SOMATIC BODYWORK
Following the birth of her first child, Riikka realized that all of the physiology, biology, anatomy, biomechanics that she learned about the body wasn’t going to fully help her heal from the birth of her first child. She was going to have to look deeper at her emotional well-being before going any further. It was the somatic, emotional and trauma work that opened her eyes. We talk about how grief can be held in the body and how it can manifest as physical pain.
HOW STRESS AFFECTS OUR BODIES
Riikka likes to look at daily living and stress. If daily movements that uphold our standard of living are painful, what is that doing to our psyche? When we are experiencing pain on a regular basis, it makes us less likely to make an effort. For stress, it is important to know what it is, and how it can look in the body. We dive into the nervous system and its role in stress.
TRAUMA IN THE BODY
Dr. Gabor Mate calls trauma an unhealed wound. Scar tissue is the armour around it, which is it’s protection. It is fascinating how differently we all respond to trauma. People in group exercise classes respond differently. The field is not trained well enough to handle all the people dealing with trauma. She shares a story about a client who had experienced trauma and couldn’t feel squats. Turns out she was sexually abused and was in that position while it was taking place. If a client tells you they can’t feel a body part, there is probably something else behind it. We need to be able to prescribe personalized programs and tune into each individual’s story.
BECOMING ATTUNED TO OUR BODIES
Being able to understand and hear our body’s language is so important. Knowing in your gut that we are making the right decisions can be trained and allow us to hear how our body is responding to the experiences we are exposing it to (food, people, movement…).
THE TRUE MEANING OF MOVEMENT IS MEDICINE
A simple practical example is the hip replacement. The person is barely walking and is stiff and robotic. If you can create movement in the socket years earlier, what would it be like later in life. Another example is in pelvic prolapse and incontinence, not only do you train the integrity of the body but you are also shifting your identity. Who am I wearing a diaper, who am I when I can’t enjoy sex. Movement is emotional medicine and is beneficial to all layers of our health.
BIRTHING A MOTHER
Birthing a mother is understanding that mothers are as raw as a newborn. The support, care, comfort, and tenderness a baby needs is also what the mother needs. And, as the baby grows, the mother grows. Allowing herself to feel her own birth as a mother has taught her so much compassion. She doesn’t have to have her shit together everyday. Bring the tenderness to the mother who is facing something new every day as they deal with an ever changing environment.
POSTPARTUM AND BIRTH STORIES
We don’t often think of postpartum beyond the first year but we are always postpartum. And, whether the birth story was a positive or negative experience, the imprint will stay with the mother forever. We need to give support to women who are birthing themselves for the rest of their lives. Right after a birth, there is a lot of help, but beyond that, there has to be mental and body work support given. Riikka sees women who are 60 years postpartum who still have their birth story imprinted in their bodies.
MOVE BETTER FEEL BETTER
Riikka feels like we all deserve to feel good. Connecting into the part of us that feels good is the life force within us. If we are clouded by pain or stress, it can disconnect us from our life. It is essential to connect to goodness every single day. It is not realistic to feel good all day,
