Wendy Lessard, LMT

A rare Mon at 1:00 opening, Nov 10. Text if interested.

Good tip!

Chronic neck pain doesn’t always start in your neck. Often, it’s starting elsewhere in your body: maybe your shoulders, rib cage, or even your posture pulling on your neck so hard that all the tension ends up right there. One simple trick you can do anywhere is to gently pull the mastoid process (the little bony area behind your ear and jaw) away from your heels. This stimulates the sternocleidomastoid and other muscles that support your neck, shoulders, and rib cage. Over time, these small adjustments can make a huge difference. With Foundation Training, you can learn not just how to relieve neck pain, but how to protect and strengthen it for life. We even have a dedicated neck pain protocol on our app that guides you step by step. Once you master it, managing neck pain becomes a skill…something you can do anytime, anywhere. It’s not just relief, it’s a life-long tool you never want to unlearn. #foundationtraining #neckpainrelief #posturetips #chronicpainrelief #healthyspine #bodyawareness #movebetter #painfreelife #neckhealth #selfcaretips #functionalmovement #wellnesstips #spinecare #mobilitymatters #painmanagement #strengthenyourneck #bodymechanics #movemindfully #injuryprevention #betterposture

Found in my driveway by a client. Yours?

Isn’t this something.

In the prefrontal cortex and linked to the amygdala, we have a circuit that essentially manages our emotional resilience. Each time we face a challenge and push through it, the circuit grows stronger. In other words, the brain learns to bounce back more efficiently with practice, much like how a muscle develops the more you use it. The challenge is, this circuit can get easily overused and burned out when we are in chronic stress environments or don't heal from prior traumas.

Neuroplasticity helps to shape this circuit by reinforcing the idea that when there is healthy stress on the system, there is recovery, resolve, and strengthening. We want this circuit to be challenged. This is the importance of trying new or challenging things, and not trying to raise our children in a way where they have no adversity at all. These challenges are helpful with the right support and right resolve.

Interestingly, practices like problem-solving, mindfulness, or gradually taking on small challenges can actually rewire the brain to recover faster if you find yourself in a position where you have a tough time recovering from certain setbacks.

It's also important to note there is another layer here of prior traumas. Some setbacks may be a lot harder than others if they are touching on deeper wounds from our past.

Your Body Remembers What Your Childhood Nervous System Felt

Researchers revealed a fascinating connection between our childhood experiences and our adult bodies. A new study shows that the patterns and signals formed by the nervous system in early life leave lasting imprints that continue to influence the way our bodies function decades later. These neural “memories” are not just in the brain—they are embedded in muscles, organs, and even immune responses, silently carrying the story of our earliest experiences.

The implications are profound. Childhood stress, trauma, or even nurturing environments can shape how we respond to stress, regulate emotions, and maintain physical health as adults. For instance, early exposure to chronic stress may affect heart rate, digestion, and immune resilience long after the triggering events have passed. Conversely, positive childhood experiences can strengthen neural pathways that support emotional stability, learning, and overall wellbeing.

This research challenges the long-held assumption that our adult bodies are entirely separate from our early experiences. Instead, it highlights a deeply interconnected system where mind and body continuously communicate, reminding us that healing and personal growth may involve more than just addressing the present, it may require understanding and nurturing the echoes of our past.

By recognising that our bodies carry the story of our childhood nervous system, we gain new tools for health, self-awareness, and emotional resilience. Every ache, tension, or reaction may hold a clue about the life we lived and the ways we can shape a healthier future.

Lane Closure on Christian Ridge Road Monday July 28th - Wednesday July 30th - City of Ellsworth, Maine The City of Ellsworth Public Works Department announced today that a section of Christian Ridge Road will experience a lane closure from Monday, July 28, through Wednesday, July 30, 2025. This closure is necessary to facilitate essential ditching and culvert replacement work. The affected area ....R...