Endometriosis Awareness Month + Exciting Updates
April Newsletter: Endometriosis Awareness Month + Exciting Updates
For this month’s newsletter, I want to dive into endometriosis: a chronic condition in which tissue grows outside the uterus, including on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and bowel. It affects one in ten women, but, on average, takes four to twelve years to diagnose.
Symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, chronic pelvic pain, pain with sex, fatigue, inflammation, and bladder and bowel issues. These symptoms are often dismissed as “normal,” leading women to suffer for years without a diagnosis.
Chronic pain and inflammation from endometriosis lead the muscles in the pelvic floor to tighten up. At HOPP, I work with patients to ease this pain, tension, and dysfunction. Hear from one of my clients about how our work together has improved her endometriosis pain:
“I have suffered from Endometriosis for close to 2 decades. Over the years, I have tried everything-diet changes, lifestyle changes, medicines, surgery, supplements, and countless other approaches- to ease my symptoms. While some provided temporary relief, none truly got rid of the pain and heaviness I felt day to day and had to live with. The work with Maria at Hopp Therapy has been life-changing. Through a combination of targeted exercises, myofascial release, and hands-on therapy, so much of my pain has finally subsided. I would never have thought it could be possible to live without constant pain and discomfort. Maria is truly an extraordinary pelvic floor physical therapist. Her expertise, gentle care, listening skills, and whole-body approach have made a profound difference in my life, and I am so grateful to have found her. I can’t recommend her enough!”
Upcoming Events
Ashley Napoli, the owner of Living Lotus Yoga, will be hosting a series of yoga classes in the Hopp space this month. Starting this Tuesday, 4/7, 9:15-10:15. Sign up here.
I am hosting free pelvic floor workshops at Studio 50 in Mamaroneck. The next workshop will be held at 1:30 on Tuesday, 4/21,1:30-2:30. You can sign up online or call the studio directly.
What I Did In March
Unlocked Together: a successful event
In March, I participated in a panel event with several local health practitioners. I loved sharing my point of view with a new audience. My favorite moment of the night? This answer I gave when asked about my philosophy on healing.
“Awareness is the first step in healing, because you can’t change what you don’t notice: small attention today creates powerful change tomorrow.”
Not only did I have a great time, but the attendees loved it too. Here’s what one audience member said:
“Wow! Last night was fantastic. I was so happy to be able to listen to all of you and share about your area of expertise. You gave us thoughtful, helpful, and meaningful information in a way that felt supportive and encouraging. I think everyone in the room left with a new list of excellent providers! You are quite a strong team in the Larchmont- Mamaroneck community!”
Photo By Ken Gabriel
My most recent training
A few weekends ago, I attended a course named “Finding your true pelvis” led by the founder of Anatomy Trains, Tom Myers.
Tom Myers is an American bodyworker, anatomy educator, manual therapist, structural integration practitioner, and author, best known for developing an understanding of how muscles and fascia connect and move throughout the body.
“Fascia is the biological fabric that holds us together, the connective tissue network. You are about 70 trillion cells, neurons, muscle cells, epithelia, all humming in relative harmony; fascia is the 3D spider web of proteins that bind them together in their proper placement,” Myers said. “Understanding fascia is essential to the dance between stability and movement, crucial in high performance, central in recovery from injury and disability, and ever-present in our daily life from our Embryological Beginnings to the last breath we take.”
Listening to Dr. Amy Shah
I attended a wonderful gathering held by Amari Health, a functional medicine and hormone practice, to listen to Dr. Amy Shah, a double-board-certified medical and wellness expert specializing in food allergies, hormones and gut health. She spoke about her new book release, Hormone-Havoc, which is focused on perimenopause and menopause.
Community Board
Acupuncture with Amy Critton
With treatments focused on the root of imbalance and not just the symptoms, acupuncture and traditional Eastern medicine can treat a wide range of conditions. Amy Critton is an acupuncturist who practices a Japanese style of acupuncture that is focused on harmonizing patients’ microbiome and autonomic nervous systems to restore balance. She uses rapid-release methods to restore function quickly and with lasting results. She specializes in relieving musculoskeletal pain and would love to help you heal any physical pain you may be suffering from.
She operates out of the Hopp space on Tuesdays. If you want to book an appointment, contact her at 917-363-9635 or visit her website, www.abcacupuncture.com.
Nicole Ohebshalom, PhD
Whether you're navigating the emotional complexities of pregnancy, postpartum, fertility, pelvic pain, or simply seeking a deeper connection with your body and your partner, Nicole Ohebshalom offers a compassionate, personalized space to heal and grow. As both a therapist and coach, Nicole specializes in maternal mental health and pelvic and sexual wellness for individuals and couples by helping clients move through shame, disconnection, pain, and life transitions with clarity and confidence.
Nicole's integrative approach honors the profound link between mind, body, and intimacy. From birth trauma and postpartum adjustment to desire, pelvic health concerns, and relationship dynamics, she meets each person and couple exactly where they are.
Visit www.nicoleohebshalom.com to explore her services.
Want to be featured in the April edition of the HOPP newsletter? Message me about being featured on the community board – a place where I share news from my incredible community of clients, practitioners, and friends.