ShaktiShiva Wellness

02/11/2026

Yesterday we talked about the pelvic and sphenoid bones, those twin ink-blot shapes at opposite ends of the central axis. Today, I want to touch on how we actually begin to balance them in bodywork, not by forcing symmetry, but by clearing the line of conversation between the bowl and the butterfly.

I think of the pelvis and sphenoid as two tuning forks on the same string. The string is the dural tube, the deep fascial midline, the pressure system that runs from the pelvic floor to the cranial base. Our work is not to hammer either fork, but to reduce the noise around the string. Practically, that means starting with breath and the diaphragm. Free the respiratory diaphragm with rib, sternum, and upper abdominal work. Invite motion in the pelvic diaphragm with sacral holds, gentle pelvic floor softening, and SI joint decompression. When the diaphragms begin to move like coordinated tides, the cranial base often starts to reorganize on its own.

From there, I like to pair contact. One hand on the sacrum, the other on the occiput or sphenoid line, feeling for rhythm and drag rather than trying to create change. Craniosacral style holds, sacral traction, and still point inductions can reduce dural tension across the whole axis. Intraoral and jaw work add another powerful lever. Releasing the pterygoids, maxilla, and palate reduces strain at the sphenoid, and that shift frequently echoes down through the spine into sacral position and tone.

Add fluid movement to the mix. Abdominal and visceral fascial work improves glide around the mesenteries and reduces internal drag on the dural and fascial core. Gentle spinal unwinding, suboccipital release, and thoracolumbar fascial work help the message travel without distortion.

The technique is real and specific, but the spirit stays the same. We are not making the pelvis obey the sphenoid or the sphenoid obey the pelvis. We are restoring their signal line. When the static drops, these two distant shapes begin to resonate again, and the body recognizes its own symmetry without being told.

02/08/2026

02/04/2026

01/27/2026

Our bodies are beautifully designed with interconnected systems that work together to keep us healthy, balanced, and thriving.
This image highlights four of our major systems, of course there are others :) :
• The Vascular System – delivers oxygen and nutrients
• The Nervous System – controls and regulates the body
• The Lymphatic System – removes toxins and supports immunity
• The Fascial System – connects everything from head to toe
Massage therapy helps support all of these systems by improving circulation, calming the nervous system, encouraging lymphatic flow, and keeping the fascia flexible and nourished. When your systems are supported, your body can heal, restore, and function at its best.
Follow Restoring Relief Massage & Wellness for ongoing wellness education, motivation, self-care inspiration, and a little behind-the-scenes of life as a small business owner in the healing space 💆‍♀️

01/19/2026

Three rules of life:
1- Do what’s right
2- Do the best you can
3- Show people you care

This is actually a Lou Holtz’s 3 rules of coaching but thought it works just as well for daily living

01/18/2026

If your body has been whispering (or shouting) for attention…
If you’ve been carrying stress in your shoulders, jaw, hips, or heart…
If you’re craving a space where your nervous system can finally exhale…
My table is open for you.
Myofascial release is a gentle, deeply effective way to support both your physical and emotional wellbeing.
If you feel called to experience this work, you can book a session through the link below.
No pressure — just an open invitation to come home to yourself.
https://www.katieschlieppwellness.com/book-online

01/17/2026

Sometimes release feels like warmth.
Sometimes it feels like trembling.
Sometimes it feels like tears you didn’t expect.
This is the body unwinding old patterns — not because you forced it, but because you finally gave it space.
Myofascial release isn’t about “fixing.”
It’s about listening.

01/16/2026

You don’t have to be fully healed to be worthy of gentleness.
You don’t have to have it all figured out to deserve rest.
Your body is a living, breathing work‑in‑progress — and that’s not a flaw.
It’s the most human thing about you.
Offer yourself the same compassion you’d offer a friend.
Your fascia responds beautifully to kindness.

01/15/2026

Tight jaw?
Knotted stomach?
Shoulders up to your ears?
These aren’t random.
They’re your body’s way of saying, “Something needs attention.”
Fascia responds instantly to emotional states — tightening during stress, softening with safety.
When we work with the tissue, we’re not just treating the body…
We’re supporting the nervous system, the emotions, and the stories underneath.

01/14/2026

In yoga philosophy, samskaras are the imprints left by past experiences — patterns that shape how we move, react, and relate.
Fascia holds its own version of samskaras:
• tension from old injuries
• bracing from past stress
• emotional residue from moments we never fully processed
Myofascial release helps soften these imprints so we can move through life with more freedom, less reactivity, and deeper presence.

01/13/2026

Courage isn’t a mindset — it’s a physiological experience.
Your breath deepens.
Your shoulders soften.
Your nervous system shifts from bracing to opening.
As Brené Brown teaches, vulnerability is the birthplace of courage.
And vulnerability is felt first in the body.
When fascia unwinds, the armor loosens.
When the armor loosens, courage has room to rise.