I'm Grounded!! (No, I'm not in trouble...)

When I was a kid, being "Grounded" meant something entirely different than what I've learned it to mean now. Being connected to the Earth's healing frequency is "grounding" to the body. The Schumann Resonance, or 7.83 Hz, is the electromagnetic frequency of the Earth that serves as a "ground" force. By being connected to this frequency, our body's voltage will decrease, bringing us back into a more balanced, regulated state where rest, relaxation, and healing is possible. The higher our body's voltage, the more likely we are to be sick or sore, so lowering our voltage is an important wellness consideration. 

Proven Benefits of Grounding:

• Reduced Inflammation
• More restful sleep
• Reductions in Chronic pain
• Improved blood flow
• Reduced stress/anxiety
• Reduced EMF interference
• Normalized Cortisol Rhythms
• Increased energy 
• Improved mood
• Decreased Muscle Tension
• Reduction in PMS symptoms
• Reduced Headaches
• Speeds up Wound Healing
• Slows free radical damage associated with skin aging
• Reduced Muscle soreness
• Alleviation of arthritic symptoms
• Stabilized blood pressure
• Less wakefulness during sleep
• Reduced time to fall asleep
• Enhanced digestion and metabolic function
• Reduction of facial puffiness
• Enhanced nutrient absorption
• Balanced Hormonal Rhythms
• Improved Cardiovascular health
• Improved HRV (Heart Rate Variability)
• Enhanced Detoxification processes
• Balances Bone Calcium metabolism

The best way to connect with this beautiful, healing frequency is to go outside barefoot and walk or sit on the grass. Swimming in a lake, river, or ocean is another way. Walking along a sandy beach is yet another option. Living in Wisconsin and working indoors, most of us don't have the luxury to do these activities often, so luckily there are some products available to help us receive this healing frequency other ways. 

We purchased fitted bed sheets from Grounding Official (Enter coupon code 1212BW to receive a 15% discount) for our bed, and I have never slept better! My sleep quality had been spotty over the years, especially as I venture into peri-menopause, and since sleeping on these, it has become much more consistently solid. Thank goodness!! With the purchase of our King size fitted bed sheets, they offered a special deal on the non-fitted sheet, so I went ahead and purchased it for our son's bed. That one is not convenient since it doesn't have fitted corners, but is just a strip that goes across the bed. It doesn't stay in place well, so I wouldn't recommend those products, personally. Now, I just need to buy some pillow cases and we'll be all set! 

I bought some grounding mats also, to go underneath our desks. These came from a different company called Grounding Well. (Enter coupon code GW20 to receive a 20% discount). When we first opened the packaging, there was a very strong odor, but we out-gassed them in the garage for a few days and they're fine now. I now have some in my office, one underneath my desk, and one for you to enjoy during your treatment sessions. I'm excited to see how you like it!  

With both the sheets and the mats, there is a wire that snaps onto the product, then is inserted into the ground part of the outlet (the small hole at the bottom of the 3 openings). It is really simple. The sheets came with a tester for the outlet to make sure that is indeed grounded. 

For book lovers, the "Earthing" book by Clint Ober, one of the leading researchers involved in the Grounding movement, is a wonderful resource where I really took a deep dive into learning more about Grounding before investing in some of the products above. The Earthing website offers many more other products. You can also watch a documentary movie about Grounding from this website, or on YouTube. 

So far, I can honestly say that by simply sleeping on the grounding sheets, my sleep quality has improved greatly! I can fall asleep much faster, sleep more soundly, I awaken much less frequently, and am able to resume sleeping if I do wake up in the night. I love having the mat under my desk in my office so I can enjoy the benefits while I'm sitting, which I don't do very often. Since the weather allows it these days, my favorite way to ground is still to go outside and lay down, stand, or walk on the grass. 

Looking forward to spreading the word about this natural healing treatment that is easy to implement, especially now in the late spring, early summer, and hearing about how you and others benefit from this on your wellness journey. Now, I'm heading outside to stand in the yard. 

Reflections

As the Summer season gently transforms into Fall, we see beauty in the changes. As we move from one season of our life into another as we age, the beauty is harder to find. Pain, stiffness, tightness, joint noises, and limited movements feel far from beautiful. It's like standing uncomfortably at the edge of a pond, looking down at your reflection and seeing your younger self, happy, free, mobile, capable, knowing that version of you is still who you are at your core, but you come back into your body on the shore and feel your current reality. You are longing to get back to the day when life was so much easier and freer, when your body moved without discomfort and without having to strategize how do perform once simple activities.

The Supreme's 1967 classic song  "Reflections"  represents the change of seasons in our lives. Upon further research, this article shared that this song was "inspired by Diana Ross’s realization that she was no longer a teenybopper but a mature woman, reflecting on her life and the changes she had experienced. The lyrics reflect a deep and universal truth about our journey through life, the choices we make, and the consequences that follow. As we continue to face uncertain times, it is natural to look back on our lives and reflect on the choices that led us to where we are today. “Reflections” is a reminder that we are not alone in this journey and that by embracing our past, we can find the strength and hope to move forward."

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I'm here for you and WITH you on your journey. Whether your body's issues crept up on you over time, were the result of inefficient habits stacked over the years, or came on suddenly from an accident or a trauma that you endured, these issues are not YOU. They are just part of your experience. You may feel uncertain about if you'll ever feel better or like "yourself" again. I can see who you are at your core, underneath your pain and limited movements. This is what drives me to take the time to analyze your movement patterns, search for, continuously read about, and learn new techniques to get to the root of your body's issues, and find solutions to help you feel better and discover the beauty in your current season. Thank you for trusting me to help you find the strength and hope to move forward. 

 

Gratitude is the Best Medicine

"BOOM!" The sound of the collision between my SUV and the Minivan that crossed over into my lane haunts me to this day. 12 years ago this month, a roll-over car accident changed my life. For the first time in my career, the Physical Therapist became the patient. The same muscle techniques we now use to help YOU move and feel better were successfully employed by MY Physical Therapist to help rehabilitate my neck and shoulder injuries. This experience validated that venturing outside of the traditional physical therapy box was the best decision for me as the patient, and for all of my future patients, and for that I am truly grateful! This experience also helped me appreciate the little things in life that I had once taken for granted. I was lucky and grateful to be alive!! 

My client just came in this morning and said "I'm not doing well today." I assumed she meant because our session last time was too much for her, but instead she said, "I just found out that my friend's husband died as a result of injuries from the Waukesha Christmas parade event yesterday." My heart broke for her and the many people and families affected both physically and emotionally by the horrific incident so close to home for many of us! Life is such a precious gift that can be taken from us at any time without warning. She expressed gratitude that her friend's injuries were less severe and that she has a strong support network to lean on during this difficult time. 

Last week, a client who has been severely sleep-deprived due to the pain of his dislocated shoulder, was grateful that he was starting to improve. Even though it was his non-dominant side, he realized just how much he really needed it to function better to get through life! And sleep deprivation is no joke!! Those of us affected by that because of pain or other issues in our life can surely relate.  His gratitude for even a little better sleep, and a little better function gave him a new perspective and he was starting to feel more hopeful. 

No matter what is going on in our lives, having gratitude always helps. This time of year always brings gratitude to mind, as we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving this week. We all have so much to be grateful for, but sometimes our gratitude can be lost amongst our pain and life's stressors.  

Even though it may feel like a nuisance to change your schedule to get to and from therapy appointments, at least there are answers to your pain problems to be found.  Even though doing your home exercise program takes time away from other daily activities, it may be helping to support those daily activities. It's annoying to have to make changes with how we do things when pain and other limitations don't allow us to do things the normal way, but at least our bodies were designed to compensate so we can still keep going.  Having gratitude that our bodies have a warning signal system in place when we feel pain or that something isn't "right" with our bodies is actually a huge blessing!! It allows us to take notice and find better ways to move, whether on our own or with the help of a professional. Being able to FEEL our body means that we are alive. Sometimes it is hard to find the blessings and have gratitude when we don't like what we feel, but the alternative (not being alive...) is worse! 

I am so grateful to have each of you in my life! It is such a HUGE blessing to enjoy coming to work each day. The opportunity to help each and every one of you move and feel better is so important to me, and I thank you for committing to this process, allowing us to work together to solve your unique issues, even if it takes some time to get to the root of them. I know what it is like to be limited by pain, problems moving how we want to be moving, sleep disturbances, and having to keep working at home exercises to feel better. I'm grateful for every session where we can help your body shine your light on the world a little brighter! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your healing journey! 

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and that you can focus on all that you are grateful for in your life, no matter what is going on around us. God Bless You!! 

Tootsie's "TWEET:" Don't Wait Until It's Too Late

It's me again, Emily's alter-ego, Tootsie, "Queen of the Posture Police."  I'm tired of Emily being so nice to you all!! I'm here to keep it real and offer some unfiltered advice so you feel better & STAY better!!  I'm here to blow my whistle and make another citation for crappy posture! 

TWEET! Don't Wait Until It's Too Late!!  

It's so annoying!  That lingering, dull ache when you bend or reach. It's been bothering you for some time now, but you just keep hoping it will go away...eventually. But it is still there. It's not convenient, but you move on. It doesn't seem to matter what you do, it is still there. You've tried stretches. It's still there. Your Chiropractor gets your alignment straight and you feel better for a little bit, but it's still there. Your Massage Therapist tries to untie the knot in that area, but it tightens back up. Then all of a sudden, you move the wrong way and your body locks up completely!! You have to cancel all of your plans and let your body calm down for who knows how long!! Again, not convenient, but this time you can't move at all!  Now, what are you supposed to do??

Good question. I know the answer. (Emily is too nice to share it, so here I go!) DON'T WAIT!! That little annoying ache, that all of a sudden turns into an emergency could have been dealt with much better in Emily's office when it was a molehill, rather than a mountain. You know how it goes on Emily's treatment table..."Move this way...Hold here...Ready, RESIST! Roll over, lift this leg, Hold, Ready RESIST! Now roll back over. Stand up. Sit down. Move this way, Ready RESIST!" Good luck trying to do any of THAT when your body is in crisis-mode, crying out in pain! 

Here's the deal. When your body has trouble MOVING or you can't MOVE a certain way, your muscles are involved. When you feel tight or have a "knot," your muscles are involved, but I'm here to tell you, those stretches won't help! When your posture and alignment are out of place, your muscles are involved; when your alignment is put back into the ideal position, if the muscles that hold it there aren't on board, your crappy alignment will shift right back to where it once was. It is as simple as that! Fortunately for you, YOU happen to have your own personal Muscle Specialist. You know who to call when your body is starting to send you the uncomfortable messages. You know NOT to wait until it is too late.  

A few weeks ago, Emily got a call from a client she hadn't seen for several months. All of a sudden, this client reached out in crisis mode. "I NEED to get in for a session! My body is ANGRY!!" Unfortunately for this client's sake, Emily's calendar was full of clients who had already been on her schedule for weeks, committed to working on the process of moving better after their body gave them subtle warning signs. This client waited until it was too late! She waited until her body was screaming at her!! Not only would she have been miserable on the treatment table, trying to move into the range-of motion positions needed for Emily to figure out the best way to help her, but the hands-on and exercise treatments themselves would have been more painful to endure as well in her inflamed state. 

Even though she is a PT (which some people think stands for "Pain & Torture"...), Emily truly does NOT like to hurt her clients!! Seriously, she doesn't!! She knows that it will be painful for her clients to be treated when they are in an active crisis mode. Of course, IF she is able to help, Emily will see her clients in whatever state they show up to the session, but it goes much more easily for everyone involved if the sessions are focused on promoting wellness rather than doing damage control. (But she's too nice to say anything, so that's why I'm bringing it up!) 

So, in summary, listen to those body signals, people!! Even if the message seem just like a little "whisper" right now, these quieter messages are important indicators that something may get MUCH louder if you wait too long to have your muscles checked! Maybe you've been told by a friend or family member that your posture needs help, or you've noticed uncomfortable sensations in your body with all the stress & changes you've been through since 2020, or you've been dealing with a chronic, nagging ache for years and you just keep on plugging away. Now, bring your mole-hills in to see Emily before they become mountains!! 

DON'T WAIT!!! Call, Text (414) 405-3956, or Email 1212bodyworks@gmail.com to set up your next session! 

I cried today...

"I've been told by so many practitioners what is wrong with me." 

"Nothing else has worked and I'm not sure that this will either."

"I'm feeling worse, not better."

"I don't feel like doctors or therapists understand my problem."

"I'm depressed because nothing I'm doing is helping me feel better."

What a day it was! 4 clients in one day, and ALL of them are discouraged. I can't blame them at all. They have all been on a healing journey to try to find answers to their various health challenges. They have worked with multiple practitioners, have invested in supplements, cleanses and special tests, had surgeries and other treatments to try to "fix" their structural problems, only to create more pain and movement dysfunctions to overcome. It must be so frustrating!! These quotes are familiar to me, as a PT for the past 20+ years now. Usually I try not to take things personally, am strong and try to stay positive and encouraging with my clients, but today I cried. Not in front of my clients (although I did that once last week...) but at the end of my day. 

Working with the human body is no joke! As owners of our human bodies, it is enough to make any one of our heads spin trying to keep up with all of the messages our bodies share with us each day on what we feel, what we need, what we want, and what is best for taking care of ourselves and moving and feeling our best. And then actually following through on it is a whole other ballgame! Recognizing these messages, doing what we can to make changes ourselves, and then discerning when it is time to ask a professional for help can be additional challenges.  Each individual comes with a unique history, concerns and goals, and even though our bodies "mostly" look like the medical charts we study as bodyworkers, no two humans are exactly alike. This makes the healing process a challenge, to say the least.  

It is a huge blessing to me to be invited in to someone's healing journey to try to facilitate positive change. I have made it my mission to help clients in a unique way to figure out their movement imbalances, reawaken muscle contractions, and educate them on how to keep these areas active and firing. As a Physical Therapist, I know the physical anatomy and how to enhance its function very well. Some of my clients call what we do here "magic" as we help the nervous system improve its stability almost instantaneously, which can have a positive impact on reducing pain sensations. However, many of the clients here also have layers of emotional pain tied in with their physical pain. Whether this emotional pain comes from abuse or trauma from childhood, physical trauma due to injuries, medical treatments or surgeries, mental exhaustion from dealing with chronic pain, family stressors, workplace demands, or life transitions, this emotional pain needs to be addressed before full resolution of body pain can be achieved. I WISH I could wave a magic wand to make THAT kind of pain disappear, but that is not possible. 

Physical Therapy is a wonderful modality that can be added to enhance one's healing journey. It is never the "end all be all" as there are many other factors in life that need to be addressed in addition to your balanced posture and movements. PT can be a wonderful adjunct to eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated, taking supplements, getting Vitamin D from the sun, exercising, seeing a Chiropractor, Acupuncturist, Massage Therapist, or other Holistic Practitioners. I understand that some people will move and feel better with my help, and others may not. Some may even feel worse! That is the risk we both take when entering into a working relationship. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that the process I use and the individualized plan that I devise, based on each client's assessment findings, will actually take all of their pain away. My heart breaks for the number of clients who have seen multiple practitioners and are still left wanting more relief. My heart breaks again when the work we do here isn't enough for them to see positive change and they have to move on to yet another practitioner for help. I'm grateful to know that there are still a lot of other wonderful, healing avenues for clients to pursue if this process is not the end of their journey. 

As much as it was a tough day for me emotionally to hear all of my clients discouragement, I am still more encouraged by the wonder and resiliency of the human body and its ability to heal, to move, and feel better.  I am still grateful for the opportunity to try to help as many people as possible and teach them what they can be doing for themselves to facilitate healing. I'm choosing to bless and release those that are not a good fit for my services and embrace those of you who are still willing to take the chance to move forward together along your healing journey. Thanks for your trust in this process and for understanding that what we do here is just one piece of a HUGE healing puzzle. 

3 Holiday Must-Haves for 2020

3 Holiday Must-Haves for 2020

I think we can all agree...2020 has been one doozy of a year!! As challenging as it has been to live through a global pandemic, I am reminded every day that not everyone has lived through it! So many tragic deaths have occurred, our world and how we live in it has changed so much in such a little time, and so many businesses have closed. Even with all of the losses this year, we still live in such abundant times. Here's my take on what we ALL need this year, and it is NOT more "stuff!" 

1. Positive Attitude

No one likes a grumpy pants. Sure, we've all had bad attitudes from time to time, myself included!! Being negative about all of the craziness going on right now doesn't help any of us. I just spoke with one of my dear clients on the phone today. She is the primary caregiver for her beloved husband, who has ALS, also known as Lou-Gehrig's disease. They are not spending their retirement at all like they had dreamed. It is heart wrenching to watch someone you love lose their body's capacities and have to help them perform what are some of the easiest of functions for most of us, that we often take for granted. Even though she is doing this for him, she is getting through this difficult time by staying positive and focusing on the good things in life! What an inspiration she has been and can be for all of us. We may not be able to spend the holidays with our family members or friends like we have in the past, but thankfully we can have a Zoom Chat, or do a FaceTime call. For some, it may actually be a blessing that they can't get together with family, as they can trigger painful emotions! It's all in how we look at what we are given. The number "1" in 1212 Bodyworks represents staying positive, so of course, this is Number 1 on my list of must-haves! 

2. Faith

Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birth! What a blessing it is to celebrate Him and the gift of eternal life every year!  The commercialization of Christmas has taken many people away from the true meaning of this time of year, but each year we have the opportunity to refocus on the gift of His life and what it means for us who believe in Him! :) Even if you are not a Christian, having FAITH in something greater than us can be so helpful to get through challenging times, especially this year! Our body was created with all of the abilities to heal itself, and help us to overcome painful sensations, injuries, and fully recover to our prior level of function, which is nothing short of a miracle!! If you are still struggling with pain in your body, I'm here to help you restore your faith in your body's ability to heal by helping you move better! The number "2" in 1212 Bodyworks represents "Keep the Faith" so of course this one had to be Number 2! :) 

3. Flexibility

I know, I know...you're thinking, "But Emily, you told us we are not supposed to stretch...." LOL! You've been listening well (and if you don't know what I'm referring to here, stay tuned for future blog post topics about why I DON'T recommend stretching)! Being flexible is not about stretching. It's about staying "open" and being able to roll with the punches of what life brings to us. We can't be rigid in our thoughts or bodies, as this only limits us further or can even end up hurting us. Being flexible is about having strength and balance at our end limits. With our body movements, we want to be able to reach to great lengths with a core and limbs that will support us and not let us fall, or tear apart, as we reach to our end ranges of motion. It has been wonderful to help my clients this year become the best versions of their physical selves with improved strength, balance and flexibility in their bodies. With our thoughts, we have to be strong in our will to change, as what we once thought was right or true may suddenly be shown to be or proven wrong or false. None of us could have expected what was to come at us in 2020, but we all had to learn to be flexible to adapt to the changes that are now more accepted and just a part of life now. 

So there it is. Simple right? Luckily these holiday must-haves are all FREE! (You've probably spent enough money this season already! :) This year, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that 2021 brings even more healing for your life! May you be filled with Positivity, Faith, and Flexibility for years to come! 

Spring Cleaning for the Issues in your Tissues!!

Is it safe to say that it is officially Spring now??? Upon getting through what seems to be like 3 winters this year, here in Wisconsin we are starting to see the true signs of Spring around us! The birds have been out and have been chirping for weeks now, but they finally seem to be able to stay out and not have to retreat back to their shelters from the cold!! Seeing all of the lawn bags at the foot of the driveways for Yard Waste pick up day actually brings joy to our neighborhood!! It means that we can actually spend time outside to clear away the winter debris and spruce up our yards to make way for the new growth to rise up!! Bring it on!! : ) 

Following the cycles of nature, Winter is all about cozying up inside, staying warm, and resting our bodies to store energy. The Spring season is well known as a time to be more active, clean up our homes, our lives, and cleanse our bodies. This includes moving our bodies more as we are able to enjoy the outdoors once again.  

Have you begun your Spring Cleaning projects? Which projects or tasks are the most enjoyable for you? I'm learning to love yard work (I didn't always love this...) as I do love the outdoors, and enjoy spending time working together with my husband to beautify our surroundings. However, my most favorite task is cleaning out closets and drawers! There is something freeing about "letting go" of the stuff that we've been holding onto but is of use to us, doesn't fit, is not in style, or doesn't bring us JOY! 

Are you participating in a Spring Body Detox or Cleanse this year? This is a wonderful time to do this as our bodies are naturally seeking detoxification at this time of year. Drinking more water, especially with fresh squeezed lemon juice added, is one way to flush out our systems. Today marks Day 1 of my Intermittent Fasting cleanse that I'll be implementing 2x/week for the next month, at least. My plan includes drinking water, broth, and cleansing fluids until 11am or noon, then eating healthy, fresh foods throughout an 8 hour window, until 7 or 8pm. I've done this in the past and it makes me feel amazing!! 

As we cleanse and declutter our physical bodies and surroundings, the idea of sifting through mental clutter often arises. What sorts of thoughts, emotions, beliefs or ideas are no longer serving you? How can you "let go" of some of these negative issues in your life? Have you ever considered what lies at the root of the pain or discomfort you experience in your body? It might be a good time to start to "Spring Clean the Issues in your Tissues!!" 

Through 2 decades of working as a Physical Therapist, I've noticed some common themes as my clients are dealing with pain in certain body parts. When I worked at "Knee Specialists of Wisconsin" 100% of our clients came in with some degree of knee pain. Using the Muscle Activation Techniques  systematic approach to identify and correct each client's unique structural and muscle imbalances contributing to their symptoms was a HUGE part of the healing process on the physical level. Healing on the emotional level was also a large part of helping my clients feel better. One common theme that I noticed with this specific population of clients in their 60's and 70's was a difficulty "moving forward" in life as they were transitioning from a life of working hard to reinventing themselves in retirement. So many of them were frustrated that they had worked so hard throughout their lives, but were now having trouble enjoying their retirement because of knee pain. They were regretful that they seldom took steps to take good care of their bodies or listen to the warning signs along the way, and now that their knees were screaming at them, they felt overwhelmed but were finally doing something about it! Once they identified and embraced these emotions and were prescribed unique exercises to manage their specific muscle imbalances, they were surprised at how much better they felt! Most of our clients were able to avoid knee replacement surgeries with our interventions, and they learned how to take care of themselves to "move forward" with less pain! 

Are you holding onto any unresolved "issues" in your tissues?  Are you overwhelmed with the process of uncovering and then healing from these issues? There are solutions out there if you are willing to take some time and do some "inner" work. 

I just recently finished reading "Soul Coaching: 28 Days to Discover your Authentic Self" by Denise Linn. It was the perfect way to head into Spring this year! "Soul Coaching is a 4 week program dedicated to an in-depth bearing and cleansing of the different aspects of your life: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. By following the practical, carefully crafted steps presented here, you'll find that you're able to uncover your authentic self. By utilizing the energy of the elements of nature -Air, Water, Fire, and Earth- this program allows you to clear away old blockages so that you can truly begin to hear the secret messages of your soul." I found it to be an amazing experience, especially since I did it with my great friend, and we had a weekly check in call or in-person chat to discuss our transformations. I'd love to hear how it goes for you too! 

https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Coaching-Days-Discover-Authentic/dp/1401930719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525188081&sr=1-1&keywords=soul+coaching

A client and now good friend of mine recommended a book called "Healing Back Pain--The Mind Body Connection" by John E. Sarno. This book discusses his research on "Tension Myositis Syndrome" (TMS) and how patients recognize the emotional roots of their TMS and learn how to sever the connections between the mental and physical pain to resolve their back pain. I haven't read it yet, but am looking forward to reading it soon, as I have just ordered it from Amazon. Check it out! 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0446392308/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=

I wish you all the best as you clear out the old "stuff," both physical and emotional, and make room in your life for fresh new growth on many levels!

Keep Moving Well!

Emily