Before I began my rewarding career in massage therapy, I was a client seeking relief for chronic pain. I had served in Afghanistan as a radio operator on convoys and received injuries to my lower back when my vehicle rolled over. I ignored the injury until I began having issues with mobility. I tried physical therapy, chiropractors, steroids, and many different medications. My symptoms continued to worsen until I was in constant pain and walking with the assistance of a cane. I was 23 and living with severe chronic pain. I couldn't run, I couldn't pick up my son, and family outings were difficult, slow and painful. I felt trapped in my body and I was losing hope. Out of desperation I went to my first massage.  When I got off the table I was able to stand up straight for the first time in 2 years, and I began to cry I was so happy.

 

I continued massage therapy and resumed seeing the chiropractor and physical therapist. Unlike the previous attempts over the years I began to make progress. Soon I began walking and progressed to light weight exercises. I practiced yoga, learned to manage stress in healthy ways, and worked with a doctor to find a diet that would help my inflammation. Within a year I was running and lifting weights. I would sometimes have flare ups of pain in the beginning but over time these lessened in severity and frequency until they stopped. I began getting strong and flexible and felt more like my old self. 

 

Two years later I felt like I had a new life, I was in the gym six times a week and studying hard for nursing school. but college was not a good fit for me and it didn't seem nursing would be either. I knew that I wanted to help people. I found a massage therapy school where I lived in Bozeman. It seemed like a perfect job for me and a way to give back what I had been given. I enrolled at Healthworks Institute in the spring  of  2017. As we learned about chronic pain and other conditions I learned that there was a biological, hormonal, or psychological explanation for the symptoms like depression and spasms that had made my pain feel worse. I learned that my grandfathers cancer pain could have been lessened with oncology massage and that scars from surgeries or trauma could improved with massage therapy. I loved pampering expectant mothers in pregnancy massage and helping my friends from college with aches and injuries as I practiced and built my hours. I knew throughout school that I wanted to open my own practice someday. After graduation I worked for other massage therapists and noticed that like the VA and hospitals, there were gaps in holistic practices as well. I wanted to create a practice that filled  in those gaps, mainly I wanted clients to feel heard, feel some level of immediate relief, and to empower them with the knowledge and tools needed to heal or relieve painful chronic conditions, while giving them a relaxing luxurious experience one would expect when getting a massage.

 

I have been practicing massage for 3 years and I have over 800 hours of education in Swedish Massage, Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Therapy, Sports Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Temple-Style Lomilomi, Scar Tissue Treatment, Stretch Mark Treatment, Reflexology, Acupressure, Stone Massages, Aromatherapy and Oncology Massage. I integrate pain relieving techniques with relaxing modalities to create an enjoyable and effective healing experience.