​This showed up on my table twice last week, so I thought it must be time to talk about psoas (Pronounced so-as) and iliacus! (The combo often referred to as iliopsoas.) 

These 2 muscles lift the knee in taking a step, so you can imagine how much they're used. They can also shorten if you sit for long periods of time. The psoas attaches along the lumbar spine, which is often where you'll feel pain if this muscle is tight, shortened, and needing some attention!

If I've ever worked on these muscles on you, you're probably wondered why I'm working within your belly area for your low back pain. But once you feel those specific muscles, you can probably tell how they relate to that pesky pain in your low back or hip.

I found this quick video that shows a few ways to stretch this area:

If you do yoga, there's several poses that target this area that can be helpful like half boat, low lunge, side angle, and more. If you're interested in some yoga classes, I highly recommend Centering Yoga on Columbia Ave. The studio is peaceful and beautiful, and the instructors are knowledgeable and welcoming!

Do you have some nagging low back pain that we haven't addressed in your massage sessions? Let me know and we can explore these muscles and see if there is a connection there for you.

​So last week, I'm sitting down in the evening trying to relax after a long day... and I get the dreaded hiccups. There goes my relaxing night! 😂

I looked up how to treat hiccups using essential oils - thinking "this is so not going to work, but I'll give it a shot". The suggestion I found was to put some peppermint oil on the 5th cervical vertebra on the back of the neck, and to take a drop internally. 

I have a bottle of the Peppermint Touch (already diluted with fractionated coconut oil and in a roller bottle for easy application). So I put that on the back of my neck, and then ingested a Peppermint Beadlet. DoTERRA has these bottles of peppermint beadlets that are a 1/4 drop of oil in a little gel beadlet. Pop one in your mouth and bite down for an easy way to ingest peppermint. (also a great breath freshener.)

Within less than a minute, my hiccups were GONE. I can't get over the fact that this worked! I know oils are awesome but I was still super skeptical because, com'n... hiccups?!

Peppermint also helps alleviate occasional stomach upset and promotes healthy respiratory function. I've had success with taking the beadlets for heartburn as well.

Interesting fact: You would have to drink 28 cups of peppermint tea to get the amount of peppermint in one drop of essential oil!

I'm having 3 intro to essential oil classes next week at my studio. I would love for you to come and experience some of the oils for yourself! Let me know if you can make it, or if you have a friend you think would be interested - you can pass this along as the classes are open to everyone.
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