I have been blessed with the opportunity to converse at length with Sandra, enjoy her wisdom and benefit from her insights through her work To Have and To Hold: Loving Your Vulnerable Self to Live Your Biggest Life.  I have grown in awareness and understanding both personally and in my work as a massage therapist. 

Sandra's "tools and techniques" have deepened my ability to pay attention to the body's tiny communications to us.  The simple movement of a thumb may indicate a stressful trigger point that may be too intense, or a moment when the patient may be feeling a little less safe.  We can be gentle and nurturing towards the body and all its' glorious tension, and discover the wonder of paying attention and how it can soothe body and mind.  I am more able to approach and care for myself in moments of vulnerability, and now know the felt sense of release as my body feels noticed and comforted.  As I share these practices with my clients they emerge, as have I,  with a deeper sense of authentic presence.

To Have and To Hold is stunning work that should be used as a daily reference guide to growing and caring for ourselves.

Valerie Farnsworth, Registered Massage Therapist,  NST Practitioner