|
|
|
|
Welcome to IdyllWild OT & Wellness!
Hello! I am Whitney Shepperd, an occupational therapist (OT) who has recently embarked on the journey of establishing a private practice specializing in lymphatic and fascial bodywork. My dream is to create a wellness center for the Northern Berkshire community, providing a space for people to come together, have the opportunity to connect with the natural world, and prioritize self-care. Transitioning to private practice is the first step in making this dream a reality. The lymphatic and fascial bodywork techniques are gentle yet profoundly effective in relieving pain and anxiety. My clinical expertise and my study of holistic wellness approaches creates a unique experience for my clients.
Today I am launching IdyllWild’s inaugural newsletter. Every month, you can expect to receive a collection of seasonal herbal recipes, valuable lymphatic and fascial wellness tips, and highlights of my favorite seasonal walks, wellness activities and outdoor destinations in the Berkshires.
In addition to the new office space and the launch of this newsletter, I’m thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the brand new website: www.idyllwildwellness.com. One of the most exciting features of the website is the live booking and payment options (via Venmo). I will still confirm each appointment, but now you can book whenever you like. Also, keep an eye out for herbal DIY videos coming in July (more about that below).
Gratitude’s to my village: A huge shout out to Matt Toomey for working with me to build the website and this eNewsletter. I am also so grateful to Dr. Nancy, Dr. Carver and the whole group at Carver Dentistry for inviting me into this new office space in May. And finally a thank you to Elle for the amazing logo design.
|
|
|
|
|
My Invitation to YOU!
Come home to your body & restore joyful participation in the daily tasks of your life
|
|
|
Like layers of an onion, each of us carries the physical impact of birth trauma, ordinary life mishaps and unprocessed emotions. What is your body holding?
In our fast-paced and technology-driven world, it is so easy to become disconnected from our bodies and our hearts. We often find ourselves caught up in the whirlwind of responsibilities, deadlines and obligations. Our well-being takes a backseat. The impact can be felt as physical pain (headaches, joints, muscles, nerves), emotional dysregulation (anxiety, depression, explosive anger), brain fog or fatigue.
|
|
|
“An invitation to come home to your body” is a gentle reminder to pause, breathe, and reconnect. It is encouragement to honor your body, your heart and your truth. What are you ready to release?
“Restoring joyful participation in the daily tasks of our lives” is the gentle process of becoming present to whatever is happening. Being present allows us to immerse ourselves in the simple pleasures that surround us- the warmth of a morning cup of tea, the soothing sensation of water against our skin or the rhythm of our breath as we move through the day.
Through this invitation, we are reminded the importance of self-care and of tending to our bodies with love and compassion, ultimately leading to a more balanced and fulfilling existence. Living in an embodied, present life is an experience that is available to each of us at any time, regardless of age, size, physical ability, or diagnosis.
|
|
|
|
|
Local Happenings
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why IdyllWild?
The story behind the name: I was 17-year-old (in 1998!), driving on a windy highway through the redwoods on my way to stay with my sister. She was a college student at UC Santa Cruz. My window was down, Led Zeppelin was on the radio. I felt full of hope, excitement and joy. The air smelled of redwoods, a dry, earthy fragrance, and the light filtered through the trees. I drove by a road sign with the word “Idyllwild” and the moment was forever anchored in my memory. A small, unimportant perfect moment.
When I was 17, I knew myself. I listened to my “yes” and my “no” unfailingly. The following years would bring hardships and grief that I was unable to process. I lost faith in my internal compass, feeling that I had somehow lead myself astray. I began seeking safety and numbness in the form of unhealthy relationships and alcohol. I was diagnosed with ADD, depression and PTSD. I was lonely, drifting through life. I became a mother in 2017 and through the unconditional love I felt for my daughter, I realized I needed to learn how to love myself again. Thus began the long, slow process of healing.
A miracle happened in my life in 2019. I took a fabulous class, Mastery with Mama Gena, that gave me the courage to honor myself fully once more. Five years later, I have walked away from a marriage, a home and a career. I invested in myself and launched headfirst (plan second) into building a life that reflects what is true to my heart and soul, listening again to my yes and my no. It is a story of coming full circle on the upward spiral. And so, in 2023 IdyllWild OT and Wellness was born to serve as a space for personal and collective connection, joy and wellness.
Today, I am practicing in North Adams, MA (aka the Northern Berkshires), offering therapeutic bodywork and soon to be offering community wellness classes. I am thankful everyday for the life I am living. It is from this place of tremendous gratitude and compassion for the human condition, that I welcome you to wherever you are in your wellness journey and will support you with one foot in the realm of allopathic clinical techniques (the science) and the other foot planted just as firmly in the realm of holistic practices that address the healing of our hearts and our souls (the woo). We humans need both!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did you know that roses are edible? Roses (rosa multiflora) grows abundantly and wildly in Western Mass. Roses aren’t just beautiful to look at, the petals are packed with antioxidants (polyphenols) and the hips are loaded with vitamin C! Just as you might imagine, roses are good heart and soul medicine. They are soothing and cooling, they taste sweet and slightly mucilaginous. Heart aching? Quick to anger? Feeling some bad effects from the heat? Reach for Rose!
|
|
|
Recipe of the Month” Rose Honey: In June, pick the petals and pack them in a clean jar. Once the jar is 3/4 full, slowly pour in honey. Make sure none of the petals is above the honey. Let sit at least six weeks and then pour the viscous fluid through a cheese cloth strainer atop a sieve and then squeeze out the herbs in the cheesecloth as completely as possible. In my house, we add a teaspoon to our tea and sometimes just take a teaspoon when we are grumpy and frustrated. I will do a video next month of us straining ours. Stay tuned!
|
|
|
|
|
What is an Occupational Therapist (OT)
A rehab expert who specializes in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Think of the word “occupation” as a role (like mother, business owner, daughter, friend are some of my most valued roles). Now consider if a physical or emotional condition was preventing you from being successful in that role… you should find an OT to work with!
|
|
|
OT’s are the OG coaches! OT grew out of the mental health field and the moral treatment movement of the 1800’s when the treatment of mental illnesses shifted to a belief that recovery was enhanced when a person was engaged in routine activities of daily life (occupations). Although the field of OT has grown far beyond its historical beginnings, all OT’s have training in psychology and psychosocial behavioral models, allowing us to become natural experts in meeting a client where they are at and supporting you through making and achieving your wellness.
|
|
|
|
|
Specific Occupational Therapy Techniques
|
|
|
|
A rhythmical technique activating the lymph pathways, lymph nodes, organs of elimination and immune system.
|
|
|
Applying gentle sustained pressure into fascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion.
|
|
|
Used to release tension through the central nervous system, including cranial bones, spine, sacrum and soft tissues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
