Out of Touch with Your Body? Here’s How I Can Help:

Many people feel a lack of connection to their body, or dislike what they see when they look in the mirror. In my practice, I help people feel more connected to their bodies, and more comfortable living in them. Here’s how I do that.

• I have decades of experience (in many different jobs) working with and for folks whose bodies or identities fall outside preconceived societal “norms”: people with disabilities, trans folks, people of size, people of color, queer people, folks with chronic or life-threatening diseases. I’m comfortable around any and all of those people, and in many cases prefer their company.
• I’m pro-body, regardless of shape, size, gender, disability, skin color or sexual orientation, and I really want you to feel as comfortable in your body as possible.
• I make no assumptions about who you are, what you are capable of, or how you live your life, based on appearance.
• A lot of the work I do involves integrating body and mind, self and self-image, self-image and appearance.
• In conjunction with massage, I coach clients through breathing, relaxation, and visualizations, helping you to learn or re-learn just how special your body really is.
• I use full-body touch to help connect disparate body parts, integrating the whole body, helping the body remember itself.
• Sometimes I use energy work, clearing energy blockages and helping you to feel more complete.

 

• I provide a safe, welcoming, comfortable space.
• Confidentiality is key. I don’t share any information about my clients without express permission.
• I will call you whatever name you’d like, and I’m very careful about using preferred pronouns.
• During a session, I help my bodywork clients get as comfortable as possible.
• I work in a comfy warm studio (with a table warmer!) and soothing music.
• I use draping (covering with sheet or blanket), and you undress to your comfort level. You can keep some or all of your clothes on, and if you ask me to avoid touching a part of your body, I’ll do so.
• I’m very respectful of clients’ bodies – asking permission & checking in frequently.
• I follow my clients’ wishes – I take my lead from you as I work to facilitate healing. You’re in charge.

 

• Clients come to me for touch they aren’t getting elsewhere, especially in areas that others may be reluctant to touch. For example, I have done safe, gentle, effective pectoral massage on women and on trans men. With people of size, I’ve worked on deep muscles in their abdominal and gluteal regions (psoas, quadratus lumborum, piriformis muscles). I work in and around skin folds, which often don't get much touch.
• When working on tense or injured body parts, I use gentle warming strokes to help prepare an area to receive massage, and I work from the “outside in” (starting by loosening the general area, and slowly moving inward) toward the exact spot(s) of tension.
• I encourage deep breathing to help increase oxygen flow to the area, and to reduce pain.
• Gentle, strong strokes are used to help relax and loosen the muscle fibers and the tissue around them; strong, persistent strokes then target specific areas of tension.
• Often, when experiencing chronic pain, we hold that area tightly, using it less often. Though rooted in a protective impulse, this can sometimes cause loss of movement and increase pain and tightness. Stretches and range-of-motion exercises facilitate movement and re-build muscle memory  and help “remind” the body of proper movement and positioning.
• I recommend gentle stretches that can be done a few times a day at your desk. I may also offer other recommendations based on such things as sleeping habits. I will never shame you but I might point out some things you could do to ease tension in your body.
• I want you to leave feeling more comfortable and complete than when you walked in.