Massage work requires good body mechanics, body awareness, and a keen ability to focus. Before enrolling in massage school, I was building furniture, making sculpture and painting—I had tested all of those skills. Having received massage, I realized the benefits and wanted to learn more. In many ways, it was a natural progression from the physical work and spiritual exploration I had already been doing. Since my massage school enrollment in 2000, I’ve not gone more than a few weeks without practicing.
 
I began my study at the Swedish Institute of Massage in New York City, and I completed my studies at the Downeast School of Massage in Waldoboro, Maine. I have been licensed to practice since 2002. I received additional training in Cranio Sacral Therapy at the Upledger Institute in Massachusetts and studied with Taoist teacher, Mantak Chia, in New York. The work I learned with Mantak Chia is a powerful form of abdominal massage that helps to align and vitalize the visceral organs, musculature and connective tissues of the abdomen.
 
I look at each client as an individual and am focused on each person’s unique needs. Some clients are looking to treat a specific muscular or structural dysfunction or pain while others seek support for relaxation and better sleep. That’s where the art comes in—designing a treatment that helps clients with their individual goals.
 
In my role as a teacher, I aim to support knowledge of the human body especially as it pertains to the connection between mind, body, and spirit. I have designed and led workshops for massage therapists and the public. I have also taught hands-on technique, traditional Chinese medicine, chair massage, and deep tissue, among other topics in a formal massage training setting.