Dear Virginia

Awakening Presence of Awareness

Where in the body are you least connected? Interestingly, areas of greatest tension can be the ones we notice least. How can we bring awareness with compassion?
Read on below for one particular area: the jaw!

Also: feedback on the Magic of Touch Workshop.

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September marks 7 years of Awakening Presence.
Here's to all of us! Thanks for being a part of my beloved practice!

I love sending you news about Awakening Presence but if you'd prefer to be removed from this list, simply scroll to the bottom of this email and click on the unsubscribe link.   

Awakening Presence Celebrates 7 Years!

 7 seems somehow significant:
 7 chakras, 7th heaven, 7 deadly sins, 7th seal, 7-Up, 7th generation, 7 dwarfs...
 In any case, it's cause for CELEBRATION!

It was September 2003 when I opened my bodywork practice. I am so grateful for this journey. I've been especially blessed by all of the amazing people who've been drawn to Awakening Presence! Thank you so much for being a part of my practice!
 

What are You Holding in Your Jaw?

How often do you ponder your jaw? Do you know how many muscles intersect there? Considering the anatomical complexity of this region as well as our evolutionary origins, the potential for physical and emotional tension, discomfort and disconnect is remarkable. The muscles of the jaw are called upon to perform in a wide range: from some of the strongest actions, those of biting and chewing to the subtlest for articulate speech.

According to Hugh Milne, the jaw bone "is more open to psychological input than any other bone in the head. These inputs, whether unexpressed aggression, determination, or a fear of speaking out, cause changes in (jaw bone) motion that range from subtle to dramatic."

Did you know?

• 136 muscles pivot the jaw

• 38% of neurological input to the brain comes from the face, mouth and temporalmandibular region

• The motion of the jaw sets the pattern for at least 38% of the motor muscles of the body

• Four weeks after conception, three gill slits form, one of which becomes the jaw bone. So in its genetic memory the mandible is a gill, and gills live to pulsate. (Hugh Milne, Heart of Listening)

• The jaw bone is one of the strongest in the body, with a breaking strain of over 500 pounds

• This is also the physicality of our fifth chakra, the source of our self-expressiveness and verbal connection with the world

That's a lot of information to swallow~pun intended! So take a deep breath, rub your hands together and place them on the sides of your face. Allow the heat to soothe this pivotal area. You might discover tension you had not noticed before. Bringing daily awareness and receiving specific therapeutic work on the jaw can dramatically improve your wellbeing and connection to yourself.

*Feel free to ask for work on your jaw at your next session. I have techniques for working in or outside the mouth, both subtle and deep approaches. 

Feedback from Magic of Touch Workshop
Magic of Touch is the workshop I've been developing with Joshua Alexander, CMT. We've done a several of these over the summer. The workshop for non-bodyworkers and is about touch, embodiment, presence, connection and play. We're looking to expand the workshop, offer it in other formats and for different audiences. Join us in the exploration and growth of this project! Please share any ideas you have for how to develop or where to offer Magic of Touch.

We had a blast leading Magic of Touch at Yogakula's Community Spiral on August 21. Here's how some participants described the workshop:

"Fantastic adventure in self awareness and group discovery."

"It helped me move towards a feeling of connectedness with people and a better start to understanding the nature of boundaries and how our mental space can influence the way we interact with those around us"

Stay abreast of upcoming workshops click to visit and join Magic of Touch Facebook group

Find Awakening Presence on Yelp

"if i was stranded on a deserted island and i had to pick a few people to be stuck with, Pamela would definitely be one of them. mind blowing massage. theraputic and careful. a treat."

Please visit Yelp to read more and add your own review.

Feedback, please

As always I welcome your feedback and suggestions for things you'd like to hear about here.
Please contact me:

Pamela Rosin, CMT

pamela@awakeningpresence.com
415.713.2556
http://www.awakeningpresence.com -- Book online anytime!
Good Voodoo For Your Body