The endocrine system is a network of glands that produce and release hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones act as chemical messengers, telling different parts of your body what to do and when to do it. 
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The glands of the endocrine system, as shown above in the picture above:

• Pituitary, Hypothalamus, Pineal
• Thyroid, Thymus
• Adrenals
• Pancreas
• Ovaries/Testis
• Uterus

​Together, these glands regulate critical functions like metabolism, sleep, stress response, reproduction, and mood.  Our hormones have a widespread impact on our nervous system, musculoskeletal system and our immune system.
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The stress response is termed the HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituatary-Adrenal).  This system controls cortisol, our primary stress hormone.  When you are scared, nervous or stressed, the HPA axis is activated.  The goal of this system is to help us survive or cope with a challenge: it increases energy, revs up our system with increase in heart rate, blood pressure, preps the muscles to be ready for action, and focuses the mind.
In short bursts, cortisol is super helpful, but over time with chronic stress, cortisol can wreak havoc, leading to:

• sleep disruption
• blood sugar instability 
• increased inflammation 
• suppression of reproductive hormones 

​From a physiological standpoint, the body prioritizes survival over long-term balance. If it perceives ongoing stress, it will divert resources away from functions like reproduction and repair.

While hormone health can feel complex, the foundations are straightforward and highly effective when practiced consistently.
Some suggestions:

• Stabilize blood sugar
  Eat balanced meals with protein, fat, and fiber
• Prioritize sleep
  Maintain consistent sleep and wake times
• Manage stress
  Incorporate small, regular moments of recovery
• Move your body
  Strength training, walking and low-impact movement support metabolic and hormonal health
• Create a daily rhythm
  Regular routines help regulate hormone timing

These practices signal safety and stability to the body, which supports more consistent hormone regulation.

In the osteopathic manual therapy work that I have studied and practiced over the last 7 years, I have learned a lovely Endocrine Protocol to balance and support the endocrine glands and system.  If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above that I have discussed in this blog, or are having  thyroid issues, or are experiencing chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia, or infertility I would love to support you.

Since I have been studying the osteopathic based manual therapy work from the Barral Institute I have a greater appreciation for neural or visceral (organ) influences that may be contributing to pain in the  SI joint.
The relationship between SI joint pain and the pelvic organs is close and clinically important, not because the joint directly affects the organs, but because of shared anatomy, nerves and biomechanical connections.
The SI joints sit between the sacrum and the iliac bones of the pelvis.  They are:

• directly adjacent to the bladder, rectum, uterus, prostate
• connected by strong ligaments to the pelvic floor
• supplied by the sacral nerves that also contribute to the pelvic organ innervation

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The SI joints are primarily innervated by the obturator and superior gluteal nerves, L4-S3 dorsal rami and branches of the sacral plexus. The same sacral nerve roots contribute to bladder and bowel function, uterine and pelvic floor sensation.  Because of this overlap of nerves, the SI joint can cause referred pain into the groin, the lower abdomen, the perineum, the rectum and the back of the thigh.  It can even mimic interstitial cystitis, endometriosis and prostatitis.  SI joint dysfunction can mimic pelvic organ pain and the opposite is also true: pelvic organ dysfunction can increase SI joint irritation.  For example, chronic bladder irritation may increase sacral nerve sensitivity or bowel inflammation could increase pelvic muscle guarding, which can both secondarily increase tension around the SI joint.

The SI joints and pelvic organs are anatomically adjacent, neurologically interconnected, biomechanically linked and clinically overlapping.  As a pelvic health specialist and general orthopedic physical therapist I can help you navigate the interrelationships that may be contributing to your pain.  I would love to support you.

Since 2018 I have been studying  osteopathic manual techniques developed by Jean Pierre Barral, DO.  Through his Institute I have learned how to engage with the body more as an integrated whole, by working with the organ system (called visceral manipulation), the spine and joint system, the vascular system, and the neural system.
The common denominator in all of these systems of the body is fascia.  Fascia is our connective tissue that wraps around every organ, nerve and vessel.  Fascia is the wrapping or container of structures and it is also in the spaces, like the extracellular matrix (ECM).  The ECM is the structural framework of the body, providing support and organization for cells.  It's made up of fibers such as collagen, hyaluronic acid and gel-like ground substance.
Fascia has a role in maintaining structural integrity, support, protection, shock absorption, defense, communication and exchange processes, biochemical processes and hemodynamic responses.  Fascia is directly in concert with the autonomic nervous system. For healthy bodies, we want our fascia to be mobile and hydrated.  In dysfunction, the fascia becomes bound and held which affects the health of the organs, the nervous system transmission, cell communication and movement.  Manual based fascial work can optimize function and decrease pain.
Recently I took a Fascial Decoding course through the Barral Institute taught by Serge Paoletti, DO.  In this course we learned how to test the fascial chains, and to work with the fascia in 3D.  
I now have more tools to effectively treat:

• Bunions
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Morton's neuroma
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Knee Pain
• Hip Pain
• Sciatica
• Back Pain
• Tennis Elbow/Golfer's Elbow
• Carpal Tunnel
• Shoulder Pain

If you are curious and want to get out of pain, reach out and schedule a session.  I would love to see you!

Because breathing is automatic, we don't always notice HOW we breathe.  Becoming a better breather is key to oxygen delivery, nervous system regulation, core movement and stability.  If the diaphragm is not moving well neither is the ribcage or the core canister.  You have got to move it to use it!​

• Core Breathing
• Oxygen Advantage
• Buteyko Breathing

Our posture is created by our emotional states and how we move and present ourselves in the world.  Become more aware of unnecessary tensions that are affecting our postural state.

• ​Feldenkrais Lessons: Posture for Life
• Alexander Technique: 5 tips for standing posture
• Katy Bowman of Nutritious Movement: Lower your risk of injury with proper alignment

I am sharing a home program circuit of some of my favorite moves to decrease tension in the back.  The emphasis here is to release the back extensors through breath, positioning and recriprocal inhibition (contracting  the abdominal flexors to relax the back extensors).

We live our lives in automatic.  How can we bring more presence to our lives in order to optimize nervous system signaling and therefore appropriate cues for the health of each system of the body.  

• Understand and tend to the nervous system: Predictive Processing -Why expectation matters for movement and pain, Befriending your nervous system (50% off right now!),  Learn to repair your nervous system.
• Mindfulness and Stress Reduction: Online programs with Tara Brach, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
• Lifestyle Habits: Be True- Discover your core values and live your life on purpose (if you go to SoulSalt's IG page you can find the Black Friday/Cyber Monday code for 50% off),  Hire a Wellness Coach

In a previous post I addressed how increased internal pressure contributes to prolapse and urinary incontinence.  Increased internal pressure can effect the healing of DR and the abdominal wall as well.  In the post mentioned above, I discuss and provide an example of what a non postpartum body looks like with overactive abs.  The tension created by the over activation of the upper abs and gripping with the diaphragm and muscles of the ribcage creates downward pressure into the lower abdomen and the pelvic bowl.  People who have this pattern also tend to over activate their neck, rib, diaphragm, and spinal extensor muscles.  In order to heal the DR and abdominal wall there needs to be better balance with all the muscles of the core.  In this post, I will share some moves to help you connect to your lower abs without recruiting your upper abs first.  

Are you an overactive upper ab and rib gripper?  How can you tell?

• Your lower abs stick out compared to upper abs or despite working out, your lower abs still don't get toned.
• When you engage your core you can see a crease across your ab above your belly button.  You can see a demonstration of this in the blog mentioned above.
• Blow out really hard on your exhale like you are going to blow out 50 candle.  Do your lower abs push out?
• When you lie on your back and lift both straight legs does your back arch, your neck tense, your ribs grip and your abs push out?

Even if you don't grip your upper abs, these moves can still be helpful for you!

There are 2 words that I use in almost every session with a client: fascia and flow.  We want our fascial system to be fluid: mobile, hydrated, elastic, adaptable.  Beyond its most common function of providing our body's structural support, new research has shown the many roles of fascia:

• supports our sensory nerves and proprioception
• assists our body in metabolic functions
• defends our body against bacteria and other organisms
• helps cells transport nutrients to other cells
• houses cells that assist in tissue repair

There are different categories of fascia that I will not dive into, but you can read more about them in this blog about Understanding Fascia.  Holding patterns and tensions in the fascial system can be a major contributor to pain and health.

I have been reading the book, My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem.  This book "is a call to action for Americans to recognize that racism is not only about the head, but also about the body.  Menakem introduces an alternative view of what we can do to grow beyond our entrenched racialized divide and takes readers through a step-by-step healing process based on the latest neuroscience and somatic healing methods." Quote from the back cover of the book.

​I have been taking time with the second part of Menakem's book, which is titled "Remembering Ourselves".  He says, "The place to begin the all-important healing of trauma is with the body.  Your body.  Each of our bodies."  He provides body and breathing practices to get to know, experience and understand the body.  I have been enjoying these practices and have incorporated some of the ways to settle into a movement practice.  The movement sequences shared below bring in novel ways to move the spinal chain and mobilize the joints.  "Sometimes trauma energy can get stuck in the joints," Manakem states.  The momentum and rotations can help to release the energy and reduce the tension along the kinetic chain.