Meet Ellen Drucker | Healer and strengthener of bodies, one breath, one pose, one stretch at a time.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ellen Drucker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellen, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Most outsiders are unaware of the meticulous care that we as body workers must take of our bodies, minds, and hearts.

When I stepped away from a 26-year career as an educator to reinvent myself as a bodyworker, strength coach, and yoga teacher I was woefully unprepared for how taxing it would be on my own body, mind, and soul.

Many people are unaware of what Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) is, let alone the physical demands put on the provider moving another’s body through space. As a bodyworker, I listen to the client’s body tissue and stop short where there is restriction, congestion and holding. Together, the client and I work as a team to decrease pain and increase range of motion.  I use breath, body-awareness, traction, circumduction, and oscillation (gentle movement) to sweet talk the body and mind into trusting, releasing, and letting go of unhealthy patterns.

When I began as a new FST provider 8 years ago with Ann & Chris Fredricks (STW), I did not have the core strength needed to keep myself safe. https://stretchtowin.com As a result, I often found myself in pain after clients. I had been a yoga teacher for over a decade and I had learned to move my body in ways like never before. While this was both exhilarating and challenging, I abused my flexibility to get into poses that I had no business practicing. The combination of yoga and bodywork left me with pain, spine, and pelvic instability.

After learning the hard way, life presented to me a fellow yoga teacher who taught me how to listen to my body’s messages from the inside out. I strengthened my deepest core muscles and stabilized my whole physical being. Soon after I became certified in Essential Yoga for the Low Back by Robin Rothenberg which I practice myself and offer to my clients. https://essentialyogatherapy.com/

Even though I was more aware and stronger than ever before, I still compromised my body, leaving me vulnerable. Once again, the Universe offered another tool to keep myself safe. “When the student is willing, the teacher appears.”

Foundation Training by Eric Goodman, DC, is a powerful practice that uses the tools of decompression breathing (rib-cage expansion), anchoring (pelvic stability) and re-integration by strengthening and lengthening the larger more capable muscles of the posterior chain. https://www.foundationtraining.com/ This certification path supported me in finding my way to my OWN self-care and strength, first and foremost. If I don’t take care of myself, how can I possibly ask the same of my clients? I taught Foundation Training classes for three years and now offer this practice along with Fascial Stretch Therapy, Kripalu and Yoga Nidra to my clients.

Once I had stabilized and strengthened my physical being I needed to turn my attention to my mind and heart. I grounded myself by integrating all the knowledge and practice of teaching yoga for 17 years. Yogic philosophy, pranayama (breath expansion) and meditation help me to observe when I am out of balance mentally and spiritually. The ever-guiding yogic principle of Ahimsa (love, compassion, non-harming) keeps me focused on self-care.  I am honored and humbled to offer the same tools I have found to be life-changing to support clients in reconnecting their bodies, minds, and hearts.

Healing and strengthening bodies, one breath, one pose, one stretch at a time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am most proud of the ways that I continue to educate and train myself to be the most loving, compassionate, and understanding of working with all types of bodies.

Each one of us has a unique path through life. I firmly believe that whatever we experience from birth to death is stored deep in the body. As children we had little choice about our experiences. As young adults our brains were not fully developed. And, as adults, we have so much more choice about the people and experiences we choose to find or reclaim our health.

I heard a quote once that “Positive experiences slide off us like Teflon. Negative experiences stick to us like Velcro.” Our bodies remember. Everything.

Sometimes that “remembering” comes as a healthy habit. Oftentimes, it appears as tension or muscular weakness, holding and restriction. When we can feel and experience those spaces and places within our physical bodies without fear, they can move, release and finally let them go.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my best friends come to visit, they are ready for outdoor adventures. If we have a week together, our go-to activities include paddle-boarding Clear Creek in Winslow, mountain biking Campbell Mesa or hiking our majestic mountain trails. Keeping this 68-year-old body fit, flexible and strong is all about movement in as many different ways as possible, especially in nature.

Flagstaff’s downtown is a great place to stroll after an active day in nature. We have yummy coffee offerings and quaint little shops. I thoroughly enjoy thrifting and we have many choices which give back to the community such as Cedar Closet and Thrift for Goodness Sake. From late spring to early fall the Sunday Farmer’s Market offers sustainable produce, delicious food trucks and booth after booth of unique jewelry and art.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Just as my students kept me real and authentic when I was teaching elementary, middle, high school, and college age my private clients hold me accountable as well. They keep me on the path of learning and sharing all the different ways we walk through life in our physical, mental, and emotional bodies.

I offer the tools that have worked for me so that I can continue pursuing my passions in life with health, vitality, strength and little to no pain or discomfort.

Instagram: @edruthe

Facebook: Ellen Drucker OR Shanti Stretching and Yoga

Other: While I totally embrace the ways in which social media can bring us together world-wide I also recognize the time, effort and energy that can be sucked out of our day to day interactions with family, friends and Mother Nature. I choose not to advertise or put my services out into the world on social media. Although I have both a personal and professional profile, I hardly ever check either unless someone instant messages me. I prefer word of mouth to be what brings people to me for services and support. As such, the most expedient way to reach out to me is via email with something stated in the subject line to draw my attention about services. I do check email daily. Contact: edruthe@gmail.com

Image Credits
All images by my wife Vicki Uthe. Contact: Kachinaphotos@gmail.com