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.

​I am often asked how soon after an injury can one receive a massage. If the injury is soft-tissue related, with a skilled massage therapist, you can receive treatment immediately. Depending on the injury, the massage may be brief and light touch. Often return visits will be beneficial and the massage may change in length and depth.

From personal experience and from observing my clients, the sooner you receive a massage, the quicker and better the healing. Often just a few minutes of treatment can yield relief. 

Never received a massage before? Visiting a new therapist and not sure what to expect? Ask questions beforehand to lesson your anxiety! 

I'm a nerd. Last winter when we vacationed on a beach, I read a book on pain management. I had recently attended a lecture on it and wanted to better understand how I could help my patients manage their pain through massage.

He issued a call to massage therapists to enter the healthcare world as part of the solution to pain management. With the looming opiod epidemic, the medical world is looking for alternatives.

He said that we need to evaluate how we think about pain. Maybe we can not eliminate pain, but we need to manage it. Rather than measuring pain on a numerical scale, we need to measure how pain affects four areas of life: activity, sleep, mood, and stress. The pain may remain the same, however if the patient can function in these four areas, there is success and pain is managed.

He explained that as an anesthesiologist he could drop someone to zero pain, however they would be on the floor drooling and unable to do anything. That is unacceptable for daily life. There is a difference between someone who has a pain level 7 and is unable to function and someone with a pain level 7 who can sleep and function within their pain. They are managing their pain. 

Massage therapy can be part of managing the pain. We can complement what their doctor is prescribing. Massage can easily be combined with other pain management methods, including drugs. Drugs have their place, but we need to find ways to minimize them.

​Pain is a major public health concern, significantly affecting the quality of life of approximately 100 million Americans.

The Samueli Institute, commissioned by the Massage Therapy Foundation with support from AMTA, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published science on massage and pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis is the first to rigorously assess the quality of massage therapy research and evidence for its efficacy and effectiveness in treating pain, function-related and health-related quality of life outcomes for people with various types of surgical pain and anxiety. 

Here is a link to the review:
Massage Therapy and Pain Management

I learned a lot at the 2017 AMTA National Convention in Pasadena! I attended a research class on massage and pain management. There is more research showing that massage helps lessen pain, and with the opiod epidemic many physicians are searching for additional ways to manage pain.

I have had amazing experiences with some of my clients needing much less pain medication after surgery. Stay tuned for one of those stories. 

My back was killing me the day before I attended the AMTA National Convention. If I had to be at convention with a hurt back, this was certainly the right one! I experienced pain relief during my hands-on classes and when a great travel companion/roommate - another massage therapist - gave me a two-hour massage one night. My back pain was manageable, and at times disappeared! 

I learned some new techniques in managing lower back pain and neck issues. It was been a great convention! 

I love learning. I love being a massage therapist. I love helping to lessen the pain and discomfort of my clients. Call me for an appointment!

During our back-country camping trip in the Grand Tetons we kayaked a total of 17 miles and hiked over 15 miles. Surprisingly, we didn't feel too sore, but when we tried to sleep our bodies reminded us how old we are! The small back-packing thermarests are not as comfortable as our mattress at home. Our last night out, we finally got smart and gave each other 15 minute back and thigh massages - simple compressions - something anyone can do! It made a world of difference - both of us slept much better. Next time we'll remember to end each night with a quick and simple massage.

​If you are sore after all of your end-of-summer activities, I recommend booking a massage! Contact me for an appointment.

Stephanie was referred to me. She had lived with nearly a life-time of chronic back pain due to a childhood automobile accident. We decided to try something different. For about five months she came to me weekly for quick 15-30 minute sessions. I did Spinal Touch Therapy (I'll write another blog explaining it, in the meantime, call and ask me about it). We tracked her average pain level each week. She had been living with constant pain at level four or five (on a scale of one to ten).

Amazingly, within a few weeks her average pain was only a one, and within a few more weeks, she regularly started reporting zero pain! I was as surprised as she was. We were thrilled and hoped that the change was permanent. She started sleeping through the night and was able to return to running and enjoying other activities with her husband. We quit the therapy when she moved out of state. She is now the happy mother of a cute little girl.

When I was walking home from school at the age of 8, I was struck by a moving car. As a result, I fractured my femur and hip. As my body healed, I compensated from the injury on the opposite leg which resulted in sacral misalignment. As a teenager and young adult, I experienced chronic lower-back pain which at times prevented me from bending over or participating in my favorite athletic activities. Although the severity of pain was not consistent, I experienced pain on a daily basis. 

After college and beginning my career, my back pain worsened. As a runner, I found my post-run recoveries much more difficult and sleep was often interrupted by deep pain.  I was referred to Heidi by a close family member, so I knew I was in good hands.

Heidi is not only professional, but she is a very thorough caregiver who seeks to solve a problem rather than simply give relief. While the relief I felt from my spinal-touch therapy was incredibly liberating after only a session or two, I noticed that my diminished pain was lasting. In the past, a massage elsewhere gave me relief for a matter of days, but after consistent work with Heidi, my relief lasted longer and longer. Even after I stopped seeing Heidi (due to moving to another state), I noticed that my pain level and occurrence of back pain had decreased significantly. 

Heidi's approach to massage therapy showed me how important it is to understand the human body. I felt that she considered my whole-body wellness and not only my problem area.

Stephanie J. 

When I shovel snow multiple times a day, I figure that counts as going to the gym or working out (not that I really ever do either one). I've had quite a few clients come recently who had injuries or were very sore from shoveling snow. They know that a good massage will help them to recover quicker!

With so much snow this winter it's been a challenge to keep the pathways cleared all the time! I need to plan extra time between clients so that I can shovel the walkway.

Although I take precautions to protect my body, I am still sore and could use a good massage every time I shovel. But who has that benefit?! (Other than maybe my husband and daughter. . . )

Clients often ask how they can maximize the results of their massage. They don't have the time or the money to return for a massage as frequently as they would like.

I think the best is to keep moving. I've also found that stretching and self-massage prolong the benefits of a massage. A few years ago a friend shared a self-massage method with me which I regularly use. It is the "Melt Method." It confirms a lot of what I have learned about the latest research on fascia.

Kira's roommate asked me a question:

What blessings do you currently have in your life that you can trace back to Joseph Smith's prayer in the Sacred Grove?

I chose to answer with a massage slant since that is what I spend so much of my time doing.