The Part of the Body We Learn About Last

Why so many women feel disconnected from their pelvis and why that isn’t a personal failure.

There are parts of the body many of us learn to understand early.

We learn how to use our hands.
We learn how to control our breath.
We learn how to push through fatigue, tension, and discomfort.

And then there is the pelvis.

For many women, the pelvis is the part of the body we learn about last, if we learn about it at all.

Often, it only comes into focus when something feels wrong. Pain. Dysfunction. A diagnosis. A problem to solve.

Rarely is the pelvis introduced as a place of support, orientation, or relationship.

This absence is not accidental.

The pelvis sits at the intersection of medicine, culture, productivity, and shame. It holds reproductive organs, elimination pathways, sexual sensation, and deep postural support. Because of this, it is often medicalized, minimized, or avoided altogether.

When a part of the body is not clearly named or understood, many of us learn to relate to it indirectly.

Through tension.
Through control.
Through disconnection.

This doesn’t mean we’ve failed to listen to our bodies.

It means we were never given a clear way to begin.

Many women I work with describe feeling “out of touch” with their pelvis. They may feel unsure where it is, what it does, or how to sense it without judgment. Some feel nothing at all. Others feel too much.

Both experiences make sense.

Disconnection is often an adaptation, a way the body learned to function in environments that required endurance, compliance, or constant output.

Reconnection, then, is not about fixing what’s broken.

It’s about orientation.

Orientation begins with knowing where you are.

It can be as simple as noticing how you’re sitting right now. Feeling the surface beneath you. Sensing where your weight is supported. Becoming aware of the space your body occupies without trying to change it.

This kind of awareness does not require anatomy charts or technical instruction. It doesn’t ask you to optimize or improve.

It asks you to notice.

When the pelvis is approached this way, as a place to meet rather than manage, something subtle shifts.

Not because the body suddenly changes, but because the relationship does.

Understanding the pelvis doesn’t have to start with muscles or mechanics. It can start with simple curiosity. With permission to feel without interpreting. With the recognition that this part of the body has been carrying you, quietly, for a long time.

Learning to relate to the pelvis is not about mastering it.

It’s about acknowledging that it was never properly introduced.

This work, slowing down, orienting, and listening, is at the heart of what I explore in my current offerings, including Coming Home to Your Pelvis. But more than that, it’s an invitation many women are already feeling in their own way.

An invitation to stop rushing past parts of themselves that were never given language.

An invitation to begin, gently, where they are.

Coming Home to the Pelvis: A Gentle February Practice

If you’ve been following along this January, you may have read my recent reflections on devotion to the body; choosing care over pressure, and rest over urgency. These themes continue to guide how I approach wellness, especially during the quieter months of the year.

As February approaches, I want to share a practice that grows naturally from this philosophy: Coming Home to Your Pelvis.

If you haven’t read Devotion to the Body: A Gentler Way to Begin the New Year, you can check it out now.

Why the Pelvis?

The pelvis is a place of connection, between upper and lower body, movement and stillness, structure and softness. It supports our organs, our breath, and our ability to move through the world with stability and ease.

And yet, for many people, it’s an area shaped more by tension, silence, or misunderstanding than by care.

We often don’t learn how to relate to this part of the body until something feels “wrong.” But pelvic connection doesn’t have to begin from a place of problem-solving.

It can begin with listening.

A Different Kind of “Challenge”

When I use the word challenge here, I don’t mean pushing, fixing, or transforming yourself in five days.

Coming Home to Your Pelvis is a short, supportive practice designed to:

• Build trust with your body

• Offer gentle education without overwhelm

• Create space for awareness, breath, and reflection

• Support nervous system regulation through embodied practices

Each day includes a brief guided practice and reflection; something you can return to even on full or quiet days.

Why February?

Winter invites inward attention. It’s a season for sensing, listening, and laying foundations rather than rushing toward outcomes.

February, in particular, sits between rest and renewal. It’s an ideal time to reconnect with the body in ways that feel supportive and sustainable, especially if the start of the year has already felt full.

An Entry Point, Not an Endpoint

This practice stands on its own. You don’t need prior experience or special knowledge to participate.

For some, it may also open the door to deeper pelvic education and embodied learning later in the season. For others, it may simply be a moment of reconnection, and that is more than enough.

If you feel drawn to explore this gentle February practice, you can learn more here.

Wherever you are in your relationship with your body, may this season offer space to listen and return.

The Quiet Power of a Hug

The Quiet Power of a Hug

(and how to offer one to yourself)

Today happens to be Hugging Day, which feels like a sweet enough reason to pause and talk about something simple and surprisingly powerful.

Hugging might seem small. Ordinary. Easy to overlook.

But from a physiological perspective, a hug can have a meaningful impact on the body and nervous system.

When we hug, or are hugged, the body releases oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone.” Oxytocin is associated with feelings of safety, connection, and trust. It can help lower cortisol (a stress hormone), soften muscular tension, and support regulation of the nervous system.

Research has shown that regular physical touch can:

• Reduce stress and anxiety

• Support heart health and immune function

• Improve mood and emotional resilience

• Increase a sense of safety and belonging

One often-cited study published in Psychological Science found that people who received more frequent hugs showed reduced stress responses during times of conflict. Other studies have linked supportive touch to lower blood pressure and improved emotional regulation.

Touch matters.
And not just romantic or sexual touch- simple, caring, consensual contact.

But what about when no one is there to hug you?

This is where self-touch, and self-hugging in particular, becomes deeply relevant.

The nervous system doesn’t only respond to who is touching you, it also responds to pressure, warmth, rhythm, and intention. This means that self-hugs can still activate calming pathways in the body, even when you’re the one offering the touch.

Placing your hands over your heart, wrapping your arms around yourself, or offering steady pressure through the chest can:

• Stimulate the vagus nerve

• Encourage slower, deeper breathing

• Create a felt sense of containment and support

• Interrupt stress cycles gently, without force

This isn’t about pretending you don’t want connection from others. It’s about giving your body something real, right now.

A simple self-hug practice

If you’d like to try it, here’s a gentle way to begin.

Get comfortable- sitting, standing, or lying down.
Let your body choose.

Place your palms over your chest, resting them over your heart.
Notice the warmth of your hands.

Feel the natural movement of your breath.
As you inhale, your chest gently presses into your palms.
As you exhale, allow your palms to meet your chest with the same softness.

There’s no need to do anything else.

You might sigh.
You might soften your shoulders or jaw.
You might feel nothing at all, and that’s okay too.

If it feels supportive, close your eyes for a few moments and let yourself be here.
Held.
Present.
Not fixing anything.

Self-hugs are not a replacement for community, but they are a powerful way to remind the body that care is available.

Today, on Hugging Day, consider this an invitation:
To notice how touch affects you.
To offer yourself something simple and kind.
To remember that your body is always listening.

Rest Is Not Earned... It’s Practiced

How Quality Rest Becomes the Foundation for Sustainable Growth

If you haven’t yet read last week’s reflection on devotion to the body, I recommend starting there. It sets the tone for this year; one rooted in relationship rather than resolution, and in care rather than pressure.

In that piece, I shared that my devotion for this first quarter of the year is rest, with a particular focus on supportive sleep and spaciousness. Today, I want to slow that conversation down and explore something that often gets overlooked:

Rest is not something we earn after productivity.
Rest is something we practice in order to sustain growth.

Why Rest Feels So Hard to Claim

Many of us were taught; directly or indirectly, that rest is a reward. Something that comes after we’ve worked hard enough, done enough, proven enough.

But when rest is conditional, it rarely arrives in a form that actually restores us.

We might take “time off,” yet stay mentally stimulated. We scroll. We multitask. We keep one foot in output mode. And while the body may be still, the nervous system never truly settles.

This is where the quality of rest matters just as much as the quantity.

What Do We Mean by “Quality” Rest?

Think about quality in other areas of life.

A well-made garment fits better, lasts longer, and feels good against your skin. It doesn’t just cover you , it supports you. Over time, you reach for it more often, not because you should, but because it works.

Rest is similar.

Low-quality rest may look like zoning out while overstimulated.
High-quality rest supports your nervous system, your breath, and your internal rhythms.

High-quality rest leaves you feeling more resourced, not just paused.

Signs Your Rest Could Use More Support

You may be resting, but not restoring, if:

• You wake feeling just as tired as when you went to bed

• Stillness makes you restless or uneasy

• “Downtime” is filled with screens or mental stimulation

• Slowing down feels unproductive or unsafe

These are not personal failures. They’re signals, invitations to refine the practice of rest.

Ways to Increase the Quality of Rest

Rest doesn’t have to be dramatic or time-consuming to be effective. Often, it’s about how you rest, not how long.

Here are a few gentle ways to increase quality:

1. Reconnect with your breath
Simple breathing practices; longer exhales, slower rhythms - tell the nervous system it’s safe to soften.

2. Create sensory boundaries
Lower lighting. Fewer screens. Quieter environments. These cues help the body shift out of alertness.

3. Listen instead of distract
Ask your body what it wants before rest: warmth, stillness, movement, touch, or silence.

4. Introduce simple rituals
A cup of herbal tea. A brief pause before bed. A few intentional moments that signal transition rather than collapse.

These practices aren’t about doing rest “right.” They’re about building a relationship with your body where rest becomes supportive rather than optional.

Rest as the Soil for Growth

In nature, growth doesn’t happen year-round. There are seasons of dormancy; times when energy is stored, roots deepen, and systems repair themselves underground.

Human bodies are no different.

When rest is practiced with intention, it becomes the foundation for creativity, productivity, resilience, and clarity... personally and professionally.

You don’t grow despite rest.
You grow because of it.

As we move through this first quarter of the year, I invite you to reflect:

What would it look like to practice rest; not as a reward, but as devotion?

In the months ahead, I’ll be sharing more about supportive practices that help deepen rest and body connection. For now, let this be enough: listening, softening, and allowing rest to do the work it’s meant to do.

Devotion to the Body: A Gentler Way to Begin the New Year

We’re now more than a week into the new year.

For many people, this is the moment when the initial softness of the holidays has worn off and the pressure to “get back on track” starts to creep in. Routines resume. Work resumes. And often, so does the urge to fix ourselves; to undo what we think we did wrong over the past few weeks.

This time of year can quietly invite a kind of urgency:
Move more. Eat better. Be more disciplined. Try harder.

But what if this year didn’t begin with pressure?

What if, instead of resolutions rooted in self-criticism, we approached the year through devotion to the body?

From Resolution to Devotion

Resolutions often come from a belief that something about us needs correcting. Devotion, on the other hand, comes from relationship.

For me, devotion feels slower, kinder, and far more sustainable. It’s not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about showing up again and again with care, curiosity, and respect for what the body is actually asking for.

This year, rather than setting rigid goals, I’m choosing a series of body devotions, practices that support my nervous system, my energy, and my overall wellbeing. While I’ll weave all of them throughout the year, I’m allowing one primary devotion to guide each quarter, aligned with the seasons.

Winter: Rest & Supportive Sleep

In winter, my devotion is to rest, with a particular focus on supportive sleep hygiene.

This looks like slowing down in the mornings and giving myself more spacious transitions into the day. It also means being more mindful in the evenings; asking what future Laura might need to feel supported tomorrow morning.

Sometimes that means going to bed earlier. Sometimes it means preparing things in advance. Sometimes it means doing less. Rest, in this season, is not something to earn; it’s something to practice.

Spring: Movement as Expression

As spring arrives, my devotion will gently shift toward movement.

Dancing, yoga, and eventually some strength training; not as punishment or productivity, but as expression and support. I’m allowing myself to move lightly now, trusting that energy naturally builds as the seasons change.

Rather than forcing momentum in winter, I’m letting it arrive when my body is ready.

Summer: Nourishment Beyond the Moment

In summer, my focus will turn toward nourishment.

Hydration. Nutrient-rich foods. Eating in ways that support my body not just in the moment, but hours and days later. This devotion is about listening to how food affects my energy, mood, and digestion; and choosing nourishment that helps me feel steady, alive, and well-resourced.

Autumn: Self-Touch & Massage

As the year begins to turn inward again, my devotion will be to self-touch and massage.

Regular body oiling. Face massage. Receiving supportive bodywork when possible. After a year of nourishment from within, this is a way of nourishing the body from the outside; tending to tissues, skin, and the quiet places that hold so much.

A Year of Sustainable Self-Love

The overarching intention for this year is supportive, sustainable self-love.

Not the kind that burns bright and fades quickly, but the kind that builds slowly and steadily. The kind that creates trust between you and your body. The kind that reminds us we are worthy of the time, thoughtfulness, and energy these practices require.

You don’t need to change everything at once.
You don’t need to start perfectly.
You don’t need to be harder on yourself to be devoted.

If you’re feeling called to reflect as well, I’ll leave you with a gentle question:

What devotion would you like to bring into your life this year, one that supports you where you are right now?

Devotion to the body can look many different ways; through rest, movement, nourishment, touch, or simply listening more closely. Wherever you begin, may this year be guided by care, curiosity, and a deeper relationship with your own body.

Spicing Up Your Cycle: Fall Teas That Soothe Cramps

When the leaves turn and the sweaters come out, there’s nothing better than wrapping your hands around a warm mug. And here’s a little seasonal secret: some of the same fall spices we love in pies and lattes also have real science behind them for easing period pain.

No gimmicks, no “just vibes” wellness advice, ginger, cinnamon, and clove have all been studied for their anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Think of them as nature’s cozy companions when cramps hit.

Ginger: the gold standard root

Ginger isn’t just for cookies and stir-fries. Several clinical trials have found that ginger can significantly reduce menstrual pain, sometimes with effects similar to common over-the-counter pain relievers. Ginger works by reducing the production of inflammatory prostaglandins (the compounds partly responsible for cramps). Plus, it’s warming, soothing, and safe for most people in food or tea doses.

Cinnamon: sweet spice, lighter flow

Cinnamon brings more than aroma to your fall kitchen. Some studies suggest it can reduce menstrual pain and even lighten bleeding. It has anti-inflammatory and circulation-boosting properties, which may explain why a sprinkle in your tea or oats can do more than taste good.

Clove: tiny but mighty

Clove hasn’t been studied in as many human trials as ginger or cinnamon, but lab and animal studies show its main compound, eugenol, has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Translation: it may help dial down pain signals and inflammation. In food or tea, it’s safe, warming, and adds that deep, spiced flavor we associate with fall baking.

A Cozy Fall Cycle Tea

Here’s a simple stovetop recipe that blends these spices into a soothing, anti-cramp brew:

Ingredients (makes 2 mugs):

• 2–3 slices fresh ginger root

• ½ tsp ground turmeric (or a few thin slices fresh turmeric root)

• 1 small cinnamon stick

• 2–3 whole cloves

• Pinch of black pepper (helps with turmeric absorption)

• 1–2 slices fresh blood orange or lemon

• 3 cups water

Method:

1. Place everything (except citrus) into a small pot with the water.

2. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10–15 minutes.

3. Turn off heat, add citrus slices, and let steep another 5 minutes.

4. Strain into mugs. Sweeten with a drizzle of maple syrup if desired.

A few gentle notes

• Stick to food and tea. These spices are safe in culinary amounts, but concentrated essential oils (especially clove) should not be applied topically to sensitive areas.

• Consistency helps. In studies, ginger and cinnamon were often used daily during the first 2–3 days of the period, so enjoy a mug or two, not just a one-time sip.

• Listen to your body. If cramps are severe or unrelenting, spices can be supportive but shouldn’t replace medical care or necessary pain management.

This fall, let your tea do double duty: warming your hands and gently easing your cycle. Ginger, cinnamon, and clove aren’t just nostalgic flavors, they’re evidence-backed allies for period comfort. So, when the cramps come knocking, grab a pot, simmer some spices, and let the season itself soothe you.

Pepitas, Please: Why Pumpkin Seeds Deserve a Spot in Your Fall Bowl

Autumn means cozy sweaters, warm soups, and pumpkin-spiced everything. But before you toss out the seeds from your next carving project, pause: those little green pepitas (pumpkin seeds) are nutritional powerhouses with surprising benefits for cramps, mood, and pelvic health.

Think of them as the quiet understudy in the fall harvest lineup, not as flashy as pumpkin pie, but deeply supportive when it comes to minerals and balance in the body.

In a nutshell (well, seed shell) science:

• Magnesium magic. Pumpkin seeds are rich in magnesium, and that’s a big deal because studies have shown magnesium can help ease menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) and even reduce PMS symptoms like mood swings, bloating, and irritability. Magnesium helps muscles, including the uterus, relax.

• Zinc support. Pepitas are also packed with zinc, an important mineral for hormone balance, immune health, and tissue repair. Zinc deficiency has been linked with more severe menstrual symptoms, and adequate zinc supports wound healing and pelvic tissue resilience.

• Pelvic-floor bonus. Pumpkin-seed oil has been studied for urinary health, especially in adults with overactive bladder and lower urinary tract symptoms. While it’s not a cure-all, some clinical trials suggest it can reduce frequency and support bladder function.

Together, magnesium + zinc + healthy fats make pumpkin seeds a triple-win for mood, cramps, and pelvic-floor support.

How to enjoy 

The best part? Pumpkin seeds are easy to work into daily meals. Here are a few cozy ways:

• Maple-Pepita Granola. Toss oats, pumpkin seeds, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of cinnamon in the oven until golden. Crunchy, sweet, and mineral-rich.

• Pumpkin-Seed Pesto. Swap out pine nuts for pepitas in your pesto recipe. Blend with basil, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice. It’s cheaper, just as delicious, and full of zinc.

• Roasted Snack. A little olive oil, sea salt, and smoked paprika, roast until toasty. Perfect for fall hikes or mid-afternoon mood dips.

• Soup topper. Sprinkle a handful of toasted seeds on butternut squash or sweet potato soup for extra crunch + nutrients.

A cozy recipe to try: Maple Cinnamon Pepita Granola

Makes ~5 cups | Prep + bake: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rolled oats

• 1 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas), raw

• ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

• ⅓ cup maple syrup

• 3 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ¼ tsp nutmeg

• Pinch of sea salt

• ½ cup dried cranberries or chopped dried apple (optional, add after baking)

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).

2. Mix oats, pumpkin seeds, and nuts in a large bowl.

3. Warm maple syrup + oil until just melted; stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

4. Pour over oat mixture, stir well, spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

5. Bake 20–25 minutes, stirring once, until golden. Cool, then add dried fruit if using.

Store in a jar, enjoy with yogurt, milk, or sprinkled over roasted apples.

small seeds, big support

Pumpkin seeds aren’t a miracle fix, but they’re one of fall’s simplest, tastiest ways to support pelvic health. With magnesium to ease cramps, zinc to nourish tissues, and emerging evidence for bladder support, these little green gems pack more punch than their size suggests.

So next time you scoop out a pumpkin, keep the seeds. Toast them, blend them, sprinkle them, and let your fall meals quietly nourish your mood, your cycle, and your pelvic floor.

Cozy Fall Foods That Keep Things Moving (and Support Your Pelvic Floor)

Ahhh, fall. The leaves crunch, the air cools, and suddenly pumpkin spice everything is everywhere. But beyond lattes and pies, fall foods like pumpkin, apples, and sweet potatoes can do something way less glamorous, but way more important: they help keep your digestion smooth and your pelvic floor happy.

Yep, we’re talking bowel movements. Because let’s be real: when you’re straining and pushing on the toilet, your pelvic floor takes the brunt of that pressure. Over time, it adds up. But the good news? Nature literally gives us the foods we need, right on time, every fall.

Pumpkin & Squash: Creamy Fiber + Hydration

Pumpkin, butternut, acorn, all the cozy squashes, they’re full of both fiber and water. That combo bulks up your stool while keeping it soft and easy to pass. Think of pumpkin as nature’s way of giving your gut a big, cushy pillow to help things glide on through.

Pro tip: canned pumpkin is just as powerful as fresh, and way easier to stir into oatmeal, soups, or baked goods.

Apples: Crunchy Little Helpers

“An apple a day…” well, in this case, it really might help keep the straining away. Apples are high in a type of fiber called pectin, which soaks up water and makes your stool softer. Bonus points if you leave the skin on, since that’s where a lot of the fiber lives.

Sweet Potatoes: The Sweet Side of Fiber

Roasted, mashed, or tucked into a stew, sweet potatoes bring both soluble and insoluble fiber to the table. Translation: they help with stool bulk and stool softness. Plus, they’re loaded with vitamins that support overall energy during the darker fall months.

Pumpkin Seeds: Tiny Crunch, Big Benefits

Pepitas (aka pumpkin seeds) are not only delicious, they’re packed with magnesium. Magnesium helps pull water into the colon, which makes everything… let’s just say… slide more smoothly. A sprinkle of these little guys on your meal is like giving your gut a friendly “WD-40.”

A Reminder on Fiber

Fiber is amazing for your gut and your pelvic floor, but too much, too fast can make you feel like a hot air balloon. Start slow. Add a little extra pumpkin here, an apple there, and give your body time to adjust. And don’t forget water! Fiber without water is like flushing without turning the faucet on, things just… don’t move.

Cozy Harvest Bowl (Vegan + Fall-Friendly)

Here’s a simple recipe that pulls all of these fall superstars together:

Ingredients (serves 2–3):

• 1 cup cooked lentils (or chickpeas if you prefer)

• 2 cups roasted pumpkin or butternut squash cubes

• 1 medium sweet potato, roasted and cubed

• 1 crisp apple, diced (skin on)

• 2 big handfuls of greens (like kale or spinach), lightly sautéed

• 2 tbsp toasted pumpkin seeds

• Olive oil, salt, cinnamon, and a splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

How to make it:

1. Roast your pumpkin/squash and sweet potato at 400°F until soft and caramelized (about 25–30 minutes).

2. Toss everything together in a big bowl: lentils, roasted veg, apple, greens.

3. Drizzle with olive oil, a pinch of salt, maybe some cinnamon, and finish with pumpkin seeds and a splash of vinegar or lemon.

Cozy, colorful, and most importantly, friendly for both your digestion and your pelvic floor.

Caring for your pelvic floor isn’t just about exercises or posture, it’s also about what (and how) you eat. When your digestion flows smoothly, there’s less straining, less pressure, and way more ease for those deep, hard-working muscles.

So this fall, enjoy your pumpkins, apples, squashes, and sweet potatoes. Your belly, your bowels, and yes, your pelvic floor, will thank you.

The Gentle Power of Self-Breast Massage: Connection, Circulation & Care

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you’ll hear a lot about mammograms, screenings, and early detection. These are all essential, but there’s also a quieter, more personal practice that can support your breast health year-round: self-breast massage.

This isn’t just about checking for lumps. It’s about building a relationship with your body, supporting circulation, and creating space to notice changes before they become problems.

Self-exams vs. self-massage: why the difference matters

The idea of monthly self-breast exams is debated in the medical community. Some studies suggest that strict “checking for lumps” can cause anxiety without improving outcomes. The worry is that it can make women hyper-vigilant, stressed, and unsure about what’s normal in their tissue.

But self-breast massage shifts the focus. Instead of searching for danger, you’re:

• Building body connection instead of fear

• Learning what your breasts normally feel like

• Supporting circulation and lymphatic flow

• Reducing tenderness and tension

• This creates an environment where you’ll naturally notice changes over time, without the pressure or panic.

Health benefits of self-breast massage

When practiced gently and regularly, self-breast massage may support:

• Lymphatic flow & immune support → Light massage helps move lymph, which carries waste products away from breast tissue and supports immune health.

• Circulation & oxygen delivery → Improved blood flow brings nourishment to tissues and can help reduce stagnation.

• Pain relief & hormone balance → Massage can ease premenstrual breast tenderness and discomfort.

• Posture & breathing → Tension in the chest can restrict ribcage movement; massage invites release and deeper breath.

• Awareness & early detection → By becoming familiar with your natural breast texture, you’ll notice new changes sooner, and that’s where early detection makes a difference.

A simple seasonal breast massage oil blend

If you’d like to turn this into a nurturing ritual, try making your own fall-inspired massage oil:

• 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil (or jojoba, if preferred)

• 2 drops ginger essential oil (warming & circulation-supportive)

• 2 drops sweet orange essential oil (uplifting & bright)

• 1 drop clove essential oil (optional, adds warmth, use very sparingly)

Mix in a small glass bottle and shake gently. Always test a small patch of skin first, and avoid essential oils if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding unless cleared by your provider.

How to practice self-breast massage

1. Get comfortable: Find a quiet moment, lying down

2. Warm your hands: Rub them together before applying your oil.

3. Gentle circles: Use broad, soft circles over the whole breast, moving from the chest wall outward.

4. Include underarm & collarbone areas: These are key lymph drainage points.

5. Breathe deeply: Let each breath invite more softening in your chest and shoulders.

Self-breast massage is not a replacement for medical screening or mammograms — but it is a powerful tool for connection, comfort, and awareness. Instead of making breast health a stressful “should,” it becomes a grounding ritual that supports both your body and your peace of mind.

This October, maybe try adding this practice once or twice a week. Think of it as a way to nourish yourself, notice yourself, and gently honor the incredible work your body does every day.

Why Slowing Down Matters: The Science of Self-Care, Hormones & Vital Health

In our hyper-busy world, slowing down isn't indulgence, it’s self-preservation. Intentional self-care not only rejuvenates, it fundamentally supports your physiology. Let’s explore what the science reveals about how resting, tuning in, and self-kindness truly affect your body, nervous system, and hormones.

1. Calming the Stress Response & Hormonal Balance

Mindfulness and meditation have a profound influence on the HPA axis, the central stress response system.

• An 8-week mindfulness program showed a 23% drop in baseline cortisol, your primary stress hormone, with lasting effects.

• Another study found that long-term meditators and even short-term MBSR participants had lower morning cortisol and better sleep patterns.

• Mindfulness also supports immune health by reducing inflammation, markers like cortisol and inflammatory cytokines improved after brief retreats. 

2. Rewiring the Nervous System for Rest & Resilience

Slow, intentional practices don’t just feel good, they reshape your brain:

• Meditation triggers the relaxation response, shifting the body from "fight-or-flight" into rest-and-digest. It lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolic demand. 

• Neuroimaging shows shrinking of the amygdala (fear center) and thickening in areas like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, boosting emotional regulation, focus, and memory. 

• Practices that cultivate empathy and compassion may further reduce cortisol and increase oxytocin, the “bonding hormone,” enhancing trust, warmth, and stress resilience. 

3. Supporting Immune Function & Reducing Inflammation

Chronic stress disrupts hormones, weakens immunity, and raises disease risk. Even short mindfulness interventions (like retreats) can lower inflammatory markers, strengthen gut immunity, and ease heart rate, all without medication.
In fact, stress even increases risks like autoimmune disease, heart conditions, and impaired healing. Mindful rest interrupts that cycle.

4. Improving Mood, Compassion & Interoception

Intentional self-care isn’t just physical, it enhances emotional clarity and self-compassion.

• Self-compassion training improves how women respond to stress, easing anxiety and physiological arousal.

• Mindfulness strengthens your interoception, the awareness of internal bodily sensations via brain changes in the insula and other regions. This heightens intuitive tuning-in to your needs. 

• Even minor practices, like mindful breathing or a brief sensory check-in, reduce overwhelm and increase emotional presence, according to wellness reporting. 

5. Social Connection & the Power of Altruism

Interestingly, self-care isn’t the only path to well-being, other-focused actions are also healing.

• Psychological research shows that kindness, volunteering, or helping others can reduce stress, support cardiovascular and immune health, and extend longevity, often more than self-care alone. 

• Whether you choose solitude or connection, the bottom line is deeper alignment, with self or others, supports health in powerful ways.

Basically Why Self-Care Is So Vital

System Affected: Benefits of Intentional Slowing Down

Nervous System: Activates relaxation, balances emotions, strengthens executive control

Hormonal System: Reduces cortisol, supports circadian rhythm and restorative hormones

Immune / Inflammatory: Lowers inflammatory markers, strengthens immunity, supports healing

Brain & Interoception: Enhances emotional attunement, memory, and self-awareness

Social & Emotional Resilience: Boosts empathy, oxytocin, and sense of connection or purpose

Remember Self-care isn’t self-indulgence, it's a daily act of alignment. It calms your physiology, restores hormone balance, and wires your system to respond rather than react. Over time, even small, consistent moments of stillness and presence fuel resilience and vitality.