When I was taking classes in History and Anthropology, I kept noticing that the spiritual practices of most indigenous cultures were wrapped up with their healing practices.   Spirit is never really separate from the physical, and giving a healing to one gives a healing to the other.  Through studies and training in meditation, biofeedback, Tai Chi, Qigong, Chinese Medical Theory and Acupressure, I have learned how to look at energy systems and how they can affect our health.  Studies in philosophy, spirituality, and religion of all kinds have helped me understand how we connect everything together; our physical selves, the natural world around us, our community, our relationships, connections with each other and with our own inner selves.

I lay this foundation for each of my massage and shiatsu sessions; each of you comes in the door with a plethora of aspects and beliefs about yourselves, your spiritual beliefs, politics, understanding and awareness of your body and your healing path.  I endeavor to honor that space where you are in the moment, letting you process what you need to process, assisting when you need it, and getting out of the way when you don’t.  There is a lot of permission for you to let go, expand, breathe, and let you feel more comfortable in your skin.  Feeling comfortable in your own body leads you to living in a place of increased clarity and self-awareness, and can give you more power when dealing with this wild world we live in.  That, to me, is true healing.  That healing continues as you bring your healed self into communication with every other aspect of your life.

Thanks for joining my adventure of healing and self-awareness!

In gearing up for autumn weather, I am most mindful of the energy of relaxing, of slowing down after the hustle and high energy of summer months.  We rejoin the routine of back to school, and in a way, back to seriousness.   We had our fun over the summer and now it’s time to get back to work, get focused on the projects we were working on, and get back to a pattern that is more consistent.  Autumn energy is about resolve, resolution, crystallization, and focus in Chinese Medical Theory.

To focus on our life path and our path of healing, we reconnect with balance; refocus our energy on what we need to get us into the winter months.  The season is about the harvest, reaping the fruit of the summer, and beginning to store energy as if we were canning our energy to get us through the winter.

My approach to massage and shiatsu runs as deep as this philosophy.  In every session I focus my energy on the season, and on what my client is experiencing in his or her life.  This summer has had its share of turmoil for most of my clients, and moving into autumn is no exception.  One prevalent theme that has come up is that people have a difficult time giving themselves permission to take care of themselves in the ways they feel most comfortable.  This is a kind way of saying that if you feel like getting a massage, acupuncture, or chiropractic care, you should listen to your inner voice and get it, regardless of the prevailing climate of stress and overwhelming messages presented by the world at large.

Events in the last couple weeks have deepened my resolve to provide a caring, safe environment for whatever is going on in your life.  True to autumnal energy, the image of reaping and cutting away, a life was lost at an early age, and in losing a dear friend, I have new resolve to continue and expand the healing space within my practice.  The saying ‘Don’t postpone joy’ is particularly apt in this case, for it is in procrastination that doubles our pain, creating stagnation that then one of your favorite practitioners must deal with when you come in to see us.  Seriously, don’t wait any longer to do the things you have had on your list, get a massage, call your best friend, wear that bright orange shirt, use the good dishes on an ordinary day.

Autumn is feasting time, food is reaped and shared, and community is restored.
In that light, our upcoming Wellness Open House and Benefit for Safehouse is a fantastic way to show your support for an amazing non-profit, and experience the work of our wonderful crew of practitioners.  Come see us Saturday, October 2nd, 11-3pm.  Your $25 donation to SPAN gets you food, entertainment by the Hung Mei Shaolin Lion Dancers, and mini-sessions of massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic assessments.  We also have a prize wheel; take a spin and win one of over $1500 in prizes from local sponsors, as well as a chance to win free services from all of us.  Bring a friend who is new to our clinic, and take a second spin!

As a blog-only offer, I am offering a half-price massage to anyone who has not previously seen me, as well as a care plan and (easy) exercise recommendations for future sessions.
Also, for those displaced by the Fourmile fire, you can receive a free session from me through October.
Call me today!  303-902-7002