This is usually the hardest part for me—telling people about who I am. But I’m going to give it a try.
I was born in Oxnard and returned to Ventura County in 1984. I came to massage therapy later in life, after working in a variety of jobs that were satisfying for me at the time. It wasn’t until my father passed away unexpectedly in 2011 that I began to look at my life differently and realized it was time to pursue something I had been thinking about: massage therapy.
One fateful January day, I walked into the Kali Institute of Somatics and Massage and spoke with the director, Nancy. I was planning to enroll in a later massage program because I was still unsure and grappling with making such a drastic change in my life.
Nancy asked me a very simple question:
“Why are you going to wait?”
And ...
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This is usually the hardest part for me—telling people about who I am. But I’m going to give it a try.
I was born in Oxnard and returned to Ventura County in 1984. I came to massage therapy later in life, after working in a variety of jobs that were satisfying for me at the time. It wasn’t until my father passed away unexpectedly in 2011 that I began to look at my life differently and realized it was time to pursue something I had been thinking about: massage therapy.
One fateful January day, I walked into the Kali Institute of Somatics and Massage and spoke with the director, Nancy. I was planning to enroll in a later massage program because I was still unsure and grappling with making such a drastic change in my life.
Nancy asked me a very simple question:
“Why are you going to wait?”
And she was right. Why was I waiting?
I signed up for the program and graduated in May 2012.
After initially trying to establish a practice on my own—which, in hindsight, was probably a little too soon for a brand-new massage therapist—I joined Massage Envy in 2013. My years there gave me the opportunity to hone my craft, build my confidence, work with many different people, and discover the kind of massage therapist I wanted to become.
By 2017, I could feel another change coming. I was restless and beginning to wonder what my next chapter would look like. In December 2019, I finally made the decision to leave Massage Envy and continue building a practice of my own.
And then 2020 happened.
Just as I was beginning this new chapter, COVID-19 brought my plans, my massage practice—and essentially the entire world—to an unexpected halt. Like so many others, I found myself navigating a time none of us could have anticipated, and my practice was disrupted for nearly a year and a half.
When I was finally able to return to massage therapy, I returned with an even greater appreciation for the work I do and for the relationships I have with my clients. I rebuilt my independent practice and continued creating something that truly reflected the kind of massage therapist I had grown to become.
Today, I’m grateful to have an independent massage practice here in Ventura County and to have built long-term relationships with many wonderful clients. My approach has continued to evolve over the years, but one thing has remained constant: I believe massage should be individualized. I listen to my clients, pay attention to what their bodies are telling me, and tailor each session to what they need that day.
I am also very proud to now be a Zeel Veterans Massage provider. Having the opportunity to provide therapeutic massage to veterans is a meaningful addition to my practice. It is an honor to work with those who have served and to be one small part of supporting their health, comfort, and well-being.
More than a decade after that January day when Nancy asked me why I was waiting, I’m very glad I listened.
Massage therapy has grown into something I could not have completely imagined when I first walked through those doors. I’m still learning, still evolving, and still excited to see what the next chapter will bring.
And that’s my story so far.
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