In 2002, a good friend began training as an Osteopath in Canada. His work always intrigued me, particularly when discussing the organs and their role in the body’s pain and emotions. Until then, my understanding of the body was to view it as a “biological machine” composed of individual, isolated parts.
Fast forward about five years to the birth of our first daughter. My wife and I had the baby in the hospital, and the experience went generally okay as far as hospital births go. I watched the doctor catch my baby, and I got to cut the cord. However, my wife wanted something better. She didn’t like the intrusive nature of the hospital, and she mentioned that she was thinking of a home birth for the next one. At the time, I thought she was crazy, and that this idea would go away. It didn’t.
With our next child, the experience was different between night and day. The baby was born at home, in our bedroom, in a heated pool designed for the purpose. I was also much more involved with the birth. I watched the midwife do her work, I helped (I’m not sure that it was actually “helping”) the midwife catch my son, and I saw the difference made by a natural, holistic approach. In the hospital, my wife would have been a good candidate for a C-section because the labor was “not progressing.” However, a little patience combined with the skill of the midwife meant that in a short while, we had a safe, natural birth, and both mom and my son were doing just fine.
Over the next 12 years, we had four more births at home. Each time, I learned a bit more and got involved a bit more until I was so actively engaged that the midwife only got involved after the baby was already born. I delivered our 5th child unassisted, and she cared for the weighing, length, scores, and general checkups. I loved that work and had a fleeting thought about being a midwife. Yes, that is a thing. It’s called a male midwife. However, that thought didn’t last very long. It didn’t seem practical to me.
Back to that Canadian Osteopath. My wife wanted to see him again. However, he was in Buffalo, NY, and we were in Tulsa, OK. Traveling was an option but not so practical. So she asked if he knew anyone who did this work in/near Tulsa. That’s when we met Leigh Ankrum. She had attended the same training and was practicing here in Tulsa. My wife went to visit Leigh and was quite happy with the work. I saw the practical results of the work and was particularly intrigued by the freedom of her practice. Within a few boundaries, the client and Leigh could pursue health as seemed best. They were not restrained by bureaucracy and insurance companies. I liked that.
In June 2016, my wife and I were on our way out of town for our 17th anniversary. We planned to stay in Branson, MO, for a few days. During our drive, she told me that Leigh was opening a school and that the introductory meeting was happening that weekend. My wife wanted to go, but our anniversary plans were coming. Oh well, maybe next time.
That conversation changed everything. After years of thinking, “That’s not practical for me,” the opportunity to change the course of my career had not just presented itself, but it had virtually slapped me in the face. Instead of thinking, “That’s not practical,” I was struck that this time, it was practical, and the opportunity was looking me right in the face. So, we canceled our plans, turned the car around, and headed back to Tulsa for that introductory session. That session confirmed what I knew: I had to attend the Ankrum Institute.
Unless attending six births counted, I didn’t have a medical background. That was both a blessing and a curse. It was a curse because I had an uphill battle learning medical terminology and anatomy. But it was a blessing because I didn’t have to unlearn a different way of thinking. Sometimes, I felt utterly overwhelmed by the information I was receiving, but I also knew that every step was pushing me closer to understanding how the body truly works—holistically and with balance. I was learning that everything is connected, and that’s what drew me to Osteopathic manipulation and the principles behind it.
Through the Ankrum Institute, I gained the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to begin my own practice. But my education didn’t stop there. I knew that to offer the best care to my clients, I had to keep growing and learning. That’s why I continued my education by attending various specialized trainings, including the Barral Institute for visceral manipulation and the MNRI approach, focusing on proprioception and reflex integration. Each of these additional certifications enhanced my understanding of the body’s intricate systems and how they all work together.
Prenatal care. Here, we focus on the balance and mobility of the woman’s body. In particular, we are looking for movement in the pelvis and the upper body. When we gain this movement, we can often solve lower back pain, create more room for the baby, and allow the baby to turn, among other benefits. In short, the woman’s body is trying to make changes, and I am working to facilitate those changes. When her body can do that, she often feels much more comfortable, and her body can take better care of the baby.
C-section care. A C-section scar will often cause trouble not just at the scar site but in other parts of the body as well. Common C-section issues include low back pain, pain on the scar side, numbness, feeling “pulled forward,” bladder issues, or pain during intercourse. When the scar is released, the symptoms often improve dramatically, even after many years.
The bladder is often restricted and too low in the pelvis for various reasons. When this happens, the control muscles can’t perform their job correctly. This can result from surgery, childbirth, a car accident, or simply a prolonged period of tension. When the tension is released and the bladder can move back into place, the results are often immediate and dramatic.
Shoulder pain. The shoulder is a complicated joint that requires proper movement in the socket and for the shoulder blade to move along the ribs. I have helped many people avoid shoulder surgery who once thought that surgery was inevitable.
Scar issues. Scars often play a significant role when there is pain in the body. They are like wild cards that can cause a range of problems. Some common issues I see from scars are as follows: C-section scars often cause low back pain, pelvic tightness, or pain during intercourse. Abdominal scars often cause structural issues that force the body to compensate for how it moves. Breast scars typically pull the head and shoulders forward, causing upper back pain, shoulder pain, and headaches. When looking at the body holistically, scars are some of the most critical factors.
Neck pain. Neck pain can stem from several issues, including surgery, whiplash, or poor posture, such as prolonged sitting at a desk. When considering neck pain, it is essential to factor in the shoulders’ role. It is also important to consider how the heart and lungs might be contributing. If there’s previous tension in the heart (due to a car accident, for example), that tension will often transfer into the neck and pull the head forward. Like all body parts, the most important factors with neck pain involve positioning and mobility.
After I graduated from the Ankrum Institute, I opened my osteopathic practice, but my education didn’t stop there. My initial training gave me a solid foundation but was not the end. Since then, I have attended the following specialized trainings:
Barral Institute – Focused on visceral manipulation (working with organs) to restore mobility and balance.
MNRI – Focused on body proprioception and the integration of primary reflexes for better movement and function.
DNS – Focused on infant development positions and how they can be translated into adult recovery and rehabilitation.
Center for Pain Management – Focused on orthopedic massage to address musculoskeletal pain and discomfort.
Chikly Institute – Focused on lymphatic work and how it interacts with the brain to support overall health.
Coaching the Body – Focused on orthopedic massage techniques for relieving muscular tension.
Body Ready Method – Focused on prenatal movements and positioning to support pregnancy wellness.
Eric Dalton – Various techniques to release tension and improve mobility in the body.
Tom Myers – Focused on how the muscles and tissues flow together, impact one another, and their role in female health and recovery.
I am a licensed massage therapist, a certified personal trainer, and a certified pediatric massage therapist. I am trained in MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration), Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, rhythmic movement therapy, and various other forms of functional bodywork, including cranial manipulation, myofascial release, and lymphatic drainage. I use a combination of reflex integration, developmental movement therapy, and soft tissue mobilization to treat a variety of neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.
I am particularly passionate about working with babies and am actively pursuing an MNRI infant specialist certification. I specialize in treating babies with oral restrictions and oral motor dysfunctions, as well as babies with developmental movement delays. Being a baby is hard! Birth can be a traumatic experience that creates pain, tension, poor alignment, and dysfunctional movement patterns.
Working through infant challenges with bodywork can bring about positive, life-changing results. Babies are naturally at the age of integrating reflexes and creating their neural pathways. Bodywork during this stage is incredibly powerful and essential for optimal development.
My interest in bodywork started with my own birth trauma. I was born via shoulder dystocia and forceps delivery, which caused head and neck trauma, leading to mild Erb’s palsy and cerebral palsy on the entire right side of my body. Unfortunately, I received very little therapy as a child, which left me facing many physical and emotional challenges that could have been significantly improved or even eliminated with this type of therapy.
As an adult, I sought therapy but found there were no local practitioners capable of helping me navigate these complex neurological issues. I specifically remember my doctor laying his hand on my shoulder and saying, “Brittany, it will always be like this for you.” But I couldn’t accept that as truth. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and learn as much as I could. I studied movement and soft tissue mobilization, and completed my personal trainer certification and massage therapy license.
Studying developmental movement, specifically MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration), was a game changer for me both personally and professionally. I always say the second part of my life began when I discovered MNRI. My studies were intense, and I worked on myself continually. I used the left side of my body (the good side) to repattern the right side. I had to rewire how my brain felt and used my body, and the results were profound. I was able to reverse my cerebral palsy symptoms, and my body began functioning as it was originally designed to.
This experience gave me a deep understanding of the importance of early intervention and bodywork for babies and children, which became my passion. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to study this work across the country with some of the most brilliant therapists in the field. I believe bodywork is a truly sacred practice, and I am honored to serve my community with this work. I always touch with love and intention, and I’m grateful for every person who trusts me with their own bodies or their children.
