MY WORK

My bodywork is constantly evolving, influenced by all I have experienced and learned through life. It is playful and experimental but rooted in the solid foundations of eastern and western medicine.

My intentions are to:

Create space for healing
I believe the physical space we are in has a lot to do with how much healing can happen. My studio is peaceful and lovely as is the clinic I work in (see location. I also try to create an “allowing” space for any kind of experience you might have. People who experience massage will often report a sense of spaciousness in their bodies and minds.

Encourage the free flow of energy in your body
I work to align your body, open your joints and stimulate points to activate energy flow. This allows your body’s natural healing forces to work more efficiently, with less resistance.

Expand the experiences you have in your body
One way this happens is people who get massage become aware of subtle sensations that, in our usual mode of being, slip under the threshold of awareness As we awaken to the quantity and quality of sensations our bodies are capable of registering, and are able to carry that awareness beyond the massage table, we become more “in tune” with our bodies, breathe better, make healthier lifestyle choices and enjoy better health and more energy.

Increase your appreciation for the wisdom your body holds
I believe that our bodies know how to heal. We have to make the space and time, AND get out of the way, and our bodies will automatically direct their resources where they are most needed. The magical thing about compassionate touch is that it allows the conscious mind to relinquish control very quickly. The body’s healing forces are able to work unimpeded by our mental process. In this deeply relaxed state, healing happens, though it may not be in the form we expected. Often, in this deeply relaxed state, people have powerful images or memories. They are gifts that hold a key to further healing.

Spark the imagination you bring to your relationship with your body
If we think of our bodies as merely a conglomeration of muscles and bones with a few liters of blood and some internal organs, then we will miss a lot of what our bodies can teach us. After expanded experiences of our bodies on the massage table, we might become more curious about what our bodies have to say to us. We might start treating them more like a wise friend we’d like to nurture and know better, and less like a slave who’s supposed to carry our heavy load and never complain.

Here are descriptions of the bodywork modalities which inform my work.

Swedish
A variety of strokes designed to increase circulation and induce relaxation. The strokes can be long and soothing, fast and invigorating, deep and penetrating, or some combination, depending on your preference.

Trager
Trager was the first kind of massage I ever received. I was astounded that gentle shaking, jiggling and rocking could make me feel so alive and so deeply aligned with the universe. I liked it so much, I decided to study it. I took a six-day workshop and practiced on 25 people before I realized that it wasn’t something I could do as a hobby. To do it well, I would have to devote a large amount of time to the study and practice of it. My life was devoted to other things at the time, so I dropped the Trager. But not before it was in my bones. Fifteen years later, when I started massage school, I found the Trager was still very much with me. Almost everyone who receives it comments on how much they like it.

Zen Shiatsu
A body work from Japan, that combines gentle stretches with pressure points along energy pathways called meridians. Shiatsu is received fully clothed. In a traditional session, I ask questions and "read" your hara to determine which meridians should be worked to best bring your body into balance. I like integrating Shiatsu into every massage, especially on the legs. The combination of stretching, movement, and acupressure is deeply satisfying.

Tui Na
A body work from China which, like Swedish, consists of a large variety of strokes which are alternated and combined. The tui na strokes tend to be quite vigorous and invigorating. They are especially good for moving stagnant energy and rehabilitating injuries.

Hakomi
Hakomi is a method of assisted self stuy which I use to help you deepen your understanding of what you hold in your body. Insights you gain can help you let go of restrictions and rigidities on a physical, mental and emotional level, thus creating lasting change. I love this work and have written more about it here.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MASSAGE EXPERIENCE WITH ME

massage
therapy
honoring
the
magic,
the mystery,
and
the
wisdom
of your body