips. So what are things we can do to free our bodies or stress and trauma? Here are a few recommendations that we have.
Hydration
One liter of lemon water 30 minutes before eating flushes toxins from body
Chronic dehydration causes blood & other fluids to move slower
Healthy Foods
Omega-3’s have a strong relationship with cognitive function - fatty fish, omega-3 eggs, walnuts, flax seed, mangoes, brussel sprouts
Magnesium rich foods lower cortisol levels - avocado, banana, broccoli, spinach, dark chocolate, pumpkins seeds,
Breathwork
Deep breaths into abdomen moves diaphragm that is perforated by aorta, thoracic ducts, vagus nerve (3 major fluids of the body get movement)
Massage
CranioSacral therapy - improves mental clarity
Lymphatic drainage - removes toxic substances
Foot zone - resets all systems to homeostasis
Acknowledge feeling
Recognize they are something we are experiencing, not who we are
Meditation/practicing stillness
Lowers blood pressure, improves concentration & focus, calms racing thoughts
Present state is where healing occurs
Making intentional movement/Qigong
Movement moves lymph
Fluids of the Body
When people ask me about why I started my therapeutic massage practice, I often tell them that it was to work with fluids in the body. I learned during my own health journey the value of receiving a foot zone treatment to reset my systems and impact fluids to overcome my chronic fatigue. I then decided to become a foot zone practitioner to help others find the same relief. As I expanded my knowledge about the functioning of the body systems, I knew I needed to attend massage school to learn more about lymphatic drainage massage and CranioSacral therapy. These two therapies more than any others can influence the flow of the fluids that travel around the body and bring positive changes in creating our healthiest selves.
CranioSacral Therapy - CranioSacral therapy examines the membranes and fluids that surround, cushion, and protect the brain and spinal cord. By monitoring and releasing restrictions within the cerebrospinal fluid, we can clear congestion and relieve tension in the central nervous system, increase mental clarity, eliminate pain, and promote a feeling of well-being.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage - The lymph system carries fluid, nutrients, and waste materials between the body tissues and the bloodstream. Bacteria, viruses, toxins, and debris that induce an immune response are removed from around cells and neutralized in the lymph nodes. A healthy lymph system is essential for fluid circulation and immune functions of the body. Lymphatic drainage massage stimulates the lymph system to work more effectively, to promote a healthy immune system, to remove stagnant fluids from tissues, and to reduce swelling and inflammation from an injury or surgery site.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage Post Surgery
Lymphatic Drainage Massage Post Surgery
After undergoing elective surgery, we are eager to get back to our normal routines without compromising results. Many surgeons are now prescribing lymphatic drainage massage to help reduce swelling and discomfort.
During cosmetic surgeries like liposuction and tummy tucks, or joint replacement surgeries like knee, hip, and shoulder, the lymphatic system can become disrupted and may take several months to make new connections. Lymphatic drainage massage can help speed up recovery time and improve results by helping to pump fluids along the lymphatic channels, thus decreasing congestion in the tissues.
The lymphatic system carries fluid, nutrients, and waste materials between the body tissues and the bloodstream. A healthy system is essential for fluid circulation and immune functions of the body.
Lymphatic drainage massage uses a gentle rhythmic touch to help detoxify the body. Lymph vessels are found throughout the body, with 70% of them found within the subcutaneous layer of the skin. With light pressure, toxins, cellular waste, and harmful substances are removed from the body tissues and neutralized in the lymph nodes.
Although each case is different, most doctors advise their patients to start lymphatic drainage massage 3-5 days post-surgery. Some also recommend lymphatic drainage massage 1-2 times pre-surgery to help prepare the body. You will generally be able to notice a difference after the first lymphatic drainage massage, however, it is recommended to have at least 4-6 treatments post-surgery to remove the excess fluid.
Here is what Claudya D. says about her experience:
After my surgery (tummy tuck) in September 2020, I had extensive swelling and discomfort due to hardening scar tissue. I researched online and found out about the benefits of lymphatic massage so I googled for places near my area that will offer them and that’s how I found Amy.
Initially, I booked five lymphatic drainage massages with Amy, all between 60 and 90 minutes long. The procedure itself was very gentle and thorough. Time flew by! I went in with bad swelling in my stomach, but by the end of the session I could see a big change, proof that the lymph fluids had been redirected. Amy also performed cupping, and the scar tissue on my stomach was less noticeable after just one treatment.
Amy herself is very welcoming, knowledgeable and professional. She took the time to listen to my specific needs and concerns. I would highly recommend going to Amy over a traditional massage chain, as the quality is exceptional and her experience and devotion is unbelievable.
Create Your Healthiest Self Goals
Last year I set a Create Your Healthiest Self Goal of going on 50 unique hikes before my birthday.
500,000+ steps, 200+ miles, and 4400 staircases later, Ii was proud to say that I achieved my goal.
Jeremy decided that each year we should set a goal to stay active and healthy. This year it will be to have 50 adventures. It’s been just over a week and we have already gone paddle boarding and walked our dog at a new park. It’s been fun thinking up all the active adventures to go on and we have plans for kayaking, hiking, and river rafting. What fun types of things do you do that we should add to our list?
2 New Locations
We have been operating out of our new Sandy office for the past month.
9176 South 300 West, Suite 5
Sandy, UT 84070
We are thrilled to be opening our Lehi office as well.
2426 North 4060 West
Lehi, UT 84043
We will now be able to offer our Therapeutic Massage and Health Coaching services out of both offices.
Our software is only allowing on-line scheduling for the Sandy office at this time. We are there on MWF.
To schedule at our Lehi office on TTh, call Amy at 801-631-1499.
Lymphatic Drainage
Intro to Lymphatic Drainage - Join AJ Bodywork for a free Facebook Live class on Tuesday March 24th at 6:00pm to learn about the lymphatic system, how it stimulates our immune system, and a few simple steps you can do at home to help filter toxins from your body.
The lymphatic system is an integral part of our immune system. It helps the body to defend against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The system supports immunity by making and storing lymphocytes that produce antibodies to defend the body against disease.
The proper functioning of the lymphatic system is critical to our body's ability to detoxify and regenerate tissues. Lymph nodes function as cleansing stations to filter out germs and other harmful substances, and to recover crucial substances like water and proteins. It works tirelessly to remove waste products from our cells and to maintain the purity of the internal environment.
If the lymph circulation stagnates due to injury or infection, toxins accumulate and cellular metabolism is compromised. The result is an increase in acid and toxins within the tissues causing pain, tension, and edema. These need to be removed quickly from the interstitial fluid to promote proper tissue healing and restore pain-free movement.
Be Healthy Utah
Join AJ Bodywork at the Be Healthy Utah - Natural Health & Wellness Conference on Friday August 28th from 2-9 pm and Saturday August 29th from 10 am - 6 pm at the Mountain America Convention Center in Sandy, UT. You can choose classes from over 25 speakers on natural care and visit over 60 vendors with natural products & services. Hope to see you there! Tickets can be purchased at www.behealthyutah.com
Foods that Heal
Clients have been asking what foods they can eat to help certain conditions. Here are some suggestions:
Utah Infertility Conference - Saturday October 26 9 AM to 3:30 PM
Rise Above Infertility
The Utah Infertility Resource Center is hosting the Utah Infertility Conference “Rise Above Infertility” on Saturday, October 26th. Don’t let fertility challenges consume you. Check out the line-up of this year’s informative and amazing conference. I am excited to have the opportunity to present a practical experiential Qigong class for pelvic health. Life is about movement, when our body's aren't moving they are losing their life. Through surgery’s and trauma, the organs in the pelvis can become restricted creating distress and discomfort. With qigong and fertility massage you can restore blood flow and improve mobility to the pelvis and pelvic organs. I will also be part of a six person holistic health provider panel answering questions about fertility. Come ask questions, find out answers about your fertility needs, and mingle with others on the same journey.
Fertility - The Shared Journey
Fertility challenges don’t have to consume you. Allowing your journey to unfold with the help of a holistic fertility specialist is the most gentle. We want you to be a proactive partner and collaborate in every step of your goal of becoming pregnant.
The Shared Journey Fertility Program consists of 6 one-hour bodywork sessions and one-year of on-going support and advocacy. It can be used as a stand alone regime or in preparation for a more medically assisted cycle such as IUI or IVF. We highly recommend that you prepare your body properly prior to starting any medically assisted fertility cycle to help insure a successful first cycle. The Shared Journey can be completed before your stimulated cycle is scheduled to start.
As a stand alone cycle without medical assistance is what is most natural and primal for your body. You will be guided to monitor your own ovulatory cycle along with our help for up to one year after finishing your therapy with us.
The program is custom tailored to each individual woman's situation and will be discussed in further detail at a consultation. More information and videos can be found at https://ajbodywork.com/shared-journey-fertility-program.
CST for Expectant Mom's & Newborns
Jeremy and I had the opportunity to attend a an advanced CranioSacral therapy class this past week designed for conception, pregnancy, and birth. It was a wonderful class to learn about all the amazing changes that take place in an expectant mother’s anatomy as well as the growth of the child. We were able to feel both mother and childs CranioSacral rhythm both in utero as well as in newborns. I had the opportunity to work with a mom 15.5 weeks pregnant with her 4th and on a 4 month old, Jeremy worked on mom 22 weeks along with her 8th child who hadn’t connected to her child because she has been so busy with the others and on a 6 month old. It was incredible.
This past Monday I had a client come in that I’ve worked on for several years. This was the first time in to meet her cute daughter that was born 6 weeks ago after I assisted in inducing labor through a foot zone. What a blessing to work with these brand new spirits. It is beautiful to see how moms and babies respond so favorably to CST. The central nervous system is very accepting of this gentle therapy, especially in regards to baby’s still-developing central nervous system.
Even a single session can help baby achieve priceless benefits. Additional sessions can extend and strengthen the results. Common phrases used by mothers after the first few treatments include: “good baby, alert, not fussy, at peace, and calm.” Breastfeeding seems to be more easily accomplished and parents seem to enjoy their children more.
If you are curios to see how CranioSacral therapy might help you through your journey, Jeremy and I will be offering a 50% discount off our regular prices for women trying to conceive, expectant mothers, and babies up to one year of age from now through Dec. 31, 2019. Just mention this post to receive the discount.
This button takes you to the brochure from Upledger International that explains crainel for conception, pregnancy and birth. Feel free to look it over and pass it along to someone you know that might need it.
CranioSacral Therapy for Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth
Jeremy and I will be attending a CranioSacral Therapy training for Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth next month. They need 13 pregnant women and 13 women with babies under 6 months of age for students to work with during the class. If you are interested in participating, please contact Colleen at the Upledger Institute (colleen.russell@iahe.com) or the teacher Kimberly Painter (kim@healtheself.net) to get registered.
Location: Hotel RL-Salt Lake City 161 West 600 South Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (Red Lion Hotel)
Pregnant women - Oct. 12 from 10-12 am
Moms with babies - Oct. 13 from 11:45 - 1:45
More details on the benefits of CST can be found at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b6cf1f2aa49a1ee0d0118a3/t/5ce71b01a4222fee19b177ca/1558649615403/CranioSacral+Therapy+for+Conception+Pregnancy+and+Birthing.pdf
Massage for Cancer Support
My mom was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and in honor of September being Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, I am offering our best discount ever. 50% off your initial visit. Cancer can be a scary word. I know. I just went through surgery yesterday to have skin cancer removed from my back. I also work with clients in varying degrees on their own cancer journey’s even week. I have seen first hand how lymphatic drainage can help pre- & post chemo, radiation, and surgery and how CranioSacral therapy alleviates side effects from the the same treatments, reduces pain, and helps with chemo brain.
Here is what one client posted on his Facebook page after learning about my offer for cancer patientsthis month:
To everyone I know. I affirm that one of the greatest health benefits I received to help bring me to full remission from Stage 4 Brain Cancer the last 18 months was Amy Packer Kuecks from AJ Bodywork doing lymphatic drainage and cranial sacral massage. I can share miraculous stories of how this helped me and I am happy to share those with anyone that will listen! Please contact her for yourself or anyone in need. It will make that rough journey much easier. Even if you are not on a rough journey, her deep tissue massage is amazing! - Scott A.
Please feel free to contact me and ask any questions you may have. Appointments can also be scheduled directly from the Book Now button on our website.
Merciér Therapy Fertility Blog - My Natural Healer
Our good friend Laura Como has a new series on her blog called “Ask Anything”. This weeks post is on fertility where she talks about IVF & Merciér Therapy. My Natural Healer has directory for natural healing practitioners. Each Monday she does an Instagram video series where people write in and ask questions.
Qigong for Pelvic Pain
We just listened to the Rich Roll podcast with Dr. Zach Bush this weekend where he was talking about 1:3 men and 1:4 women have trouble with fertility. This is something that several of my sisters have struggled with over the years and is a very emotional subject. We have laughed with, cried with, and hoped, prayed, and fasted with them with varying degrees of success. As Jeremy has educated himself on abdominal health, he now offers Mercier Therapy massage and coaching treatments with the one-year Shared Journey program, teaches Dr. Sears nutritional pregnancy course A Healthy New Beginning, and now adds a weekly Qigong class focused on pelvic health. Join us every Thursday night at 6:30 pm @ The Studio at Cutting Edge.
Register for this class and all Qigong classes at www.thestudioatcuttingedge.com - The first class is free.
Natural Health & Wellness Conference
Join AJ Bodywork this Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11th at the Salt Palace Convention Center for the Be Healthy Utah Natural Health and Wellness Conference. They have a great line-up of speakers and vendor booths. Check out the details at https://www.behealthyutah.com
Empower You Expo
Experience the 14th annual Empower You Expo 2019!
AJ Bodywork is pleased to invite you to attend this year’s Empower You Expo on Saturday April 27, 2019 at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, UT from 10 am - 6 pm. Come discover the possibilities! You can find us at booth #206.
Shop - Experience - Explore - Connect
EMPOWER YOUR spirit, your health, your mind, and your emotions. Whether you join us for the entire day or just a few hours the Expo is here for you. The Expo is a community event full of practitioners and business owners who are highly skilled in a variety of Healing Modalities that will empower you in every area of your life and business.
You will also have tons of opportunities to participate in drawings, giveaways, and win prizes! AJ Bodywork will be selecting 3 names from our raffle applicant to receive a 60-minute therapeutic massage.
**Tickets for the Empower You Expo are $5 in advance or at the door**
Imagine an environment away from all the outside noise bringing you down and dimming your glow. Imagine an experience that will lift you up and surround you with people who are there to empower and support you whatever your needs are.
The Empower You Expo is a place where you can celebrate and amplify your unique power; no matter who you are or what your journey looks like right now. Have fun away from the negativity of the world, and meet people who can support you on your path at the Empower You Expo.
If you are searching for new experiences and magical connections then this EXPO is the place for yo
Becoming a Certified Merciér Therapist
It all stated in 2017 while I was still in massage school. I came across an introductory video about Merciér Therapy presented by Oak Works and hosted by Dr. Jennifer Merciér. I immediately researched all I could about Merciér Therapy and how I could become a certified practitioner of this amazing modality. The more I found out the more excited I became. I knew I had to get certified so I could offer help in an area that is often overlooked and misunderstood, pelvic pain and infertility. A year and a half later I was on my way traveling Chicago, and then to St Charles Il. A lovely suburb of Chicago right on the Fox River and freezing cold. It was in the single digits most of the time I was there. Me and four other therapists spent an amazing week at Jennifer Merciér office learning, sharing and working on each other. Dr. Merciér took the time we needed to understand the complexity of the female pelvis. Merciér Therapy addresses three unique aspects of female pelvic health. Pelvic pain, fertility, and C-section recovery. Each area has its own set of challenges. The commonality with each is first restoring mobility and blood flow to the organs in the pelvis. Merciér Therapy is preformed on the abdomen and back. The therapy is an external massage sequence that is non-invasive.
This was an experience I will always remember. We had time each day to enjoy a delightful lunch and sometimes dinner together. Each restraint offering their own wonderful creations. The entire experience was educational, enlightening, collaborative and fun. I am excited to bring this wonderful work to my practice. I gained new friends and a deeper understanding of the pelvis its structure and aliment. The pelvis is truly an amazing combination of complex structures comprising bones, tissues, muscles, organs and hormones. When these systems are working in harmony life is good, and you feel great. But when there is disharmony from injury, surgery, miss alignment, lack of blood flow, and pore posture life is a little harder and you feel out of sorts. Merciér Therapy helps to get your pelvis back into optimal alignment. By using beep and gentle visual massage I can break up facial adhesion in the abdomen and pelvis. Restore blood flow and promote lymph absorption.
I am so happy to be able to offer this amazing therapy in our practice. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
7 Habits for a Healthier Lifestyle
As health coaches and therapeutic body workers, we are constantly asked how to live a healthier lifestyle. We have put together this short video with some tips. Enjoy!