About Me
A graduate from East West College of the Healing Arts in Portland Oregon, My massage practice began in 2005. Over the years I have developed a therapeutic table massage that offers light, medium and medium-deep pressure massage that incorporates a variety of modalities. Techniques are drawn from Relaxing Swedish, Deep Tissue, Massage stretching, Craniosacral, Visceral Manipulation, and Spa Bodywork therapies. Massage is a great way to calm the mind and relax the body. The benefits of massage are an important part of our personal wellness care to take a pause from our busy lives to reduce stress and anxieties and help relieve any aches and pains of the body.
What is a session like?
When you arrive at Common Ground and I will greet you in the lobby. After an intake of questions to see what brings you in for massage and any injuries or precautions you will lay on a massage table between the sheets with a blanket on top to keep you warm. You may be aware of each moment of the whole session and feel your body as it relaxes and you unwind or you may find yourself wander into a healing head space where a deep relaxation is happening in mind and body. I don't know where our minds wander to but it sure is a nice place to visit! Everybody is unique and is experiencing life in their bodies. All genders and ages are welcome.
If it is your first massage ever, welcome to the world of massage! Those of you who have received massage before know bodywork is helpful after all sorts of activities and life events including; after a long week of work, gardening, post workout recovery, returning from a vacation, managing a loss or grief, or a repetitive strain injury. Maybe you are visiting Portland and would like some bodywork or you want to treat yourself to a massage simply to relax and take some time for yourself. Some people receive bodywork every two weeks or every couple of months. A massage is beneficial anytime. It is also a wonderful gift to yourself or a loved one for a birthday or any special occasion!
Types of massage
Swedish - This classic massage is gentle yet can also range from light to firm pressure on the body. Given to increase blood circulation, easing the tension in the body’s muscles and improving the muscles’ flexibility. It stimulates the skin as well as the nervous system to soothe the nerves, reducing both emotional and physical stress.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/114831-benefits-swedish-massage/
Deep Tissue -I do what I call 'Medium Deep Tissue" massage. Using forearms and elbows to get deeper into the tissues. My work is therapeutically deep, however, this is not extreme deep pressure tissue work.
Craniosacral Therapy- is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health.
http://craniosacraltopics.blogspot.com/2009/01/clinical-applications-of-craniosacral.html?m+1
Visceral Manipulation- A gentle manual therapy that assesses the structural relationships between the viscera (organs), and their fascial or ligamentous attachments to the various systems in the body.
http://www.barralinstitute.com/therapies/index.php
Spa Bodywork - A session may incorporate cupping or hot stones by request prior the the session.
My life before massage/bodywork
I spent my childhood in Wyoming, daughter of a school teacher and mining engineer. Wandered east and after a couple of years of college at a liberal arts college in Missouri, I followed my sister to Oregon in 1999 to finish college in the big city. During college I worked in the recycling industry and finished my undergraduate degree in Community Development at Portland State University. A few years after graduating I made the big decision to go to massage school and feel fortunate to have found a career that I really enjoy helping others. When I am not doing bodywork or taking classes, I am out in nature, picking up trash with SOLVE, planning my next adventure, enjoying time with family and friends!
Cottey College, Associates of Science
Portland Sate University, BS Community Development
East West College of the Healing Arts, licensed massage therapist
Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, Nationally Certified Health & Wellness Coach
Capacity Path, Crisis responder/ Respite care for first responder after Florida Hurricanes
