I have been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2012. If I'm being honest, I'd say I've been massaging since I was a kid. My mom used to say I had "healing hands". I'd rub her back and give her head and shoulder massages with my little hands.

But I never really thought the mindless shoulder rubs I gave my Mom was really, you know, "a thing". Until years later when my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia. On the days I would visit with him in the nursing home, I would lotion his arms, hands, feet and legs. The staff shared with me that those were the days he would sleep soundly, which is rare for Alzheimer's patients, who often sleep fitfully, if at all. Some years later, my husband and my mom were both diagnosed with cancer. One of the services for patients and caregivers was a complimentary massage at the cancer center where my family and I found ourselves regular visitors. I looked forward to those massages like a kid looks forward to a visit to the amusement park.

Fast forward years later, my mom went into remission and my husband and dad, sadly, passed away. But those were some of the most cathartic years of my life! While I watched my loved ones struggle with these awful diseases, I learned so much about health and wellness, nutrition, exercise, herbs and vitamins, and how the effects of an average American lifestyle can overwhelm the body with stress that can not only cause disease, but weaken it so it can't even fight off disease.

Those experiences changed my life and made me a kinder, more empathetic person. Something they also did was give me a burning desire to share some of what I learned and help people in some small way.

Stress is responsible for over 75% of all doctor's visits, so I wanted to do something to help people minimize that stress. Massage is effortless for me. Nothing makes me happier than knowing I have the power to leave people feeling better than they did when they first met me. Massage is truly my "happy place" and I can honestly say I GET just as much from my clients as I GIVE to them. My absolute favorite clients are senior citizens and first-time clients (I lovingly call them my "massage virgins").

I have worked with senior citizens, athletes, pregnant moms, office workers with "tech neck", stressed out executives and everyone in between. I am careful to listen to my clients and find out what their goals are for each session. How can I help YOU?

Levine JCC

30 minute massage - Benefactor