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! 

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.

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.

An article on LinkedIn by Dr. Travis Bradberry says, "The tricky thing about stress (and the anxiety that comes with it) is that it’s an absolutely necessary emotion. Our brains are wired such that it’s difficult to take action until we feel at least some level of this emotional state. In fact, performance peaks under the heightened activation that comes with moderate levels of stress. As long as the stress isn’t prolonged, it’s harmless."

While there  are numerous effective strategies that successful people employ when faced with stress, he identifies ten of the best. 

1. They Appreciate What They Have
   
2. They Avoid Asking “What If?”
   
3. They Stay Positive
   
4. They Disconnect
   
5. They Limit Their Caffeine Intake
   
6. They Sleep
   
7. They Squash Negative Self-Talk
   
8. They Reframe Their Perspective
   
9. They Breathe
   
10. They Use Their Support System
    

Read the article for more details.

We all have stress, and it is a necessary part of life. But prolonged stress is harmful. Massage can help reduce stress by helping you relax and allowing you to sleep better.

Piriformis Syndrome is a name given to a complex of symptoms arising from the compression of the sciatic nerve and/or associated blood vessels by the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle is located in the buttock region. The most common symptoms of piriformis syndrome are pain and paresthesia in the buttock and down the back of the thigh. The pain is commonly felt when sitting, climbing stairs (or hills), squatting, running, cycling, or stretching too aggressively.

Recently a client visited me who had been diagnosed with piriformis syndrome. She had suffered from it for eight years and had given up running every day and sometimes still had pain as she walked. The pain often interrupted her sleep. I massaged her twice and following are a few emails that she sent to me about how wonderful she felt afterwards. She has given me permission to share them. (I bolded parts of her letters which highlight the benefits of massage.)

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.