I got my first Swedish massage in 1997 and fell absolutely in love with it.  It was all downhill from there.  After taking a short course in Swedish massage, I took up Swedish as a hobby and worked on friends, family members, and a few private clients.  I eventually got a lot more training in not only Swedish massage but other modalities including Shiatsu, trigger point therapy, Russian sports massage, reflexology, acupressure, and structured bodywork.  After getting nationally certified, I took over 200 hours of Thai massage and Thai medicine theory, and over 60 hours of myofascial release as continuing education.  The journey to become a massage therapist was truly fascinating in all facets: the clients I've worked on, instructors I was fortunate enough to cross path with, and colleagues I've made along the way.  The most interesting and illuminating aspect of my journey was in what I discovered (and still discovering) about myself.  "Know thyself," goes the ancient Greek aphorism.  The quest for self knowledge is a journey spanning many lifetimes.  May this be the last one.

Massage to me is meditation in motion (or in stillness).  When I work on a client, I'm fully focused and in tune with their body and my body in each moment, in each breath, and letting that moment happen as it should without grasping it for more or pushing it away for less.  This is meditation.  This is the spiritual aspect of the work.  The physical aspect of my massage is very dynamic.  I can do a relaxing Swedish massage or a vigorous massage with lots of yoga style stretches or a happy combination of Eastern and Western techniques completely tailored to the client's needs.  I tend to get clients who in the past have gotten a lot of manual therapy whether it be massage, physical therapy or chiropractic work and now wants to experience something new or a combination of many techniques to get relief from chronic pain, an increase in range of motion and flexibility, or just an all around invigorating sports massage.  I specialize in working with clients who play a lot of sports, recovering from injuries or surgery, those with edema needing lymph drainage, those who have suffered from migraines and chronic neck or back pain either from work or trauma, or just your average overtired office worker with knots that have taken up residence in the shoulders and upper back.  I do traditional Thai massage and Thai herbal compress massage.  Additionally, I am a licensed esthetician in the state of Maryland.  I offer basic skincare analysis, consultation, and facials, body treatments, and waxing services at spa parties or at my studio.