According to research from Neuroscientist and author Pierre Lemarquis, art has the profound ability to play a crucial role in healing our bodies and minds. In a country that is seeing so much regression for bodily autonomy in a number of ways (trans rights, reproductive rights, maternal mortality increase) it makes sense that more and more people are looking to artistic and creative expression to find empowerment. In fact, body-centered art can help shift the way we think and feel about our bodies, creating new possibilities for reconnection and healing.
Origin, the leading nationwide provider of pelvic floor & women’s health physical therapy launched a special art exhibition this month that aligns with this fascinating concept. They decided to reclaim the “V” in Valentines Day this year with the launch of The Visual Art Gallery (aka the VAG). The new project highlights female-identifying artists whose work inspires us to connect with and heal our bodies.
As a women’s health company that specializes in treating pelvic conditions, Origin physical therapists see firsthand how women can, in response to a multitude of factors, become disconnected from the center of their bodies — to the point where sexual pleasure seems beyond reach and pelvic pain and other symptoms are minimized or ignored.
This disconnection and normalization of pain contributes to a hidden health burden that’s seldom
talked about. Research shows that more than 40 million U.S. women suffer from symptoms of pelvic
floor dysfunction every year, yet most never receive medical treatment.
“The healing journey is non-linear, as is the path toward a deeper mind-body connection. It’s often
messy, challenging, and awakening.” says Carine Carmy, Cofounder and CEO of Origin.
Creating a softer space in the often sterile world of healthcare has been part of Origin’s ethos from
the outset. From the mural by Allison Kunath inside their flagship clinic in LA, to the Buckley painting
featured on the cover of the Origin Magazine, and the many artists they’ve highlighted on Instagram,
art is central to their feel-good mission.
Artists featured as part of the VAG include:
- Madeline Scrace, aka Madge, a NYC-based filmmaker and creator of MASHED, a 6-part episodic film about her struggle with vaginismus that holds nothing back.
- Autumn Breon, an LA-based multimedia artist whose work Care Machine invites us to imagine radically accessible self-care.
- Ee Emmanouilidi, an Athens-based multimedia artist whose project I AM A VULVA amplifies the voice of the most vulnerable part of our bodies.
- Mikel Ibarra, an Oklahoma-based artist, teacher, and former professional baker creates vulva-shaped Pies in the Window that serve up a fresh take on objectification.
- Lillian Isabella, a NYC-based playwright whose latest production Primordial shares birthing stories, ranging from ecstatic to devastating.
- Riley Hooper, a Brooklyn-based documentary filmmaker uses footage from her life combined with dance to tell her own story of healing from vestibulodynia in Vestibule.
“This project highlights the beauty of this journey through visual arts, and the therapeutic relief that comes in knowing you’re not alone. We also aim to spotlight how art can provoke questions that create shifts in the way we see ourselves and our bodies,” added Carine.
Origin is the leading nationwide provider of pelvic floor and women’s health physical therapy with a specialized focus on pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, and sexual health. The company was co-founded by Carine Carmy, Nona Farahnik Yadegar, and David Yadegar after experiencing first-hand the success of physical therapy to treat personal health issues — following years of missed diagnoses, ineffective treatment options, and hearing “that’s just the way it is.”
Today, Origin is building a category-defining brand that establishes a higher standard of care for
every woman and individual with vaginal anatomy. In addition to in-person locations in 8 states,
Origin provides virtual care throughout the country. For more info, visit www.theoriginway.com or
@theoriginway.
