Aligned Bodywork

***Life Update***

Hey Everyone!

My time here in Michigan is coming to an end, and I’ll be closing my office as I prepare to move back to Vermont at the end of the month.

This past year in Michigan has been such a meaningful chapter for me. To all of my clients (and everyone who’s supported me along the way), thank you so much. Getting to be part of your care and healing has meant more to me than I can say.

I’m really excited to head back to the mountains, but definitely feeling the bittersweetness of leaving this community.

I will be contacting all current clients with recommendations and referrals for massage moving forward.

Thank you again for your support.

With so much gratitude,

Laura 🤍

𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝟭 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝘁

Grounded Flow — a bars-free, floor-based barefoot massage class.

In this class we’re learning how to create depth, explore new working angles, and work with more than just the foot.

Floor-based barefoot work opens up different positions, different leverage, and different ways to deliver broad, effective pressure while staying supported by a dual-line stability system.

This class is great for therapists who:

• have never learned barefoot massage and want an accessible place to start
• already practice barefoot and want new working positions and angles
• want to deliver deep pressure with better mechanics

If you’ve been curious about barefoot massage but didn’t want to install bars, this class was built for you.

2 spots left.

April 10
8 CEs

If your body has been feeling heavy, tight, or overstimulated, this is your reminder that rest is productive.

Massage supports stress relief, nervous system regulation, and deeper body awareness.

I currently have massage appointments available and I'd love to support you. 🤍

Book now or send me a message to schedule.
Bit.ly/ABWHowell

Hypermobility doesn’t always feel “loose.”
For many people, it feels tight, stiff, and uncomfortable.

When joints move easily, muscles often work overtime to create stability, and that effort can lead to chronic tension and fatigue.

That’s why hypermobile bodies often need a different approach to massage:

✨️ Slower, more intentional fascial work
✨️ Less stretching, more stabilization
✨️ Clear joint support and positioning
✨️ Techniques that help calm the nervous system

If you’re hypermobile and massage hasn’t always felt helpful, or relief doesn’t last, you’re not doing anything wrong. Your body just needs to be listened to differently.

What you can do as a client:

✨️ Let your therapist know if stretching or deep pressure feels “too much”.
✨️ Notice how your body feels during & after sessions
✨️ Remember that gentler work can still be effective

There is no “wrong” way your body responds, only information.

Hypermobility-informed massage isn’t about pushing your body further. It’s about helping your muscles stop working overtime.

When your body feels safe, supported, and grounded, it no longer needs to hold so tightly.

Chronic low back, hip, and pelvic pain isn’t always about tight muscles. Sometimes the restriction is deeper.

I recently worked with a client who's experienced chronic low back and hip pain, along with deep hip and pelvic tightness; despite chiropractic care, physical therapy, and massage.

When we reviewed her intake, she shared a history of multiple laparoscopic abdominal and pelvic surgeries. This was an important clue.

Laparoscopic surgery is often described as “minimally invasive” because the incisions are small and less visible. However, beneath the surface, these procedures still create internal scar tissue and adhesions that disrupt normal fascial glide, binding layers of tissue that are meant to move freely.

Imagine the body as a web. The abdomen and pelvis sit at the center of that web; the hips and low back are connected through it.

Scar tissue in the abdomen or pelvis can act like a tight knot in that web; restricting movement and pulling on surrounding tissues. When tissues can’t glide properly, it can create deep tightness, limited mobility, and chronic pain.

While massage can’t remove scar tissue; it can help improve tissue mobility, calm protective holding patterns, and support healthier fascial movement over time.

One supportive tool I often recommend alongside this work, especially when working with the pelvis and abdomen, is castor oil packing. Castor oil packs can help soften abdominal tissues, increase circulation, and make the area more receptive to gentle fascial and deep belly work, especially when internal adhesions may be involved.

If you’ve tried “everything” and still feel stuck, this may be a missing piece worth exploring.

****

Available Appointments: Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week.
https://www.massagebook.com/biz/alignedbodywork

As this year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your care, your healing, and your moments of rest. It has truly been an honor to support your wellness throughout this year.

This work means so much to me, and I am deeply grateful for each and every one of you.

As we move into the New Year, I do have a few openings available on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day for anyone who would like to start the year feeling relaxed, grounded, and restored.

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a New Year filled with health, balance, and ease. I look forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead. 🤍

Laura

https://www.massagebook.com/biz/alignedbodywork

A quick seasonal reminder 🤧

From what I’m hearing (and seeing), the flu is hitting hard this year.

Please:
• Wash your hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• And if you’re feeling sick, stay home

Massage is great for a lot of things, but it’s not the place to power through an active illness. Taking care of each other means protecting EVERYONE’S health—mine included.

If you wake up feeling off, feverish, run down, or actively sick, please reach out to reschedule. I’d much rather see you when your body is ready to benefit from the work.

Thank you for helping keep the space safe, healthy, and human. 💛

Aligned Bodywork will be closed 12/21 - 12/26. Wishing you and yours a cozy holiday! 🤍

I have a few Wednesday and Thursday appointments available this week!

12/10: 11AM, 1PM or 3PM

12/11: 10AM, 12PM or 4PM

Message me with questions or follow the link below for booking :).

Bit.ly/ABWHowell