Massage Therapy plus Energy Work & Osteopathic Methods
Massage, with a toolbox. And a magic wand.
What a session feels like
All of my massages are smooth, nurturing, and thorough. Beyond that, the style is based on what works best for you. Some clients prefer a softer, traditional Swedish massage touch. Others prefer deeper pressure. It’s easy for me to adjust to your needs. My natural style tends to be inspired by Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi massage, which is deep tissue without a lot of deep pressure – firm, while still warm, flowing, and gentle.
I strongly believe that effective massage doesn’t need to be painful. The benefits of massage are not something I as the therapist have and transfer to you: according to my teachers and research, about half of the benefit comes from loosening your tissues with my hands, but fully another half or more comes from your own body deciding that now is a good time to heal. If you’re gritting your teeth, you’re not going into a fully parasympathetic state. (No shade to Rolfing and other teeth-gritting modalities, but that’s a different style with different training and different goals.) My style is meant to relax your nervous system enough to release old patterns, to unlock muscle tension without forcing, and to give your body the opportunity to practice feeling safe and unguarded.
Sessions take place on a table with an infrared heating pad, so you have the option of that coziness that provides the additional benefits of infrared therapy.
What makes it “holistic”
Every massage includes a bit of my other skillsets. Reiki, in particular, is part of every session. I apply intuition to listen for your body’s priorities. My experience gives me a wide variety of techniques to address anything you have going on.
What it may help with
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from a typical spa massage?
If you’d like a cozy spa massage, we can do that. You just also have the option of including many other modalities, or doing an injury-specific therapeutic massage where we might be talking through some participatory muscle-releasing movements, instead of having such a relaxing ambiance. Personally, my favorite way to work is to include the advanced modalities while still giving a full-body, sleepy, cozy massage experience.
Will it hurt if I need deep tissue work?
Deep tissue work can be intense in the moment, but it should be a “good hurt,” never real pain. Let me know at any point if the pressure needs to adjust. Communication during the session is welcome and encouraged.
What should I wear?
You’ll undress and be fully draped with sheets throughout the session, with only the area we’re working with being exposed. The low-key question is whether or not you want to wear underwear. If you feel more at ease with your underwear on, by all means wear them. Some clients have admitted that they thought they needed to wear them as a courtesy to me, and that is not necessary. For me as the therapist, everything is just anatomy, and it’s easier to work with lower back and hip structures without clothing in the way. If you prefer underwear and need help with lower back and hip pain, it helps to move your waistband farther down so that I can reach your sacrum and SI joints, and to generally wear smaller underwear (not boxers, etc.) If you are very uncomfortable with nudity, both craniosacral and reiki sessions are fully clothed.
How often should I get a massage?
It depends on your goals. Some clients come monthly for general maintenance, some only for special occasions. If you’re working through a specific problem, you may need weekly support for a while. We can talk through what makes sense for you, but I’m biased – I think the world would be much healthier – and more cheerful – if everyone got a massage at least once a month.
Can this be combined with craniosacral therapy in one session?
Yes, many sessions blend both, especially if you book a longer 1.5 or 2-hour appointment.
Do you take insurance?
No. However, I can give you digital reciepts and superbills, if your insurance plan reimburses you.