Hey beautiful souls,
This episode is a fascinating discussion with Kendra Toothill -- We talk all about SCARS.
And before you press 'skip' and move on because you can't imagine what scars has to do with the quality of your present day life ... pull a chair up. Turns out that the scars we carry (visible and invisible) hold potent stories and the work that Kendra does helps uncover and heal both the physical and emotional energy within.
Kendra began discovering the potential of scar tissue as an Athletic Therapist working in elite-level sports over ten years ago.
Over her professional career, she has been refining her geeky scar obsession, which has ultimately birthed a holistic healing method that helps people make sense of their multiple health symptoms in an integrative way, using scars as an anchor point into deep physical, emotional and energetic healing.
In this episode we talk about:
- The definition of scar and what role they play in the healing process.
- How Kendra came to this work and made her way into this niche treatment.
- From Athletic Therapist to scar and deep fascial work and working with women who do breast explant surgery.
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How scars contribute to various bodily dysfunctions, including digestive and breathing problems, nervous system issues, anxiety, and chronic pain.
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Working on scars to assist the body in rewiring more productive nervous system patterns.
- The role of emotional and energetic healing in the scar treatment process.
- The emotional implications of surgery, injuries and often birthing experiences that are held in the scar tissue of the body.
- The dysfunction in surrounding muscles and how the scar attempts to priotize the healing of tissue to provide safety and security.
- The opportunity for emotional and physical healing when you address scars in the body.
- What PDTR (Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex) treatment is and how Kendra uses it in her treatment.
- Kendra's in-person work in Uvita, Costa Rica as well as her online offerings and in-person retreats in Austin, Texas.
Timestamp of today's episode:
00:00 Praises Kendra's impactful work with scars.
04:51 Fascination with scars led to healing practice.
10:30 Body compensates for injuries, requires ongoing care.
14:16 Emotional healing through physically working scar tissue.
16:28 Learning to work with emotional scars deeply.
20:24 Remaining neutral while observing client's emotional connection.
24:44 Courage in holistic practice, acknowledging emotions crucial.
28:38 PDTR quickly rewires nervous system, removes trauma.
31:08 Scar tissue affects body dysregulation, needing rewiring.
33:46 Diverse experiences after breast explant surgery.
37:43 Physical injury led to self-doubt, introspection, healing.
41:40 Avoid stimulus, focus on natural healing process.
44:17 Developing online sessions and in-person retreats.
48:37 Gratitude for listeners and call to action.
Notable moments during the episode:
The Transformative Power of Healing Scars: "And it just kind of began this experiment of really seeing how much you can unpack in a single scar. And so it has a huge hold and restraint physically on the tissues local but also general to the whole body and all the body systems. But it has this really important piece that I really love that opens up the whole kind of gateway of what really a healing journey is and that's working with the emotional body and how the energetic signature can really get literally entangled and encapsulated inside the scar tissue."
— Kendra Toothill
The Significance of Scar Tissue in Healing Processes: "The scar is just any kind of mending process that has happened where the tissue has healed in some way to form a different bond. The actual components of scar tissue is different than your muscle tissue or your skin or your ligament tendon."
— Kendra Toothill
Respecting the Body's Healing Process: "So when people do hurt themselves and they do have an open wound from accident surgery, giving birth, I always say, like, step one, let the body do what it needs and wants to do. It is seeking a solid, firm, stable anchor point."
— Kendra Toothill
Healing Emotional Trauma Through Scar Tissue Therapy: "And why I love working with the emotions in this way, using the body as a way to stay grounded and in connection with yourself, is when these emotions come up to be processed, you're pretty embodied at that point, like you're building a relationship up with the scar. You're understanding your processes and why things are happening."
— Kendra Toothill
Emotional Scar Tissue and Healing: "And if you were a little child, that created a lot of confusion and that energetic signature of feeling abandoned goes right into the scar tissue."
— Kendra Toothill
Emotional Healing and Physical Contact: "You can't grab happiness or fear out of the air, but when you work with it from being in your body and touching your body and making contact with yourself, it allows those emotions to be worked and explored in a more nourishing way."
— Kendra Toothill
More About Kendra Toothill:
Kendra Toothill began discovering the potential of scar tissue as an Athletic Therapist working in elite-level sports over ten years ago. Over her professional career, she has been refining her geeky scar obsession, which has ultimately birthed a holistic healing method that helps people make sense of their multiple health symptoms in an integrative way, using scars as an anchor point into deep physical, emotional and energetic healing.
As best she can, Kendra strives to walk her talk, which is centered around being empowered through your own healing process, taking chances, being curious (& dorky!), not taking life too seriously and swallowing the "red pill" of self-responsibility, self-awareness and living a life aligned to truth.
Kendra now lives in Costa Rica, and when she is not guiding people through a health and healing process, you will find her exploring nature, enjoying exotic fruits and soaking up the epic sunshine!
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