My Philosophy

My approach to bodywork

I believe that bodywork is truly a “trialogue” – a conversation between you, me, and the place where your body meets my hands. It is a conversation that evolves throughout the course of the session as hands and body listen and respond to each other. My hands-on work may initiate or facilitate the healing process with specific physiological manipulations or soothing techniques, but the body heals itself. Healing is truly within you and within your power.

All therapeutic massage, and especially rehabilitative/orthopedic massage, is a kind of detective work; we start with the apparent problem and work backwards until we find the “culprit”, ruling out this or that possible suspect along the way. Often the true source of the pain is not where you’re actually feeling the pain; and it may just as well be a physical manifestation of an emotional state. Puzzling this out is always a fascinating process; there is truly no end to what the body has to teach us!

As an educator at heart, I love sharing this process with you, my client, and working with you to help you better understand what is going on in your body and to create a plan for real healing. In addition to hands-on work, I’ll work with you to figure out what is at the root of your pain or discomfort and to come up with solutions, including self-care, that will help you get better and stay better.

As an explorer/practitioner of a variety of mind-body awareness practices since 1986, my approach to bodywork also draws upon an experiential awareness of how we may work with the body to quiet the mind; and how the qualities or states of mindfulness can influence our physical health and well-being.