Jenerous Blog

Happy Women’s History Month!

This month always reminds me how many women before us fought hard for rights that shape our daily lives—fair wages, access to healthcare, and the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies. Their courage created space for women like me to run a small business, support my family, and care for my community through the work I love.

In the current political climate, I also feel a deep sense of grief and indignation for the women who are still fighting for basic autonomy and safety. Women in some states are losing the right to make choices about their own bodies, and many immigrant and refugee families are facing the pain of separation and uncertainty. These realities affect the nervous system, our sense of safety, and our collective wellbeing.

As a massage therapist who works closely with women’s health and chronic pain, I want to acknowledge that collective stress and stand in solidarity. My hope is that this small space—my practice, my blog, my treatment room—can be a place of care, listening, and support.

March 8th is International Women’s Day, a time to recognize women’s achievements and bring awareness to issues that disproportionately affect women’s health. One of those issues is migraines.

Migraines affect roughly 1 billion people worldwide and about 40 million Americans. Women are about three times more likely than men to experience migraines, and nearly 1 in 5 women will experience migraines at some point in their lives. Despite how common it is, migraines are often misunderstood as “just a headache.” Anyone who lives with migraines knows it can affect work, family life, sleep, and overall quality of life.

Over the past eight years, I’ve learned a lot about migraines through both personal experience and working with clients. Like many people, I used to push through my own migraines with a couple of ibuprofen and more water. Eventually, I began tracking my patterns and researching how bodywork might help.

I also noticed that many clients—almost all women—came in with chronic headaches, jaw tension, teeth grinding, and neck and shoulder hypertension. Over time, I deepened my training in craniosacral therapy, intraoral and TMJ work, myofascial and neurofascial techniques to provide targeted migraine support. It’s been a great journey to learn more in this arena both for personal and professional benefits.

Seattle Weather and Migraine

Many Seattle residents notice that migraines often worsen when storms roll in. Research suggests that changes in barometric pressure can trigger migraines in some people. Seattle’s climate, with frequent storm fronts and fluctuating pressure, can act as a trigger for those who are sensitive.

A huge step for me recently was seeing a headache specialist at the University of Washington Headache Clinic. This was my first time working with a specialist, and it’s been the most helpful care I’ve received yet. The clinic has helped me understand the complexity of migraine triggers and treatment options, which include nutrition, herbal supports, lifestyle strategies, and complementary therapies like massage therapy and acupuncture.

Introducing a Headache & Migraine Focus Treatment

I’m excited to now offer a Headache & Migraine Focus Treatment in my massage practice. This session focuses on the head, neck, shoulders, face, and jaw, while still addressing the rest of the body as needed. The goal is to offer balance in the stomatognathic system, calm the nervous system, and release long-held tension patterns that may contribute to tension headaches, jaw pain and migraines. Many migraine sufferers also experience tension in the jaw and face, which is part of what dentists call the stomatognathic system—the integrated system of the teeth, jaws, temporomandibular joints (TMJ), and the muscles that allow us to chew, speak, and swallow. These structures work closely with the nerves and muscles of the head and neck, so dysfunction such as clenching, grinding, or jaw imbalance can contribute to headaches and facial pain. Supporting this system through therapies like massage, dental care, stress management, and TMJ-aware bodywork can sometimes reduce the overall load on the head and neck.

Depending on your needs, a session may include:

• Craniosacral therapy
• Hydrotherapy
• Intraoral and TMJ work
• Myofascial release
• Neurofascial manipulation
• Neuromuscular therapy / trigger point work
• Reiki
• Scalp Massage
• Therapeutic hot stones

Each session is tailored to your unique migraine patterns and comfort level.

Supporting Women’s Health and Self-Care

Migraines rarely have a single cause. Patterns often involve nervous system stress, jaw tension, postural habits, hormonal changes, nutrition, and environmental triggers like weather. Supporting the body holistically with bodywork can be an important part of managing migraines alongside medical care. If you live with migraines or chronic headaches in Seattle and are curious whether massage therapy could help, feel free to reach out or ask about the new Headache & Migraine Focus Treatment during your next visit.

Thank you for trusting me with your care and for letting me support you in your journey toward relief.