"If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it." - Toni Morrison

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Amber Thunell is a Certified Trager® Practitioner and Licensed Massage Therapist. She brings to her clients and sessions a long history of movement exploration and a personal story of healing from injury and pain. From learning how to do backflips in her grandparents’ backyard to formally studying Modern Dance in the renowned program at the University of Utah, Amber has sought to know freedom, awareness, and connectedness through movement. Her personal studies of movement took her to New Y...

Amber Thunell is a Certified Trager® Practitioner and Licensed Massage Therapist. She brings to her clients and sessions a long history of movement exploration and a personal story of healing from injury and pain. From learning how to do backflips in her grandparents’ backyard to formally studying Modern Dance in the renowned program at the University of Utah, Amber has sought to know freedom, awareness, and connectedness through movement. Her personal studies of movement took her to New York City after university, where she continued to dance and began a passionate personal journey of healing and wellness.

Having suffered years of pain and numbness in her low back due to injury, Amber sought modalities of bodywork that could offer effective ways to create positive and lasting change. It was through the gentle touch and introduction of easeful, fluid movements she received during Trager sessions that Amber was finally able to find relief and the possibility for a freer and more comfortable reality.

Knowing well the body’s ability to learn and adapt, and having a strong passion for movement and creativity, Amber found a strong connection with the principles of the Trager Approach – deep awareness and listening, ease in movement, gentle touch, engaging the mind with imagery, working in partnership with the body, and exploring possibilities – and began her studies to become a practitioner.

Amber opened her Trager practice in Iowa City in 2013 and is currently 1 of 2 Trager practitioners in the state of Iowa. Amber received her massage license in 2017 after graduating from the Integrative Healing Arts Massage Therapy Program at East-West School of Integrative Healing Arts in Iowa City. Here she honed the art of Integrative Massage, combining Eastern and Western approaches to the body. This rich and diverse study period focused on creating a strong foundation in Swedish massage and Shiatsu. Other studies included Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage, and Energy Work.

Alongside Amber’s passion for movement is an equally present passion for music and travel. From New York City, Amber found her way to Osaka, Japan, where she unpacked her bags for 4 years, settling into the culture, teaching English, and finding family among Japanese friends. During her backpacking adventures through Japan and Southeast Asia, she found richness in the approaches to healing and wellness through food, music, dance, bodywork, and human connectedness, and uses those teachings and experiences to foster balance, wellness, and vitality in her life.

Book a massage with me today

My Services

Licenses

Massage

IA # 087163

Certified Trager® Practitioner

# Amber Thunell

Education

2013

United States Trager Association

Trager Pracitioner Certification Program

2002

University of Utah

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Modern Dance

2017

East-West School of Intergrative Healing Arts

Massage Therapy and Asian Bodywork Therapy

REVIEWS for my massage services

MassageBook

by Abelardo on Apr 16

The entire experience was amazing! Following the massage I had a feeling of deep connection within my body. I spent alot of time reflecting. I really appreciated Amber's feedback,she was able to notify me of areas of tension.

by Marsha on Apr 15

I enjoyed the whole experience. Very relaxing ! Thank you. Try to keep that feeling in my mind when things get tense and feeling pain,to get myself relaxed and back there.

by Anonymous on Feb 24

Amber is absolutely wonderful. It is clear how knowledgeable she is and she patiently took the time to explain everything she did and how to help manage my pain at home. Above all, it's evident how much she cares about helping people.

by Anonymous on Feb 05

!

by Debbie on Feb 03

Such a loving nature and a genuine desire to help with pain

by Jennifer on Jan 13

Amber is great at what she does. I always notice a wonderfully heightened grace and body awareness for days following each session.

by Anonymous on Oct 20

Amber is gifted and the Trager Approach is a wonderful modality; I highly recommend seeing her for chronic tension/pain and stress-holding.

by Anonymous on Sep 11

She was knowledgeable and pleasant. Her approach to the body was helpful.

by Anonymous on Aug 29

Amber's personal and professional demeanor put clients at ease immediately and with confidence in her knowledge of the body in general and each client's particular needs. She takes time to truly listen and is always a wealth of information as to what I can do between visits to make a positive difference in my overall well-being.

by Anonymous on Aug 27

connect w/different energy level than usual...awareness and fluid

Amber Thunell