Tell us about your massage school and other trainings:
My journey in healthcare started with earning a B.A. degree in Health Science from Whitworth University with a focus in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. I furthered my studies into the realm of Massage Therapy at Inland Massage Institute in Spokane, Washington. I then pursued a certification in Medical Massage through LMT Success Group as I started gaining an interest in rehabilitation from injury. I spent the next 5 years practicing with work related injuries alongside Physical Therapists at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Occupational Medicine Clinic. I have been practicing at Sandpoint Medical Massage for about a year and a half providing expertise in musculoskeletal imbalance analysis and treatment through facilitation of the healing process in injuries and promoting injury prevention.
What bodywork are you currently studying?
I am continuing my study of myofascial release and specific muscle targeting to provide assistance with muscular imbalances due to injury or to help prevent injury. I am furthering my study in functional patterns and biomechanical movement to apply these kinesthetic concepts towards finding optimal balance in the fascial kinetic chain that our bodies consist of.
What do you want people to know about their body?
We are intricately designed integral systems that are in a constant process of healing and rebuilding through cellular regeneration. Therefore, we all have the potential for adaptation for the ultimate goal of our design which is movement.
What do you want people to know about health and wellness?
It’s a process and a journey. It’s an investment in yourself. Putting the time in takes prioritization and also letting time run its course takes patience. But the adaptation along the way through consistent work and awareness of our body’s needs leads to a lifestyle that promotes us to thrive through movement and self-expression.
Self-Care Advice
Prioritize diversifying your movement patterns. This has become more of an eye opener for me the past few years as a practitioner and athlete. We want to create body awareness and resilience to gravity that affects us in all the ways that we live. In order to achieve this, invest time and effort towards ‘training’ and caring for the body through strength, coordination, flexibility and balance for optimal mobility. Work on particular imbalances in the body that can develop through repetitive activity or lack of moving by getting creative and having fun with all the ideas along the mobility journey (dancing totally counts!). Our bodies are designed to move, so remind yourself to breathe, drink water, and keep it moving!
What is your favorite system in the body?
Wow, this is such a tough question since there’s so much going on simultaneously within us to keep us alive. But I’m truly fascinated by the Neuromuscular system (okay that’s two systems) but how they interact with each other is extraordinary. I love staying curious about physiological concepts and how they apply to our anatomy.
Favorite thing to do in Sandpoint?
It depends on the season. I love to be creative, so interpreting our natural landscape through interactions with the different elements is something I gravitate to! Recently it’s been leaning towards the adrenaline side of activities; snowboarding or mountain biking.