Cynthia Ryan Otto MS, LPC, CAADC

11/08/2025

The body learns to survive before it learns to soften. Strength isn’t just about holding on - it’s also about letting go.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise (10–12 minutes):

Settle In

Find a quiet, comfortable space. Sit or lie down. Close your eyes.

Take 2–3 deep breaths, feeling the weight of your body supported by the surface beneath you.

Feet & Toes ♡

Curl your toes tightly for 5 seconds. Notice the tension.

Slowly release. Feel the softness as your toes relax.

Calves & Shins ♡

Tense your calves by pointing your toes upward, squeezing muscles for 5–7 seconds.

Release. Imagine the tension melting downward, like water.

Thighs & Hips ♡

Press your thighs together or tighten your glutes gently. Hold 5–7 seconds.

Release. Let your hips sink deeper into the surface beneath you.

Stomach & Back ♡

Gently tighten your stomach muscles, engaging your core. Hold 5 seconds.

Release. Feel your spine lengthen and your belly soften.

Hands & Arms ♡

Make fists and tense your arms. Hold 5–7 seconds.

Release. Feel your arms heavy and relaxed at your sides.

Shoulders & Neck ♡

Shrug your shoulders up toward your ears, hold for 5 seconds.

Release. Imagine your shoulders melting away from your ears, letting go of stress.

Face & Jaw ♡

Scrunch your face, clench your jaw, squeeze your eyes shut. Hold 5 seconds.

Release. Let your face soften, your jaw unclench, and your brow smooth.

Full-Body Integration

Take 2–3 deep breaths. On each exhale, imagine your entire body softening and letting go.

Repeat silently: “I am strong. I can release. Strength is in letting go.”

Finish

Gently wiggle fingers and toes, stretch if desired, and slowly open your eyes.

Notice the difference between the tension you were holding and the softness you’ve invited.

11/07/2025

Your brain doesn’t see things as they truly are right now, it filters them through what it has already learned, lived, or been hurt by.

“History-colored glasses” are like emotional filters -they tint how you interpret the world based on what you’ve survived, learned, and internalized.

True healing doesn’t mean erasing your history.
It means recognizing when old experiences shape how you see the present,
and softly guiding your body and mind to understand: the past is over - it’s safe to see what’s here now.

Massage invites your body to feel what’s real right now: safe touch, calm breath, gentle release.
Each exhale clears the lens of old tension and reminds your system -this moment is new.

🧠💜
Somatic practice for awareness and release:

Pause and feel: Gently place a hand over your chest or belly. Notice your breath without changing it.

Name the lens: Ask yourself, “What story from my past might my body be reacting to right now?”

Ground in the present: Feel the texture beneath you, the weight of the chair, the air on your skin.
Whisper to yourself, “This moment is new. I’m safe enough to see it clearly.”

Exhale slowly. Imagine setting down those history-colored glasses, even for a breath.

10/25/2025

Healing doesn’t come from forcing change, it comes from allowing presence.
Every sensation, every ache, every breath is part of your body’s conversation with you.

What feels tight is not wrong.
What feels numb is not broken.
Each holds a kind of wisdom, a memory of how you’ve learned to stay safe.

When we meet these places with gentle attention, they begin to soften on their own.
The body feels seen, and in that recognition, it begins to trust again.

Nothing within you needs to be fixed or pushed away.
It only needs to be met with care.
Through loving awareness, what was once held in tension begins to move,
and what was once protected begins to open.

Healing is not something we do to ourselves,
it’s something we allow ourselves to remember. 💜🌱

10/25/2025

10/24/2025

Each breath, each softening, is your body remembering it’s okay to rest.

That tightness in your neck.
The ache around your temples.
The way your jaw locks when you’re trying to stay calm.

It’s not random.
It’s your body holding on, quietly doing its best to protect you.

When you start to feel that familiar tension, try this little somatic pause:

♡Close your eyes for a moment.
♡ Let your teeth part just a little.
♡Feel your tongue rest heavy in your mouth.
♡Take a slow breath in through your nose, and sigh it out through your mouth.

If you hum softly, just one low note, you might feel a gentle vibration move through your face and down your throat. That’s your body starting to let go.

You don’t have to force anything.
Just notice.
Give your jaw, your face, your neck a moment to not hold it all together.

Sometimes relief isn’t about doing more.
It’s about remembering you can soften.

10/24/2025

And so it is...
Creator unknown- shared with Gratitude.

The Wyse Woman

10/22/2025

A Gentle Reminder About Energy Healers & Mediums 🌿

The spiritual world is full of light — and sometimes, shadows too.
There are many sincere, gifted healers and mediums offering genuine support. But there are also those who may not be walking in integrity, even if their words sound convincing.

Before working with anyone who claims spiritual or healing abilities, take time to do your research:
🔹 Look into their credentials, background and reputation.
🔹 Notice how you feel in their presence or online — calm and empowered, or uneasy and pressured?
🔹 Trust your gut. Your intuition is your best protection.

Stay discerning, stay grounded, and remember: your energy and your healing journey are sacred. 💫

10/19/2025

"Everything we most value—love, creativity, play, beauty, wisdom—can only be experienced here and now.

10/19/2025

KACE Painting Girls Crew getting it DONE!

Hard work. Skill. Style. That’s KACE Painting.

10/19/2025

Peace does not have to be grand or far away. It begins with each mindful step, each kind word, each gentle breath. When we bring awareness into even the smallest actions, we ripple peace into the wider world.