Tell us about your massage school and other trainings:
National Holistic Institute College of Massage Therapy - 800 hours 2024
Life - 1992-present
What bodywork are you currently studying?
I've yet to begin furthering my knowledge professionally. Since completing massage school in 2024, I've been giving myself time to settle in and deepen my understanding through hands-on practice. I feel called to study palliative care, elder massage, somatic therapies, and pelvic and abdominal massage— all good things in time.
What do you want people to know about their body?
Happy tears and sad tears have different chemical makeups, it's not just salt water coming out.
Self-Care Advice
As you're reading this, feel all the parts of your body that are in contact with things that aren't your body. Start at your feet, feel where they and the floor or the table or the carpet meet. Feel your butt in the chair, your back against whatever it's against (if it is against anything). Feel your fingers on your phone or your keyboard or your hand on the computer mouse. Take a deep breath and slowly exhale.
Also, I really believe that the smaller the difference between your authentic self and the person you present to the world the better off you'll be all around.
What is your favorite system in the body?
I'm very interested in relationships and psychology, so I think my favorite system in the body is the nervous system. It's essential for regulating our responses to the world, including emotional bonds, or attachment. Our ability to relate to other people is deeply intertwined with our nervous system. The way we connect emotionally, communicate, and build relationships is influenced by the physiological responses happening in our body, especially through the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate, and it has two main branches that play key roles in social connection: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The sympathetic branch (often called "fight or flight") is activated when we're feeling stressed or threatened. In social contexts, the sympathetic nervous system can be activated during moments of conflict, stress, or fear, making us more reactive. When we're in a heightened sympathetic state, it can be hard to engage empathically with others because we're more focused on self-preservation. This is why stress or anxiety often gets in the way of effective communication and connection.
On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system ("rest and digest") helps us feel relaxed. When we feel safe, supported, and calm, the parasympathetic system allows us to engage in feel good, nurturing interactions. It helps us listen, empathize, and connect deeply with others.
One of the reasons I love massage work is its ability to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.
What do you want people to know about health and wellness?
The evolutionary mismatch theory, hyper-novelty, and toxicity are concepts I think are extremely important when considering health and wellness in the modern world.
Evolutionary Mismatch Theory suggests that humans are biologically designed for a way of life that was prevalent thousands of years ago—living in small groups, hunting and gathering, and responding to immediate survival needs. However, with its technological advancements, urbanization, and fast-paced lifestyle, modern society has drastically changed our environment, creating a mismatch between our biological wiring and the world we now live in. Our bodies and minds have not fully adapted to these changes, and this disconnect can lead to a range of physical and mental health issues.
For example, we’re designed to move frequently and eat whole, natural foods, yet many of us now spend most of the day sedentary, surrounded by processed, high-calorie foods. Another example, we're designed to live in quite close proximity to our extended and immediate family and friends, yet most of us live in homes alone or with just our partners and children The mismatch between our biology and modern lifestyles contributes to chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and mental health struggles, such as anxiety and depression.
Hyper-Novelty refers to the constant bombardment of new stimuli in our modern environment—everything from social media, advertising, technology, and entertainment. While our ancestors dealt with relatively stable stimuli, today’s hyper-novelty is overwhelming. The constant exposure to new and exciting stimuli, like digital screens or social media updates, can overload our brains, making it difficult for us to focus, experience joy, or form meaningful connections. This kind of overstimulation is not only mentally exhausting but also can lead to addiction-like behaviors and a general sense of dissatisfaction or disconnection.
Finally, Toxicity in our environment is multi-faceted, ranging from chemical toxins in food, water, and air, to emotional or social toxins like stress, unhealthy relationships, and negative thought patterns. Our ancestors didn't face the same environmental toxins—both physical and psychological—that we encounter today. These toxic elements disrupt our biological systems and contribute to a range of health issues, from autoimmune diseases to mental health disorders like chronic stress and depression.
To sum it up: What I think we need to understand about health and wellness today is that our modern environment is filled with mismatches to our evolutionary biology. Our ancestors didn’t have to cope with hyper-novelty, environmental toxicity, or a life disconnected from natural rhythms. To thrive in today’s world, I believe we need to adapt our lifestyles to align more closely with the way our bodies and minds evolved—by moving more, consuming more natural foods, reducing overstimulation, managing stress, and avoiding environmental toxins where possible.