I am always amazed at the miracle of touch. I never know if what I am doing will make a difference, so it is always nice to receive feedback that I helped to reduce pain. As a massage therapist, I don't do anything "magic" - I simply help the body into the parasympathetic mode, or into a state of relaxation, and the body can begin to heal itself.

One regular client said that he considered me one of his healthcare providers - along with his doctors, physical therapists, and other providers. That was one of the best compliments I have ever received! I would love to work together with other helathcare practitioners in meeting your needs. -Heidi

"I began therapy with Heidi about two months ago, and I have seen good improvement in my flexibility and circulation. I've broken the seventy-year-old barrier and my muscles and joints have gotten stiff and sore from injury and over-use, plus the circulation isn't as efficient as it once was. Heidi has done a lot to improve my overall well-being and lift my spirits in general. She's easy to talk with, listens closely and thinks before speaking. I've worked with several massage therapists for health reasons over the years; my profession was a very physically demanding one and I incurred much injury and tissue damage before retiring. 

Heidi continually adds to her knowledge database, uses her books and the Internet to learn about specific issues pertaining to her clients, is one of the more knowledgeable therapists I've found and is my favorite. I'm sincere when I say I am grateful to her for her innate need to understand the human body, her (ongoing) help, her ability to communicate on a deeper level and her compassion. These are the things I find important in a medical professional, and that is where she excels  Thanks, Heidi!"
-Jim M. (March 2019)

"Heidi came to my  rescue last Friday. . . . I was awakened by severe back pain. . . I received no help from my physician and was left to experience continued severe pain over the weekend. I decided to call Heidi . . . . [She] had family visiting . . . . [yet] was very empathetic and responsive to my needs. . . . She massaged my back for only about 15 minutes.I experienced almost instant pain relief.  I went home from the massage and fell asleep. The pain was gone and hasn’t returned. . . . She is a hero health care provider.
-Russ H. (June 2018) Read the complete testimonial

Below are more testimonials from clients, listed by the type of massage they received - Myofascial Release, Manual Lymph Drainage, Spinal Touch, Shiatsu, Swedish, Thai, or Cranio-Sacral.

Say What?!

Lately I've come across several advertisements and articles advocating "dry brushing." You use a special stiff brush on your body, starting at the extremities and brushing towards the heart. Among other benefits, it is supposed to stimulate the lymph system. Google it if you're curious for more information.

The lymphatic system is a major part of the body’s immune system. It is made up of organs and lymph nodes, ducts and capillaries that transport lymph throughout the body. Many of these lymph capillaries run just below the skin and proponents of dry brushing claim that brushing the skin regularly helps stimulate the normal lymph flow within the body and help the body detoxify itself naturally.

From what I've learned in my Manual Lymph Drainage classes, I can not disagree with the benefits of dry brushing. But I do not have time to add yet another thing I'm supposed to do daily - I struggle with fitting in exercising and sometimes eating lunch. Then I realized that I was already dry brushing every time I showered.

You remember, we do not dry our laundry. People always tell me that is great because it is environmentally conscious, but they would never do it because they don't like stiff towels. I never noticed a problem with my towels - I like the invigorating rub over my body as I dry myself off. Besides, after the first use with a clean towel, it softens up significantly.

So now that I know about dry brushing, I conscientiously dry my body with my stiff air-dried towel in the direction of the lymph flow. I also do this when I sauna and rub myself down (but the benefits of sauna is a whole other post by itself. . .). 

But if you are not convinced to give up your dryer and still need your soft towel, well then, may I recommend booking a manual lymph drainage (MLD)! MLD is a gentle massage which encourages the natural drainage of lymph and in the process helps to build the immune system. As the winter season approaches, MLD is one more way to help your body fight off the viruses and bugs that are around.

Continue reading to learn the benefits of air-drying your clothes.

I wanted to get my hands on her leg and help speed up the recovery with massage, but they lived too far away. A year later they returned to the US and the leg was still swollen and tender. She said the leg felt like a balloon blown up tight, ready to burst and and she couldn't put any pressure on it - just setting a book on her knee was painful. She was also limited in how much she could move her leg, thus hampering how much she could walk. As soon as they visited us, I put her (with a lot of protesting - she is a also a very stubborn Dane!) on my table and gently began to work on her knee.

Last fall a client had a second shoulder surgery to remove excess scar tissue in his glenohumeral joint. His first surgery had been only 18 months prior to this surgery. I offered to massage him several times a week for the first two weeks to see if we could prevent scar tissue from adhering. He has visited a me a few times since then. He has given me permission to share our experience with his healing as it relates to massage.

His goal is to avoid the tight scar tissue which caused problems after the first surgery. We don't know how often he will need to continue massage therapy. He is paying attention to his body and coming in whenever he notices the beginning of the deep dull tightness that was constantly present after his first surgery.

I am a breast cancer survivor. During this past year I have been receiving chemo treatments. I also have been receiving massage therapy from Heidi! She gives me a Lymph massage the day before I have the chemo infusion. This activates my lymph system and has helped move the chemo toxins out of my body. I also find that hydrating, drinking plenty of water before and after helps too. I see less of the potential side effects. Less nausea and gastrointestinal issues, less fatigue and "chemo brain." I have also received other kinds of massage which have been so helpful! Energy work seems to help my overall feeling of well being and I find that I seem to heal quickly. Heidi is very intuitive to what kind of massage will benefit me and areas of the body that need attention and the amount of pressure needed. I trust her judgement for what is needed and may be most helpful. I have also received massage therapy for injuries. Heidi is very good at releasing the muscles and promoting healing. Heidi listens to my concerns and allows me to help guide the course of massage for healing. I believe that Heidi has a gift for healing! I highly recommend her massage therapy to my family and friends!!
-Michelle W. (Oct 2014) Died 30 January 2015 - a great loss

Michelle is a dear friend who is going through chemotherapy for the fourth time. While I was in school, she allowed me to practice many techniques on her as soon as I learned them. Together we learned what helped her feel better. She has provided me with much feedback and invaluable advise. She has been one of my most staunch supporters as I studied and learned. I love her and hope that she continues her miraculous comeback!

Several other clients have also had breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. The scars cause back pain, restricted range of motion at the glenohumoral joint (shoulder), and tightness around the scar because there is adhesion. After the first myofascial release massage on the scars, they have all reported less tightness and within a few massages they have more range of motion and less back pain. In addition to doing massage on the scars, I am trained and qualified to do lymph drainage of the entire body, including the breast. However, I am not yet qualified to do lymphadema work or to do rerouting if you have had lymph nodes removed. Someday I hope to be trained in that work.

Scars are fibrous connective tissue and can be formed for many different reasons, including a result of infection, surgery, injury, or inflammation of tissue. The connective tissue are laid down in random patterns. As they develop and mature, they pull on the surrounding tissue, increasing the area that is affected by the wound. 

Not only are scars aesthetically unpleasant and cannot be made to disappear, scars can cause a restriction or decrease in movement, and potentially even affect internal organs. 

I have been amazed at how quickly many scars have responded to massage and clients have found relief from the tightness and discomfort.

Dr. Mehmet Oz is a well-known cardiologist, researcher, author, and TV personality. He shared his personal experiences with massage and is an advocate of having massage therapists in hospitals.

Highlights from his presentation:

Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) is one of the most powerful massages I know to affect change in the body. It is a very safe and effective technique that helps stimulate the lymphatic system to function more efficiently and is useful for many conditions where lymph flow may be compromised.

• Reduce swelling by moving the interstitial (between cells) fluid into the lymphatic system. Sometimes I have observed immediate reduction in swelling as I have worked on a client.
• Clear toxins from the body by facilitating waste removal at the cellular level and assists with bringing nutrients and oxygen to the cells.
• Reduce bruising by clearing out the cellular waste.
• Calming effect on the autonomic nervous system. Many people have reported to me that they sleep better after a MLD.