Owning Your Session (And Your Life)

Tawney here! I have been with Ohana for about a year, and I'm also a birth doula! I'm an animal lover - with 14 chickens and two dogs. Through all of the aforementioned, I have learned a lot about myself - like where I needed to step up in my own self-care, and how important transparent conversations are with clients. This is what lead me to discuss self-advocacy at our Open House event at the beginning of February!

Self-advocacy is the communication of one's needs, wants, boundaries, and interests. It is crucial to duality in any relationship - personal or professional. You deserve to have quality in life, and people can't meet you where you're at without knowing! 

You can practice this at Ohana by being willing to tell us what's coming up for you! We aren't you - we can't feel the referral patterns, the sensation of the pressure, what might need some more attention, etc. Self-advocacy is self-care, and if you're getting a massage, you already know self-care is important. Please attend your sessions with curiosity and an open mind to our approach and recommendations, AND let us know what you need from us! If you're unsure why we're spending time in an area, or moved on from somewhere too soon, ask! We may have noticed something or may have not known you wanted more/less time in an area. We are here to serve you and give you the best session we can - but we need to hear from you what that looks like. It doesn't hurt our feelings if you need a change in pressure or technique, or want to try a different practitioner. We're rooting for you, and we want you to root for yourself too!

You can also practice this in day to day life - in your relationships, at work, prioritizing self-care, or making time for fun! This might look like unplugging before bed to wind down, or having some screen time for entertainment. It may be drinking and eating well during the day, or indulging in a treat. It all comes down to what improves your quality of life as a whole. 

If self-advocacy is uncomfy, it's important to start small, like with the things noted above. Small changes lead to big results.