Tell us about your massage school and other trainings:
I have been curious about understanding human body systems and sensations since I was a little kid after going through cancer treatments. At that time, I was fascinated to understand all the changes that were going on inside of me. I absorbed names of crazy medications and understood how blood worked, but I also became so disconnected from my body as it tried to build protections against the pain and discomfort it was experiencing. Those foundational years kickstarted me into dreaming of becoming a pediatric oncologist.
I majored in pre-med biology in college before realizing that there was so much more I wanted to experience before boarding on the medical school train. So after college I did a year of AmeriCorps and then began traveling and working guiding jobs in Alaska and as a wilderness therapy guide in Utah. I recognized patterns of frozenness in the bodies of the young adults and teenagers struggling with their mental health. I saw how healing talk and community therapy could be, but was also reminded of how intertwined the body and mind are. I became much more curious about healing through bodywork and movement and became a yoga teacher through WE Yoga’s 200 hour certification program. I realized the potential for embodiment is infinite and felt how listening to the subtleties of my own body brought up stored memories like bubbles that rose up and released, creating a more peaceful existence off the mat.
A year after that training I enrolled in the Coeur d’Alene Massage Therapy Program, learning that I have a natural sense for intuitive touch that can help bring others further into their own experience of embodiment, healing, and relaxation. The flexibility and creativity of this career path has become a more natural fit for me than anything I could have imagined!
What bodywork are you currently studying?
I am curious about studying craniosacral and somatoemotional release, as well as diving further into working with the pelvic and abdominal regions, where we can store so much both physically and emotionally. I also feel drawn to slower myofascial work.
What do you want people to know about their body?
The mind and body are connected! Try this - You can lift your arms straight out in front of you and have a friend press downward on them to test your strength. Share a negative thought about yourself and have your friend think that thought too and then try to resist your arms against their downward pressure. Share a positive thought, counteracting that negative one, and see what happens then. Are you all of a sudden able to resist a lot more? Notice how just one thought affects our strength. And we have thousands of thoughts per day. Our physical health begins in our mind.
What do you want people to know about health and wellness?
There is no one size fits all. It is far more important to get in tune with your specific needs than to follow what you think you should do. "Shoulds" lead to shame, and ain’t nobody got time for that. I find that instead of trying to cut out bad habits, it feels more effective and empowering to add in positive ones, no matter how small. Five minutes of intentional movement. Start by just reaching for your toes and breathing. And just let the moment take you. Maybe that moment is only 1 minute. That’s fine. Just show up to start. The goal is to be healthy long-term in this marathon, not finishing first in the sprint.
Self-Care Advice
There’s a lot to gain in slowing down. Even if you think, I don’t have time for that, I have to rush from one thing to the next. There is always an opportunity to slow the breath and the mind down.
What is your favorite system in the body?
So hard to pick! But I’m especially interested in the nervous system - that bridge between mind and body, and the patterning of how we hold and move our bodies based on our past experiences. I think when we can begin to understand our nervous systems, and the ways we react to things, we can give ourselves more grace about the way we move through experiences and realize that we can rewire that patterning.
Favorite thing to do in Sandpoint?
I love finding ways to get outside during every changing season - trail running, mountain biking, skiing, paddleboarding, or finding a spot to sit and paint or write. I feel so fortunate to live in a place that has access to nature in all directions.