Sacred Reclamation
Sister, sibling, woman, womban this is my deepest prayer and most heart-fuelled offering, from my womb to yours. A pelvic-steam session held by a trauma-skilled practitioner to provide gentle care and recovery support following sexual assault, domestic abuse or a traumatic experience. Support for violence or abuse in the UK focuses a lot on crisis intervention and practical support. There may then be an option to turn to more therapeutic spaces to help us to recover further and tend to the wounds that have come from this experience. However, the emotional trauma from this experience, can still stay with us for some time, often manifesting as physiological symptoms within our bodies, and more specifically our wombs. This can cause our body to continue to feel like an unsafe environment that is working against us rather than for us. I am here to say that you are worthy of feeling at home in your body. Safety and connection to yourself is your birthright. Your womb and pelvis deserves to be a place of creation and pleasure rather than fear and pain.
Pelvic steaming is so much more than a trendy instagram fad and has many medicinal uses. Pelvic steaming has been used by indigenous communities globally for centuries, with over 70 different countries having records of using steam to support multiple issues such as; menstrual health issues, infections, pain and physiological problems within the genitals/uterus, fertility issues, support midwifery and is an integral part of postpartum care within many cultures. Particularly within indigenous Haitian medicine practices, when a person experiences a sexual assault pelvic steaming would be the immediate initial protocol and first aid to support the survivor. Currently this is something that is not valued within our western dominant culture. It is my deepest honour to be on this journey of reclaiming this practice to support survivors. My offering of this medicine comes from my Black Caribbean ancestral line, they have guided my hand slowly towards this work, a deepest remembering of a long forgotten healing practice. My prayer for this offering is to provide a space that acknowledges the need for ancestral wisdom in your recovery journey. I aim for you to be held within a space that will gently guide you back to your body after a traumatic experience, supporting you to tend to any unresolved trauma and reclaim your power.
What to expect?
Each session will include a pre-consultation session. This will be a space for me to understand your needs and what is currently moving through you emotionally, to ensure the space is held in a safe and grounded way for you. This will also allow me to select the right herbal blend for your needs.
Within the session, we will begin with some gentle movement and breathing practices to support you to ground you into the space. The steam session itself will last around 15-30 minutes where you will be sat on a stool with a hole in over a pot of herbs. The temperature will be checked beforehand to ensure you are safe and will be adjusted if needed. Whilst you are steaming I will offer a guided meditation and sound therapy as well as gentle touch or physical holding if this is requested by yourself. I will also fan you throughout the session to regulate your temperature (all optional). The steam session will be followed by 30-45 minutes of rest which can include restorative bodywork or energy work if you choose (included in the price of session - see here for information on RB). There will be space for you to speak and share if you wish before closing the session.
Following on from the in-person session there will be an online aftercare somatic and menstruality processing session provided (included in the price of session - see here for information on SMP), to give you support and tools as you continue your recovery process. After this there is the option to continue with SMP sessions for a reduced cost if you feel this support is benefiting you.
Why pelvic steaming?
Many survivors are living with the many physical, emotional and spiritual affects of trauma, due to not having access to the holstic aftercare that is needed. This can vary from person to person, physiological effects of domestic and sexual violence can show up as:
-
Scar tissue
-
Missing periods
-
Painful sex
-
Infections
-
Painful periods
-
Fertility issues
-
Heavy bleeding
As well as this, due to recent research confirming the ancient indigenous wisdom that we hold the trauma of our ancestors for 7 generations, people may also experience these problems if they have not experienced domestic or sexual violence themselves. The pain they are feeling may be the pain of their mother, grandmother or even ancestral.
We do not currently have an approach to support people with these symptoms, with people often being told “nothing can be done” to help them or simply being offered the contraceptive pill by health-care practitioners as a solve all. Pelvic steaming can provide an alternative approach to tending to these symptoms.
Pelvic steaming can also be a deeply therapeutic and a soothing way to process the emotional impact of a traumatic experience. Often the physical symptoms come as a manifestation of what we are holding onto emotionally and energetically. Feelings such as shame, guilt, anger and resentment can build in our system and our body after a traumatic experience. Steaming can be a gentle way to tend to each layer of our body and process these emotions.
The process of steaming soothes the muscles in the pelvic area helping to calm the nervous system by relieving tension within the body. The steam also helps to balance hormones which deeply affect our emotional capacity and the way we process trauma. The build up of these emotions caused by the trauma can cause many problems within our menstrual cycle such as:
-
Symptoms of PMDD (depression and suicidal ideation) during the luteal phase
-
Debilitating physical pain and lack of emotional capacity during the menstrual phase
-
Anxiety and panic attacks during the follicular phase
-
Feeling burnt out, exhausted and overwhelmed during the ovulation phase
Please note: These are just examples of what can occur and can vary from person to person.
Investment:
-
Pelvic Steam Session (including consultation and aftercare session) £222
-
Concessionary prices of 30% deduction available