Mary Histing, Reinventing the Self

Mary Histing didn’t start out as a bodywork practitioner. In fact, the owner of Advanced Bodywork Solutions actually served as a missionary nun for sixteen years before she “reinvented” herself. And until her appearance at Sterling Women Manassas, she said she had never spoken about it.

At this month’s Sterling Women Manassas meeting, Mary talked about reinventing the self. She said she has reinvented herself at least three or four times throughout her life and that there are some steps involved. However, the steps are not simple, nor are they easy.

The first step is to “be very uncomfortable with your current situation.” Mary said in her case, she knew she could not continue on the path she was going down, and while it was frightening to consider change, she had to.

The second step is, “Give yourself permission to dream.” When you give yourself permission to dream, “hang onto that feeling,” Mary said. And, “Surround yourself with cheerleaders,” not naysayers.

The third step according to Mary is “begin moving in the direction of that dream.” Even if it’s just a tiny step you’re taking, Mary said, continue on. “You’re going to be afraid,” she said. “If you were going back to the old way, you wouldn’t be afraid.”

Mary likened the steps to a bird hatching from an egg. In the first step, the baby chick pushes against the wall of the egg. In the second step, the chick envisions a bigger world, one where it is not cramped. The bird wonders, “What would it be like to be free?” In the third step, the baby chick actually cracks the egg and puts one little foot into the outside world.

When Mary reinvented herself, she chose to work in something she believes gives her an emotional an spiritual connection to people. Mary focuses on craniosacral therapy, a gentle, hands-on method of releasing restrictions around the brain and spinal cord to enhance central nervous system performance and allow the body to self-correct. The process bolsters resistance to disease, releases pain and releases emotion. Craniosacral therapy helps people with migraines, chronic pain, post-concussion syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorders, scoliosis, PTSD and neurological difficulties. When Mary performs craniosacral therapy, she said she feels she is in a meditative state and that it’s a blessing and spiritual experience to be able to be part of a “clear channel to help healing happen.”

The March meeting marked Sterling Women Manassas’ fourth event highlighting exceptional women in the Prince William County area. The luncheon included time to shop for jewelry, decorative wine glasses, products from Tastefully Simple and more. Colleen Ross of Northern Virginia Family Services, Sterling Women Manassas’ nonprofit of the month, discussed how her organization helps the community through programs for the disadvantaged. Throughout the even, Simply Vivid photography took photos of the participants and their “show-off-shes.” Photographs will be posted on the Sterling Women Manassas website.

Register now for next month’s program featuring Dalena Kanouse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Management and Training Consultants, Inc., (MTCI).

Sterling Women Manassas is a local network of professionals committed to encouraging, supporting, inspiring and strengthening one another. Through events and monthly meetings, Sterling Women Manassas showcases and celebrates exceptional women in the Prince William Area.