It is funny how life steers people in directions they never thought they would go. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a veterinarian. At sixteen I started working and volunteering in vet hospitals. From high school I went straight into UC Davis and graduated in 2001 with a BS degree in Animal Science and Management. I knew that veterinary school was very competitive. At that time over 1,000 people  typically applied every year and only about 100 were accepted. My backup plan was to start my own business and open up a dog hotel. I graduated from the Sacramento Entrepreneur Business Academy in 2001. In 2002 I  became a registered veterinary technician. From 2003 - 2009 I worked with the vet students, residents, and staff at the U C Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in Small Animal Internal Medicine.

I didn't become interested in bodywork until 2002 when my dog Sasha had her anterior cruciate ligament repaired and I realized what alternative medicine could do for animals.  Pain medications, physical therapy, and alternative medicine such as acupuncture and massage were used during her recovery.  I saw the decreased drug use, the decreased recovery time, and stress reduction.  I realized through my training and also receiving massage on a monthly basis that routine massage is part of the physical and mental equation of being healthy, along with eating healthy, exercising, drinking lots of water, and getting enough rest. 

I thought it would be great to open up a business doing massage for animals. Although I was little reluctant to touch people, I figured that I better learn with people first so that I could have the verbal feedback. I latter learned that animals are often times easier to read than people when doing massage. But, In 2004 I was introduced to Healing Arts Institute in Roseville by a friend who was veterinary technician and massage therapist for people. I very quickly realized that massage brings me the same joy as working with animals or playing the violin; It challenges my body, mind, and spirit to stay centered and focused on the person or animal, and their needs.  It is amazing to feel a muscle change shape and soften under my fingertips, and for a client to tell me how great they feel after. 

I earned my massage certification in 2004 and completed CPR training in Davis. I am licensed for massage in the city of Davis and have a massage practitioners license through the state of California (lic.# 18681). In July of 2005 I traveled to The Boulder College of Massage and was trained in canine massage therapy.  In October of 2005 I was trained in equine massage therapy through Healing Arts Institute.

I have been with Dynamics Hair and Massage Studio since October 2005 working part time up until 2010 when I decided to leave the Vet Hospital to be a full time massage therapist, and mother. My son JB was born January 7, 2010. My career path changed from becoming a veterinarian to being a massage therapist.  

I have taken functional upper-body workshop for people focusing on the neck, upper back, and shoulders including whiplash, torticollis, headaches, migraines, thoracic outlet syndrome, and rotator cuff injuries.  I have taken a sports massage workshop and learned deeper tissue, trigger point therapy, pre and post event massage, and stretching.  I have also taken hot stone massage therapy which focuses on deeper tissue relaxation of the muscles using warmed stones.

I am willing and ready to work on anyone, but my favorite modality is pregnancy massage and postpartum massage. My passion for pregnancy massage began at Healing Arts during my basic course. I thought it was amazing to be able to be a part of welcoming babies into this world and preparing mothers for labor. The beginning of each person's life is so important and it is such a miracle, and it is an honor to be part of that. I finished a 35 hour certification program called Pregnancy Massage for the Childbearing year from Stephanie Halderman at Healing Arts Institute in September 2010, and have joined the American Pregnancy Massage Association. Part of my passion also stems through my own experience of having a baby. Part of it is that I have felt the aches and pains of being pregnant and have discovered the benefits of pregnancy massage first hand.

My goal is to provide the most comforting cozy space so that when someone walks into my studio they feel like they are in a sanctuary for healing. I communicate with each individual upfront about what I should focus on. Then I strive to be centered and intuitive enough to feel the muscle or scar tissue that needs the work, and try to sense the perfect amount of pressure that will make each muscle fiber melt back into a normal perfect physical state, and bring blood flow back into the area. I also strongly encourage any feedback during massage. Come in and allow me to help reduce your stress and relieve your muscle pain.

Certificates:
B.S. in Animal Science and Management 2001
Registered Veterinary Technician 2002
Certified Massage Therapist 2004
Licensed Massage Therapist in the city of Davis, CA  2005
California Massage Practitioner (license # 18681) 2010