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Healing through Flow - A conversation with Spinal Energetics & Kinesiologist, Katie Athorn
HEALING THROUGH FLOW
About Katie Athorn:
Inner Flow Energetics was born in 2015. My journey in health began in pharmacy before evolving into 12 fulfilling years in the fitness industry, where I guided clients in fitness and nutrition.
Through this experience, I recognized a deeper, often unmet need for comprehensive healing and balance - a missing piece in the broader wellness puzzle.
My own journey led me to the incredible power of kinesiology, where I was amazed by the insights gained through muscle testing. Personally, this work has profoundly impacted my life, helping me navigate tough times, accept myself, & heal from stress & trauma. I've even witnessed what I consider miracles within my own family, especially with my son, who overcame a significant medical challenge through the combined support of incredible doctors & the power of kinesiology & energy healing guided by a dear mentor. This experience, alongside the undeniable power of prayer, deeply solidified my belief in the body's innate capacity to heal & fuels my passion to share & empower you with these transformative tools.So, what Is Spinal Energetics?
Spinal energetics is a beautiful modality that actually originated right here in Melbourne with a chiropractor, Dr. Sarah Jane and has expanded to over 500 certified practitioners in the last few years. It is like a combination of Reiki and energy work where it tunes into your chakras and the energetic layers we all have.What's unique is how we connect with your energetic nervous system through the lightest touch, particularly around your neck and sacrum—those key connection points for your energy. It's about allowing your body's own wisdom to gently unravel any tension patterns. We collect these little stresses or even big traumas that maybe hadn’t been fully processed at the time. Spinal energetics is about giving your system the space to unwind and release that without you needing to communicate it with a practitioner, unlike kinesiology, where it involves more proactive communication to assist with the session. It's a really gentle yet profound way to let go.
Many of us experience neck and back tension. From an energetic perspective, what are some common emotional or mental stresses that might manifest in these areas, and how can Spinal Energetics help release them?
In my work with clients, I often hear about the relentless nature of modern-day stress. Some of the most common experiences include that feeling of being completely overwhelmed by your own mind – the thoughts just keep coming, often repetitive and circling in on themselves.
This can manifest as obsessive thinking or that constant mental chatter that makes it nearly impossible to switch off and truly relax. Many also describe feeling under immense pressure, like they need to micromanage everything around them, leading to a constant need to control situations and a sense of unease when things feel out of their hands.
Back Tension & Emotional Connections
Mid Back (Heart & Lungs):
Grief and sadness.
Shoulder Blades:
Resentment and anger.
Feeling stuck.
Feeling overwhelmed.
Guilt.
Frustration.
Feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Mid Back (Navel Area):
Confidence, self-esteem, identity.
Not feeling supported and secure.
Uncertainty.
Lower Back and Hips:
Financial stability.
Being in a survival state.
Difficulty making decisions and moving forward.
Getting stuck.
Anxiety and instability.
We can tap into the body's energetic nervous system to pinpoint areas where trauma or stress has become lodged.
By connecting with these holding patterns, we essentially activate and remind the body of its innate wisdom and capacity for healing.
This encourages a natural unwinding process, which might involve subtle movements in the spine, shifts in breathing, or the healthy expression of emotions. By allowing this complete process to unfold, the body can release these past burdens, paving the way for new, more resilient patterns and a return to its natural state of ease and balance, free from the constraints of stored stress or trauma
The Process:
My assessment process involves tuning into the energetic nervous system and identifying patterns of tension within the body, starting with the feet. Similar to a chiropractic evaluation, I begin by observing leg length discrepancies, as an unevenness can indicate underlying structural imbalances. I then assess the tension in the Achilles tendons and the weight distribution across the footpads.
These subtle indicators provide valuable information, guiding me to the primary areas in the body where stress may be held, such as the neck, sacrum, or chest.
What's one simple breathing or awareness exercise related to the spine and energy flow that we can practise at home to complement Spinal Energetics sessions?
Simple Body Scan for Stress Release
This is a gentle exercise you can do anytime, anywhere, to help identify and release tension:
Become Aware: Take a moment to simply notice how your body feels. You can do this sitting or lying down.
Scan Your Body: Slowly bring your attention to different parts of your body, starting with your toes and gradually moving upwards to the top of your head. Pay attention to any areas where you notice feelings of tightness, pressure, or discomfort.
Locate the Tension: Once you find an area of tension, acknowledge it without judgement.
Imagine Breathing Light: Bring your awareness back to that specific area. Imagine that with each inhale, you are breathing a warm, gentle light into this tension.
Dissolve the Stress: As you exhale, visualise that light carrying away the stress and tension, allowing the area to soften and relax.
Continue: You can stay with one area for a few breaths or continue to scan through your body, repeating the process for any other areas where you feel tension.
If you are feeling overwhelmed:
The vagus nerve - Saying the word ‘VOO’- shaping the vowels with your mouth, sustaining the ‘v’ vowel throughout, in a low tone for a few minutes, helps to bring you out of the fight and flight mode.
For littles ones & kids:
If they are feeling overwhelmed, they tend to use the back part of the brain, where the survival part lies.
Gently place your hand on your forehead, this can help shift your brain from the reactive survival mode to a calmer, problem-solving state.
For those experiencing sleep issues, what's a simple kinesiology-based technique you would recommend doing to help improve sleep quality?
Ground Your thoughts with kidney 1: Located on the sole of your foot, about a third of the way down from your toes, is a point known as Kidney 1.
Gently holding or massaging this point can help to draw the energy of your busy mind downwards, promoting a sense of grounding and relaxation that can ease you into sleep.
Wind down with a grounding foot soak: Soaking your feet in warm water before bed is a wonderful way to signal to your body that it's time to wind down. This simple act can help to release tension and bring your energy back down from your head, preparing you for a more restful night.
Soothe overthinking with the third eye point: If you find yourself stuck in a loop of overthinking and can't switch off, try pressing firmly on the Yintang point, also known as the third eye. This point is located directly between your eyebrows.
Applying gentle pressure here can help to calm mental chatter and promote a sense of inner peace.
From a kinesiology perspective, what's a simple daily exercise or movement we can incorporate to better connect with our body's energy and reduce everyday stress?
1. Start from the central meridian/pubic bone & use one hand to draw a line up to your bottom lip, just off the body & back down again 3-5 times. Imagine that you are flushing that energy out.
2. Now trace the same line up 3 times without going down to raise your energy.
3. Repeat this 3 times help to reset your energy
As part of our daily self-care ritual, how can muscle testing be a useful tool for understanding what we need?
Also known as applied kinesiology (AK), muscle testing is a very personal way to understand what your body truly needs. It is a biofeedback technique where we don't assess muscle strength in the traditional sense, but rather the muscle's ability to "hold" in response to a gentle pressure to identify imbalances and stressors in the body. It is used as a communication tool with the body's energy system.
We gently test the strength of a muscle while you focus on a question. A strong response suggests alignment, while a weaker one can indicate a need or imbalance.
Through muscle testing, we can explore questions such as: Is it linked to your diet – a nutritional need or sensitivity? Is there muscle tension needing massage? Could it simply be dehydration? Or perhaps an emotional component? It can even point to a need for lymphatic support.
It empowers you to understand the interconnectedness of your physical and emotional well-being and make choices that truly resonate with your individual needs. It's about listening to the wisdom your body already holds.
How do you incorporate Mylk & Butter.Co products for your clients?
🪷 All treatments start by incorporating a warm foot soak with the beautiful organic Azure Moon Soak to calm & ground my clients.
🪷 A spritz or 2 of the Blue Lotus Face Mist around the third eye chakra to activate & balance.
🪷 I love to use Lumiére Face Elixir to massage the temples and soothe away any head tension.
🪷 To rejuvenate their body and senses, I use either the Sacred Heart organic body oil or award-winning Lé Sensuelle Organic body oil which my clients absolutely love.
Inner Flow Energetics is based in Bli Bli, Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
For more details and to book a session online or in person, visit: https://innerflowenergetics.com.au/.
