Massage for Movement & Mental Wellness
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My name is Aly Aiyn George, I have been a Licensed Massage Therapist for over 10 years.
I grew up living on an off-grid homestead in the mountains of Montana. I would spend my winters in the woods and my summers living on a small sailboat off the coast of Washington state. Always in nature, I gained a life-long passion for science and biology. The natural world also taught me the healing power of stillness, exploration, and present moment awareness. (Don't miss that cute little inchworm or that stunning-but-brief sunset!) I also felt the impact of disease, when my brother had open heart surgery and my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. When it came time for me to choose a career path, I knew I wanted to use all that I'd learned throughout my life to be a healing force in the world. I attended the Massage Institute of Cleveland, graduated in 2012, and jumped right in.
After practicing massage for a few years, my life suddenly came to a halt. I was diagnosed with PTSD. It was during this scary time in my life, that I became aware of something shocking- my body was breaking down. All my old injuries resurfaced, and many new ones. I could no longer stroll through the woods, my heart felt heavy, and my head always hurt. The smallest movement would result in a series of strained grunts, and I was no longer able to do the work I loved so much. I felt as though I had aged decades overnight.
I enlisted the help of a psychologist, who suggested to me Somatic Massage. I decided to give it a try. After only a couple sessions, I started to notice some profound changes. I was sleeping better and my flashbacks and nightmares were less frequent. Perhaps most astounding of all, my physical pain was dissolving. I could stand up straighter, walk farther, and breathe deeper. I noticed sensations in my muscles and organs that were entirely new to me. I realized that I had never before understood what it meant to FEEL my body. It was incredible! How had I lived without this?
No wonder I'd been stuck - I had been missing half the information!
I continued getting regular Somatic Massages and practicing the skills I learned. In a matter of months, I began to feel safe within my body. I learned to trust my body, and became aware of all the signals it was sending me. Throughout my daily life, I could sense when I needed to move differently. I had gained control of my nervous system, and my chronic pain was gone. It occurred to me that if somatics was my key to managing so many symptoms, I could help others find the same relief. I dove passionately into learning Somatics, so I could pass along this powerful healing modality to those who needed it. Today, I can say that not only have I overcome many of my PTSD symptoms, but have successfully helped others do the same!
Thank you for listening, I hope to hear your success story one day!
- Aly Aiyn George
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Featured in Massage & Bodywork Magazine
