Molly Ellis, ND

06/17/2020

this past weekend i got to spend some grounding time with my fam making our traditional armenian + iranian foods to celebrate my boo’s graduation 🎉 grateful to be able to take care of myself, my family, and my patients during this time. grateful to be able to lean into community, pleasure, and celebration that naturally fuels my ability to learn/unlearn and act.
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food is culture. food intimately ties us to our ancestors. food builds, weaves, and maintains community.
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our relationship with food is often complicated by our perception of “healthy” vs “not healthy”, the constant messaging we receive from diet and wellness culture, and the idealized european beauty standards.
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currently listening to and learning from Sabrina String’s ‘Fearing the Black Body’ 📖 and thinking about leftovers.
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featured above 📸
salad shirazi
favs bean, sour cherry, + saffron rice salad
fennel + dandelion greens
kouzou kzartma

05/29/2020

05/21/2020

Head over to .isabelsweitzer Instagram for details on her upcoming preconception class that begins 5/24. This live class will feature supportive measures to prep your body for pregnancy from a holistic lens. And an extra bonus class from me talking about pelvic floor health for preconception (aka stop doing kegels 😂)

05/19/2020

Here’s a fancy diagram of pelvic nerve distribution. As you can see, the nerve distribution to the female pelvis is elaborate 🤯 supplying the cl****is, cervix, perineum, va**na, v***a, and a**s with SO MANY nerve endings.
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These nerves talk to our brain, which tells you “hey, this feels good” or “hmmm, I don’t like that feeling”. The communication between the pelvic nerves and the brain allows for hormonal release and initiates arousal response 🔥🔥
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Pelvic nerves, specifically the pudendal nerve, can become irritated or entrapped, causing pelvic pain, constipation, and s*xual dysfunction. The pudendal nerve is one of the most important nerves in the body because it controls bowel, bladder, and s*xual function. Pelvic pain is complex— it’s important to have a thorough work up and treatment plan that involves treating more than just the pelvic floor muscles.
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Even more fascinating, pelvic neural pathways differ between womxn. This is a huge reason why pleasure preferences differ between womxn, too! And a great reminder to explore different aspects of pleasure that exist outside of the cis-heteronormative definitions of s*x 💋 ✨

05/06/2020

COVID-19 // practice update
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In office appointments with me are now available 😊🙌🏻🐬✨ In line with the Oregon Health Authority and Governor Brown’s guidance, non-urgent medical needs can now be addressed in office.
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This is really important in order to continue managing your physical + mental health during these times. And as we have all started to feel that ‘zoom fatigue’, IRL visits are a real treat! I’m limiting my in office visits for those that need bodywork and for my pelvic floor PT patients. I’m still offering telemedicine visits for those that want to video chat with me from the comfort of their home.
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My hours at the clinic for in office visits are more limited in order to be in alignment with the Governor’s orders. But I’m still fully here for you! Returning patients can schedule online or call the clinic at 503.719.4533. If you’ve been interested in working with me, now is the time to schedule as I’m only booked out about 1 week at this point!

05/05/2020

paid a visit to this flowering agave that only blooms once in its lifetime 🌸✨may we all find a reason to bloom + stretch our petals toward the sun during these weird times 🌞 ✌🏼

05/01/2020

Happy May Day // Beltane 🌷🌸💐 We are half-way between the Spring Equinox + Summer Solstice and a day that traditionally celebrates fertility, s*x, conception, and vitality.
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Caring for our pelvic bowl can have profound effects on our relationship with our bodies, s*xuality, and fertility.
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Poor alignment of pelvic organs + ligaments, blood + lymph stagnation, poor mobility, and inflammation can all contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction, period problems, and infertility.
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Restoring vitality in the pelvis can be pivotal in our healing, tending to our relationship with s*x, and can provide so much support for fertility.
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What can caring for your pelvic bowl look like? Movement, breathwork, self-massage, connecting with your sensuality/s*xuality, and pelvic floor therapy. I offer hands on healing for the pelvic bowl + whole person. This is deep, nourishing, restorative work.
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Want to learn more? I’m creating a Pelvic Floor Health for Preconception class for .isabelsweitzer in her upcoming Preconception to Baby series. Check out her IG to stay tuned.
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Art by

04/22/2020

happy earth day 🌎 ✌🏼 💚 breathe some fresh air, sit under a tree, smell the lilacs, go the same pace as the earth

04/14/2020

With many of us out of our normal routine, things can feel chaotic and out of control. We are resilient, adaptable beings, but often times within that adaptability, we grasp for control. This is a normal and warranted response to an experience like a global pandemic.
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For those with histories of disordered eating, body image issues, and/or trauma, you might be experiencing heightened anxiety when it comes to nutrition + your body. Consider taking this opportunity to challenge your food rules, external pressures from diet culture, and negative body image thoughts.
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As we continue to envision what we want the future to look like post-pandemic, let’s also envision a world rich in body acceptance and liberation.
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This can be a challenging process, especially amidst a global crisis. I’m here for you and seeing all patients/clients virtually— from the comfort of your own home 🏡 💜

04/09/2020

〰️ 〰️ 〰️ l i t t l e r i t u a l s 〰️ 〰️ 〰️
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I’ve been mixing up the days, time is weird, I feel like I’m either always working or always taking a break, never checking my email, or constantly checking my email. Anyone else?
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In this constant state of confusion + uncertainty, I’ve found it helpful to perform little rituals. Like tidying up my bedroom/work space (lol yes, I have regretfully turned my bedroom into my workspace), walking through my garden beds to observe the growth of my plant babies, envisioning what I want the future to look like post-pandemic, tarot practice, and communing with plant medicine in some form. This is what’s been working for me, maybe something different works for you.
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Today’s little ritual was making sun tea. We’re having a mini heat-wave in Portland and the sun is shining, thank goddess. Grab a big jar, through some herbs of your choice in there, fill with water, and throw outside to absorb those golden sun beams. My tea is hibiscus, goji berry, burdock root, ginger, wood betony, and fresh lemon balm 🌼

03/27/2020

social distancing check-in,
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◠ how are you doing during social distancing + isolation?
◠ what is bringing you a sense of comfort?
◠ what are you doing to find joy + pleasure?
◠ are you feeling connected or disconnected from your loved ones?
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I’ve been taking a pretty significant break from posting on social media in order to find my flow within this chaos. Staying well informed is important to me, but exhausting. And figuring out how to keep my practice afloat has been heavy on my heart + mind.
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But, through all of this I’ve found so much gratitude + presence. I’ve been FaceTiming with old friends, planting seeds in the garden + watching my veggies grow, making meals every day with my housemates— my partner + my best friend, for which I feel so incredibly lucky to live with during this time.
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Routine has brought me a huge sense of comfort— making tea in the morning, moving my body, cooking all of my meals, reflecting on my gratitudes, and journaling at the end of the day.
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I hope you all are finding some space for comfort + pleasure 💜💜💜

03/15/2020

COVID-19 // practice update
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How are you doing? Take a few moments to drop into your heart space and breathe.
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Anxiety + fear is high while we are all navigating this challenging time. There is a lot of uncertainty about the future of our health, our work, and our community. You aren’t alone in these feelings.
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What we know is that social distancing and isolation for high risk folx is paramount for the health of the collective, for preventing serious illness, and for decreasing the burden on our hospitals.
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Both the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC recommend that all high risk individuals stay home and isolate as a preventative measure. Folx over 60 years (regardless of health status), diabetes, chronic heart and lung conditions, and those that are immunocompromised are considered high risk with this virus.
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I will be transitioning all patients that are considered high risk to telemedicine visits. I will still be offering in office visits to those that are not high risk while taking extra precautions to keep us all healthy.
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Take of yourselves, take care of each other 💜