Exploring Options in Caring for Our Amazing Bodies
It’s hard for me to believe we are already into Spring! Here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where Bill and I live the greens, pinks, and yellows are popping out all around us. For many people this month of April is a holy month, celebrated in different ways by different faiths.
It was with excitement and nervousness that I returned to Italy just after the 2023 New Year holiday. Excitement surrounding travel to Europe. Nervousness as I was invited to help teach at the Stecco’s Fascial Manipulation Institute in Padova, Italy. The course was nothing new to me – Fascial Manipulation Level 1, a course I have taught multiple times here in the US. What was different was that this was the International School, and the first time in English. Additionally, I would be working with giants in the organization: Antonio and Carla Stecco.
It’s hard to beat the holidays and kids! Their excitement and joy is contagious, even if they do overload the Christmas cookies with sprinkles and decorations! I remember doing the same, and Mom repeatedly admonishing us, “Not so much!!!”
I’ve always loved reading! So it’s no surprise that, in this 3rd segment on sharing seasonal gifts that respect our health, I am recommending two of my favorite books. They are both listed on this site under the Books section of the Resources tab. I’m kind of getting the cart before the horse by recommending one that I haven’t yet written a post about, but I can’t get to that in time to be feasible for this holiday season.
As I began this post the words of a song came to my mind. It’s a 1999 Amy Grant song entitled Christmas Lullaby (I Will Lead You Home) and here’s the part that popped into my head: “Are you far away from home + This dark and lonely night + Tell me what best would help + To ease your mind + Someone to give direction for this unfamiliar road + Or one who says, “Follow me and + I will lead you home.”
Sometimes at the holidays you have to come up with a gift to give. More often (hopefully!), it’s a situation where you want to give a gift. Sometimes we get to drop hints or blatantly tell someone a gift we would like to receive. In any case, most of us would rather give or receive something that is going to be genuinely appreciated, useful, and enjoyable. A lot of things can fit that bill, but I’d like to suggest something of lasting value: a gift that will promote health.
I bet I’m not the only one saying, “I can’t believe it’s already this time of year again!” For my husband, Bill and me it’s been a busy year filled with personal and professional happenings. Forefront in my mind are two major events: First, Bill, after 47 years of patient care, finally stopped evaluating and treating patients and now focuses on overseeing the operations of all four APT offices – not really retirement but it’s a start. Secondly, perhaps in anticipation of a bit more free time for hobbies such as hunting, Bill became the proud owner of Lizzie, a wirehaired pointing griffon. Bill loves developing her natural instincts to point and retrieve. I love that she doesn’t shed.
I was thrilled to recently attend the 6th International Fascia Research Congress held in Montreal, Canada. This was my second time attending this event, which is held every three years in different parts of the world. I had been to one prior Congress held in Reston, Virginia in 2015. Considering I live only 1.5 hours away from Reston it seemed like a must to at least try. So glad I did! I found the people, topics, energy, and events were perfectly aligned with my philosophy and personality. Practically every country in the world was present, as well as all health care disciplines – not just physical therapists – which I find stimulating. I returned home and couldn’t stop talking about it to my tolerant and supportive husband, Bill. I knew I had to go again, so I did!
Recall that a healthy fascial environment consists of tissue layers that are elastic, adaptable, and free to slide on each other. This is especially true in the trunk, which shelters organs, some of them hollow with constantly changing volumes – like the bladder. If the fascia looses this adaptability through the development of fascial densifications, then symptoms may arise that seem to be stemming from the organ. In the case of the bladder problems (BP), it may be urinary daytime/nighttime frequency, urgency, incontinence, pain/burning with urination, bladder/kidney stones, and much more. Often tests focused on the bladder are negative because the problem is the fascial environment surrounding the organ – not the organ itself.
