Core Body Therapy

01/31/2026

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01/30/2026

My office will be closed in observance of the National Shutdown and General Strike on Friday, January 30th. We stand in solidarity with our community and with the victims of state violence in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and across the country.

Appointments are available this weekend.

01/09/2026

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01/07/2026

A new CDC study published in JAMA today, shows COVID is still killing a substantial number of Americans, with over 100K deaths annually between 2022-2024.

‘Although the Public Health Emergency ended, this study suggests it remains a major driver of mortality among older adults.’

Between 2022 and 2024, covid-19 killed roughly 100,000 Americans annually, new research by CDC scientists shows.

01/04/2026

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2843606

This Medical News article discusses new research indicating that children whose mothers had COVID-19 during pregnancy were more likely to be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder by age 3 years.

12/13/2025

📣 Evolving the Legacy of CranioSacral Therapy
We’re excited to share a new paper from Upledger’s Science Team:
“The CranioSacral Rhythm—From Clinical Observation to Pacemaker Theory.”

This article honors Dr. John E. Upledger’s original clinical observations while bringing forward new research that supports the CranioSacral Rhythm as a measurable physiological phenomenon—and explores the emerging Pacemaker Theory as a model for understanding its origins.

When you train directly with the source, you’re not just learning CST—you’re advancing with the leaders continuing to shape the field.

📖 Read the article:https://www.iahe.com/storage/docs/articles/6YW3M8CmwFMOl2LkJMg4u9721pASRUnv9qar9sqC.pdf or Upledger.com Research Article Database Tab

12/10/2025

BREAKING:

"Our findings redefine SARS-CoV-2 infection as a condition of long-lasting immune compromise."

Highlights
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SARS-CoV-2 causes lasting immune dysregulation for over 20 months.
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The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on lymphocytes was especially severe in patients with CVD.
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Lymphocyte deficiency is related to long COVID pathogenesis.
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Long-term immune dysregulation of long COVID demands tailored treatment.

- December 5, 2025

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225005090

11/30/2025

"You are not a mess. You are not behind. You are not failing at life. You are in a country on fire:"

Read more 👉 https://elejrnl.com?p=4158835

11/19/2025

The vagus nerve is one of the most extraordinary structures in the human body. It is the bridge that spans the divide between the brain and the heart, the lungs and the diaphragm, the organs and the emotional self. It is the primary pathway of the parasympathetic nervous system, which means it governs our ability to rest, digest, restore, and feel safe. When the vagus nerve softens, the entire body follows; when it tightens, the whole system braces.

This nerve originates at the brainstem, emerges through the jugular foramen, and descends through the throat, passing through the vocal cords, the pharynx, the carotid sheath, the heart, the lungs, the diaphragm, and deep into the gut, where it wraps around the stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines. It is a living story cord, carrying messages in both directions. Eighty percent of its fibers run from the body to the brain, which means emotional regulation is influenced far more by sensation than by thought. The vagus nerve speaks the language of feeling long before it speaks the language of logic.

This is why bodywork can profoundly shift a client’s emotional landscape. When we touch the fascia, guide the breath, soften tension in the diaphragm, or release constriction in the jaw, the vagus nerve listens. It perceives these changes as signals of safety, and the entire system recalibrates. Heart rate slows, breath deepens, digestion resumes, muscles release and the emotional body begins to thaw.

One of the simplest and most effective tools for vagal activation is humming. Because the vagus nerve innervates the larynx and pharynx, vibration created by humming stimulates its sensory branches. This mechanical resonance enhances vagal tone, which in turn improves heart rate variability, stress recovery, and emotional stability. Clients often report feeling warm, heavy, or deeply settled within moments. The hum is a conversation between sound and the nervous system, a way of telling the body, “You are safe now.”

The diaphragm is another essential gateway. As the primary muscle of respiration, it is both mechanically and emotionally tied to vagal function. When the diaphragm is tight, breath becomes shallow, the vagus nerve stiffens, and the system moves toward fight or flight. When we release the diaphragm manually or guide clients into slow belly breathing, the vagus nerve is stretched and soothed, promoting a shift from sympathetic activation to parasympathetic rest. This is why diaphragmatic work can bring tears, warmth, memories, and spontaneous emotional release. The diaphragm is the emotional hinge between the upper and lower body.

Cranial work also influences vagal health. At the base of the skull, the vagus nerve emerges adjacent to the occipital condyles and upper cervical fascia. Gentle decompression at the cranial base can reduce irritation, improve vagal tone, and soothe the entire central nervous system. Even a light touch can shift someone from a guarded state into a deep exhale that feels like relief.

And then there is the belly. The deepest branches of the vagus nerve wrap the visceral fascia of the digestive system. When we perform gentle abdominal massage, organ-specific work, or slow fascial holds, we support motility, reduce sympathetic nervous system firing, and help the body process emotions. The gut is sometimes referred to as the “second brain,” but in reality, it serves as an emotional archive. Fear, grief, shame, and instinct live here. When the visceral layer softens, the stories held there soften with it.

My Parasympathetic Reset, which many lovingly refer to as the Sleep Therapy Massage, weaves all of these techniques together. It uses sound, fascia, cranial stillness, diaphragmatic release, and visceral unwinding to restore balance to the vagus nerve. Clients often drift into a dreamlike state because the nervous system finally feels safe enough to let go. Muscles melt. The breath widens. The heart quiets. The mind stops bracing. This is not simply relaxation. It is neurological reorganization. It is the body stepping out of defense and back into belonging.

For bodyworkers, this is some of the most meaningful work we can offer. Touch becomes communication, stillness becomes medicine, and breath becomes transformation. By supporting the vagus nerve, we not only ease pain and tension but also help clients return to themselves, regulate their emotions, and feel at home in their bodies again.

11/19/2025

👇

For decades, bodyworkers have observed that emotions often surface during hands-on sessions. Clients cry without knowing why, shake, tremble, feel heat rising, or experience spontaneous memories.

These patterns are not imaginary, nor are they an“energy-only” phenomenon. Modern research now supports what somatic practitioners have known for generations: the body stores physiological consequences of emotion, and manual therapy can access the systems involved.

What rises in the session room is never random. It is the nervous system speaking in its oldest language. Tomorrow, we’ll explore this language through the lens of Polyvagal Theory.

08/17/2025

We are living in stressful times.

Stress shows up in our bodies, especially in the neck and shoulders. Lately, I’ve been working with so many more people suffering with ongoing neck and back pain. Maybe it’s too much screen time? Maybe it’s worries about the future? We are all feeling it.

Craniosacral bodywork helps balance your nervous system from the inside out, easing that stress and tension and allowing your mind and body to relax and calm down.

Would some bodywork help you now?
Online calendar in bio.

08/02/2025

🔥🚒 Still Making an Impact: CranioSacral Therapy for Firefighter Cadets 🔥🚒

We’re revisiting one of our prior article:
“A Proposal for the Use of CranioSacral Therapy in Firefighter Cadets.”
When we first shared this research, it struck a chord—and for good reason.

The study revealed the potential of CranioSacral Therapy (CST) to reduce cortisol levels and improve postural stability in firefighter cadets—crucial factors in helping these frontline heroes stay physically and mentally prepared.

If you missed it the first time, now’s the perfect chance to see how CST continues to support the well-being of those who protect and serve.

📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4gzl8Zs
(Or search the Upledger.com Article Database)