Founder, Practitioner and Instructor      My formal studies started with the Virginia School of Massage, and I was soon after introduced to the healing traditions of Thailand by the Tao Mountain School of Traditional Thai Massage and Herbal Medicine. I have since traveled to Thailand to study with Pichest Boonthumme in Hang Dong, and the Lek Chaiya Nervetouch School in Chiang Mai. I am an instructor for Thai massage, the first certified by the Tao Mountain School, assisting in the development and refinement of its original teacher training program.      I am nationally certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, and a former professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association**, having provided over two thousand hours of Thai bodywork alone since this business was established in 2003. I develop and teach classes in traditional and cross-cultural explorations of Thai massage, while continuing to pursue my own studies with the Rolf Institute for Structural Integration and Yoga Works.

     My interest in bodywork first developed while I was still only a freshman in high school. I was learning mostly from intuition, trial and error, and yet I consider those first years to be my most important experience in bodywork. It was then I learned how to listen to the body, free from formal teaching that would guide or obscure my interpretations of what I felt beneath the surface.

     During those years I was a massage hobbyist. I never once considered that I could do such a thing professionally, practicing for fun while first surviving high school, then while pursuing a degree in computer science at James Madison University. I was exploring yoga and various martial arts, along with a number of outdoor sports, all of which lent to my learning while I worked out my own aches and pains. A few grinding years after graduating, I realized the computer industry was not at all for me, and decided to pursue my fondest hobby as my career as well.

     I have now been practicing bodywork for over 15 years, and still simply cannot get enough. The more I practice, the more I learn, and every day I continue to be in awe of the body's natural ability to heal itself.

           

** For those who prefer or require a licensed practitioner, be advised that while I was licensed in DC under #MT0544, I allowed it to expire as it is not required for my practice. Bodywork practitioners in DC and VA are not required to hold a massage therapist license as long as they do not use the term "therapist" within their title, as it is reserved for licensed practitioners only. I have opted to not maintain a license in either region as I do not work for an individual or establishment that requires it, and otherwise it is merely something else for me to maintain year after year with no benefit. Potential clients are welcome to contact me directly with questions regarding this status, and official inquiries regarding its legality may be directed to the Virginia Board of Nursing, and the DC HPLA.