I've long been a fan of massage therapy and bodywork, although my path to working in this field has not been so straight!
As a nonprofit marketing and development specialist of nine years, my days have consisted of working behind a computer, sitting down in meetings, and often being stressed about my overloaded work plate. I always felt, deep down, that I didn't want to be a "traditional" worker all of my life, but I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do instead.
It was in February 2012 that I began receiving reflexology after (of all things!) purchasing a Groupon for a local wellness center. It took only two or three sessions for me to feel the long-lasting results of the reflexology, and one morning a few months later I was getting ready for work and experienced that "lightbulb" moment: "Why don't I get into bodywork?"
I believe in its therapeautic powers, having felt them first-hand -- both via the reflexology and prior massage sessions -- I've always enjoyed working one-on-one with people, and, above all, I want a career where I can both enjoy what I do every day and also provide a service to the world.
It wasn't long before I'd spent hours researching about bodywork and my potential path in the field, and I fell even more deeply in love with the prospect of providing real physical, emotional and spiritual relief to those in need on a daily basis. And while I originally thought about going to school for reflexology (I even took one 12-hour weekend course on it), the evidence was clear that a background in massage therapy is the best place to start in the alternative healthcare field because of the national regulations in place.
From there, I quickly learned about the Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI.org) of Washington D.C., a 37-year-old nonprofit institute known for its extensive massage therapy training program and for churning out highly-desired M.T. graduates. I began the course in February 2013 and graduated in July 2014 after more than 600 classroom hours; in October, I became a licensed massage therapist in Maryland.
Since then, I've moved to Portland, Oregon, fulfilling a long-time goal of mine. I'm currently working to become licensed in Oregon, too, so I can continue my work in this amazing field.
Once I'm practicing in Oregon (hopefully by fall or winter 2015), I'll offer massages at a discounted rate as I begin my practice. If you're interested in receiving 50% off your first 60-minute massage with me, please email me at squareonemassage@hotmail.com with your name, email address and phone number and I'll add you to my New Client list and touch base when my practice is ready!
Thanks for visiting! I look forward to meeting you soon, and helping to bring YOU back to square one.