Tell us about your massage school and other trainings:
It all began in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2006. I was in art school when I happened upon a Tai Chi campus club, and something just clicked. That experience opened the door to a deeper curiosity about movement, the body, and what helps us feel more at home in ourselves.
Two years later, I dove into formal massage and bodywork training at Blue Cliff College in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Since then, I’ve worked in a variety of settings—from spas and chiropractic clinics to running my own private practice in Asheville, NC. That variety has continued to shape my practice and my curiosity about what’s possible through bodywork.
Today, my practice is centered primarily around Ashiatsu, a Japanese barefoot massage style — (ashi meaning foot + atsu meaning pressure). I completed my Ashiatsu training and certification through Sole Massage in Spokane, WA in October of ‘25. Using my body weight and gravity, I create deep, sustained pressure while working with long, broad fascial strokes. It’s a wonderful approach for people who love deeper work but want something more fluid and spacious than traditional deep-tissue massage.
What bodywork are you currently studying?
I’m continuing to deepen my Ashiatsu practice while expanding my understanding of fascia, mobility, and different approaches to bodywork. I’m always looking for ways to better meet each person where they are. For me, there’s always more to learn—and that’s one of the things I love most about this work.
What do you want people to know about their body?
The human body is incredibly adaptive and is always doing its best to support us. We live in a world that can often encourage disconnection from the body, or frame it as something to fix or constantly improve. But the body is always communicating, adapting, and working to find balance.
I feel strongly that massage is less about forcing the body to soften or change, and more about creating the right conditions for it to let go on its own.
What do you want people to know about health and wellness?
That health and wellness aren’t about being perfect—and it’s not about eating kale every day (unless you really want to). It’s way more about figuring out what works for you, your body, and your life. Everyone’s journey looks different, and that’s totally okay.
Wellness is more like a messy, beautiful adventure than a straight path. It takes patience, a little curiosity, and a good dose of self-kindness (especially on the days when getting out of bed feels like a win). Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just rest, breathe, and cut yourself some slack.
At the end of the day, health is about balance—taking care of your body while also giving your mind and emotions the attention they deserve. When you start paying attention to what you really need, everything else tends to fall into place a bit easier.
Self-Care Advice
Keep it simple: prioritize good sleep, move your body, hydrate, and fuel up with real food. And always make space for fun and play — joy is its own kind of nourishment.
What is your favorite system in the body?
This is a tough one, but I’d probably have to go with the respiratory system. I’m fascinated by how something as simple and automatic as breathing supports so much — delivering oxygen throughout the body, helping regulate the nervous system, and even influencing our emotional state. Breath really is like a secret superpower we carry with us all the time. How cool!
Favorite thing to do in Sandpoint?
Honestly, anything that gets me outside. I love biking at Pine Street Woods, and Mineral Point has to be my favorite hiking spot. For my current favorite hangout in town, I have to go with Evans Brothers — great vibes and fresh roasts can’t be beat.