We spend most of our waking moments in our minds. Planning, rationalizing, thinking, evaluating. All of these are important processes. But did you know that the pelvis speaks a language of its own?
Kimberly Ann Johnson describes how the body carries not only personal stories from our life experience, but also ancestral stories. These stories are lodged within the body and can be expressed in an infinite number of ways.
More specifically, our tissues hold memory. For example, when there is scar tissue present, it is physical evidence of trauma. Trauma can mean different things, but in this context I simply mean that something abrupt happened to the body that disturbed the tissues enough to create a scar. That does not mean it is internalized by the individual as a traumatic event (although it absolutely could and often does). Regardless of whether or not a person with scar tissue consciously perceives it as a traumatic event, the scar tissue speaks for itself.
Kimberly has supported women for many years processing birth stories. She explains that often times the person may have a narrative in place in their mind, but they might not have the somatic connection or recall from that experience until someone is able to bring awareness to the pelvic floor. In order to create harmony between the body (the pelvis) and the mind, she helps women direct their attention to their pelvic floor through hands on support.
She listens and responds to the individual’s body- not simply the words that someone speaks. Kimberly describes how a woman might feel ready in her mind for the hands on touch, but her body might not be ready. When this happens, she allows the body to express itself first as it gives valuable information about the individual that the conscious mind may not even be aware of.
There are many aspects of this episode that resonate with me deeply as a woman, as a birth doula, and an educator. I hope it hits home for you, too.
If you would like to connect with Kimberly you can do so here.
Her newest course called MotherCircle builds community support for mothers in order to feel a sense of camaraderie and a place of belonging… This offering helps break past barriers that make motherhood feel lonely and difficult to connect. You can find out more information about MotherCircle and sign up for the course here.
5:12 Kimberly’s personal upbringing
8:17 Hands on, hands in body work and the information the pelvis holds
12:37 Listening to the tissue and the whole body, not just what is verbalized
16:20 Helping clients connect with their pelvis
19:11 Perennial stretching, prenatal movement, and healing rupture through touch
21:28 The intelligence of scar tissue and how it holds trauma and emotion
25:31 To push or not to push// fetal ejection reflex
29:09 Observations from Kimberly’s time as a birth doula
31:13 The prescriptive, shaming, and accusatory tone that often permeates digital spaces on women’s health
36:27 Making “mistakes” does not mean that you are doing it wrong
39:43 Using your discernment about when to listen to the outside world and when to listen to your body
41:44 Oppositional gaze and the limitations of our dependence on digital resources
44:45 Building community, horizontal care, and mother circles
46:43 The Fourth Trimester book and what Kimberly would add now
49: 24 Female life stages are not problems to solve
Thank you for being here and for supporting the MOTHERLANDS Podcast.
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** If you know someone that works with a brand or company that shares the ethos of providing deeper and more comprehensive care to women and mothers and who may be open to supporting the MOTHERLANDS Podcast, please email hello@keelysemler.com.
You can connect with our host, Keely Semler, MPH, CD here or by visiting her website.
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