Massage and Bodywork

Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Neuromuscular Therapist

Why I got into Massage Therapy

I suffered from severe intermittent hip pain from when I was in college until my late 30s. I was a runner, and when the pain became unbearable I sought medical help. Taking 800-1200 mg of ibuprofen every day under a doctor's direction did not help. A rheumatologist suggested I do nothing for a week, and that did help. However, doing nothing was not an option for me because I had three young children, I had to work (I worked in an office, and later in a day care), and I enjoyed getting regular exercise. Some days I could not get out of bed. Other days I lived in constant pain, or if the pain was in remission, I lived in fear of it coming back inexplicably.

I was referred to an orthopedist who discovered that my hip pain originated in my low back, which was scoliotic (curved), but he did not recommend surgery. Leaving the orthopedist's office, I stopped at a chiropractor's office across the street, made an appointment, and this was the beginning of a series of therapies that taught me to treat chronic pain and injury holistically - including the mind, body and spirit - in order to bring the body to health and homeostasis. Through chiropractic care, massage therapy, physical therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Reiki, learning and teaching water aerobics, participating in yoga, and watching my diet (more or less), and eventually going back to massage therapy school, the frightening and debilitating chronic pain has subsided. I can empathize with people who suffer from chronic pain because I've been there myself. My intent is to offer some relief, and hope, and help those along who are on their own path of self-improvement.