What is Holistic Pelvic Care™?
Holistic Pelvic Care™ is a combination of physical and energetic tools developed by Tami Kent, M.S. Physical Therapy, and designed to assess and then restore balance to the pelvic space of the female body. Holistic Pelvic Care™ is for women of all ages to address pelvic symptoms or enhance general wellness. These techniques were pioneered by Tami based on her extensive experience as a women’s health physical therapist.

What can I expect in a Holistic Pelvic Care™ session?
In the first session, pelvic anatomy is introduced with a skeletal model. Then your pelvic muscles are assessed intervaginally. Tami determines where muscles are actively engaging and where they are not during a pelvic squeeze or “Kegel” exercise, making note of internal pelvic trigger points and tension patterns. The assessment is followed by treatment to balance the pelvis through such techniques as intervaginal massage with myofascial release and trigger point work as well as breathwork and visualization tools to assist core physical and energetic balance. Follow-up sessions begin with a brief re-assessment and then focus primarily on treatment.

What effects will I notice after a HPC session?
Women describe immediate effects of a new internal awareness and sense of well-being in the core. The pelvis serves a woman in many ways and yet receives little direct care. Women also describe feeling more relaxed and centered, a greater sense of support, and increased strength in their pelvic muscles. On a clinical level, the internal massage increases blood and energy flow, revitalizing a woman’s root and enhancing her overall pelvic health.

Is pelvic massage painful?
The pelvic massage is gentle and respectful, following the lead of the body. It should never hurt and the response of a woman’s body guides the depth and direction of the hands-on work. Though HPC is gentle, the effects are profound and women often notice a change with even one session.

What types of pelvic symptoms may be addressed by pelvic care?
Any pelvic imbalance is addressed by hands-on pelvic care: urinary leakage, uterine prolapse, pelvic heaviness or instability, pelvic muscle weakness, pelvic pain, and pain with intercourse. Women have also sought treatment (in conjunction with a counselor) to recover their body from sexual abuse. Additionally, women have received pelvic work while receiving other treatments such as for fertility or cancer support.

Do I need to have pelvic symptoms to benefit from pelvic care?
Whether you are suffering from pelvic symptoms or simply want to connect more deeply with your root, Holistic Pelvic Care™ is essential for your pelvic vitality. Women also benefit from receiving annual pelvic tune-ups as a part of their general wellness plan, as support for life changes and menopause, or when preparing for pregnancy and healing from birth experiences.

How many visits are recommended?
Some clients receive treatment for an extended period and others just for a few visits. Length of treatment depends on the extent of a woman’s symptoms and how long she/they has been having them. Three sessions are recommended to restore basic pelvic balance.

How can I schedule an appointment?
Please complete the appointment request form. The first visit is approx one hour & the initial follow-up is approx 30 minutes, and any additional follow-up visits are generally 20-30 minutes in length as your body finds the alignment more readily.

What is the cost of an appointment?
Rates are $365 for the initial package of 2 visits (initial one hour + 30 min follow-up). Having two sessions allows for the initial alignment process and a follow-up fine tuning. Some women only need two sessions and some may need 2-3 more to continue cultivating core physical and energetic alignment. Some women also want more time for healing and realigning. Any additional follow-ups can be added for $170-160 (20-30 min sessions as needed). When a client returns for care within 1 years time from previous sessions, then a mini-eval is done ($195), and if more time is passed then the 2 session package is scheduled because the body needs that time and focused care in order to restore alignment.

How is payment accepted?
Payment by check, Venmo or PayPal is made prior to the appointment. Tami’s practice is made simple and affordable by not billing insurance, but she offers a receipt with insurance codes that may be submitted for reimbursement. To verify coverage, ask your insurer about coverage for a “non-preferred” provider, which is usually a percentage of the overall fee.

What if I’m menstruating during the time of my appointment?
Women are welcome to receive HPC at any point in their cycle. A woman’s bleeding time can actually assist the hands-on work because the body is ready to shed old patterns.

Is it possible to schedule a session outside of the Portland area?
Yes. Tami typically schedules 1 or 2 extended visits (75 minutes-$265) when clients travel from out of the area to receive care.

What if I’m pregnant?
Internal pelvic work is not done during pregancy, but visualization and energetic tools assist pelvic connection and balance during pregnancy as preparation for childbirth.

When should I come in after childbirth?
The process of healing after childbirth is greatly assisted by HPC, and any imbalances that may have occurred during pregnancy or birth can be addressed early on. Six weeks post-partum is the time to begin. Likewise, any trauma that occurred during the birth process is assisted by bodywork on the pelvis. Women describe feeling more peaceful even with one treatment session, easing their transition to motherhood. If a woman is struggling after a traumatic birth experience, external hands-on work can also be initiated immediately to calm her post-partum body and spirit.

What if I have a Caesarean birth?
A Caesarean birth will benefit from HPC as well, with fascial work directly to the Caesarean mark and internal work to address the imbalances caused by any prolonged vaginal birth attempt. Again, if there is any disappointment that arises from a Caesarean, bodywork lightens this effect and allows the mother to process the birth event.

What does HPC offer for a miscarriage?
Tami has worked with many women after pregnancy and birth loss and personally experienced a miscarriage. HPC is profoundly comforting to the body and restores a tangible sense of hope in the root. Women describe feeling reconnected to their bodies and also more aware of the spirit that touched their womb.

What support is available when a woman is experiencing infertility?
Hands-on pelvic care provides gentle nourishment to the womb space during a time that can otherwise create a barrier of frustration and grief between a woman and her body. Women describe a greater sense of well-being and renewed trust in their own creative center.

Do I need to be a women’s health provider to attend the HPC™ for providers course?
No, you don’t need to be a women’s health provider but just have a passion and curiosity about women’s holistic health. You will learn everything that Tami wants someone to know before working on the pelvic bowl and practitioners attend this course from a variety of backgrounds. You are responsible for understanding your own scope of practice and licensure in terms of practicing the internal techniques Holistic Pelvic Care™.

Does this class teach primarily physical techniques for the pelvic floor?
The class teachers a combination of physical and energetic tools because the basis of Holistic Pelvic Care™ is a blend of the physical and energetic (similar to the perspective used in Oriental medicine practices). Energy work allows the physical techniques to be more effective and address underlying patterns. The HPC™ work can also be adapted to be purely energetic as needed, and this is the basis of Tami’s remote energy session work.

Will this class certify me as a Holistic Pelvic Care™ Practitioner?
Yes–Level 1 Holistic Pelvic Care™ is the course needed to become an HPC™practitioner (part of this course is taught via 20 hours of online lecture paired with a 2-day in-person class). Rather than many levels of the class, Tami packs the course with everything that is vital for aligning the physical & energetic aspects of the pelvic bowl. To deepen into the work, Tami recommends returning to Level 1 to repeat the class or join the class as a teaching assistant to understand the HPC™practice more fully. Level 2–The Energetics of Creativity contains bonus energy information that will increase your energy knowledge and skill set.

Can I take both Level 1 & Level 2 when they are offered together?
Yes–the classes are additive so you may take Level 2 right after Level 1.

Can I take this class while pregnant?
Yes–you can take this class while pregnant and we’ve had several women do so. Tami doesn’t allow internal work during pregnancy so we simply alter the class practice sessions for you to do the work but not receive during this time.

Can I bring my nursing baby to the class?
No–the class is fast-paced and intense so we need to have the class space reserved only for the participants. You are welcome to have a care provider or partner nearby with your baby to leave the class and nurse as needed. Tami has three children and understands this dance.

Can I join the class while menstruating?
Yes–it’s fine to receive Holistic Pelvic Care™ while on your bleeding time.

Do you teach this class outside of Portland, Oregon?
Since Tami is based in Portland, she offers two classes in Portland each year in the spring and fall. Tami offers an Online version of the Holistic Pelvic Care™ class that is available now. She also teaches in London, Australia and New Zealand every 1-2 years. And she’s able to do classes by request when her schedule allows. If you’d like to request a class in a specific location, we need a space to teach the class and at least 8 participants. Please send an email to tami@wildfeminine.com.