Before I even knew what “being in my body” meant, I was happiest when I was in motion.  From running outside with my stick horse as a little girl to winning blue-ribbons in physical fitness challenges in elementary school, I loved the feeling of wind on my face and running fast.  I was a cheerleader from fourth grade through my senior year in high school, and in my teens, dancing and running filled me with a sense of freedom and personal power.  

Over the next few decades, I completed four marathons.  I ran most days to get exercise and to settle my thoughts until an injury brought my running to a frustrating halt.  Forced to slow down physically, I noticed my mind picking up the pace.  It churned out all kinds of self-critical, worry-filled stories, and sometimes I felt like the noise derailed my joy and sense of worth.  

One of the biggest gifts in my life was given to me by a friend who introduced me to yoga.  Along with practicing yoga postures that strengthened me and helped me along my physical healing journey, I studied the philosophy of yoga which led me to a personal inquiry around my own chronic over-thinking.  On my yoga mat, I learned (and still continue to learn!) the value of slowing down and listening, breathing consciously, and allowing the body and mind to drop old physical and mental programming. 

I met a woman in my yoga class who was a massage therapist, and receiving massages from her further assisted my physical healing.  As I did yoga and received massage, I discovered that prioritizing restorative practices helped me to release built-up tightness in my physical body, and almost always caused a similar letting go of persistent, exhausting mental tension.  This made room for more joy and ease.

I “met” CranioSacral Therapy in a similar way, where a health issue prompted me to seek extra care.  After a few frustrating appointments with traditional doctors, I found a Naturopath whose treatment plan included CranioSacral Therapy.  Within a handful of sessions, I noticed a positive change in my overall condition.  I knew I wanted to offer this gentle modality to people who were open to a somatic approach as a way to complement their wellness and healing.