My curiosity of the body began through dance.  My public high school had a dance program and I took classes to fulfill my P.E. requirement; I found myself enjoying the creativity dance offered.  I graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA in Dance and a year later I was dancing with Shen Wei Dance Arts (2011-2017), touring the world and performing in venues like Lincoln Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, in conjunction with creating and presenting my own work (2007-present). 

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While dancing full time, I was meeting other dancers who had an incredible wealth of knowledge about the body.  They were Yoga and Pilates Teachers, Neuromuscular Retraining Therapists, and seasoned dancers who shared and taught different techniques.  I started learning from them and incorporated what they taught me into my own physical practice, a practice I eventually realized could help others.

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I became certified in Mat Pilates from the Kane School, a highly respected institution founded by Kelly Kane, who approached the form with a deep understanding of anatomy; less focused on set choreography and more on the unique needs of each person.  

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During this time, I was also introduced to Body Mind Centering, a somatic based approach to understanding the body.  In each course, the body is divided into different systems, knowing that they all relate to one other.  There is a lot of 'listening' touch with a very nuanced and gentle intervention from the therapist that follows the natural rhythms of the body or specific system that is being attended to.  In this practice, I came to understand the importance of allowing movement and touch to guide a session. 

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Because New York State requires a license in order to offer touch techniques, I went to the Finger Lakes School of Massage in Ithaca, NY to become a Licensed Massage Therapist.  During the 1,000 hour program, I learned Swedish, Connective Tissue, Neuromuscular Therapy, Shiatsu, Energy Palpation, Sports, Hydrotherapy, and Medical Massage.

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I have continued to be curious about the body, by listening to my client's specific needs and brainstorming what possible techniques could help them.  For example, I became certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage; a gentle technique that assists in draining excess fluid found in the layer just below the skin, and have started a track to get certified in Visceral Manipulation; another gentle technique that releases tension in the organs and the connective tissue that relate to them.   

 

My client's needs range widely.  I work with people who have restrictions resulting from medical surgeries/ pre-existing conditions, individuals who are trying to create greater function in their everyday lives, and others who have short-term specific goals, like running a half marathon.   

 

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