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After a trip to Baltimore and a 4 days workshop packed with wonderful families and fascinating material. I'm excited to bring this knowledge back to my practice to better serve families with young children and newborns.

Pediatric CranioSacral Therapy can be especially beneficial for young children and newborns who are experiencing feeding difficulties, colic experienced interventions at birth, are showing developmental delays, or are medically complex. What I really love during these sessions is having the opportunity to work with both child and parent/guardian so everyone is able to experience some CranioSacral Therapy and learn some techniques to help their kiddos thrive at home.  

A majority of my practice of CranioSacral Therapy is geared towards those suffering with regular migraines and headaches. As a long time migraine suffer it is something that through decades I have accumulated a lot of tricks and tips for managing my own migraines and finding ways to help others manage their migraine attacks, tension headaches, or concussion related headaches. 

My migraines started when I was a kid around the age of 5 or 6. I had a pretty classic pattern of a severe migraine which usually ended up with me vomiting. That pattern continued through most of my life and finally eased off in college and a few years after until my concussion brought them back into my life with a vengeance. When I was little I would use a meditation to treat my migraines and as an adult I found a lot of help with bodywork, physical therapy, and prescription injections. This combination brought my 2-3x a week migraines to 2-3x a year and eventually got me to maintenance mode where I'm able to maintain with semi-regular bodywork and self care. 

If you are a regular migraine sufferer here are some of my go to's for dealing with a migraine. Every person is different and depending on the type these suggestion may or may not be helpful.

1.) Track your migraines and suspected triggers - this is extremely helpful for working with your Doctors. Doesn't have to be fancy I have a whole folder of photos of my face whenever I got a migraine.
2.) Temperature change - hot showers, ice caps, heat on neck cold on forehead
3.) Saltines, coca-cola, and tiger balm on your temples (a family favorite)
4.) Rehydration drink - salt and lemon in hot water, gatorade, liquid iv, rehydration salts.
5.) Pain meditation (included below) from "Mountains, Meadows, and Moonbeams a Child's Spiritual Reader" by Mary Summer Rain. I read this as a kid and have used it to treat my migraines ever since. 
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"Close your eyes and relax your body. Think real hard about the pain in your head. Imagine a brilliant, shining White Light on the pain and say to yourself: Pain, Pain, Pain. Do not tell the pain to go away, just let the pain know you are aware of it. Send all your thought energy into the center of the pain. If you have done this right you will be surprised to find the headaches is almost completely gone. Practise this and each time it will be easier. NOTE: Going into the very center of pain is like traveling into the very center or eye of a hurricane. The center is always quiet and calm."
 
What I love about this is that it is simple and anyone can do it. It also acknowledges the body by letting it know that you have received the pain message and are taking action. Pain is a message that something is going on in our body that requires change or attention/acknowledgement. That is one of the reasons identifying migraine triggers can be so important. For me when I have a migraine come on now I know that it's my body letting me know hey - you missed some sleep and need to rest. It has shifted my migraine experience from an uncontrollable thing that happens; to my body is letting me know something is going on and it needs to be addressed. 

Have headache or migraine relief tips or tricks you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you in the comments!

The first few times I was asked about my recent trip to the Bahamas for the BioAquatic program I found myself stalled out AHHHHHHH how do I put this in words that can capture the experience fully without putting you on a plane and sending you down there to see for yourself. The word that was often used to describe the experience is profound and even that word itself feels as if its taken on new meaning. So yeah over all a really fucking good experience. Truly profound. Worth getting on a plane and being a part of it. In fact take me with you! Lets go!

*this is a long blog post but there are dolphin photos at the bottom ; )

Working in the water and in particular in the ocean felt immensely meaningful. Like there had been something missing from my practice as a craniosacral therapist and I suddenly discovered I’d only been working at half capacity. Over the span of the class it went from working in the water to working with the water.

While studying CranioSacral Therapy there is often talk of blending and melding with the tissues to better feel what is going on in the body. Now take that concept of blending and melding and expand it out into the water and connect and then blend and meld with the additional practitioners your working with in the water. Add in the gentle current of a change in tides, the soft lapping of waves that undulate down your spine, the call of the birds, and gentle breeze blowing big puffy clouds through the sky. Now we're way beyond a treatment experience in a room and into a pure life experience.

Now take all that and add dolphins who live and treat in a group continually. Treatment became the interplay of four groups into one giant pod. The dolphins treating with sound, touch, and presence. The trainers caring for the dolphins and holding the space for treatment at their workplace, clients experiencing treatment and being open to sharing their personal stories and lives with so many, and craniosacral therapist working and treating and supporting in a group. It’s was the most beautiful lessoning in being a part of a group, staying present,  and sharing joy and treatment with everyone.

So what’s it like to be in the water with dolphins during treatment? During my treatment time with the dolphins I was floated out into the treatment area. I was surprised by how nervous I was not knowing if there was going to be any dolphin contact. What was truly magical was the sounds the clicks and calls all around you, the movement of water as a dolphin swims under you or pops up next to you and dives down splashing water over your face. The moment that it really clicked for me was when I felt a long clicking call that felt directed at my occiput. It felt that it came into the area that I was hit during my concussion and rippled up through every layer of my brain releasing any lingering restrictions. I remember an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that being seen and acknowledged and will certainly be an experience I will never forget.

As a support therapist during the client program your back in with the dolphins but from a difference perspective. You’re standing on a dock in the water assisting your primary therapist and holding space for your client. Observing the interactions and although it looks like the dolphins focus is all on the clients but there is an additional understanding that just by being in the water close to the dolphins sounds, sonar, and beaming you are also being treated. It reminds me of the quote “We are all island in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep.” By William James. 
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​It’s hard to sum up what is learned and what’s changed and how but I do know for sure is that I want to continue to go back and volunteer my time, that I’ll be encouraging clients to look at longer treatment programs because the changes can be truly profound, and that I am in need of working outside and in the water more.
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The Dolphin Accompanied Therapy Program for clients, BioAquatic Exploration classes for CranioSacral Therapists, Veterans PTSD program, and Comprehensive Therapy programs for clients are available through Integrative Intentions.

The Upledger Institute, where I received my CranioSacral Therapy training, has a phenomenal Dolphin Therapy Program known as "Integrative Intentions International" located in the Bahamas. When I first started my training this program was on the top of my list and this summer I'm making it happen. At the end of June I will be out of the office for two weeks to complete a Dolphin accomapanied SomatoEmotional Release course followed by a 4 day intensive therapy program as a support therapist. These Intensive programs are available to ALL and the Veterans with PTSD program offers financial assistance. To learn more check it out: https://www.integrativeintentions.com/programs

My hope is to do more CranioSacral Therapy in the water and after this program I'm hoping to find a therapeutic pool and try a few sessions to see how things go. If you are interested in trying a water session or know of a business with a therapeutic pool I'd love to hear from you! 

Want to see some dolphins? Wondering how a CranioSacral Therapy Session looks in the water? Check out this video from the Integrative Intentions youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFWyoIkRA6I
Want to follow along on the trip? You can follow True Blue Wellness on Instagram @truebluecst

We are excited to announce we've been accepted as a therapist for the Upledger Institute Heal it Forward Program. This program works to get CranioSacral Therapy to those who are facing financial limitations. During the course of 1 calendar year we can provide 4 free sessions to 4 different individuals. Therapist time is reimbursed as course credit vouchers to use for workshops. It is very exciting to be able to get CranioSacral Therapy to those that need it and may otherwise choose to go without.
 
Each client who is approved by the Upledger Institute Heal it Forward program receives 4 sessions at no cost to them.
4 clients can utilize this service each year.

Each applicant must fill out a Heal it Forward application and return it to there to Jazmine at True Blue Wellness to send in for approval. Once approved you can book your sessions as you normally would. At the end of your 4 session you are asked to provide written feed back on the program and how it was helpful. 

If you are a client or know someone who may benefit from the Heal it Forward Program with Jazmine at True Blue Wellness you can request an application at your next appointment or send us an email at [email protected]. We have limited spots available so don't wait!

If you are a Upledger trained CranioSacral Therapist and would like to apply to be a Heal it Forward Practitioner you can do so HERE.

Other great components of this program include the Sri Lanka's Samanelli Free Clinic started in 2014 by Barbara Dietrich. CranioSacral Therapy and Medical volunteers are welcome to donate time. Financial donations are accepted as well. Learn more about the children's Samanelli Free Clinic HERE. 

Our New Location:
Suite 412, 10 Ferry Street, Concord NH 03301

We are moving to The Concord Centre in March 2024. Our last day in Manchester at the Studio 550 Art Center will be February 19th, 2024. 
It took us quite awhile to find the right office space but we're pretty excited to share the new space with you all. At our Concord location there is:
FREE off street parking
Handicap Parking
Elevator access (we're on the 4th floor)
Cafe and waiting area
Sunlight!
No nearby construction noise
AND the room was already painted green
There will be a price increase that occurs with the move for new clients who book after February 20th 2024, however ALL returning clients making the move with us to Concord will receive a select number of sessions at our Manchester 2023 prices. More information coming soon!
We will dearly miss our Manchester location. Studio 550 and our friends/co-workers/co-renters there have been with us supporting True Blue Wellness since the very beginning during the pandemic, through Massage Therapy school, the purchase of our first house, and even our wedding! Seriously....Monica and Emma we couldn't have pulled that wedding madness off without you both! We are excited to take this next step and are looking forward to being in the Studio 550 space as "a fellow potter" once again. 

Due to the construction on Depot street. Depot Street will be closed until Summer 2024. We were notified of the length of the closure last week
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Metered parking is available along Elm Street and Old Granite Street. If you pick up some groceries before or after your session parking is available at Market Basket.

Please do not park at Murphy's Diner or the Gas Station next door. 

You'll want a glass or ceramic bowl, hot water, bath towel, and your choice of essential oils/loose herbs/or camomile tea bags. 

1. Heat up some water and add it to your bowl.
2. Add in your chosen scents: 
~ if you are adding essential oils use 1-2 drops ONLY.
~ loose herbs can be a generous sprinkling.
~ 1-2 tea bags of camomile tea
3. Set yourself up so you are able to sit and have your face over the bowl and drape your bath towel over your head and wrap around the bowl to create a little steam tent.
4. Enjoy for 5....10....15 minutes. Add some relaxing music or guided meditation and you've got a simple at home self care retreat. 
5. Finish up your mini retreat with washing your face and adding some lotion and drinking some water to rehydrate. 

Some essential oil combo's I use regularly:
rosemary and wild orange - refreshing pick me up
eucalyptus - great for colds and clearing sinuses
lavender and thyme - relaxing and good for sore throats

Herbs I use regularly:
calendula and rose
lavender and eucalyptus
chamomile
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Standard disclaimers apply - if you are allergic or sensitive to certain herbs or essential oils don't use them, careful not to burn you face or throat on the steam, take breaks and/or vent your towel tent if you are heat sensitive, and, as always, drink some water afterwards!!!

​One of the main reasons I chose to attend The New Hampshire Institute of Therapeutic Arts was the Neuromuscular Technique (NMT) Training. The technique that is taught is the European version and differs from Neuromuscular Therapy though many of the goals remain the same. Stanley Lief created NMT and it was further developed by Leon Chaitow with the goal that NMT would restore the bodys structure and function by normalizing soft tissue. 
The technique uses the tip of the thumb to trace a specific series of pathways and muscle fiber directions to help improve communication in the nervous system. What is amazing is you can literally see the posture changes occur from the start of the session to the end of the session. These postural alignment changes can help treat a myriad of symptoms from scoliosis to migraines to Bell's Palsy. 
I was thrilled with the posture changes I was seeing during classtime however I was floored by what it did to help my migraines.
As a lifelong migraine sufferer it was no surprise that my concussion amped up the frequency of my migraines and brought cluster headaches that frequently sent me to ER in the years following. At the time I started receiving NMT treatments I was on a monthly injection to treat migraines and as needed prescriptions to treat breakthrough migraines. With these prescriptions in addition to regular bodywork and physical therapy I had managed to get my once daily headaches and migraines to a handful a month. Thinking that I had done everything I possible could to manage my migraines it wasn't even on my radar that NMT would have so much to offer. 
After a month of weekly NMT session in school, I spent my summer vacation from massage school in Michigan and had forgotten to refill my injections. Upon returning to New Hampshire we rolled right into moving to a new apartment and another month went by where my injections were forgotten. Another month of NMT and I realized that I had missed almost 3 months of injections largely in part because I had NO MIGRAINES as a reminder. I was floored and tentative about how well things were going. Throughout the rest of school and now into 2022 I've been able to remain off prescriptions and have experience the occasional headache but nothing like the migraines I'd become so accustom too. 

Everyone responds to bodywork differently and there are no guarantees  that NMT and postural reintegration and alignment will result in the same response.  

Please talk to your Doctor before making the decisions to go off a prescription medication and not do what I did and accidentally go off a medication because life had become so busy I'd forgotten to refill a prescription.