Block Therapy -- Protocols for Lipedema

The question is always asked: What program EXACTLY should I follow if I have lipedema? I want to feel better. I want less pain. I want more mobility. I want healthier tissues. I want to reduce inflammation. As a Block Therapy Instructor and Fascia Alignment Coach, tell me exactly what I should do!

My answer will always be the same. You may have the exact same diagnoses that I have, or someone on social media has, but your body and your journey are unique. That means I do not have a list of the "right" protocol for you that will give you the results you want. What is does mean is I know where you're coming from and how desperately you want some change and relief and that's why I learned how to help you put together what will be best for you...your budget, your lifestyle, your pain levels, your size and shape, your mobility, etc. We look at the whole picture, not just what a doctor wrote on a piece of paper. You are unique and you are more than that.

I do have guidelines that lead to more success with Block Therapy that generally work for most people. That's where we'll begin, but remember that I have professional coaching available if you want a guided, more personal experience with extra support (Home).

• Start with the Sampler Program! If you're completely new to Block Therapy, this gentle introduction will be profound, educational work over 9 sessions to get you started. Even with this program, I have modifications and suggestions for success, like an alternate position for those who can't put pressure on the knees and shins for Class 6. You can get the Sampler for less than $10 here: https://kd167.isrefer.com/go/sampler/KellyMaynard/

• If you're ready for your blocks, the Starter Program is what you need because it gives you the foundation work for greatest understanding and future progress. There are different options for block size, so reach out to understand the differences before you buy! Once you have your starter program (you can click here to purchase: https://kd167.isrefer.com/go/starterprogram/KellyMaynard/)

  I have lots of tips that I'll include here for those with lipedema. For every class there are modifications available so reach out if you need guidance. Just because a certain position is difficult or impossible, that doesn't mean Block Therapy can't work for you! It means you need to honor your unique body and where it is right now.

You've got your Sampler or Starter Program and a block or two and you're ready to go. Here are my best tips for success if you have lipedema and its comorbidities!

1. Do every class on a bed or a couch! Yes, every single one unless it's a class where you need to stand, and then try it seated first. We are already in pain. Pressure can hurt lipedema tissue in ways that are difficult to explain to others, so we want to begin gently, and maybe even continue gently for a very long time. Lack of mobility and ease of getting up from a floor are also factors. We are not trying to withstand maximum amounts of pain with Block Therapy, we are trying to nudge and persuade fascia to change, so torture isn't necessary or encouraged. If a block on a soft surface like the bed is still too painful and you can't breathe calmly and with control, that is your cue to use a rolled up towel. Start where YOU need to start. Jumping ahead and causing unnecessary pain will only tell your body that blocking is trauma and your body will resist rather than heal.

2. Use a whole body approach. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to focus on one or two areas that you hate because of lipedema and think of Block Therapy as "spot treatment". This approach will fail, no matter how tempting it is. Block Therapy programs and classes are laid out to address the chain of fascia in the body and facilitate alignment and flow. This is where healing will happen! You will be surprised at how, for example, working on your feet and calves can change tension in your shoulders or symmetry in your face! Trust the process and don't fall into the trap of blocking the same body part day after day hoping for change.

3. Limit the length and frequency of Block Therapy. Especially when you begin you need to have a cautious approach to this practice because it is profound. You will be making changes to your body even with very small amounts of time and pressure and you don't know exactly how your body will respond to those. My general advice is to do no more than the 15-30 minute classes in the Sampler Program or Starter Program per day until you are ready. Your body may not be able to handle even these short classes on consecutive days and you may need time to recover. Take that time. This is not a race, this is you learning to truly listen to your body and working with Block Therapy in a way that is best for you.

4. Put practices in place for recovery. Just like when you get a massage, you're told to hydrate, use electrolytes, perhaps take binders (my favorite is Pectasol), and take a nap. These things apply to Block Therapy as well. A foot soak or relaxing in a tub of Dead Sea minerals, red light therapy, vibration plates (do NOT follow the manual, join this group for expert advice for lipedema: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vibrationforfatdisorders) applied heat (never ice!), magnesium, and sauna (yes, I recommend and practice sauna use even with lipedema!) will also be of use. Support your body because Block Therapy is truly a mind, body, and soul practice and you're asking as much out of your body as if you went to the gym!

5. Do finger and toe work, which are explained on the Block Therapy YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y0yejRjP88. This can be done throughout the day as you have time, such as fingers when sitting at a red light or toes while you're watching TV. You can split the time if you only have three minutes and then begin again later. Many find alternating days between the hands and feet is an easy way to get this work into their daily practice.

6. If you do not have the membership and want to add more to support your lipedema body, there are a few suggestions. First, do work to calm the vagus nerve. We are in hypersensitive mode most of the time! Lie on the block or rolled up towel on the belly, diaphragm, and sternum for 3-5 minutes each. Lie on your back with your palms or block on your belly and with each slow exhale sink a little deeper and relax a little more, paying special attention to areas that are holding tension and letting that go. Second, do work for your lymphatics. Tuck a rolled up towel or block under your arm and squeeze it there for three minutes. Gently press a block into your upper chest near the collarbone and hold for three minutes. Use a rolled up towel or block on the hip flexor, again for three minutes. Third, work on the feet and calves. Sitting or standing, rest the arch of your foot on a rolled up towel or block and put pressure straight down for three minutes. While sitting in bed rest your calf on the block, slowly exploring from side to side and stopping anywhere there is increased pain for five slow breaths. This one can be repeated with block from achilles to back of knees, varying position from day to day. Always work both sides of the body!

7. There are literally hundreds of hours of classes in the Block Therapy membership program. Again, this needs to be a whole body approach so follow a class or daily guided program. I will list some of the most beneficial, but know that within these there will need to be modifications depending on your unique body. Some will feel like a better fit for you than others, but these are programs that address overall lipedema body health. If you want to truly make a commitment, my top recommendation is the 90-Day Trauma Program. Lipedema comes with trauma, whether physical, emotional, or mental. We have been through a lot and trauma is stored in the fascia. My other recommendations for daily guided programs and mini-series are: 30-day Whole Body Reset, 21-day Breast Health Program, 30-day Posture Rest Beginner, Cyber Sickness series, Guided Hand Meditations, Pronator Corrector. Recommendations for stand-alone classes that I find helpful for recovery and rest are: Living in the Exhale, Abdominal Decompression, Addressing the Vagus Nerve, Targeting the Lymphatic System, Solution to Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep Issues, Fluid Isometrics for Self-Care. There are MANY more, but these have enough content to last for months!

8. Finally, reach out. You are not bound by the "rules" someone else dictates to you on how Block Therapy should or must be practiced. For someone with lipedema, this was one of the reasons I gravitated toward Block Therapy in the first place. YOU are in control, YOU determine what works for you, YOU listen to your body and never feel like you are being dismissed or are failing. I am available to answer questions and have one-on-one programs available for anyone who wants to work with a certified Block Therapist and Fascia Alignment coach. I'm trained to look at photos and see where adhesions are holding you back and develop protocols specifically for you. Together, we can change your life!