halcyon house

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Category: Wellness

  • Sara’s Sensory Corner – Proprioception

    Sara’s Sensory Corner – Proprioception

    Did you know your brain can feel your body’s position?

    Continuing my theme of our sensory experience, another of our eight senses is a sense called Proprioception.  This is the sense that tells us where our body is in space, how our muscles are working, helps us with our posture and assists in how we move through the world.  It helps us feel grounded to the earth, coordinated and connected to ourselves.

    Sensing Spring

    Here in the Northland, May brings the promise of newness. Green grass pushes up through the ground. Birds have returned and we wait for the bees to wake. The world is alive with subtle movement and our bodies are waking with it. When we intentionally notice our body position- bending, stretching, reaching and carrying-we connect more to ourselves after winter’s stillness.  Even simple actions like balancing on uneven ground, or lifting your face to the sun tune your proprioceptive sense and invite steadiness.

    This month, position yourself with intention.  Your nervous system in learning to trust expansion and growth-and mindful awareness of your body’s positions can help you step into the season fully.

    But what do I know?

    My passion as an occupational therapist in Duluth is helping people to understand how they sense their environment, their body, and their emotions and how they process those signals. When we are either having difficulty sensing any of those things or having difficulty processing what we are going through, it can be uncomfortable (as we all know). I’m here to help educate and work with you towards better well-being!

    More about Sara
  • Liver Season is in full swing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

    Liver Season is in full swing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

    This is a time for renewal, growth and awakening. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Liver governs smooth flow of energy throughout the body. If it gets out of balance you might experience:

    • Tension in the form of headaches, eye issues, jaw tightness, neck tension.
    • Emotions might come through as increased irritability, frustration, struggles with sleep and feeling stuck.
    • Digestion issues with increased bloating, indigestion and gas.

    Spring is a good time to clear out energy that no longer serves you:

    • Clear out physical clutter, organize one area of your house that always seems a mess.
    • Mental clutter that might be ready to be released, fears and stories you might tell yourself that no longer serve you, limitations you placed on yourself you might be ready to push through.
    • Set digital boundaries for yourself, prioritizing more time outdoors, taking in fresh air and allowing your bare feet to touch the earth.
    • Create a list of what you were grateful for from this past season

    TCM and Acupuncture in Duluth, MN

    I’m always interested in talking about nutrition as it pertains to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Check out my other blog posts for recipes!

    More about Jakki
    Posts by Jakki
  • Listening, Intuition, Knowledge, and Learning – Massage in Duluth MN

    Listening, Intuition, Knowledge, and Learning – Massage in Duluth MN

    In the practice of Zen Shiatsu, the founder Shizuto Masunaga was very adamant about reading the Ki and rebalancing it using a “mother” hand that is listening and a “son” hand that is working.

    The technique

    I have been practicing massage using that concept for over 20 years (10 years of practicing massage in Duluth MN) and am still humbled by the power of this simple technique; one hand listens to what the body is saying, the other is creating a change.  Recently, I have been practicing this technique with the Zen Shiatsu Bladder Meridian Channel along the spine all the way down to the little toe. My mother hand listens from one of the points along the thoracic spine while my son hand works the meridian until I feel the Ki moving under my mother hand. This has produced surprising changes in some clients. I wasn’t sure why this meridian was so universally powerful until a conversation I had with Jakki, our Acupuncturist, sparked a connection.

    The meridian

    Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has mapped Shu points along the Urinary Bladder (UB) meridian. These points interact with each of the other 11 meridians. Balancing the Shu points can have a systematic effect on the body. What I had picked up through intuition and listening has a long history of knowledge and treatment.

    I don’t claim to have this knowledge, I am still in discovery mode. Next summer I am diving deeper into TCM education with the distance program at the Zen Shiatsu school in Evanston, IL. This Summer I am taking the Beginning Zen Shiatsu class to brush up on my Shiatsu knowledge. I am excited to bring my practice back full circle to my first love of massage which is Zen Shiatsu. This time with 20 years of massage experience behind my touch. If you or someone you know is interested in doing this program at the same time please reach out to me! I would love (a) study partner(s). The Beginner Shiatsu Class is open to everyone with no prior massage experience necessary. I am doing the July intensive. https://zenshiatsu.edu/ce/beginning_zen_shiatsu/

    More about Jennifer
  • Body as Place

    Body as Place

    Sara and I were invited to present at Svalja Whole-being’s Community Conference in Duluth.  We are so excited to explore “body as place”.  We will experiment with what makes you feel at home and safe in your body.

    The conference starts Friday 5/29 from 6:00-9:00pm and continues 5/30 from 8:00-6:00.

    Contact http://www.svalja.yoga/community-conference for more information Join us for a two-day immersion into the heart of our community.

    Flourish is an invitation to ground ourselves in the wisdom of this place while leaning into the possibilities of what we can create together. From a soulful Friday night of live music and poetry at SOLCA to a Saturday filled with movement, guided storytelling, and deep reflection, this gathering is designed to nourish your nervous system and spark your creative spirit.

    Throughout the weekend, experience a curated Art and Poetry Exhibit coordinated by Savannah Ottillia, offering a visual and written landscape of our shared journey.

  • What are fight or flight muscles?

    What are fight or flight muscles?

    These are muscles that activate when we are in a sympathetic reaction (fight or flight). This can be in reaction to something in our environment that doesn’t feel safe, something happening internally (a physical stressor) or in our mind (stress).

    One of these muscles is the Psoas. This muscle does several actions that support us in fight or flight. It helps lift our knees up to run (flight) or defends our core (fight). If these muscles activate and then turn off again, we might not feel any consequences. It’s when these muscles turn on and stay on that we will notice symptoms. These could include hip pain, back pain, restricted breathing, fatigue and nervous system dysregulation (anxiousness, depression).

    The tightness of the psoas muscle will also be increased with prolonged sitting.

    The Halcyon House staff have many practices/treatments that will support you in releasing tension in the psoas:

    • Acupuncture
    • Massage
    • Craniosacral therapy
    • Somatic based movement/yoga
  • Our bodies are truly amazing

    Our bodies are truly amazing

    Ready for some massage education?

    Every time I do a deep dive into a system I thought I knew well, I am reminded of the subtleties of how everything works together in a beautiful symphony. This is especially true of the pericardium. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is sometimes referred to as the Heart Protector and indeed it does that job well.

    Recently, when Jakki needled my PC-6 acupuncture point, I felt a surge of energy shoot out of my middle finger, right where the meridian is mapped in the acupuncture charts. 

    But my practice is all about the fascia, so I started studying more about how the pericardium works, and how it is designed.

    The pericardium is:

    • a ball of dense fascia,
    • a thin layer of fluid,
    • and a soft inner ball with the heart suspended inside the soft inner ball.

    The outer ball has a facial connection into the top of the diaphragm. Both the diaphragm and the pericardium are innervated with vagus nerve attachments, further pointing to their importance in nervous system regulation. 

    Visualize:

    Every inhale is by design tugging on pericardium and pulling it gently downward. Every exhale releases it back to its neutral position. When we bypass primary diaphragmatic breathing for secondary thoracic breathing, we are stalling this natural rhythmic pulsing of the fluid surrounding the heart. If this function was not very important, the pericardium would not be connected to the diaphragm, as there are plenty of other anchor points available inside of the rib cage. 

    I have been imagining my pericardium is a jellyfish, with every downward movement of my diaphragm on the inhale gently tugging the jellyfish downward. Each exhale releases the diaphragm and allows the jellyfish to float upwards. Every breath soft and gentle moves my imaginary jellyfish up and down in my internal ocean. Just a few minutes of this breath imagery can really calm my spirit. 

    The more I learn about the body, the better I understand the systems within, and the better I can provide massage education to my clients or anyone who will listen!

    More Physiology Posts
  • 24 Springtime TCM Recipes

    24 Springtime TCM Recipes

    When focusing on whole-body health in my acupuncture practice, this time of year (especially in Duluth) calls for some beneficial spring TCM recipes to give us a boost during the change of seasons. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is associated with the Wood element and the Liver and Gallbladder. Like a tree that grows upward and outward, Liver qi rises and spreads throughout the body. When this energy flows freely, we feel motivated, adaptable, and ready to embrace new opportunities. The muscles and tendons remain flexible, supporting smooth and comfortable movement.

    However, when Liver qi becomes restricted, the body’s natural detoxification and circulation processes can slow down, leading to a general sense of sluggishness. This imbalance may also affect the eyes, muscles, and tendons. Emotionally, it can show up as stress, irritability, impatience, or anger.

    One of the key strengths of TCM is its focus on prevention—addressing imbalances before symptoms arise. Eating in alignment with the seasons is one of the ways this balance can be maintained.

    Get the recipes here

    More TCM Posts
  • Did you know your body has a balance system?

    Did you know your body has a balance system?

    What is our balance system?

    One of our eight senses is the vestibular system — our inner sense of balance and movement. It helps us know where we are in space, keeps us upright, and supports coordination, focus, and emotional regulation.

    Here in the Northland, April is all about the thaw, the gentle ending of our winter reset. Ice loosens, snow melts, and the ground shifts beneath our feet. Wind moves through bare trees. The weather is unsteady and unpredictable — and sometimes we feel that way too. When we intentionally notice gentle movement — slow walks on uneven ground, swaying branches, rocking, stretching, or simply lifting your face to the sunshine and feeling the ground beneath your feet, we give our balance system a chance to recalibrate and reconnect after winter’s stillness.

    This month, move with awareness. Your nervous system is waking up with the season — and steady, intentional movement can help you find your footing again.

    More Occupational Therapy Posts

  • Wellness Access Initiative

    The Halcyon House Wellness Access Initiative is a community funded program to help offset the costs of our services for the people who need them the most. Selection for the program is based on financial need, physical need, treatment goals, and recommended individualised treatment plan from our staff. We believe that the wellness services we provide are beneficial and even a potentially necessary part of healing and well-being. It is our hope that this wellness subsidy initiative will provide an avenue for access to our services for people who would otherwise not have the resources to afford them.

    Selection Process

    Applicants will fill out an online application to collect information about financial need, physical limitations/impairments and how their individual situation interferes with daily life.  They will also have at least one session or consultation with one (or more) of the Halcyon Wellness Team, who will report on their need for services, create a treatment plan that includes goals, frequency, services, and duration. This de-identified information will be provided to the selection committee for final approval. 

    Would you like to be involved in the selection committee? Apply here.

    If you would like to support the Wellness Access Initiative, donations can be made at the front desk or online.

  • Difficult times

    Difficult times

    During these difficult times, I’m often asked “how are you dealing with this”.

    My answer is “it’s not easy!”

    Here are some things that I have been practicing:

    • Stay informed but limit the time that I’m taking in (digesting) information/news. I’m listening to a trusted news source (for me it’s MPR) in the morning and evening for 30 minutes.
    • Allowing myself to feel the emotions that arise (not pushing them away). Anger, sadness, fear, all of it.
    • Prioritizing self care and nervous system regulation. It’s important for me to stay grounded in the practices that support me. I focus on grounding practices such as such as extended exhale breathing, using weighted lap blanket, and focus on pressing into the earth.
    • Find glimmers in daily life. Glimmers are moments of ventral vagal connection. They can be things like noticing the lake shimmering on a sunny day, feeling the freedom of skiing down a wodded hill, or burying my face in my dog’s curly fur.
    • Find and spread hope. Notice when you see people acting kindly and showing compassion. In return, I will create opportunities in my day to give back and connect with others.