A typical session includes:

• A discussion about why you have sought my care. This involves an exploration of the life of your pelvis, touching on your experience with any injuries, surgeries, intimacy, menstruation pregnancy and birth, and your current relationship with your pelvis.

• A discussion of any relevant pelvic anatomy.

• External release techniques to reduce tension in the pelvis and related structures.

• Gentle release of internal pelvic soft tissue connections (fascia, muscles and ligaments) accessed through the back wall of the vagina.

• If necessary, education on further self-care or release work that may be carried out by yourself or with assistance from your partner.

The sensations you experience during the internal work will likely be entirely different to anything you have felt before. They can range from pulsing, plucking and wave like sensations to sensations that women describe as ‘intense but necessary’ – like when you have a pressure point release massage. I will continually seek your feedback regarding pressure and comfort and will adjust my touch accordingly. You are completely in charge of your body and nothing will ever be forced to release.

No, Internal Pelvic Release Work differs considerably from yoni massage and pelvic floor physio. Differences are described below.

Internal Pelvic Release Work is a practice centred on care, education, and empowerment. It is designed to relieve tension in the tissues to restore flow, drainage and balance to the pelvic tissues, addressing ALL of the soft tissues of the pelvis (fascia, muscles and ligaments) with a strong anatomical understanding. It aims to help you make sense of the experiences that have affected your pelvic space and how such experiences physically play out in your pelvis. There is a strong focus on offering care and being with, rather than doing to or fixing, and there is no imbalance in the power dynamic. As a practitioner, I am simply a woman caring for another woman and you are the expert of your body.

 Yoni massage is a sexual tantric form of massage that aims to promote pleasure and help women feel more comfortable within themselves. Whilst yoni massage does address all soft tissues, there is no anatomical basis, and it does not offer pelvic health education.

Similar to a medical model of care, pelvic floor physio typically intends to diagnose, prescribe and treat pelvic health problems. There is a predominant focus on only the muscles of the pelvic floor, as opposed to addressing the interconnected fascia and ligaments also within the pelvic bowl. A pelvic physio will educate you about treatment options and your pelvic anatomy, however, they maintain an expert-patient power dynamic and will likely view you as a patient who requires treatment, rather than a woman who is in need of tender care.

Yes, absolutely! In fact, Internal Pelvic Release Work was first developed to assist pregnant women to prepare the soft tissues of their pelvis to promote the most easeful passage for baby and prevent damage to the perineum. It may help reduce labour, particularly the pushing stage, unnecessary intervention, instrumental delivery and vaginal and perineal tearing.

Internal Pelvic Release Work can be commenced from 20 weeks, however, the ideal time to first book in is around 32/33 weeks, with a follow-up appointment around 36/37 weeks.

The number of sessions required is dependent on how your body responds post-session, your goals and what we discover during our time together. Aside from during pregnancy, I don’t like to prescribe a specific number of sessions. I trust you will know in your body if you need to return.

Emotionally, you may feel lighter or you might feel a little sensitive. When we release tension from the pelvic tissues, we can also release trapped emotions or memories that have been held there. Allow the tears to flow if they are there.

Physically, you will likely to feel lighter and more spacious. The tissues will continue to shift and reorganise themselves over the next 48 hours so you can expect to potentially feel a little bit tender, though this is self-limiting.

Given the sensitive nature of the work and the emotions and stories that can be held in the pelvis, it is natural for some women to feel nervous. Whether you’re worried because you experience pain, or because you have been harmed in the past, I will continually check in with you during our session. If you decide that you do not wish to proceed with the internal work, we can either cease the session completely, or explore some more external holds and release techniques to bring balance and blood flow to the pelvis and the organs housed within.

I can’t decide whether you’re comfortable seeing me or not. I can however assure you that your confidentiality is my priority. If you decide you don’t feel comfortable but are still eager to have a session, please contact me and I will refer you to another wonderful practitioner.

No, you do not need to do anything to prepare. Please simply come as you are.

Post-session aftercare is important. If you are able, it is suggested to reserve an hour or two for yourself in a nice quiet space immediately after your session to process your time. Over the next few days, try to take it easy so that you can process any emotions or memories that have come up in your session and anything that you have learnt. A sitz bath or Epsom salt bath can be comforting and supportive of your tissues.

This comes down entirely to your own personal preference and comfort. During our bleeding phase, we can feel particularly vulnerable, both emotionally and physically. IPRW can stir up an array of sensations and feelings so I recommend taking this into consideration. If you are still unsure, please contact me directly via phone or email.

To get the most of your session, ideally you need to come alone. If you are really in a pinch, please contact me directly by phone or email to discuss possible options.

There is ample street parking in close proximity to the studio.